Which cafes you can use at Itami Airport (Osaka International Airport) varies greatly depending on which of the three terminals — North, Central, or South — you’re in, and whether you’re before or after security.

The short answer: the widest range of options is in the pre-security area of the Central Terminal, home to popular spots like Le Pain Kobe Kitano, DEAN & DELUCA, and Maruei Coffee. If you’ve just arrived or are waiting to pick someone up, be sure to check the “can you use it without going through security?” section below before heading over.

Note: The information in this article is current as of August 2026. Business hours and prices are subject to change, so please check each shop’s or the airport’s official website for the latest details.

Itami Airport Cafe Basics: North, Central, and South Terminals, and Before vs. After Security

Itami Airport is made up of three sections — the North Terminal, Central Terminal, and South Terminal — and a key feature is that the pre- and post-security areas are separate for each terminal. Unlike some other airports, it’s not the case that “the pre-security area is shared across all terminals,” so keep that in mind.

Terminal	Main Floors	Security	General Shop Trends
Central Terminal	1F, 2F, 3F, 4F	Mostly pre-security	Le Pain Kobe Kitano, DEAN & DELUCA, Maruei Coffee, Osaka Airport Winery, etc.
North Terminal	2F	Mix of pre- and post-security	Ueshima Coffee (pre-security), Lounge & Bar Grand Bleu, &COFFEE MAISON KAYSER (post-security)
South Terminal	2F	Mix of pre- and post-security	551 Horai (pre-security), Starbucks, Dotonbori Imai (post-security)

The first step to choosing a cafe at Itami Airport is checking two things: which terminal you’re in, and whether you’re before or after security.

Cafes Recommended for After Arrival or While Waiting to Pick Someone Up

Photo source: Itami Airport official website (https://www.osaka-airport.co.jp/shop-and-dine/dine)

At Itami Airport, whether you can use a cafe right after arrival depends on the individual shop. Shops in the pre-security area of the Central Terminal remain accessible after arrival, but shops in the post-security areas of the North and South Terminals are only accessible to passengers before or after boarding.

Cafes You Can Use Right Away in the Arrival Lobby

Sachifukuya Cafe Osaka International Airport is mentioned in reviews as a spot for after arrival, with comments like “Our three-day, two-night trip was over, and we were back at Osaka Airport. After picking up our bags and heading out to the arrival lobby…” — making it well-suited for a break right after landing.

Central Terminal Cafes You Can Use Without Going Through Security

Le Pain Kobe Kitano, DEAN & DELUCA, Maruei Coffee, Osaka Airport Winery, and others on the 2F, 3F, and 4F of the Central Terminal are all in the pre-security area, so they’re accessible not only to passengers about to board, but also to people waiting to pick someone up after arrival, or those with time between connecting flights.

Note: The Post-Security Areas of the North and South Terminals Aren’t Accessible After Arrival

Lounge & Bar Grand Bleu (North Terminal), &COFFEE MAISON KAYSER (North Terminal), and Starbucks (South Gate Area location) are all located in post-security areas. These can only be used by passengers before boarding, or by those who have just come out of the post-security area after arriving — you can’t re-enter them after arrival. If you want to take a break after arriving, heading to the pre-security area of the Central Terminal is your safest bet.

Central Terminal Cafes: Mostly Pre-Security Options

Photo source: Itami Airport official website (https://www.osaka-airport.co.jp/shop-and-dine/dine)

The Central Terminal is home to some of the most popular cafes at Itami Airport.

• Le Pain Kobe Kitano Itami Airport (Central Block 2F, 6:30 AM–9:30 PM): A bakery cafe run directly by Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland. It has high review counts and ratings on Tabelog, and its breakfast bakery set — winner of Rakuten Travel’s “Breakfast Festival” — is a signature item. You can also get a full meal, such as the simmered beef tendon curry set.
• DEAN & DELUCA Cafe Itami Airport (Central Block 3F, 6:30 AM–9:30 PM, last order 9:00 PM): Open from as early as 6:30 AM, with popular items including toast and coffee, and the pastrami egg sandwich.
• Maruei Coffee Itami Airport (Central Block 2F, 6:30 AM–9:30 PM): A long-established coffee shop with a retro Showa-era atmosphere. It also has terrace seating, and is popular for leisurely visits when you have time to spare, as one review put it: “My domestic flight isn’t for another 2 hours and 15 minutes, so I’m taking my time with tea here.”
• STEAK&BURGER Cafe NICK STOCK Itami Airport (Central Block 2F, 6:30 AM–9:30 PM): Equipped with power outlets and free Wi-Fi, with a spacious interior that’s easy to use even with a suitcase in tow. The signature Nick Burger is the star item, and since it’s open until 9:30 PM, it’s also handy for waiting out a late flight.
• Osaka Airport Winery (Central Terminal 3F, 10:00 AM–10:00 PM): The world’s first winery attached to an airport, paired with a wine bar. You can enjoy a glass of wine and food while watching the winemaking in progress.
• Sachifukuya Cafe Osaka International Airport (Central Terminal 2F, 6:30 AM–9:30 PM): A Japanese-food-focused cafe covering everything from breakfast (buffet, 6:30–11:00 AM) to the regular menu.

North and South Terminal Cafes: Note the Split Between Pre- and Post-Security

Photo source: Itami Airport official website (https://www.osaka-airport.co.jp/shop-and-dine/dine)

In the North and South Terminals, which shops you can use changes depending on whether you’re before or after security, even on the same floor.

North Terminal

• Ueshima Coffee Osaka International Airport (2F, 6:30 AM–8:00 PM, pre-security): One review describes a typical use case: “I was tired from the long trip, so I figured I’d head to the departure lobby early and take it easy.”
• Lounge & Bar Grand Bleu Itami Airport (2F, 6:30 AM–8:20 PM, post-security): A calm, hotel-lounge-like space where you can relax over a breakfast bread set.
• &COFFEE MAISON KAYSER Itami Airport (2F, 6:30 AM–8:20 PM, post-security): One review describes it as “one of the few places on the JAL side, after the security check, where you can order a hot coffee” — making it a valuable hot-drink option in the post-security area.

South Terminal

• 551 Horai (2F, 8:30 AM–8:00 PM Mon–Thu, 8:30 AM–9:00 PM Fri/Sat/Sun/holidays, pre-security): You can enjoy freshly made pork buns — a classic Kansai souvenir — eaten in. A breakfast menu is also available from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.
• Starbucks Coffee Osaka International Airport Domestic South Gate Area (2F, 6:30 AM–8:30 PM, post-security): One of the few chain cafes available in the post-security area of the South Terminal.

Recommendations by Purpose

Photo source: Itami Airport official website (https://www.osaka-airport.co.jp/shop-and-dine/dine)

For Those Who Want to Watch Planes While They Relax

NORTHSHORE CAFE&DINING (Central Terminal 4F, 10:00 AM–8:00 PM) is a two-story cafe facing the observation deck, where you can dine on the terrace seating while watching planes. Its vegetable-packed sandwiches are popular, and the menu includes plenty of photogenic options.

For Those Who Want to Work with Power Outlets and Wi-Fi

STEAK&BURGER Cafe NICK STOCK is equipped with power outlets and free Wi-Fi, making it easy to use even with a suitcase, and its relatively long hours — open until 9:30 PM — are a plus.

For Those Who Want a Proper Meal

Shops that lean more toward restaurants than cafes — such as Mimiu (the birthplace of udonsuki), Osaka Okonomiyaki Seijuro, and Maguroya Ebisu — are also clustered in the pre-security area of the Central Terminal.

For Winter Travelers and Inbound Visitors

DEAN & DELUCA Cafe Itami Airport is one of the few shops whose official website offers menu descriptions in English and Chinese (both Simplified and Traditional). Since multilingual support varies by shop, we recommend checking directly before entering if you have specific dietary restrictions or need language support.

NearMe Is Also a Great Option for Getting To and From Itami Airport!

When heading to Itami Airport, we recommend using NearMe, which takes you directly from anywhere you like with no transfers.

Overview

NearMe is a flat-rate transfer service that picks you up directly from wherever you like — your home, a hotel, and more — and takes you straight to the airport. It has served over 1.45 million passengers, with a rider satisfaction score of 4.6 out of 5.0 (based on results from October 2019 to May 2025). For Itami Airport, pricing pages are split between the Osaka/Hyogo area and the Kyoto area.

• Shared ride: from ¥1,980 per person for the Osaka/Hyogo area, from ¥3,980 for the Kyoto area
• Private hire (flat-rate car): from ¥8,980 per vehicle for the Osaka/Hyogo area, from ¥20,800 for the Kyoto area

With a “shared ride,” where you ride together with other passengers, you can save up to 80% compared to a regular taxi.

How to Use It and Pricing

Between Osaka Station and Itami Airport (Osaka/Hyogo route), pricing and travel times are as follows.

Mode of Transport	Approx. Price	Travel Time	Notes
NearMe (shared ride)	About ¥2,980	About 15 min.+	Includes expressway tolls, door-to-door
Airport limousine bus	About ¥650	About 35 min.+	Requires travel to/from the bus stop and wait time
Taxi	About ¥5,700	About 15 min.+	Poor value for 1–3 people; pickup and expressway fees extra
Private car	About ¥4,090	About 15 min.+	Pickup and expressway fees extra, risk of full parking

For the Kyoto route (Gion-Shijo Station ⇔ Itami Airport), pricing is as follows.

Mode of Transport	Approx. Price	Travel Time	Notes
NearMe (shared ride)	About ¥3,980	About 45 min.+	Includes expressway tolls, door-to-door
Airport limousine bus	About ¥1,660	About 70 min.+	Requires travel to/from the bus stop and wait time
Taxi	About ¥19,760	About 40 min.+	Poor value for 1–3 people; pickup and expressway fees extra
Private car	About ¥5,580	About 45 min.+	Pickup and expressway fees extra, risk of full parking

In addition, here’s the per-person pricing (for shared rides) by pickup/drop-off area.

Osaka/Hyogo Area

Pickup/Drop-off Area	NearMe	Taxi Reference Price
Suita City, Ikeda City, Toyonaka City, Minoh City, Osaka City (Yodogawa, Nishiyodogawa, Higashiyodogawa Wards), Itami City, Hyogo	From ¥1,980	From ¥3,500
Osaka City (Kita, Fukushima, Chuo, Nishi Wards), Takarazuka City, Hyogo	From ¥2,980	From ¥5,300

Kyoto Area

Pickup/Drop-off Area	NearMe	Taxi Reference Price
Kyoto City, Nagaokakyo City	From ¥3,980	From ¥10,900
Kyoto City (parts of Ukyo, Sakyo, Kita Wards), Uji City, Joyo City, Kyotanabe City, Ide Town	From ¥4,480	From ¥11,900

How to Get Even Better Value

• Early-bird discount: Book at least 14 days before your ride for a discounted price
• Shared-ride discount: Discounted pricing when there’s already another passenger, or conditions (date/time and route) make one easy to find
• Group discount: Up to about 70% off per person as the group size grows
• Children ride at half the adult fare, infants ride free
• One suitcase is free; oversized luggage is +¥1,000 per item
• Earn ANA, JAL, or Starflyer miles when you use a shared ride
• Full refund guarantee in case of flight delays

NearMe Is a Great Fit If You…

• Live near the airport in Suita City, Ikeda City, Toyonaka City, or Itami City
• Feel unsure about driving, or would rather not drive
• Have a lot of luggage, like large suitcases, that makes changing trains a hassle
• Are heading to the airport with family or friends
• Are taking an early-morning or late-night flight

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Which terminal at Itami Airport has the most cafe options?
A. The Central Terminal (1F–4F) offers the widest range of choices, with popular shops concentrated in the pre-security area.

Q. Which cafes can I use right after arrival?
A. Sachifukuya Cafe Osaka International Airport is close to the arrival lobby, and reviews mention using it right after landing. Shops in the pre-security area of the Central Terminal are also accessible to people after arrival or while waiting to pick someone up.

Q. Can I use shops in the North and South Terminals after arrival?
A. Shops in the pre-security area (e.g., Ueshima Coffee, 551 Horai) remain accessible after arrival, but shops in the post-security area (Lounge & Bar Grand Bleu, &COFFEE MAISON KAYSER, etc.) can only be used by passengers before or after boarding. Be sure to check which area a shop is in ahead of time.

Q. Is there a cafe where I can watch planes while I relax?
A. NORTHSHORE CAFE&DINING (Central Terminal 4F) faces the observation deck, letting you dine on the terrace seating while watching planes.

Q. Are there any shops with multilingual menus?
A. DEAN & DELUCA Cafe Itami Airport has menu descriptions available in English and Chinese (both Simplified and Traditional) on its official website. Support varies from shop to shop, so we recommend checking directly.

Q. Which is ultimately better value for getting to Itami Airport — parking, or NearMe?
A. Between Osaka Station and Itami Airport, NearMe’s shared ride (from about ¥2,980) is cheaper than a taxi (about ¥5,700), and on the Kyoto route (Gion-Shijo Station ⇔ Itami Airport), it can bring the cost down to about a fifth of a taxi fare (about ¥19,760). NearMe is especially recommended if you have a lot of luggage or would rather not drive.

Summary

When choosing a cafe at Itami Airport, the basic approach is to first check two things: which terminal you’re in — North, Central, or South — and whether you’re before or after security. The Central Terminal has the advantage in terms of sheer number of options, and it’s also the most convenient area for after arrival or while waiting to pick someone up. Keep in mind that the post-security areas of the North and South Terminals aren’t accessible directly after arrival.

Also, when heading to Itami Airport, we recommend giving NearMe a try for door-to-door travel. Whether you’re coming from Osaka Station or the Kyoto area, it offers better value than a taxi. Give it a try the next time you use Itami Airport.