In this article we will look at all options for traveling between Nagoya, Osaka, and Kansai International Airport. It is possible to make this journey by train, bus, and car. It is also possible to travel by plane, but there are no direct scheduled flights between Chubu Centrair International Airport near Nagoya and Kansai International Airport, so flying usually requires a domestic connection and is normally slower and less practical. Probably the easiest and most convenient way to travel is by train.
Osaka Station and Yodobashi Umeda buildings
Traveling by Train
Nagoya is connected to Osaka’s Shin-Osaka Station by the Tokaido Shinkansen Line. There are three services on this line: the Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama. The Nozomi is the fastest service and usually reaches Shin-Osaka Station in about 50 minutes. Japan Rail Pass holders can use Hikari and Kodama without an extra Nozomi supplement. Nozomi is not valid with the pass alone, but pass holders can ride by buying the special Nozomi/Mizuho ticket before boarding.
Travel times vary for these services, but the longest direct shinkansen journey between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka is a little over one hour. The current non-reserved ordinary-car fare between Nagoya Station and Shin-Osaka Station is 5,940 yen. Reserved-seat fares vary by train type, season and booking product, so check the fare shown when booking. For Japan Rail Pass holders using Nozomi, the current Nagoya-Shin-Osaka Nozomi/Mizuho supplement is 2,530 yen.
A shinkansen train at Nagoya Station
From Shin-Osaka Station you can take the Midosuji Subway Line to other destinations in Osaka. You can get to Umeda Subway Station from Shin-Osaka in 6 minutes for the current adult fare of 240 yen.
If you wish to go on to Kansai Airport you should take the Haruka Limited Express from Shin-Osaka Station. This will take you directly to Kansai Airport in about 50 minutes. The regular unreserved total is currently 2,540 yen. Overseas visitors should also check the JR West HARUKA One-way Ticket, which can be cheaper when available for their route.
A slower private-railway alternative is Kintetsu Limited Express from Kintetsu Nagoya to Osaka-Namba, then Nankai Railway from Namba to Kansai Airport. Kintetsu’s HINOTORI takes about two hours between Kintetsu Nagoya and Osaka-Namba, with standard adult fare currently 4,990 yen. From Namba, Nankai reaches Kansai Airport in about 44 minutes by Airport Express or about 38 minutes by Rapi:t. This route can suit Namba-area travelers, but it is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Traveling by Bus
JR Tokai Bus Company, West Japan JR Bus, and Meihan Kintetsu Bus operate highway bus services between Nagoya Station and Osaka Station JR Express Bus Terminal. Daytime buses generally take around 3 hours to get to Osaka Station. The current adult ordinary fare is 3,100 yen, with early-purchase, sale, student and round-trip fares available on eligible services. Overnight Osaka Dream Nagoya services also operate, but fares vary by date and ticket type. To inquire about times, fares and to make a booking, you can go directly to the JR Tokai Bus Nagoya Travel Center on the west side of Nagoya Station or look online at kousokubus.net.
A JR Tokai Bus at Nagoya Station bound for Osaka
WILLER EXPRESS also runs highway buses between Nagoya and Osaka, using WILLER Bus Terminal Osaka Umeda at the Umeda Sky Building for many Osaka services. Daytime and overnight timings and fares vary by date, route and seat type. Check the WILLER EXPRESS website for current details.
A WILLER EXPRESS bus
If you wish to continue on to Kansai Airport from the Osaka Station / Umeda area, you can either take a train or a limousine bus. From Osaka Station the easiest route by train to Kansai Airport is the Kansai Airport Rapid Service. Trains are frequent and this service covers the distance between Osaka Station and Kansai Airport in roughly 70 minutes for the current adult fare of 1,180 yen.
Kansai Airport transportation plaza
Limousine bus services for Kansai Airport run from several locations around Osaka Station and Umeda, including Herbis Osaka and Hankyu Sanbangai. Tickets are currently 1,800 yen for an adult and 900 yen for a child, and the journey from Hankyu Sanbangai to Terminal 1 takes roughly 1 hour. Umeda bus stops have changed in recent years, so check the current stop before travel. The Kansai Airport website has full timetables for buses to and from the airport.
Traveling by Car
Driving can be useful if you are stopping outside city centers, but it is not usually the easiest way between Nagoya and central Osaka. Current tolls and journey times vary by route, traffic, vehicle class, ETC use and time of travel, so check a current toll route search before renting. Recent route searches show Nagoya to central Osaka taking roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes to 3 hours in clear conditions, and Nagoya to Kansai Airport taking around 3 hours. Some reliable car rental companies near Nagoya Station are Nissan, Times Car Rental, and Toyota. At Kansai Airport the car rental counters are in the Aeroplaza section of the airport, which is about a three-minute walk from Terminal 1 via the 2F connection passage, or 7 to 9 minutes from Terminal 2 by free shuttle bus. Remember that you will need a valid driving permit or license accepted in Japan in order to rent a car.
Traveling by Plane
There are no direct scheduled flights between Osaka’s Kansai Airport and Chubu Centrair Airport near Nagoya. Any air route would require a domestic connection and airport time at both ends, so it is normally slower and less practical than taking the train or bus.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 20-Jul-2026.
