Parking is available.

Car hire companies Avis, Hertz, Nippon, Nissan and Toyota are among those represented at the airport. Driving in Osaka is difficult, however, and most visitors opt to use the efficient public transport system.

Taxis are available, but the journey takes around an hour and the fare is likely to be very high, so most passengers take the bus, train or high-speed ferry to Osaka. Minibuses go to the major hotels, departing from International Arrivals. The airport shuttle bus service connects to the ferry terminal for the ferry to Osaka.

Tel: + 81 (0)724 55 2500.

None.

There are extensive facilities at Kansai Airport including over 100 shops, about 35 restaurants, bars, ATMs and bureaux de change. A Vodafone shop rents out mobile phones, which are compatible with local networks. Other facilities include massage, free wireless Internet access, a nursery and childrens room. A porter service is also available.

Japanese is the official language. Most Japanese people will have studied English at school, but few can speak it well or understand what is said to them.

The currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY), which is equal to 100 sen. Major credit cards are accepted in the larger hotels and stores, but most Japanese operate with cash. Cash and travellers cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and currency exchange bureaux. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm. Travellers cheques offer the best exchange rate and are best taken in US dollars. ATMs do not accept all credit and debit cards; only the international ATMs in post offices, airports and some major stores.

Local time is GMT +9.