Airport-pier options in Japan

In ITN’s October ’05 “Person to Person” section, on page 126 Mr. William Suter asked for information on reasonably priced ways to get to the cruise ship pier near Osaka, Japan, from Kansai International Airport (KIX). I would like to give some suggestions.

First, be aware that near Osaka, which is farther inland, there are two ferry terminals near each other on the coast. KIX itself is on a manmade island.

• KIX to Tempozan ferry terminal — The distance between KIX and Tempozan (for the ferry terminal) is 41 kilometers (25½ miles). You can take an Airport Limousine Bus from KIX to Tempozan; it takes about 60 minutes and costs ¥1,300 (about $11) per person. You can then take a taxi from Tempozan to the ferry terminal; it takes two to three minutes and costs ¥650 ($5). The total cost for two will be ¥3,250 ($27).

If you want to take a taxi directly from KIX to the ferry terminal, it costs about ¥13,500 ($120).

For info on the Airport Limousine Bus, visit the website for Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise.

• KIX to the international ferry terminal — Just in case your cruise terminal is not at Tempozan but is the international ferry terminal in Kobe (officially called Terminal Kobe Port Terminal/Naka Pier Passenger Terminal), take an Airport Limousine Bus from KIX to Sannomia Station; it takes about 65 minutes and costs ¥1,800 ($15) per person. Then take a taxi to the international ferry terminal (Kobe); it takes about 15 minutes and costs about ¥2,000 ($17). The total cost for two will be ¥5,600 ($47).

Or you may take a taxi directly from KIX; it takes about 60 to 75 minutes and costs about ¥20,000 ($180).

Just for your information, I am offering the following as well.

• Narita to Tokyo pier — To get from Tokyo International Airport (Narita) to the Tokyo pier (Harumi Passenger Terminal, Hinode Pier), you can take an Airport Limousine Bus from Narita to Tokyo Station; it takes about 80 minutes and costs ¥3,000 ($25) per person. Then take a taxi to the Tokyo pier; it takes about 15 minutes and costs ¥2,000 ($15).

• Narita to Yokohama pier — To get from Narita to the Yokohama pier (Yokohama International Passenger Terminal, Osanbashi Pier), you can take an Airport Limousine Bus from Narita Airport to the Pan Pacific Hotel Yokohama; it takes about two hours and costs ¥3,500 ($29) per person. Then take a taxi to the Yokohama pier; it takes about 10 minutes and costs about ¥1,500.

For a Narita Airport route guide, visit www.limousinebus.co.jp/e/index_route.html.

If you have additional questions, please contact the Japan National Tourist Organization (in Los Angeles at 213/623-1952, e-mail info@jnto-lax.org or visit www.japantravelinfo.com and www.jnto.go.jp).

YOHKO SCOTT, Japan National Tourist Organization, 515 S. Figueroa St #1470, Los Angeles, CA 90071