It is quite a late arrival though (21h35) and I expect at least 45 minutes for disembarkation, immigration and baggage reclaim. 60 minutes is probably more likely. I have booked the Hatago Inn which is on the mainland just off the causeway to Kansai airport. The hotel is just 200m from the first train station of Rinku-Town.

My plan is to take the ferry from the airport the next morning after breakfast, check in the luggage at Kobe airport (I presume this will be possible for a late afternoon departure to Sapporo) then explore Kobe. I am looking forward to doing a tour of the bakeries and sampling lots of things! The fugu fish can wait!!

EDIT - I have just seen that the Hotel Aston Plaza Kansai Airport is offering a much better rate which includes breakfast and a free airport transfer. Luckily I booked a refundable rate for the Hatago! It's a couple of kilometers further away from the airport, making it 7 instead of 5. That said, for saving 30 Euros and having a free transfer (although I don't expect the train to Rinku-Town to cost much, but you never know), the place has a really soulless and empty look and feel about it (from the pics on hotels.com). But we'll be in late, and out fairly promptly the next morning. Just a place to sleep, really. Ha, and the rate is non refundable!