There are many ways to get to Kyoto from Japan, but you can get to Hokkaido in the north and Kyushu in the south.
The means of transportation chosen will differ depending on the time and distance.

For example, you can come from Hakata, Kyushu to Kyoto by either airplane or bullet train.
If you fly to Kyoto, the airport will be Kansai International Airport or Itami Airport.
Both airports are far from the center of Kyoto, so you’ll need to take a limousine bus to get there.

On the other hand, the Shinkansen takes you directly to Kyoto Station, so you can get there smoothly.
I think there are many people who come to Kyoto using the Shinkansen.

Similarly, there are also bullet trains running from Tokyo in the Kanto area, so there are also people coming from the Tokyo area.
The overwhelming majority of people are using the bullet train!

I’m trying to keep my transportation costs low! If you’re not sure how to get to Hokkaido, you can also use cheap airplane tickets such as express buses, overnight buses, and LCCs.

As for access from Hokkaido, the bullet train is currently over 4 hours away from Sapporo by train.
It is more convenient to fly because the train only goes to Shin Hakodate Hokuto Station in southern Hokkaido.
If you have more time to spare, you can also take a ferry from Otaru or Tomakomai Port to Maizuru.
With the ferry, you can even bring your own car!

Now, let me tell you about the transportation to Kyoto.

From Kyoto Station, the Tokaido Shinkansen runs to Okayama, Hiroshima and Hakata and to Nagoya and Tokyo.

Travel time (*The travel time varies depending on the train of the Shinkansen)

• Kyoto←→Hakata: Approx. 2 hours and 50 minutes
• Kyoto←→Hiroshima: Approx 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Kyoto←→Okayama: Approx. 1 to 1.5 hours
• Kyoto←→Nagoya: Approx 30 to 50 minutes
• Kyoto←→Tokyo: Approx 2 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes

You can purchase tickets for the Shinkansen at various locations, including ticket machines,
ticket windows at JR stations, green ticket windows, and travel agencies.

If you need a receipt for a Shinkansen ticket on a business trip,
I recommend you to buy it at the ticket window of JR station or Midori no Madoguchi if you are not used to Shinkansen.
Even after you enter the ticket gate of the Shinkansen at Kyoto Station, there are souvenir shops in the station,
so you can find souvenirs while waiting for the Shinkansen at the station.
You can also pick up tickets purchased online at the Green Ticket Machine.
Traveling by Shinkansen is easy and convenient considering time and labor.
“Kyoto sometimes makes me want to come here asexually.”
I sometimes hear such a story.
In fact, there are many people who come from other prefectures on the day.
Make up your mind, okay! Let’s go to Kyoto!

I think Shinkansen is attractive in that you can go there easily.

For more information on the Shinkansen, please visit the JR West website.

The nearest airports to Kyoto are Itami Airport (Osaka Airport) and Kansai International Airport, but since Kansai International Airport is located in Osaka Prefecture and Itami Airport is located in Hyogo Prefecture, you will need to take a limousine bus or train to get to the airports.
Here’s a guide to how to get from Itami Airport and Kansai International Airport to Kyoto.
First of all, we recommend limousine bus as the best way to get from Itami Airport to Kyoto.
You can put your suitcase in the trunk of the bus. It’s a good point that you can get on the bus and arrive directly at Kyoto station.
You can also go to Kyoto by train.

If you are coming to Kyoto by air from abroad, the most common arrival point is Kansai International Airport.

Kyoto Station←→Osaka (Itami) Airport
【Limousine Bus】 It takes about 50 to 55 minutes. The bus stops outside of Kyoto Station, depending on the time of day. (Please check the Limousine Bus official website)

Kyoto Station – Itami Airport: 5:00 to 7:00 in the morning Itami Airport – Kyoto Station: 10:00 in the evening
Fare: Adults 1350 yen, Children 670 yen (as of May 2020) Tickets can be purchased at vending machines near the bus stops.
You can also use an IC card, so you can save yourself the trouble of buying a ticket.
IC cards can be used on some flights (some IC cards are not available on some flights)

• ICOCA
• PITAPA
• Suica
• PASMO
• Kitaka
• manaka
• TOICA
• はやかけん (Hayakaken)
• nimoca
• SUGOCA

For more information, please visit the website of OSAKA AIRPORT TRANSPORT CO., LTD.

Kyoto Station←→Kansai International Airport

【Limousine Bus】 Kansai International Airport (Kanku) is a very convenient airport with many international flights and low-cost LCCs operating,
making it very easy to access to overseas destinations.
Many overseas tourists to Kyoto use this airport. There are trains and buses from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto,
but even here, limousine buses are the most convenient way to get to Kyoto without transferring. Fare: Adults 2,600 yen, Children 1,300 yen
● Reservations required for the bus to Kansai International Airport
The payment method is IC card or credit card (Kansai International Airport Terminal 1, Kansai International Airport Terminal 2).

List of available IC cards

• ICOCA
• PITAPA
• Suica
• PASMO
• Kitaka
• manaka
• TOICA
• はやかけん (Hayakaken)
• nimoca
• SUGOCA

For more information, please visit the website of OSAKA AIRPORT TRANSPORT CO., LTD.

Kansai International Airport←→Kyoto Station

【TRAIN】There are many ways to get to Kyoto from Kansai International Airport by train,
but it’s complicated and requires many transfers. JR Kanku Express Haruka is a train that can get you to Kyoto without changing trains.
Travel time: about 1 hour 20 to 30 minutes

Non-reserved seats 2,900 yen
Reserved seat 3,430 yen
Green seats 4,200 yen

The price is relatively high, but I think it’s easy when you think about the time and effort it takes to change trains with luggage etc.

For more information about the JR Kanku Express Haruka, please check the JR West website.

It’s not a hassle to transfer, and if you’re looking for a good value for your money, there’s a ticket for you! This ticket is also recommended for those who book hotels and lodgings not only near Kyoto Station, but also in the Arashiyama and Kawaramachi areas. The Hankyu Railway Kansai Access Ticket is convenient for the area of Kawaramachi and Arashiyama. The Nankai Railway Kyoto Access Ticket is also convenient for the Arashiyama, Shijo, Karasuma and Kawaramachi areas.

Hankyu Railway [Kansai Access Ticket] 1250 yen (adult only)
Nankai Railway Kyoto Access Ticket 1250 yen

It may be a hassle to change trains, but it’s a good way to get some good food and shopping for less money in transportation costs! For more information, please refer to the website of each railway company.

Surprisingly, many people who come to Kyoto come by car. I have heard from several years ago that the number of middle-aged and older people traveling around Japan in camping cars and private cars has been increasing, but in the case of Kyoto,
I think there are many people who come from the Kansai and Tokai regions near Kyoto in their own cars.

However, in the vicinity of Kyoto station and in the center of Kyoto, coin parking is expensive,
and if you use it for just one day, it can end up costing you more than a night’s stay in a hotel!
In that case, you can use a hotel with a parking lot, use it even if it’s expensive, find a coin-operated parking lot that’s a little cheaper,
or you can go to a coin-operated parking lot in the area where the price is cheaper,
and use public transportation to get there.
If you are away from the center of the city, there is also a parking lot for 500 yen for 24 hours, so I think it is one of the options for those who want to keep the cost low anyway. A common case is the mistake of the 24-hour rate of the coin-operated parking and a same-day rate.
I often see this mistake quite often. Since 24 hours is 24 hours from the time you enter the parking lot,
and the same-day charge is the charge of the same day,
it is the case that it is treated as the next day when you cross 24:00 and it takes 2 days.
There are some people who use this service without realizing it.
It’s totally different if you know from the beginning and don’t use it, and you’ll lose the tension of your fun trip.
Kyoto has many narrow streets and one-way streets, so it can be a bit difficult to navigate if you don’t know your way around.
When you come to Kyoto, please drive safely and have a great trip! As I’ve said at length,
the trip begins the moment you leave home. Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable journey along the way!
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