Renting a Car at Osaka Airport
Last updated: April 2026
Kansai International Airport (KIX) is built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay and serves the Kansai region â Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. The rental car counter is on the 1st floor of the Aeroplaza building, connected to the main terminal by a covered walkway. Toyota Rent a Car, Nippon Rent-A-Car, Times Car Rental, and Budget Japan operate here. Japan has the highest car rental standards in the world â vehicles are immaculate.
đŻ Quick Tip
Japan's expressway tolls are extremely expensive â a Kansai to Tokyo drive costs „10,000-12,000 in tolls alone. Get the Tohoku Expressway Pass (TEP) or Japan Expressway Pass at the desk â foreigners get unlimited toll-road access for a flat daily rate (approximately „1,100/day for Kansai area).
Compare Prices at KIX
Check these trusted platforms for the best car hire deals at Osaka Airport:
Airport Pickup Tips
From KIX arrivals, cross to the Aeroplaza building via the covered bridge (3 min walk). Rental counters are on the 1st floor. Present your passport, International Driving Permit (mandatory in Japan â no exceptions), and credit card. Japanese rental is ceremoniously thorough â expect 20-30 minutes as the agent walks you through every feature of the car.
Japanese rental cars are essentially showroom-clean. The agent will perform a meticulous joint inspection with you â every scratch, every scuff, marked on a diagram. This is normal and works in your favor. Add anything they miss. Check that the GPS system has an English language option â request a portable English GPS unit if the built-in one is Japanese only.
For detailed guidance, see our pre-drive checklist.
Explore Osaka by Car
From Osaka, drive to the sacred temples of Koyasan, the castle town of Himeji, and the pilgrimage routes of the Kumano Kodo. The Kii Peninsula's coastal roads are Japan's undiscovered scenic treasure.
Top drive from Osaka: Kii Peninsula coastal drive and Kumano shrines
Getting from Osaka Airport to the City
KIX is on an island â take the Sky Gate Bridge to the mainland. For Osaka (Namba), take the Hanshin Expressway Route 4 (45 min). For Kyoto, Hanshin Expressway then Meishin Expressway (90 min). For Nara, take Route 26 north then Hanwa Expressway (60 min). For Kobe, Hanshin Expressway Route 5 (50 min). For Mount Koya, take Route 24 east then R480 (2 hours).
Times Car Rental operates from Rinku Town, 5 km from KIX on the mainland side of the bridge, with free shuttle. Times is Japan's largest car-sharing/rental network and offers kei cars (ultra-compact 660cc vehicles) at budget rates â surprisingly practical for Kansai's narrow streets and significantly cheaper on tolls.
What to Know Before Driving from KIX
Japan drives on the left. Expressway limit is 100 km/h (80 km/h on some sections), national roads 60 km/h, urban areas 40 km/h. Japan has a zero-tolerance alcohol policy â 0.0 blood alcohol limit. ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) cards are standard â the rental car should have one. Parking in Japan is regulated â you cannot park on public streets overnight. Use coin-operated parking lots („200-600/hour in cities).
Japan drives on the LEFT. Japanese cars are right-hand drive. The indicator is on the RIGHT stalk (you will accidentally turn on the wipers many times â everyone does). Japanese road signs are bilingual (Japanese/English) on highways but may be Japanese-only on rural roads. Enter your destination in the GPS by phone number, not address â Japanese GPS systems use phone numbers for navigation.
Fuel Stations Near KIX
ENEOS, Shell, and Cosmo stations are in Rinku Town and along Route 26. Fuel: regular (ăŹăźă„ă©ăŒ) approximately „175/L, high-octane (ăă€ăȘăŻ) „185/L. Most rental cars use regular. Japan has both self-service (ă»ă«ă) and full-service stations â full-service attendants will pump, clean your windscreen, and empty your ashtray. Tipping is not practiced.
Local Driving Tip
Japan drives on the left with impeccable road courtesy â but expressway tolls are shocking. Osaka to Kyoto costs „3,000+ on the Meishin Expressway. An ETC card (Electronic Toll Collection) gives 30% discounts on most routes and is available from major rental desks.