Hi there!

 

So you’re going to Kyoto!

As the former capital of Japan, Kyoto can be a good place to spend a few nights if you want to experience a lot of historical culture.

There are tons of UNESCO world heritage sites in Kyoto to visit.

 

Tokyo to Kyoto shinkansen bullet train with JR pass. Best things to do in Kyoto. Backpacking Japan with train travel tips.

 

Near Kyoto is another former capital city of Japan with lots of history.

You can make a one day trip to Nara where you can find more world heritage sites in Nara…. and you can also find lots of deer.

Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara are some of the best places to visit in Japan.

To travel around Kyoto with a JR pass, be sure to see where the local JR train in Kyoto goes and where the local JR bus in Kyoto goes.

 

 

Tokyo to Kyoto shinkansen bullet train with JR pass. Public transportation train travel tips with Japan rail pass. Backpacking Japan.

 

So…

Is it easy to get from Tokyo to Kyoto by train?

Yes, it can be!

You just need to get yourself to one of 2 train stations in Tokyo:

Then, get on the next shinkansen to Kyoto!

With the JR pass, there is a specific train that you’ll have to wait for, but there are still frequent enough timings of trains running between Tokyo and Kyoto that it’s pretty convenient.

 

If you’re looking to get to Kyoto using your JR pass, you basically have one option that you’ll want to take.

If you don’t have a JR pass, you have a few options to get from Tokyo to Kyoto by train:

  • Tokyo to Kyoto station by one of these shinkansen bullet trains
    • Nozomi
    • Hikari (JR pass option)
  • Take the slowest shinkansen train (Kodama) if you can get a discount ticket
  • Take local trains from Tokyo to Kyoto

 

And also see an example of local train travel in Tokyo – this is from Shinagawa to Shinjuku, a popular neighborhood in Tokyo. If you are going in the opposite direction, you might arrive at Shinagawa station.

For local travel around Tokyo, it’ll be convenient to have a SUICA card or PASMO card when you can’t use your JR pass.

Also…

If you’re not set on taking the train, there’s also a Tokyo to Kyoto bus.

The bus is much slower than the shinkansen train option though… but it is cheaper for a one-way bus ticket than it is a one-way shinkansen train!

 

 

🗾🚊



More info/pictures below, but... SIDE NOTE!
Where to go from Kyoto?! You can go to to Nachi Falls to see one of Japan's most famous views! You can make it a part of your Kumano Kodo itinerary to go to several UNESCO world heritage sites, also making a stop at the small Yunomine Onsen hot springs town!

Here are more ideas for your Japan trip planning!

 

 

Now…

How to get from Tokyo to Kyoto with a Japan rail pass

Cost with JR pass: FREE!

 

  • HIKARI SHINKANSEN BULLET TRAIN: To Kyoto station
    • Time from Tokyo station: 2 hours 40 minutes
    • Time from Shinagawa station: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • KODAMA SHINKANSEN BULLET TRAIN: To Kyoto station
    • Time from Tokyo station: 3 hours 40 minutes
    • Time from Shinagawa station: 3 hours 30 minutes

 

From Tokyo to Kyoto you only need to take one train, and the Hikari and Kodama are both covered under the JR pass.

There’s really no difference between these 2 trains besides how long it takes, which makes the Hikari your best option.

The one small downside of traveling with a JR pass is that it won’t give you access to the fastest trains, which in the case of travel to Kyoto means that you can’t take the Nozomi.

But that’s okay.

For your trip from Tokyo to Kyoto, the Nozomi train would only get you to Kyoto 20 minutes faster than the Hikari.

 

 

 

 

How to search for train routes for Tokyo to Kyoto with a JR pass

Use the japan travel by navitime website to help you plan your route for Tokyo to Kyoto by shinkansen with a JR pass! And to confirm the above is still true!

  • from: Tokyo
  • to: Kyoto
  • tourist pass: Japan Rail Pass (IMPORTANT!)

 

For general planning purposes, you can list Tokyo as your from. (Remember there’s Tokyo Station and Shinagawa Station.) To know whether you should start from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station, google maps will be good for figuring that out.

 

tokyo to kyoto with jr pass train schedule
👆 Search for train schedule timings using Japan navitime when traveling with a JR pass from Tokyo to Kyoto. Otherwise, I like to use google maps, which will give you an estimated cost of shinkansen train tickets for general travel planning. (For example: google maps train route.) BUT, google maps is not great to use if you want to know exactly which shinkansen train to take at what time if you are traveling with a JR pass. That’s because google maps will give you the fastest shinkansen option, which will most of the time be the Nozomi which you can’t take with a JR pass. That said, google maps can be good for giving you an idea of how much the train from Tokyo to Kyoto will cost without a JR pass.

 

 

How much does it cost to get to Kyoto from Tokyo WITHOUT a Japan rail pass?

Now, let’s say you’re trying to figure out if you should have your JR pass activated when you go to Kyoto, or you won’t be traveling around Japan at all with a JR pass.

Listed prices are approximate just so you can start to get at least a little bit of an idea.

 

Tokyo to Kyoto train with JR pass. Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama. Shinkansen bullet train. How much does it cost? How much time? Local trains. How much does it cost? Train travel with Japan rail pass. Backpacking Japan.

 

Option 1: Faster shinkansen bullet train – Nozomi or Hikari

Cost: 13,710 yen (US$120)

 

  • NOZOMI SHINKANSEN BULLET TRAIN: Tokyo to Kyoto station
    • Time from Tokyo station: 2 hours 20 minutes
    • Time from Shinagawa station: 2 hours 10 minutes
  • HIKARI SHINKANSEN BULLET TRAIN: Tokyo to Kyoto station
    • Time from Tokyo station: 2 hours 40 minutes
    • Time from Shinagawa station: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • KODAMA SHINKANSEN BULLET TRAIN: Tokyo to Kyoto station
    • Time from Tokyo station: 3 hours 40 minutes
    • Time from Shinagawa station: 3 hours 30 minutes

 

Since you are traveling without a JR pass, you can choose to take any of the shinkansen trains, and your best option would be the Nozomi since it’s the fastest.

Apart from the time it takes, there is really no difference between the Nozomi and Hikari.

On top of that, the train timings for the Nozomi are generally more frequent, so it will likely be the most convenient too.

No matter which shinkansen train you take, the price of the train ticket will be the same.

When you buy your ticket, you don’t need to specify which train you want to take, unless you are buying a reserved seat.

For unreserved seats, you can simply go to the shinkansen ticket office and say you’d like a ticket for Tokyo to Kyoto. If you’re buying a ticket that’s not for the same day, be sure to specify the date though.

 

 

Option 2: Local trains from Tokyo to Kyoto

Cost: 8,000 – 9,000 yen (US$85)

As you can imagine, taking the local train from Tokyo to Kyoto will be a LOT slower compared to taking the bullet train. Remember that the bullet train takes 2.5 hours to get to Kyoto.

But if you’re not short on time and you’re trying to save a little bit of extra money, this is an option you can consider.

 

Tokyo to Kyoto by local train:

  • 5 different trains, so 4 transfers
    • Train #1: 1 hour 45 minutes (Tokyo to Atami)
    • Train #2: 2 hours 10 minutes (Atami to Kakegawa)
    • Train #3: 1 hour (Kakegawa to Toyohashi)
    • Train #4: 2 hours 10 minutes (Toyohashi to Maibara)
    • Train #5: 1 hour (Maibara to Kyoto)
  • Total time from start to finish including transfer time: Around 9 hours

 

This is NOT the only way to get to Kyoto by local trains from Tokyo.

There are alternate routes too, but this is just to give you an idea of what it may take to go for the cheaper train option. You would be looking at 4-6 train transfers if you go for this cheaper way.

 

 

How to buy train tickets

If you will be buying individual train tickets, then the easiest way to buy your train ticket is at the train station.

You can buy the Tokyo to Kyoto shinkansen train tickets at JR train stations.

You can buy them at the ticket machines. (There is an English option on the ticket machine.) I have had trouble with these ticket machines at train stations accepting my foreign (US) credit card so it’s best to have cash.

You can also buy train tickets at JR offices. You will find these at major JR train stations. You will get in line and buy the ticket from a real person. You can probably expect a line. You can go in and buy train tickets a few days in advance, but be sure to specify the date if you are not doing same-day travel. Otherwise, they may not ask and will give you a ticket for that day, which will not be good for any other day! (Although, if you do make this mistake, I imagine you could plead foreigner mistake and get it fixed. 😜)

 

Public transportation apps to download before your trip to Japan:

  • Google Maps
  • Navitime for Japan Travel

Have these apps on your phone and you’ll become a pro in no time at navigating public transportation in Japan!

Top tips for using Navitime to get from Tokyo to Kyoto
  • To search shinkansen timings for a JR pass, see the option “tourist pass”
  • To search local trains only, unclick the following under search options: shinkansen, added-fare trains, city bus

 

 

Can you fly from Tokyo to Kyoto?

Yes, you can take a plane to get from Tokyo to the Kyoto area.

You can fly from Tokyo to Osaka, and then go onwards to Kyoto by train from Osaka to Kyoto.

There are airports in Tokyo.

There is no airport in Kyoto.

The best airport to fly out of is Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) since that’s located in more central Tokyo.

The best airport to fly into for something like this is Osaka Itami airport (ITM). (There is another airport in Osaka though, the Kansai airport KIX which is common as an international airport to fly into.)

You can then take a bus from the airport to Kyoto. I have taken the bus from Osaka Itami airport to Kyoto.

If you’re flying into Kansai, there’s a train between Kansai airport and Kyoto.

Just keep in mind, while initially you might find that the Tokyo to Osaka flights are cheaper, consider that you also need to get to the airport in Tokyo ($). And then you also need to do all the things you need to do for flying. (aka extra time getting there early, checking in, etc!)

You can use google maps to help you figure out time and costs for getting to/from the airport.

For example Shinjuku to Haneda Airport: map

For example Osaka Itami airport to Kyoto: map

When doing searches like this on google maps, you’ll want to make sure you have the public transportation option selected. Sometimes the departure time can make a difference. (Like if you’re looking at it for “leave now” and it’s the middle of the night.)

If you select “options” you can see bus options too, if all you’re seeing is train options.

The major airlines in Japan are JAL and ANA.

It looks like checked bags on domestic flights are free, but confirm that:

 

Things not to miss in Kyoto

Okay, so now that you have a better idea of how to get to Kyoto…

Use this Kyoto tourist map to plan out a perfect 5 days in Kyoto!

Or make it a perfect 2 days in Kyoto.

 

HAPPY TOKYO TO KYOTO PLANNING!

 

 

Here are ideas for your Kyoto itinerary!

PLUS Kyoto cherry blossom itinerary and Kyoto fall colors itinerary!


And the JR pass makes it time-efficient to travel around Japan by train and is a popular option among international travelers! See how to figure out if the JR pass will be worth it for you!


Traveling around Japan and can't read Japanese? No problem! Just use the camera on the google translate app!









Is a JR pass worth it?!

  • Google maps can make it easy to figure out whether or not you should get a JR pass!
  • In google maps, type in your departure and arrival city, and choose the transit icon. The route will come up, and so will the estimated cost at the bottom!
  • Here is an example of a train route with cost on google maps.
  • So do that for all of your long distance routes to figure out how much it might cost.
  • Next, go here to see how much a JR pass costs from an official JR pass vendor (and partner of this website).
  • And compare!
  • Not all forms of public transportation are JR, but long distance shinkansen bullet trains are, and that's where the most cost savings will come.




Best of Kyoto (and Japan!)



👇 Explore the best places to visit in Japan!
best places to visit in japan for first trip to japan. famous things to do in japan



There are affiliate links on this page.