KIX-Spot1
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February 15, 2013Osaka Kansai Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on December 7, 2023
Kansai International Airport (RJBB / KIX) is the international airport of Osaka and the Kansai region (including the cities of Kobe, Kyoto and Nara). The airport is located approx. 50 km south of Osaka on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, near the city of Izumisano to which it is connected by bridge. About 28 million passengers are handled per year (before Corona).
The airport was opened as Japan’s first offshore airport in September 1994. The second runway was opened in 2007, while a new low cost terminal was opened someyears ago. ANA, JAL and Jetstar Japan are common sights at KIX. ANA subsidiary Peach Aviation is based here. The major carriers of the Far East serve the airport as well as various smaller Chinese and Korean operators. Long Haul operators include some carriers from Europe, Emirates (777) from the Middle East and United (737 and 777) from the U.S.. Japan Coast Guard operates a Saab 340, which is based at KIX and can therefore be seen here quite often. Good weather is common at this airport, but during the hot summer months you sometimes have to face misty conditions.
Written by Maximilian Ono (Last time visited: March 2023), thanks to Tomoto providing pics of spot2.
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety | |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather | |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 06L/24R | 4.000 m |
| 06R/24L | 3.500 m |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal 1 | all other airlines |
| Terminal 2 | Low-cost carriers Peach, Spring Airlines and Jeju Air. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | not required |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is not required. All spots are reachable by public transport. |
| Restrooms | Inside terminal buildings and observation hall. |
| Drinks/Food | Inside terminal buildings and observation hall. |
| Hotels | Nikko Hotel between the two terminal buildings. Possibly there are other hotels on the shore in Izumisano. |
| Season | The chance for Runway 24 operations is higher during the summer months. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | The chance for Runway 24 operations is higher in the summer and in the afternoon. The chance for Runway 06 operations is higher in the winter and in the morning. |
| 06L/24R | Landings in both directions |
| 06R/24L | Take-Offs in both directions and few landings in off-peak times |
 |
Spot #1 – Observation Hall – Runway 06R departures, Runway 24L arrivals&departures, Overview of the main Apron |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Leave Terminal 1 on the ground floor (international arrivals) and look for the Nankai Bus stop to Observation Hall. You have to pay a little amount for the bus, but the Observation Hall is for free. The ride takes about 5 minutes and includes audio commentary in English. Inside Observation Hall, take the escalator upstairs. The spectators’ facilities are located on 4th and 5th floor. |
| WHAT | The place is famous for spotting planes on final to Runway 24L with the access bridge in the background. You have to use the 5th floor for this, as otherwise the Coast Guard building will be in the way. Besides, you can also spot planes lining up on Runway 24L or departing on Runway 06R. Movements on the northern end of the main apron can also be seen. Please note this runway is rarely used for landings |
| TIME | Best light conditions are in the afternoon and early evening. In the morning, movements on the runway are in backlight. |
| MISC. | Food and drinks can be bought inside Observation Hall, but it’s also possible to bring in food from outside to eat it here. There are various benches and seating opportunities inside the building as well as on the building’s terraces. Monitors show the current flight information (including cargo movements). Models and Souvenirs can be bought here, too. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Up to 200mm for 737on final approach runway 24L, up to 140mm for 737 during line-up. For departures on runway 06R and planes taxiing on the apron, you’ll need bigger lenses. |
 |
Spot #2 – Terminal 1 (North Wing) – Movements on the apron |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Leave Terminal 1 on the 4th floor (International Departures), turn right outside the Terminal building and follow the street just a few steps. |
| WHAT | Aircraft taxiing to and from stands No. 1 to 7 (North Wing) |
| TIME | Best light conditions in the afternoon (12 – 5 P.M.) |
| MISC. | You’ll find everything you need inside the Terminal building. Sometimes there are very few movements visible from this place, so check the airport website www.kansai-airport.or.jp to find out when gates N1-N7 will be used. Heat haze can cause problems, especially when an APU of a parked aircraft is running. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Approx. 200-400 mm for aircraft on the taxiways. 50-200 mm for aircraft turning into their stands. |
 |
Spot #3 – Terminal 1 (South Wing) – Movements on the apron |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Leave Terminal 1 on the 4th floor (International Departures), turn left outside the Terminal building and follow the street just a few steps. |
| WHAT | Aircraft taxiing to and from stands No. 35 to 41 (South Wing). You can also see aircraft taxiing from Runway 06L/24R to the Terminal 1 apron in the background. |
| TIME | Only useful in the early morning. Backlight is a problem at all other times. |
| MISC. | You’ll find everything you need inside the Terminal building. Check the airport website www.kansai-airport.or.jp to find out when gates S35-S41 will be used. Heat haze can cause problems, especially when an APU of a parked aircraft is running. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Approx. 200-400 mm for aircraft on the taxiways. 50-200 mm for aircraft turning into their stands. |
What is the focal length required from Sky View to capture shots of aircraft flying above the sea towards Kansai Airport? Is it 300mm or 400mm? Please advise.
■A runway side:200mm(Full-frame)
However, the forward light is in the evening
Below is the photo I took from Sky View.
https://flyteam.jp/photo/3374751
■B runway side:800mm(Full-frame)
It is quite far from the runway, so it is affected by heat haze and other factors.
Below is the photo I took from Sky View.
https://flyteam.jp/photo/3756885
If landscapes, below is the photo I took from Sky View
https://flyteam.jp/photo/3379040
My DSLR camera focal length is 400mm maximum. Will it work better in capturing shots of aircraft flying above the sea in the afternoon? Standing on Sky View.
You can take photos of planes on the side of A runway.
However, the landing aircraft is mainly on B runway.
When north wind, you can take photos of planes taking off on A runway.
Which is A runway? Which is B runway?
A runway(06R/24L): the east side of the island, near Terminal1
B runway(06L/24R): the west side of the island, near Terminal2
Thank you
Is the Sora Park open for plane-spotting aircraft flying above the sea towards Kansai Airport?
I’ve never been to this point, but I think it’s too far to photograph the plane when landing.
I think you can’t take a picture with the sea in the background before landing, because the height of the hill of this park is low.
This is the point where you can take a picture of a taxiing plane through the fence.
This is a YouTube of how to go to the Sora Park.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6YhkSyIbd4
In the morning, can the aircraft flying across the sea towards Kansai airport be viewed clearly on the Sky View of Kansai Airport? I’m thinking of re-shooting pictures of aircraft flying across the sea with my DSLR camera on either 24 or 25 September, not those aircraft moving along the runway in the morning due to backlight. Is it advisable to do plane-spotting on aircraft flying in the morning there?
At which part of Kansai in the morning is it advisable to shoot pictures of aircraft flying and landing?
Unfortunately there is no best spot in the morning.
Because the runway is surrounded by the sea.
Hi, walker2000,
In the morning, can the aircraft flying across the sea towards Kansai airport be viewed clearly? I’m thinking of re-shooting pictures of aircraft flying across the seat with my DSLR camera on either 24 or 25 September. Is it advisable to do plane-spotting in the morning?
Hi, Gan.
I’ve never been there, you can photograph planes landing on 24R when south wind from the roof of P2 pariking near Terminal 1.
However, this spot is quite far from the runway, so you’ll need a lens of 400m or more.
Excuse me, at which airport hotel of Kansai Airport can I view aircraft flying and landing? Also, Sky View is closed before sunset.
Hi Gan. Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport is near the terminal.
There is a Youtube video taken by someone who stayed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkct-Xg-6i0
approx.300-600mm by APS-C for aircarft on the B runway(06L/24R).
I have stayed there once. Cannot see any aircraft flying from the room.
Hello,
I am on this moment on KIX airport 25-02-2024.
Here is more information about the free bus what you can take from the Bus terminal.
Hi Marco, where is “more information”?
The observation hall is currently closed due to coivd per their instagram
Is there any rooftop observation deck for viewing from inside the terminal (like Osaka Itami) or you can only do spotting in the other places. thx:)
Hi Christian, unfortunately KIX is one of the few Japanese Airports without any rooftop terrace 🙁 The spots we listed here are the only ones we know.
Thanks for that. Im going to japan with KLM from LHR to KIX via AMS. I thought I would do some plane spotting both in AMS and KIX. Never mind.. Thanks:)
In this video you can find another good spotting location, the Sora Park for the north runway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sc5gbdGnd0
Thanks Balazs! I tried to visit that location last year, but it was surrounded by fences due to construction works to expand Terminal 2. I’m not sure if it will reopen again…
As Daniel said, the shuttle bus to Observation Hall is now free. There is also a cheaper alternative to the airport hotel as a capsule hotel recently opened at Aeroplaza, I paid only 36€ for one night and it’s super clean.
Thanks for the info, Jean-Francois!