From Major Cities
From Major Cities
Because Kyoto is located in the center of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, Kyoto is easily reachable from a number of major cities in Japan by Shinkansen bullet train, standard trains, airplanes, and buses. The recommended ways to reach Kyoto from various cities in Japan are as follows.
*Please be aware that the Nozomi Shinkansen cannot be used with the Japan Rail Pass.
From Tokyo
<About 135 min. via Shinkansen bullet train>
The Shinkansen Nozomi travels from Tokyo Station directly to Kyoto Station.
| Shinkansen (Nozomi or Hikari) / Route | Duration / Weekdays and Weekends |
|---|---|
| Nozomi (Tokyo ⇔ Kyoto) | 2h 8 min. ~ 2h 21min. |
| Hikari (Tokyo ⇔ Kyoto) | 2h 26 min. ~ 2h 59min. |
<About 70 min. via Airplane>
From Narita International Airport (NRT), fly to Osaka International Airport (ITM). From Osaka International Airport, take the airport limousine bus in the arrivals lobby to Kyoto. Buses leave regularly to Kyoto Station, and less frequently to selected Kyoto hotels.
From Osaka
<About 15 min. via Shinkansen bullet train>
Take the Hikari Shinkansen directly from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station. No transfer is necessary.
<About 30 min. via Tokaido Main Line.>
Take the JR Tokaido Main Line directly from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station.
<About 45 min. via Hankyu Kyoto Line>
On the Hankyu Kyoto Line, passengers can go directly from Osaka Umeda Station to Kyoto Kawaramachi Station.
<About 50 min. via Keihan Main Line>
On the Keihan Railway, passengers can go directly from Yodoyabashi Station to Gion Shijo Station.
From UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN®, Osaka
<About 50 min. via Sakurajima Line (JR Yumesaki Line) and Tokaido Main Line>
Take the Sakurajima Line directly from Universal City Station to Osaka Station and transfer to the JR Tokaido Main Line to Kyoto Station.
© Universal Studios. ®Universal Studios. All rights reserved.
From Kobe
<About 30 min. via Shinkansen bullet train>
Take the Hikari or Nozomi Shinkansen directly from Shin-Kobe Station to Kyoto Station. No transfer is necessary.
<About 50 min. via Tokaido Main Line>
Take the JR Tokaido Main Line directly from Sannomiya Station to Kyoto Station.
From Nagoya
<About 35 min. via Shinkansen bullet train>
Take the Hikari or Nozomi Shinkansen directly from Nagoya Station to Kyoto Station. No transfer is necessary.
| Shinkansen (Nozomi or Hikari) / Route | Duration / Weekdays and Weekends |
|---|---|
| Nozomi (Nagoya ⇔ Kyoto) | 33 min. ~36 min. |
| Hikari (Nagoya ⇔ Kyoto) | 34 min. ~54 min. |
From Hiroshima
<About 105 min. via Shinkansen bullet train>
Take the Hikari or Nozomi Shinkansen directly from Hiroshima Station to Kyoto Station. No transfer is necessary.
| Shinkansen (Nozomi or Hikari) / Route | Duration / Weekdays and Weekends |
|---|---|
| Nozomi (Hiroshima ⇔ Kyoto) | 1h 36 min. ~1h 50 min. |
| Hikari (Hiroshima ⇔ Kyoto) | 1h 45 min. ~2h 44 min. |
From Fukuoka
<About 170 min. via Shinkansen bullet train>
Take the Hikari or Nozomi Shinkansen directly from Hakata Station in Fukuoka to Kyoto Station. No transfer is necessary.
| Shinkansen (Nozomi or Hikari) / Route | Duration / Weekdays and Weekends |
|---|---|
| Nozomi (Hakata ⇔ Kyoto) | 2h 37 min. ~ 2h 56 min. |
| Hikari (Kyoto → Hakata) *No service from Hakata to Kyoto |
2h 51 min. |
From Kanazawa
<About 124 min. via Thunderbird Train>
Take Thunderbird directly from Kanazawa Station to Kyoto Station. No transfer is necessary.