Tokyo to Kyoto

Travelling between Tokyo and Kyoto 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 19,786 if you go by Train; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a bus which will set you back mere JPY 2,762.

It can take you anywhere between 3 and 10 hours to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto depending on the means of transport you choose.

Train is the fastest way to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto. Train will bring you to your destination in 2h 15m. Bus does a much slower job and take about 9h 5m to reach Kyoto.

Travelling between Tokyo and Kyoto can be as cheap as JPY 2,762 if you opt for a Tourist Bus TRB bus and as expensive as JPY 19,786 if you buy a Shinkansen JR Central Train ticket.

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

• 2 by flight+Train from Tokyo to Kyoto starting from 07:05 Kansai International Airport until 12:45 Kansai International Airport
• 1 from Tokyo to Kyoto starting from 08:40 Kyoto city until 23:45 Kyoto city
• 1 from Tokyo to Kyoto starting from 06:00 Kyoto until 21:24 Kyoto

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

Bus

Travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto 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 Tokyo and Kyoto

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), Kintetsu Bus ZKN2, Nishi Tokyo Bus XNTK4, Nishi Tokyo Bus XNTK6, Osaka Bus ZOS4 (大阪バス ZOS4), Sakura Kanko Bus CJ (さくら観光バス株式会社), Sakura Kotsu SK4 (株式会社桜交通 SK4), Sakura Kotsu SK6, Sugisaki Kanko Bus SS2, Sunshine Express SN6, Tokyo Fuji Kotsu NT3 (東京富士交通株式会社), 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

• 96% opted for a bus
• 4% took a train