Why go
- Designated city in Kansai, Japan.
- Served by JGSDF Shinodayama Airfield.
History
Sakai is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the medieval era. Sakai is known for its kofun, keyhole-shaped burial mounds dating from the fifth century. The kofun in Sakai include the largest grave in the world by area, Daisen Kofun. Once known for swords, Sakai is now famous for the quality of its cutlery. As of 1 January 2022, the city had an estimated population of 819,965, making it the fourteenth most populous city in Japan.
Restaurants & places to go
Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00 Wikipedia: ja:かに道楽 · 542-0071 · douraku.co.jp
Japanese, Restaurant · Wikipedia: ja:鯛よし百番 · k069800.gorp.jp
Restaurant · Wikipedia: ja:はり重 · harijyu.co.jp
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Th-Mo 09:00-18:00 · 10, 大阪市, 5450021 · usaboku-coffee.com
Noodle, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Mo 10:30-14:30 · 1, 大阪市, 542-0075 · chitose-nikusui.com
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-20:00 · 1, 大阪市, 530-8202 · pokemon-cafe.jp
Restaurant · restaurant · 1-4-15 Dotonbori, Chuo, 542-0071 · mizuno-osaka.com
Oden, Restaurant ·… · takoume.jp
292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Kansai International Airport (KIX) 28 km to the centre
Osaka, 27, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 51 airlines (All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines Domestic, Peach Aviation, Air China…) · direct flights to 57 destinations incl. Taipei, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Busan… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 51 airlines, 57 direct destinations
- All Nippon Airways NH (737, 767-300, A321, A330-200, 737-800, 777-200…) · 29 routes: Agana*, Bangkok*, Beijing, Dalian, Denpasar, Doha*, Frankfurt*, Fukuoka, Fuzhou*, Hakodate, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Ishigaki, Istanbul*, Jakarta, Jinan*, Macau*, Okinawa, Qingdao, San Francisco*, Sapporo, Seoul*, Seoul*, Shanghai, Singapore*, Taipei, Tokyo, Tokyo*, Wuxi*
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (737-800, A330-200, A320, A330-300, 767, 777-300…) · 24 routes: Bangkok, Busan*, Cairns*, Cheju*, Coolangatta*, Doha, Dubai*, Guangzhou*, Hanoi*, Helsinki*, Ho Chi Minh City*, Hong Kong*, Honolulu, Kuala Lumpur*, Nanjing*, Qingdao*, Sapporo, Seoul, Seoul*, Shanghai, Shenyang*, Taipei, Tokyo, Yantai*
- Peach Aviation MM (A320) · 14 routes: Busan, Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Ishigaki, Kagoshima, Kaohsiung, Matsuyama, Nagasaki, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo
- Air China CA (737-800, A320, A321, 330, 737, 767-300) · 6 routes: Beijing, Dalian, Hangzhou*, Jinan*, Qingdao*, Shanghai
- Korean Air KE (737-900, 777-200, 737-800, A330-200, A330-300, 777-300ER) · 5 routes: Agana, Busan, Cheju, Seoul, Seoul
- Asiana Airlines OZ (A321, 767-300, 777-200, 777-200LR, 74E) · 4 routes: Busan*, Saipan, Seoul, Seoul
- China Airlines CI (737-800, 747-400, A330-300, A340-300) · 4 routes: Kaohsiung, New York, Taichung, Taipei
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A320, A321, 737-800) · 4 routes: Nanjing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Yantai
- China Southern Airlines CZ (A319, A320, A321) · 4 routes: Dalian, Guangzhou, Harbin, Shenyang
- Genesis GK (A320) · 4 routes: Fukuoka, Okinawa, Sapporo, Tokyo
- Cathay Pacific CX (A330-300, 777-300, 777-300ER, A340-300, 747-400, 777-200) · 2 routes: Hong Kong, Taipei
- Delta Air Lines DL (A330-300, 757-200) · 2 routes: Agana, Honolulu
- Garuda Indonesia GA (A330-200, A330-300) · 2 routes: Denpasar, Jakarta
- Japan Transocean Air NU (734) · 2 routes: Ishigaki, Okinawa
- Jeju Air 7C (737) · 2 routes: Seoul, Seoul
- Jetstar Airways JQ (A330-200) · 2 routes: Cairns, Coolangatta
- Jetstar Asia Airways 3K (A320) · 2 routes: Manila, Taipei
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (747-400) · 2 routes: Frankfurt, Tokyo
- Qantas QF (A330-200) · 2 routes: Cairns*, Coolangatta*
- Shandong Airlines SC (737-800, 767-300) · 2 routes: Jinan, Qingdao*
- Shenzhen Airlines ZH (A320, 737-800) · 2 routes: Fuzhou, Wuxi
- United Airlines UA (737-800, 777, 787-8, 737-700) · 2 routes: Agana, San Francisco
- Vietnam Airlines VN (A321, A330-200) · 2 routes: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
- Air Busan BX (A321) · 1 route: Busan
- Air Caledonie International SB (A330-200) · 1 route: Noumea
- Air France AF (777-200, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Paris
- Air India Limited AI (787-8) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- Air Macau NX (A319) · 1 route: Macau
- AirAsia X D7 (330) · 1 route: Kuala Lumpur
- Alitalia AZ (330) · 1 route: Rome
- American Airlines AA (777) · 1 route: Honolulu
- Bangkok Airways PG (767) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Cebu Pacific 5J (A320) · 1 route: Manila
- China SSS 9C (A320) · 1 route: Shanghai
- Eastar Jet ZE (737-800) · 1 route: Seoul
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- EVA Air BR (A321, A330-200) · 1 route: Taipei
- Finnair AY (A330-300) · 1 route: Helsinki
- Hawaiian Airlines HA (A330-200) · 1 route: Honolulu
- Hong Kong Express Airways UO (A320) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- Juneyao Airlines HO (A320) · 1 route: Shanghai
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (777) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- Malaysia Airlines MH (A330-300) · 1 route: Kuala Lumpur
- Philippine Airlines PR (330, A340-300) · 1 route: Manila
- Qatar Airways QR (A330-200) · 1 route: Doha
- Shanghai Airlines FM (A321, 737-800) · 1 route: Shanghai
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (A330-300) · 1 route: Singapore
- Star Flyer 7G (A320) · 1 route: Tokyo
- Thai Airways International TG (380, 777-300) · 1 route: Bangkok
- TransAsia Airways GE (A321, 330) · 1 route: Taipei
- Turkish Airlines TK (330) · 1 route: Istanbul
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM) 24 km to the centre
Osaka, 27, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 4 airlines (Japan Airlines Domestic, All Nippon Airways, Ibex Airlines, American Airlines) · direct flights to 22 destinations incl. Fukuoka, Oita, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 4 airlines, 22 direct destinations
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (Embraer 170, CRJ, 737-800, 777-300, 767, 777) · 20 routes: Akita*, Amami*, Aomori*, Fukuoka, Hakodate*, Hanamaki*, Kagoshima*, Kumamoto*, Matsuyama*, Misawa*, Miyazaki*, Nagasaki*, Niigata*, Oita*, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai*, Tokyo, Tokyo, Yamagata*
- All Nippon Airways NH (A320, 735, 767, DH8, 737, 737-800…) · 16 routes: Akita*, Fukuoka, Fukushima*, Kagoshima, Kochi*, Kumamoto, Matsuyama*, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Niigata, Oita*, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Tokyo
- Ibex Airlines FW (CRJ) · 5 routes: Fukuoka, Fukushima, Oita, Sapporo, Sendai
- American Airlines AA (737, 777-300) · 1 route: Tokyo
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Kobe Airport (UKB) 25 km to the centre
Kobe, 28, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 3 airlines (Skymark Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Hokkaido International Airlines) · direct flights to 8 destinations incl. Sapporo, Okinawa, Tokyo, Ibaraki, Kagoshima… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 8 direct destinations
- Skymark Airlines BC (737) · 8 routes: Ibaraki, Kagoshima, Miho, Nagasaki, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo
- All Nippon Airways NH (737, 767) · 3 routes: Okinawa*, Sapporo, Tokyo
- Hokkaido International Airlines HD (735) · 1 route: Sapporo
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Yao Airport 11 km to the centre
Yao, 27, JP — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Getting there by ferry
Kizugawa Tosenjyou Left
Ferry terminal · 6.5 km from the centre
Kizugawa Tosenjyou Right
Ferry terminal · 6.7 km from the centre
Senbonmatu Tosen Left
Ferry terminal · 6.8 km from the centre
Senbonmatu Tosen Right
Ferry terminal · 7 km from the centre
Funamachi Ferry Landing (Funamachi Side)
Ferry terminal · 7.5 km from the centre · 大阪市
Funamachi Ferry Landing (Tsurumachi Side)
Ferry terminal · 7.5 km from the centre · 大阪市
Funamachi Tosen
Ferry route · 大阪市
千本松渡船場
Ferry route
Kizugawa Tosen
Ferry route
Ochiaisimo Tosen
Ferry route
Meimon Taiyo Ferry (Osaka - ShinMoji)
Ferry route · 株式会社 名門大洋フェリー
万博シャトル 堺旧港／夢洲桟橋（万博会場）
Ferry route
落合上渡船場
Ferry route
千歳渡船場
Ferry route · 大阪市
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is JGSDF Shinodayama Airfield; 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Kizugawa Tosenjyou Left, 6.5 km); routes include Funamachi Tosen, 千本松渡船場, Kizugawa Tosen.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Sakai. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
Rail operator
Rail operator
National rail
National rail
National rail
National rail
National rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Charter, management · Gulfstream, Global · Tokyo and Hong Kong business-jet operator.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.