About the day (3rd March)
Today, I took the Singapore Airlines Economy Class flight from Singapore to Kansai International Airport. The flight departs Singapore's Changi Airport at 0825 Singapore Time. In the flight, there is in-flight entertainment, lunch and oshi bori towels offered at the beginning of the flight. During the flight, I just watched The Marvels 2023 movie on the IFE. Meanwhile, Malay/Indonesian music are also available in the IFE.
Pre-boarding
Upon landing at Kansai Airport and customs clearance, I proceeded to find the way to the train station to take the Nankai's limited express rap:t beta to Osaka's Namba Station. For the ticket, I bought a regular reserved seat. The train took approximately 35 minutes from Kansai Airport to Namba.
Nankai Rap:t β limited express review.
There are two railway companies serving Kansai Airport, JR West and Nankai. JR West is the operating company for the Haruka Limited Express while Nankai operates the rap:t limited Express. However, I am going to take the rapi:t from Kansai AP to Namba Station. The limited express is a very popular mean of transportation from Kansai AP to central Osaka. In addition to being a popular mode of transport, as Japan is a train-centric country, it is also very popular among railway fanatics, Japanese or gaijin, because of it's retro-futuristic design and Ultraman-looking exterior and oval windows.
At the Kansai Airport Station, I proceeded to the Nankai ticket counter to purchase the rapi:t regular seat ticket to Namba. My seat is Car No. 2 Seat 26. At 1350 yen, I felt that it is quite reasonable for the quality of the amenties it offers (will be described below).
Ticket for the rap:t limited express.
The train used for the rap:t limited express service is the Nankai 50000 series. The Nankai 50000 series has been in service since the opening of Kansai Airport in 1994 and inauguration of the rap:t limited express service. It is designed by Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, a Japanese architect well known for its retro-futuristic designs in not just the Nankai 50000 series, but also some buildings like the Keihan Uji Station.
A so-called "Ultraman" statue placed at concourse level to welcome fellow passengers to take the Rap:t for Namba.
Advertisement board for Nankai Railways
Going down to platform level to do some trainspotting.
A JR Hello Kitty Haruka 271 series spotted in the background with the front of the Nankai 8300 series EMU in the foreground. JR platforms are visible from the Nankai Railway side of Kansai Station.
Nankai 8300 series
JR 271 Series Haruka Ltd. Exp.
Left: 8300 series; Right: 8000 series
These are trains used for commuter services on Nankai
This is my train:
The Ultraman-looking retro-futuristic looking head carriage of the Nankai 50000 Series Rap:t limited express.
The name "rapi:t" is borrowed from German, meaning "fast" in English.
Interior of Regular Car of Rap:t 50000 series.
Train information can be found underneath every foldable table of every seats.
Map 1: Kansai Airport Access Map
Map 2: Map of Nankai Railway
https://www.nankai.co.jp/sites/default/files/imce/pdf/library/traffic/pdf/routemap_nankailine.pdf
Map 3: Map of Koya Line
https://www.nankai.co.jp/sites/default/files/imce/pdf/library/traffic/pdf/routemap_koyaline.pdf
Map 4 (Japanese): Complete official map of Nankai Railway & Semboku Railway
https://www.nankai.co.jp/lib/traffic/railmap/pdf/240406_area-map.pdf
Class of travel & Seating: In this rap:t limited express, Regular seats and Super seats are offered. Regular seating is 2+2 congifuration while Super Seats are 2+1 configuration with wider seats. There are 6 cars for the rap:t 50000 series, where cars 5 & 6 are Super Seat cars while the rest are regular seating.
Facilities: A very good amount of facilities is offered in this train. As this train serves Kansai Airport, I am very glad there is a lock at every luggage rack for theft prevention, which is conveniently found at every car. Despite only 35 minutes, toilets, as well as vending machines are offered on this train, which again is very convenient for urgent matters. The screenshot below taken from Nankai's website shows the available facilities.
Views from train: The train ride offers views of the sea from the bridge linking the mainland with KIX airport, as well as the towns that the train passes by before reaching central Osaka.
Nankai Namba Station
After alighting from the train at Namba Station, I took some time to do some trainspotting of other Nankai trains before tapping out.
Nankai Namba Station Platforms 7&8
Plethora of Local trains from Nankai
Dotonbori & Dinner
After exiting from Namba Station, when I pass through the ticket gates, I have to sadly part with my ticket as the ticket gate ate my ticket for "recycling" purposes, like other Japanese train stations.
Upon exiting from the ticket gates, I proceeded to the adjacent Takashimaya Department Store to buy takeaway bento sold at the basement stalls to eat at the hotel. To get to my hotel, I need to go past Ebisubashi-suji and Dotonbori. Ebisubashi-suji is a shopping arcade linking Dotombori with Nankai's Namba station.
Area in front of the entrance to Ebisubashisuji.
Takeaway bentos for dinner with my fam.
Have to bid sayonara to this :(
Map 6: JR West Map of Kansai Area Map 7: Map of Osaka Minami Area
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