ITM-Spot1
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July 23, 2014Osaka Itami Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on January 12, 2025
Osaka Airport (RJOO / ITM), was Osaka’s main airport until Kansai International Airport was opened in 1994. Nowadays ITM only handles domestic services. Traffic is restricted due to its location within a highly populated neighbourhood in Hyogo prefecture next to the city of Itami. Nevertheless, ITM’s handles some 17 million passengers every year.
The airport is accessible from Osaka either by bus or by train (Hankyu railway Takarazuka line from Umeda station, change to Osaka monorail at Hotarugaike station). This airport has only poor airline variety. Most operations are served by ANA, JAL and their subsidiaries. Ibex Airlines also offers a couple of flights. Good weather is common at this airport, but during the hot summer months you sometimes have to face misty conditions or heat distortion.
Written by Maximilian Ono. Updated by Martin Rogosz and Fabrizio Spicuglia. Last change: January 2025 (Spot 3 updated)
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather | |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 14L/32R | 1.828 m |
| 14R/32L | 3.000 m |
| Terminals | |
| North Terminal | JAL |
| South Terminal | ANA, Ibex Airlines |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not required |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is not required as you can reach the spots by foot and public transport. See description for each location. When you rent a bicycle from Sone station (It is 160 yen in 2 hours, in the case of electric bicycle, necessary identification card) you can can ride to all the spotting places. There is also a bicycle rental at Okamachi station north to Sone station. |
| Restrooms | Not directly at the spots. Inside terminal buildings |
| Drinks/Food | Inside terminal buildings or at spot 2 there is a 7eleven. |
| Hotels | Not directly at the airport but Osaka city centre is easily accessible |
| Season | Better in summer due to the north/south direction of the runway and the better climate. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | Due to mountains north of the airport, almost every arrival approaches from the south. |
| 14L/32R | Departures & arrivals of smaller aircraft (usually Embraer 170 downwards) |
| 14R/32L | Departures & arrivals of larger aircraft (usually Embraer 190 upwards) |
 |
Spot #1 – “La Sora” observation deck – departures and arrivals, movements on the apron |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Rooftop of both terminal buildings (both obversvations decks are connected). |
| WHAT | You can see and spot movements on the apron as well as arrivals and departures on both runways. |
| TIME | Best light conditions are in the early morning (until around 9.30 a.m.). Later, movements on the runway are in backlight. |
| MISC. | Oberservation deck open during the summer time at 06:30 a.m. Heat haze from the APU and also from the sun a big problem but the oberservation deck is large enough to avoid at least the APU heat haze. Shops and restrooms inside the terminal, possibly also on the terrace itself. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Approx. 50-100mm for planes on the apron. Longer lenses are required for planes on taxiways and on the runway. |
 |
Spot # 2 – Itami Sky View Park – arrivals and departures on both runways |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Located on the other side of the runway system. By car you can park there directly. The number 25 bus goes there from the airport terminals and the stop for the Sky Park is outside the 7/11 convenience store (it’s the first stop after the bus comes out of the underpass beneath the runway). Buses are every 30 minutes and it costs around ¥150. |
| WHAT | You can see and spot all movements on both runways. There are plenty of opportunities where you can stand because the park is pretty huge. |
| TIME | Best light conditions are in the afternoon. In the morning, movements on the runway are in backlight. The spot becomes useful by around 11 o’clock. |
| MISC. | There is a 7/11 store next to the bus stop. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Below 100mm for planes on runway 32L, longer lenses required for planes on runway 32R. |
 |
Spot # 3 – Harada – RWY 32L and 32R arrivals, RWY 32L lineup |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Starting at Osaka (Umeda) Station, take Hankyu Railway Takarazuka Line and leave the train at Sone Station. Note you can only take the “Local” train service as Express trains don’t stop at Sone. Leaving the station to the south, take the first major street to the right as it is drawn on the map. The walk will lead you below a highway and takes approx. 20 minutes. Just follow the approaching planes above your head. After crossing a bridge above a small river, turn right into the small sand path. |
| WHAT | You can see and spot mainly approaches to Runways 32L and 32R. Besides, ground shots can be made for Runway 32L lineups. |
| TIME | Best light conditions are in the afternoon. In the morning, you have to go on walking along the sand path to the other side of the approach glidepath. |
| MISC. | There are no shops or restrooms at the spot, so buy what you need in the shops on the way or at Osaka (Umeda) station. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Max. 50mm for 777-300 on final to Runway 32L. If you walk back to the street, you’ll make it with a 55mm lens (see picture attached). Min. 200mm for Dash 8 Q400 approaching Runway 32R.
Spot 3B: 787 lining-up: 150mm / 767 landing: 80mm Spot 3C: 767/777 taxiing: 400mm / 737 landing: 140mm / A350 lining-up: 180mm |
Spot # 3A examples:
Spot # 3B examples:
Spot # 3C examples:
 |
Spot # 4 – Inoshita – arrivals on both runways, line ups 14R |
|---|---|
| WHERE | There is no bus stop in the near. If you coming by bus, use the same bus like spot 2 and walk around 30min the next large road to the right. Arriving by car is the same way. There is opportunity for semi legal parking spot at a corner next to the spot. There are actually parking prohibite signs but also locals parking there and we had no issues with passing police. |
| WHAT | You can see and spot all arrivales on both runways and line ups on runway 14R. There are plenty of opportunities where you can stand because the walk way is pretty long. |
| TIME | Best light conditions are in the afternoon. The spot becomes useful by around 11 o’clock. |
| MISC. | There is nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Depending from the location and the aircraft. |
I have a day available for photography in early August at Osaka (travelling by train from Kyoto). As a resident of the UK, I’m mainly interested in JPN domestic / regional carriers, more than international. Do you recommend a day at Kansai or Itami?
If you’re interested in domestic flights, I recommend Itami Airport, which is close to Kyoto. While there aren’t many airlines, you can take photos from close up with the cityscape as a backdrop.
Hello Ian, for JPN Carriers Itami seems to be the better choise as there are only domeestic flights.
For sky view park, the bus stop is No.7, easy to find. I also have a time schedule, if you need to update.
Will be there between 6 and 8 of November 🙂
July or October for a Japan spotting trip??
It is rainy season until mid-July.
After that, it will get very hot, so be careful of heatstroke.
October is better, but due to unusual weather conditions, it was hot even in October this year.
Also, the sun sets early in October, so the time available for spooting is shorter than in July.
Hello. It is a spotter that is often taken on site. When you rent a rental cycle from Sone station (It is 160 yen in 2 hours, in the case of electric bicycle, necessary identification card) Itami airport can go all the shooting places of # 1 to # 3. There is also bicycle rental at Okamachi station next to Sone station
Thanks for the hint. I left a note in the guide.
-Julian
It is named Hankyu Bicycle. I put the URL. I think it would be better if I thought that I could not understand English
http://www.hankyu.co.jp/sp/station/service/rental02.html
P.S
There are other points that can be taken. It is completely Japanese, but if you refer to my blog etc.
This guide worked an absolute treat for me when I visited a couple of days ago. There is some construction works going on at the La Sore deck. But you can still spot from a small portion of the JAL side.
It may be worth including in the miscellaneous notes for number 2 that there are vending machines, toilets and drink fountains available.
Hi, a couple more comments on Spot #2 – the number 25 bus goes there from the airport terminals and the stop for the Sky Park is outside the 7/11 convenience store (it’s the first stop after the bus comes out of the underpass beneath the runway). Buses are every 30 minutes and it costs around ¥150.
Also, (April 2017) there are some building works going on at the airport terminals which affect the views from the observation decks.
Hello Fay, many thanks for this useful information! Best regards, Maxi
Thanks for all that Fay. The bus information was extremely useful and worked an absolute treat.
It should be noted however, the buses cost 210 Yen flat fare for each ride. (July 2017)
Hi. Some comments on spot #2. As mentioned, it is a great place even though the variety is very limited. There are some busses, but I rent a bike from Sone station to get there.
As for food, drink, etc. there is a gift shop with food, washrooms, and vending machines at the park.
Hi Brian.
Thank you for you detailed info about Spot 2, we will add that in a few moments. If you have more you want to share, feel free to let us know.
We’d be very happy to extend the guide by any detail
Marlin