How to Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto

A Train on the Platform

The distance between Tokyo and Kyoto is over 500 km (311 miles), which traverses cross the east and the west of Japan. Shinkansen bullet train is the best way to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto directly, while other means of transportation are in operation; in particular, night bus is a nice choice to save money on accommodation.

Best Way: Tokyo to Kyoto Shinkansen, 2h 7-16min, JPY 13,320-14,170

Departure station: Tokyo Station (JR)

Arrival station: JR Kyoto Station

Time needed: about 2-2.5h

Shortest departure interval: every 9-15 minutes

Ticket fare: JPY 13,320 for an unreserved seat

Shinkansen is the bullet train in Japan, also the fastest and best method to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto. There are 3 series of direct Shinkansen trains from Tokyo to Kyoto: Nozomi, Hikari & Kodama. Nozomi is the fastest, Hikari after, and Kodama the slowest.

Shinkansen Train		Nozomi	Hikari	Kodama
Speed/Duration		2h 7-16min	2h 34-51min	3h 28-37min
Frequency		The most Every 9-15 minutes	Every half an hour	Every an hour
First Train from Tokyo		06:00	06:21	06:57
Last Train from Tokyo		21:24	20:12	19:57
Ticket Fare	Non-reserved seat	JPY 13,320	JPY 13,320	JPY 13,320
Ticket Fare	Reserved seat	JPY 14,170	JPY 13,850	JPY 13,850

Shinkansen Train to Kyoto

JR Kyoto Station

Popular Choice: Night Bus, 7-8h, JPY 6,700-8,800

Highway bus is a relatively economical means of transportation to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto. Although it takes much more time on the way, it’s a cheaper approach in Japan. Especially, overnight highway bus to Kyoto is welcomed to save a sum of hotel expense.

Highway bus is cheaper at an approximate price of JPY 4,800-7,200 during the day, but there wouldn’t be many day buses from Tokyo to Kyoto. It often departs in the morning, and reach the destination in the afternoon/evening.

Tokyo to Kyoto Night Highway Bus:

Departure station: Tokyo Station (Yaesu South Exit) or Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal

Departure time: 21:30-23:20 at Tokyo Station / 22:10-23:55 at Shinjuku Bus Terminal

Arrival station: Central (Karasuma) Exit of JR Kyoto Station

Arrival time: 05:40-08:00 probably the next morning

Time consumed: 7-8 hours

Ticket fare: JPY 6,700-8,800 or even more expensive

Tips:

Before the bus leave Tokyo, there might be several stops to let passengers get on. Usually, Tokyo Station (Yaesu South Exit) bus terminal and Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal are stations the bus would stopover certainly. However, all the information depends on the bus operator.

Please confirm the bus number, departure time, platform/bus stop, arrival station, and more information carefully before boarding.

Night highway buses are equipped with a toilet. Power socket, WiFi, blanket, etc. are also available.

If you would like to take the luxury bus with sleepers, please consult with the bus operators.

Read more about Highway Buses Travelling from Tokyo

Alternative Option: Flight + Train/Bus via Osaka, about 3h & JPY 18,800

As there is no airport in Kyoto, you have to transfer in Osaka if taking a plane. Although Itami Airport (ITM) is closer to Kyoto, Kansai International Airport (KIX) has more convenient accesses to the city.

Railway Station, Kansai International Airport

the Railway Station of JR West & Nankai at Kansai Airport

Tokyo-Kansai Airport-Kyoto: Flight + Ltd. Exp. Train, 3h & JPY 12,700 at least

	Tokyo-Kansai Airport Flight	Kansai Airport-Kyoto Ltd. Exp. Train
Duration	1h 15-40min	1h 15-32min
Frequency	6-7 flights from Narita Airport 11-12 flights from Haneda Airport	Every half an hour or so
First Flight/Train	08:00 at Narita Airport 07:05 at Haneda Airport	06:31 (weekdays) 06:40 (weekends & holidays)
Last Flight/Train	20:40 at Narita Airport 21:00 at Haneda Airport	22:16
Ticket Fare	JPY 15,767-31,837 JPY 9520 or lower for budget flights	JPY 3,110 (unreserved seat) JPY 3,640 (reserved seat)

The JR train station of Kansai Airport is connected with the 2F of T1.

Airport Bus from Kansai Airport to Kyoto: 1h 25-40min & JPY 2,800

Time Needed	1h 25-30min from T1 (about 11min between T1 & T2)
Departure Stop	No.8 bus stop, 1F of T1 / No.2 bus stop, T2
Arrival Stop	Kyoto Sta. Hachijoguchi (Hachijo-guchi Exit)
Departure Interval	20-30 minutes 1 hour or so early in the morning & late at night
First Bus	06:45 from T1 (Departing from T2, the first bus is at 09:37.)
Last Bus	22:52 from T2 (origin station) & 23:05 from T1 after a stopover
Ticket Fare	JPY 2,800 for an one-way trip per adult

The airport bus reaches Kyoto Sta. eventually as having a stopover at Highway Kyotanabe for dropping off on the way.

Reaching Itami Airport from Tokyo, you have to transfers in Osaka city to reach Kyoto if taking the trains. Nevertheless, the airport bus from Itami Airport to Kyoto is relatively convenient.

Itami Airport to Kyoto Bus: 50min & JPY 1,340

Time Needed	50 minutes
Departure Stop	No.2 bus stop, 1F, Itami Airport
Arrival Stop	Kyoto Sta. Hachijoguchi (Hachijo-guchi Exit)
Departure Interval	20 minutes or so
First & Last Bus	08:00 / 21:15
Ticket Fare	JPY 1,340 per adult

Cheap but Time-Consuming: Normal Train Transfers, 7.5-9h & JPY 8,360 at least

It is also an option that you can change trains all the way from Tokyo to Kyoto, if you would enjoy the slow train trip or plan to visit someplace on the way. It would take a longer time to reach Kyoto, with a few transfers. However, the fare for normal trains is cheaper than the direct Shinkansen bullet train, especially the local trains that would stop at each station.

You can search the reasonable routes via the map or train apps. Generally speaking, the major transfer stations include Nagoya, Maibara, and so on. For departure in Tokyo, JR Shinjuku Sta. is also a big station in addition to Tokyo Station.

Taking the local train all along, you may cost JPY 8,360 at least from Tokyo to Kyoto. If you take one or more limited express trains, of either JR or private railways, it would be faster and relatively expensive as the price may be as high as JPY 13,870 in total or even higher.