Kyoto to Tokyo

Travelling between Kyoto and Tokyo is possible by Bus and train. Train guarantees the fastest travel on this route. Bus is the slowest option.

The most expensive ticket will cost you JPY 16,959 if you go by train; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a bus which will set you back mere JPY 1,838.

It can take you anywhere between 3 and 9 hours to travel between Kyoto and Tokyo depending on the means of transport you choose.

Train is the fastest way to travel between Kyoto and Tokyo. Train will bring you to your destination in 2h 10m. Bus does a much slower job and take about 8h 45m to reach Tokyo.

Travelling between Kyoto and Tokyo can be as cheap as JPY 1,838 if you opt for a Chibamirai Kanko Bus KB4 bus and as expensive as JPY 16,959 if you buy a Shinkansen Train train ticket.

Here is the list of how much you can expect to pay travelling by each means of transport available for this route.

• 57 from Kyoto to Tokyo starting from 21:55 Kyoto city until 23:59 Kyoto city
• 27 from Kyoto to Tokyo starting from 07:00 Kyoto until 21:00 Kyoto
• 22 from Kyoto to Tokyo starting from 07:05 Itami Airport until 20:20 Itami Airport

Check above for a bus, train, flight and ferry timetable from Kyoto to Tokyo.

Flights

Flying is the fastest and often the most expensive way to travel from Kyoto to Tokyo, but with a bit of luck you can score very good deals for as little as JPY 11,202.

Things to remember: Note that some of the airlines may have restrictions on checked luggage weight or require paying extra for check-in, choosing seats or transportation of oversized luggage.

If opting for a flight, calculate the time you will spend getting to and from the airports as well as the waiting time before your flight, getting through immigration in case of an international flight and recovering your checked luggage.

In certain cases all these procedures can add no less than 5 hours to your total travel time.

Airlines flying between Kyoto and Tokyo

All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines

Bus

Travelling from Kyoto to Tokyo overland will inevitably take longer but in many cases it is the cheapest option if you opt for a bus.

Things to remember: For a more comfortable ride opt for a higher-class bus wherever possible. These buses usually have soft reclining seats and are equipped with air-conditioning and on-board toilets.

They often include water, snacks or a light lunch into your ticket price and make bathroom stops en-route.

Companies operating bus routes between Kyoto and Tokyo

Chibamirai Kanko Bus KB4, Eagle Bus EG, Grace Liner GR2 (グレース観光株式会社), Heisei Enterprise HE0 (株式会社平成エンタープライズ), Osaka Bus ZOS (大阪バス ZOS), Sakura Kanko Bus CJ (さくら観光バス株式会社), Sakura Kotsu (株式会社桜交通), Sakura Kotsu SK4 (株式会社桜交通 SK4), Sakura Tourist Bus, Sanei Kotsu KB5 (三栄交通（KBライナー), Shinki Bus HT2 (神姫観光バス HT2), Sugisaki Kanko Bus SS2, Syoei Bus (昌栄バス), Tokyo Fuji Kotsu NT3 (東京富士交通株式会社), Tourist Bus, Tourist Bus TRB, Yutaka YT (株式会社ユタカコーポレーション)

Train

Train is a often a great choice for long-haul travel especially if you opt for a night sleeper train with berths which will allow you to sleep all your journey through. To make the most of your train journey, choose the class of your ticket wisely.

Note that there are air-conditioned and fan-only carriages; private compartments for 2 or 4; hard and soft seats.
Though the upper class you get the smoother is your journey, often second class air-conditioned or fan-only sleepers are a good money saving alternative.

There is a choice of transportation means any time of the day with Bus remaining the most popular option due to their reasonable pricing and comfort.

Out of 1000 travellers who bought tickets for this route

• 85% opted for a bus
• 15% took a train