Heading towards Kansai International Airport, or just fancy somewhere outside the hustle and bustle of Dōtonbori? Rinku Town — or, more generally, Izumisano — might be the destination for you. This bayside district, located just one stop from the airport across the main bridge, offers plenty to do.
Directly connected to Kansai International Airport, Rinku Town was opened in 1996 to serve as a “gateway to the world” and a bustling commercial district for travelers. Spanning roughly 320 hectares, it stretches across Izumisano City, Tajiri Town, and Sennan City.
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The town is mainly known for its shopping facilities as well as its stunning seaside views. You can even go swimming at the artificial Tarui Southern Beach in the summer. Because of its location, it has a slight holiday feel, making it a good stop at the start or end of a Kansai trip.
1. Go shopping at Rinku Premium Outlets
Shop till you drop. | Photo by Jane Pipkin
The centerpiece of Rinku Town, Rinku Premium Outlets is the perfect place to save some money on branded items. With 250 stores, you could spend your entire visit just browsing the stores. Plus, if you’re a tourist, you can enjoy tax-free shopping.
Pro tip: As Japan is famous for its many unique flavors of KitKat, we recommend popping into the KitKat souvenir store.
The Roast Chicken Plate, which comes with rice, salad, and soup (¥1,980). | Photo by Jane Pipkin
There are plenty of places to eat within the complex, but our recommendation is Snow Peak Café & Dining. We were initially drawn to it because of its location next to the bright blue water. Snow Peak is a Japanese camping brand, so this café is part of the outlet shop.
It’s definitely not the most affordable place to go for lunch, with most menu items starting from ¥1,780, but the food is filling and includes a lot of quality ingredients.
Expect a lot of meat-focused dishes including chicken and steak. There is also pizza, pasta, and curry. Pampered pooches can even enjoy a specially designed takeout just for them.
The Rinku no Hoshi Ferris wheel during the day. | Photo by Jane Pipkin
Towering over the area, the Rinku no Hoshi Ferris wheel is the first thing you’ll see when you exit the station and head into the heart of Rinku Town. Standing at 85 meters and costing ¥700 a ride, this giant Ferris wheel offers panoramic views of the Izumi Mountains, Senshū Plain, and KIX in the distance.
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Notably, the Ferris wheel is part of a cute little shopping mall called Seacle, which is also home to a food court, bowling alley, shops, and a hot-spring facility (more on that below). It’s a good spot for families with kids, as there are plenty of entertainment options without it feeling overwhelming.
Enjoy the view from “Beyond the Clouds”. | Photo by Jane Pipkin
Following your shopping spree — or if you’d prefer something free — why not simply admire the seafront views? If you walk down the steps from Snow Peak Café & Dining, you can access the seafront and see a bubble-shaped sculpture in front of you.
Called “Beyond the Clouds,” this sculpture was unveiled in 2025 as a symbol of the area, in conjunction with the 2025 Osaka Expo. Primarily designed as a photo spot, the monument frames the sea and sky and lets visitors watch planes take off in the distance over KIX.
If you stroll along the waterfront, you’ll eventually reach a green space known as Rinku Park. It is home to two monuments: the Four Seasons Fountain and Love Rinku (Lovers’ Sanctuary). Here, you can lock your love with a padlock and leave it behind. Then, take a photo and enjoy the stunning views of the airport and Awaji Island — with binoculars provided.
Think this spot couldn’t get any more romantic? Well, this park is one of the best places to see the sunset. In fact, it is said to be one of Japan’s top 100 sunsets.
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Sumo is all the rage these days, and a sumo restaurant is a fun place to dip a toe into the world of wrestling.
At Sumo Restaurant Ochiizumibeya near Kansai Airport, you can tuck into chanko nabe (hotpot) and enjoy a live sumo demonstration by former professional wrestlers.
You can interact with the wrestlers and even step into the ring yourself, if you’re feeling brave. You’ll also be able to see some cool sumo items, including the large shoes worn by Konishiki once upon a time. Another notable feature is the option to try on a kimono (for an additional fee) while watching the show.
You can round off the day with a soak in a real onsen. At Senshu Onsen, you can enjoy both indoor and outdoor bathing experiences. The weak alkaline hot-spring water is said to help smooth your skin.
There is a restaurant on site which serves up local seafood with views of Osaka Bay — and the menu is affordable.
Admission to the spa is ¥900 on weekdays and ¥1,000 on weekends for adults — the restaurant food is extra. You can get your tickets on Klook.
Pro tip: There is also an onsen inside Seacle called Rinku-no-yu. It is known for its rock salt open-air baths and costs as little as ¥680, depending on what you are after.
Other things to do in Izumisano
Izumisano isn’t confined to just Rinku Town. However, it is harder to access other parts of Izumisano without a car. Public transport to the local shrines and nature spots is infrequent, so it requires careful planning — especially if you need to head to the airport later in the day.
Mt. Inunaki
Photo by Getty Images
A recommended day-trip activity if you don’t have time restrictions, Mt. Inunaki (fondly known as Inunakisan) offers an easy hike and hot springs. The recommended route takes just under 4 hours (3 hours 50 minutes, to be exact) and includes spots like Gyōja Waterfall.
Next to the waterfall, you’ll find Shippōryū-ji. This mountainside temple, founded in 661, is the head temple of the Inunaki school of Shingon Buddhism. It is known for bringing visitors life fulfillment and good fortune through prayer.
Pro tip: If you’d rather go with a guide, you can book a guided Mt. Inunaki trek that climbs to Shippōryū-ji through the forest, with a goma fire ceremony and a soak in the hot springs.
Other points of interest along the route include a secluded hot spring, Shugendō Archives Museum, Loyal Dog’s Grave, and an observatory (free to enter). Notably, there are 48 waterfalls to see along the way, seven of which are especially famous.
Note: To see everything properly, the hike may take closer to 5–6 hours.
Interestingly, the mountain got its name from the legend of a loyal dog. Emperor Uda’s dog is said to have saved him from a snake, and he honored this by naming the mountain Inunaki-yama (“Dog Barking Mountain”). The mountain is also one of the oldest sacred mountains in Japan, and is an important site for Shugendō.
From Nankai Izumisano, JR Kumatori, or JR Hineno Station, take the Nankai bus and get off at Inunakisan bus stop. It takes anywhere between 16 and 35 minutes and costs between ¥430 and ¥520 (depending on your departure point). Keep in mind that the buses only run once an hour — check the timetable before setting off.
There is car parking near to the Inunakisan bus stop.
Jigen-in
The oldest temple in Senshū, this temple was built at the request of Emperor Tenmu. It holds the only national treasure in all of Izumisano City — the Tahōtō Pagoda. The pagoda and the Main Hall were the only structures to survive a fire in 1585, while the rest of the temple was later rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyori.
Although it holds this grand title, it is actually considered to be the smallest pagoda (of this type) in Japan. The Kondō (Main Hall) is also a designated Important Cultural Property.
Note: There is an entrance fee of ¥200. An extra ¥300 entrance fee is required to enter the Main Hall and Tahōtō Pagoda. A reservation is also required in advance.
It is a 28-minute bus and train ride from Jigen-in back to KIX, which costs ¥700. However, the bus back to Hineno Station, where you pick up the Kansai Airport Line to the airport, only runs every hour. It is much easier to access if you have a car — only an 18-minute journey.
How to get there
There are a few different ways to get to Rinku Town from Central Osaka — and to travel beyond.
Catching the train from Rinku Town to KIX. | Photo by Jane Pipkin
By train
Getting to Rinku Town from central Osaka is straightforward. Two train lines — the JR Hanwa Line and the Nankai Airport Line — serve Rinku Town Station.
From Osaka Station, you can take a JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service train directly to Rinku Town in about an hour; it’s quicker from Tennōji Station, at around 44 minutes. The fare from Osaka is roughly ¥1,000.
Alternatively, from Nankai Namba Station, you should take the Nankai Line “Airport Express” straight to Rinku Town Station. It only takes 40 minutes and costs roughly ¥820.
By taxi
The most expensive option, but most comfortable. Taking a private transfer from downtown Osaka to Rinku Town starts from around ¥15,000. However, that price isn’t bad considering the car can carry up to six people. It’s definitely a good option if you are in a large group, or just have a lot of luggage to lug around.
Getting from Rinku Town to Kansai International Airport
Photo by Jane Pipkin
To get to Kansai International Airport from Rinku Town, just hop back on the Nankai Airport Line (Airport Express). It costs ¥370 and takes about 6 minutes.
If you are planning to spend the day at Rinku Premium Outlets and then head to the airport, you could also take the 15-minute Sky Shuttle bus. It runs roughly every hour, with the drop-off point at Terminal 1. A one-way ticket costs ¥300 for adults and ¥150 for children, and you can simply board (no reservation required).
Written by Jane Pipkin
Hyogo 33.3 km
