Osaka to KIX, bus or train?
 

I will be staying at the Sheraton Miyako Osaka which I believe is on top of a subway station.

To catch a 1100 domestic flight to HND, which is faster? Taking the train or the good old airport bus that takes about an hour?

TIA

I think that will depends on how much luggage you have. There is an airport bus departing directly from Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka. There is a bus departing 8:10 a.m. and arriving at KIX 9:01 a.m. which should be plenty to catch your flight departing 11:00 a.m. from KIX.

If you want to take a train then choice is:

Subway Sennichimae Line from Tanimachi 9-Chome station to Namba station

Or

Kintetsu Line from Osaka-Uehommachi station to Osaka-Namba

Subway Sennichimae Line from Tanimachi 9-Chome station and Kintetsu Line from Osaka-Uehommachi station are pretty much same located at the ground level of Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka.

Then from Namba take Nankai Line to Kansai Airport.

There may be little bit of walk transfer at Namba station. I say amount and size of your luggage will determine bus or train.

Fare for bus is 1550 yen.

Fare for train is (assuming taking express train Rapit) 1610 yen if you take subway to Namba, and 1580 yen if you take Kintetsu Line to Namba.

Just to make sure, is your departure airport KIX or ITM (Itami, Osaka domestic airport)?

Is your flight StarFlyer flight 22 (code share as NH [ANA] 3822) departing KIX 11:00 to HND?

Or, ANA flight 22 from Itami to Haneda departing at 11:00? (Notice the same flight numbers, but different flights/departing airports.)

Related question. It sounds like the express trains to KIX take Suica. Buses also?

We have a 10am departure out of KIX and will likely stay at Osaka Station.

Airport bus: cash only from Osaka Station area bus stops (ticket vending machines)

Special Rapid: Yes
Limited Express (Haruka): No (unless you buy the limited express supplement separatly, at which point you may as well just buy the whole ticket)

The non-stop from Osaka station is special rapid, it gets crowded during rush hour

They have always accepted ICOCA/PiTaPa, but the airport buses also now accept PASMO, SuiCa, and the other usual suspects. Note that you cannot charge them onboard, and I don't believe the airport bus ticket vending machines allow you to do so either.

And planning a visit arriving and leaving from KIX, want to buy the JR West Haruka + ICCOA ticket (just like the JR East Narita Express + Suica combo they sell at NRT).

Have 2 existing Suicas, can we just get the Ltd Exp Haruka tickets and load our existing Suicas? And if one of us is a Japanese passport holder, can the other person just buy 2 for both? I do recall to buy a discounted Haruka + ICCOA combo requirements are like Japan Rail Pass, must be foreign passport holder AND tourist stamp to get the discount.

Lastly, I'm assuming ICOCA works inside Apple Pay just like Suica does?

We took the bus as we found the train stations to be confusing (got lost there a few times) and this is one train you don't want to miss. Took a taxi to the closest hotel with a bus stop which was super easy as we did not have to hike anywhere with our luggage. It was a pleasant ride and very comfortable.

apple pay: no.
i think the SOP for using ltd exp is to buy the supplenent using cash... unless you're talking about the Tokaido local line.
i think you need a tourist stamp too, so cant buy 2 using 1 passport.

Just wondering about Osaka airport transport. There will be 3 of us and we will arrive quite late at KIX airport, around 21h30, so I suspect the train will be the right way. Any info or links about the train, prices, etc? I have to say, the bus link I found is not cheap at JPY1950. But it seems to go all the way to Itami airport before going downtown. If we don't make the 22h17 one, we will forced onto other transport. When it's more than 2 people, I think it's always worth comparing with other forms of transport, such as taxis and other car services.

https://www.okkbus.co.jp/en/timetable/ITM/#from

After a one night layover the next flight (on the same ticket, hence the short layover) will leave at 17h50 from Kobe UKB airport. I think the Airport Limousine is probably a no brainer for this.

Now I'm wondering if it just might be smarter to overnight at or near KIX airport due to the late arrival.

Limo bus to Umeda area of downtown Osaka is 1550 yen for adults. Buses run all night long. A different bus goes to Itami airport.
https://www.okkbus.co.jp/en/timetable/UM/#from
Airport website has access details with various options.
https://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access

Can you find a good rate at a hotel on the KIX island? If you can stay on the airport island itself, take the ferry to Kobe Airport next morning (500yen foreigner rate), check bags for your flight, then go into Kobe for lunch and sightseeing - returning to the airport in time for the flight.
Just a thought.