Japan
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Osaka
Kansai International is a 24-hour island airport serving the Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto region.
Services in Osaka
- Air freight in OsakaAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in OsakaFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in OsakaImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in Osaka
- AirportKansai International
KIX - SeaportOsaka and Kobe
Osaka's international cargo airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX), built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay and serving the whole Kansai region including Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. Osaka International Airport, known as Itami (ITM), and Kobe Airport (UKB) mainly handle domestic flights. For sea freight, the Port of Osaka and the Port of Kobe together form the Hanshin port area, one of Japan's main container gateways. KIX gives the region direct freighter and belly connections to Asia, North America and Europe, so cargo from Kansai rarely needs to be trucked to Tokyo.
KIX is connected to the mainland by the Sky Gate Bridge R, carrying the Kansai Airport Expressway and rail lines. The Hanshin Expressway network links the airport, the Osaka and Kobe port areas and the city centre. The Meishin Expressway and Shin-Meishin Expressway lead towards Kyoto and Nagoya, and the Kinki Expressway serves the eastern industrial suburbs of Osaka.
Industries in Osaka and how we support them
Osaka has a long tradition as a pharmaceutical centre, with several large drug makers headquartered around the historic Doshomachi district. The region is also a base for electronics and home appliances, air conditioning, machinery and electronic components, with major manufacturers in Osaka and in neighbouring Kyoto. Kobe adds a biomedical cluster on Port Island. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with temperature-controlled air freight under our own air waybills via KIX, sea freight FCL/LCL through Osaka and Kobe, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for urgent parts, and customs clearance through our Japanese network partner team.
Operational logistics facts for Osaka
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Kansai International Airport (KIX) | Pharma and temperature-sensitive freight, electronics, general cargo | International air cargo for the Kansai region without trucking via Tokyo |
| Port of Kobe and Port of Osaka | FCL and LCL, machinery and project cargo | Container gateway close to manufacturers in Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto |
| Doshomachi pharma district | Pharmaceutical headquarters and distribution | GDP-compliant air freight planning for drug and API shipments |
| Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (Port Island) | Medical devices, life sciences, research samples | On-Board Courier and NFO options for clinical and research material |
Customs clearance in Japan
Ziem network
Customs clearance in Japan is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from Japan we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Japan need an importer code registered in NACCS (recommended) and, for some goods, product-specific notifications.
Frequently asked questions
Can pharma shipments from Osaka fly temperature-controlled via KIX?
Yes. We book temperature-controlled air freight via Kansai International (KIX) with airlines offering active or passive cold chain solutions. Packaging, temperature range and handling instructions are agreed before the booking, and we confirm the routing and cut-off times with every shipment.
Do you collect from suppliers in Kyoto and Kobe as well?
Yes. We arrange pick-up and delivery across the Kansai area, including Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and the industrial suburbs of Osaka. Goods are trucked to KIX for air freight or to the Osaka and Kobe container terminals for sea freight.
Is Itami Airport used for international freight from Osaka?
Itami (ITM) mainly serves domestic flights, so international air freight from Osaka normally departs from Kansai International (KIX). For domestic connections to other Japanese cities, Itami can be an option on a case-by-case basis.
How is customs clearance handled for imports arriving at KIX?
A dedicated partner team in the Ziem network clears your goods under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures, submitting declarations to Japan Customs through NACCS. We prepare the shipment data in advance, so you have a single contact for transport and clearance.
What documents are needed to import pharmaceuticals into Osaka?
Pharmaceuticals and medical devices are regulated in Japan and usually need approvals or notifications under the relevant pharmaceutical legislation, in addition to the commercial invoice and packing list. We check the requirements with you before shipping, because clearance depends on complete documents.
Can you clear sea freight arriving at the Port of Kobe?
Yes. Containers and LCL cargo arriving at Kobe or Osaka are cleared by our Japanese network partner team, working under the Ziem Logistics brand. Sea freight booking, customs declaration and delivery in the Kansai area are managed in one shipment file.