abmj-jr

Yes. The normal time is around 75 minutes from KIX to Kyoto but those early morning trains run on the same tracks as the commuter trains and make a couple of extra stops. The same trains go to Osaka as Kyoto, it is all one line that runs through Osaka on the way to Kyoto. The time to Osaka varies by which station you want but will be 35 to 45 minutes. There are cheaper trains to more interesting places in Osaka if you choose to go there. Try Hyperdia for Namba or Osaka Station.

You really don't have any choice but to wait until you get to KIX to buy your ticket to Osaka or Kyoto as there is no easy way to purchase in advance from outside Japan.

ksandness

Namba (a section of Osaka) is very doable. You may not be aware that KIX is rather far outside the city of Osaka, but you can take the Nankai Express from KIX to Namba.
Once you're through Immigration and Customs, just follow the bilingual signs for ground transportation. It's been a while since I've done this, so check out the Kansai Airport website for more exact information.

Probably the most interesting area around Namba is Dotonbori, which is a few blocks north. Otherwise, you can get on the Osaka Kanjo (Loop) Line, which circles the inner part of the city, and ride it counterclockwise to Osaka Castle, which is a postwar reconstruction but will give you an idea of what samurai castles were like.

As far as food is concerned, I guess you haven't been to Japan before, because that country has more restaurants in more places than you would believe, and most of the affordable ones have either picture menus or plastic models of the food in the display windows. For me the problem has always been not where to eat but which of the dozens of choices to eliminate.

Japan is one of the safest developed countries in the world, and your absolute worst case scenario would be pickpockets, but even they are rare. I would suggest not going into bars that have touts outside or that promise erotic adventures, because they tend to be clip joints, especially if they get their hands on a tourist.

If you're from a country that drives on the right side of the road, be aware that Japan drives on the left, so your street-crossing habits may need a bit of adjustment.

dvs7310

I almost never takes me more than 15-20 minutes from stepping off the plane to being on the train platform, regardless of the airport in Japan. I do have the automated gate pass for immigration, but unless you're arriving at peak times it doesn't save much time, just avoids entry and exit stamps which greatly extends the life of my passport. Unless something goes drastically wrong, you'll have heaps of time waiting for that 7:27am train.

There is no reason though to purchase a ticket before you arrive, trains have plenty of capacity unless peak Japanese holiday periods. Actually I don't even know of a way to purchase tickets ahead of time outside of Japan, but you can make reservations for tickets on some lines. In these cases you don't actually pay until you pick up the ticket anyway and the reservation automatically cancels about 10 minutes before departure if you haven't picked it up yet.

RichardInSF

One or two stops from KIX on the local JR train, there is an outlet mall with some amusement park rides. If you just want a break, that will work although I doubt that it opens before 10am.

nishimark

Here's an alternate idea. From KIX, take the high-speed ferry to Kobe. Walk around Kobe area for shopping, something to eat, etc. Lots of things to see in a less hectic and more compact space than Osaka. Maybe take ropeway to top of Mt. Rokko. Return by ferry to KIX at end of day.

If you want historical sites and old Japan, then Kyoto is best, or maybe Himeji Castle. If you want the hectic downtown Japan feel, then Nanba works. If you want a bit less hectic, but want to walk around and window shop, then Kobe might be good.

pdxkankuu

Your japanese friend sounds kinda... boring. Must live in Tokyo.

Osaka is awesome. As someone mentioned, 06:30 is too early for most things. Stuff doesn't really open until at least 09:00 or 10:00 -- sometimes 11:00.

Dotonbori is a major tourist spot. If you visit Osaka as a tourist, I think you're required to visit or something. =D Good food, good shopping, good people watching, but suuuuper crowded. Shinsaibashi has lots of upscale shopping, if you're into that. You can also kill quite a bit of time just walking the sennichimae shopping arcade north/south from Shinsaibashi, past Namba, and down to Nihonbashi. Nihonbashi is sort of a mini-Akihabara. Anime stuff, electric/electronics stuff, otaku stuff, that sorta thing.

Near tenma station is an absolutely huge shopping arcade.

Food is huge in Osaka. Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki are probably two of the most "Osaka" dishes around. They're awesome. But there's also some really good tonkotsu ramen around.

I... I don't even know. There's a ton of stuff in Osaka. This isn't a country village. >.>

Art Museum?
Historical Museum?
Aquarium?
Castle?
Banpaku Koen?

jib71

Nipponbashi. Must live in Tokyo.

pdxkankuu

Yep, along with the other kansai natives who don't bother pronouncing it nippon.

armagebedar

They must not be from Osaka :P

zebrametalevel, if you want a very Osaka-esque experience, head to Tenma Station and have a beer, kimchi tempura, and "Ethiopia" (fried pigs feet) at Tajima-ya. Open from 9 AM for your convenience You can complete your morning by wandering through the warrens of the Tenjinbashi shopping arcade.

thehawk75

So, for those of us who arrived blurry eyed at 6am, and thought to shower and get our bearings at the lounge by going to the 'transfer', instead of immigration. But only to discover that the lounge really is that dismal and it appears clearing immigration is no longer possible. Thus the question is, is there any way to get out of here and actually clear immigration now? There are lockers at the lounge, but staff here don't seem to think that going into Japan is possible now (or thats what it seems for the extremely limited Japanese I can understand).

Otherwise I guess this is going to be a 10 hour bender on beer and sake... :/

CPH-Flyer

Generally in Japanese airports, once you go through transit security there is no direct way back to immigration. You will need the staff to escort you back to the arrivals level. Which they are going to be reluctant to do. So you may well be "stuck" at the departure area for the day..

thehawk75

I believe you are correct. Fortunately, it seems there is an employee at the lounge who handles these situations, and will escort us back to immigration. However, he does not get in until 0830 (or at least this is what I think was said). Sooo... I shall use this massage chair for the time being.

jib71

Best of luck. For future reference, there's a landside manga cafe / lounge with showers that you can pay to access. Saves the hassle of entering Japan from the gate areas.

Chihster

Giving this thread a bump and see if there is any recommendation for a 5 hour layover in kansai. We will have 5 hours (basically during the middle of the day) in between flights in Kansai next month. Is it worthwhile to head somewhere to walk around and have some food? Or just hang out in JAL lounge?

Thanks,

CPH-Flyer

5 hours is on the short side to get all the way in to Osaka. But it is also on the long side to spend airside in KIX. The lounge is not very exciting. But maybe just the landside shopping area is a bit better. I don't know if the near by cities have much to offer.