Osaka Itami International Airport

Belonging to the first class airport classification, Osaka Itami

International Airport is the principal domestic airport that services the Kansai region, including Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe in Japan. Often labeled as Itami Airport because of its location in Itami, at the Hyogo Prefecture, its terminal is found in Toyonaka at the Osaka Prefecture, accessible only through a long tunnel beneath the apron and runway.

Airlines and Destinations

There are two terminals that service about 10 domestic airlines, to more than 30 cities in Japan, with Japan Airlines having the major bulk of the passengers. At the North Terminal, the airlines that operate are Japan Airlines, J-Air, JAL Express, Japan Air Commuter, and Japan Transocean Air. At the South Terminal, there is the Ibex Airlines, and All Nippon Airways.

History

Osaka Itami Airport, upon opening in 1939, was primarily used by the Imperial Japanese Army. When the US forces came in 1945 and acquired its operations, it became the Itami Air Base. The Japanese regained control of this airport in 1960, naming it Osaka Airport, servicing several international airlines, like Air India, British Airways, and Pan American World Airways. Unfortunately, this caused too much noise and problems with nearby residential areas. In 1994, a new airport was built in Osaka Bay, it being the Kansai Airport, to carry the bulk of international flights from Itami Airport.

Facilities and Amenities

There are several establishments found in the Osaka Itami Airport. There are ATM machines, a post office, and stalls for Internet access. Wi-Fi is also available in some areas of the airport. Shopping for souvenirs can also be done, as shops feature several Kyoto handicrafts. Food is available for all types of taste and cuisine, be it Japanese, Chinese or Western. Conference rooms are also available for those corporate passengers who need a place to gather and meet for a while.

Transport

Buses have trips from the airport to several stations in Osaka daily, such as the Shin-Osaka Station, Osaka Station, Namba Station, Tennoji Station, Sannomiya Station, Kyoto Station, and Nara Station. It also has a trip to the Kansai International Airport which takes approximately 80 minutes to get there. A monorail service, the Osaka Monorail, also serves as a connection between the airport and the main train lines. There are also taxis and hotel shuttles for those who need to go to central Osaka and the districts surrounding it, such as Midosuji, Doyama-cho, Minami, Tennoji and Shinsaibashi.

Hotels and Accommodation

The most conveniently located hotel to the airport is the Hilton Osaka hotel, which is also near the Osaka Train Station, and has several facilities for business conferences and events. For basic accommodations, the Hotel Nikko Kansai can cater to their needs, located closest to the airport as it is linked to the terminal building. It has over 600 hundred rooms spread in eleven floors. Next to this is the Ana Gate Tower, and the Ramada Kansai Airport.

There are also hotels within Osaka that are near the different tourist attractions like Universal Studios Japan, Expoland, and the Festival Gate. Several hotels are also found near bus and trains stations, for easy travel to the different places in Osaka, either for business or for pleasure.

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