Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING TO KYOTO
Air
While there is no international or domestic airport in Kyoto, the city is within easy reach of
three airports: Kansai International Airport (KIX), which is Kyoto's main international
entry point; Central Japan International Airport Centrair (NGO), about an hour from Kyoto
by train; and Osaka International Itami Airport (ITM), which mostly handles flights from
other parts of the country.
The trip between KIX and Kyoto can be expensive and time consuming; if you are flying
domestically and have a choice of airports, it is cheaper and easier to fly into Osaka Inter-
national Itami Airport.
It's sometimes cheaper to fly into Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda
(IATA) than into KIX.
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
The fastest and most convenient way to move between KIX and Kyoto is the special
haruka
airport express (reserved/unreserved ¥3490/2980, 75 minutes), operated by Japan's
main train company, JR. Unreserved seats are almost always available, so you usually don't
need to purchase tickets in advance.
First and last departures from KIX to Kyoto are at 6.33am and 10.16pm Monday to Friday
(6.42am at weekends); first and last departures from Kyoto to KIX are at 5.46am and
8.16pm.
If you have the time to spare, you can save some money by taking the
kankū kaisoku
(Kansai airport express) between the airport and Osaka Station, and then taking a regular
shinkaisoku
(special rapid train) to Kyoto. The total journey by this route takes about 90
minutes with good connections, and costs ¥1830.
For those travelling on Japanese airlines (JAL and ANA), there is an advance check-in
counter inside the JR ticket office in Kyoto Station. This service allows you to check in
with your luggage at the station, which is a real bonus for those with heavy bags.
