Kintetsu Kyoto Line for Nara

The Kintetsu Kyoto Line, runs between Kyoto Station and Yamato-Saidaiji. At Yamato-Saidaiji it connects with the Kintetsu Nara Line which continues on for two stops to Kintetsu Nara Station. There are 26 stations on the Kintetsu Kyoto line proper.

Kintetsu Kyoto Station ticket gates

Key Destinations

Toji Station

Just one stop from Kyoto Station and a ten minute walk will bring you to Toji Temple. This Buddhist temple is famous for its five story pagoda, which is the tallest wooden tower in Japan, and also for a lively flea market held on the 21st of each month.

Momoyama Goryo-mae Station

A little off the beaten track, but this station gives access to the sake breweries and canals of the southern Fushimi area. The tombs of two emperors and a replica of Fushimi Momoyama Castle are also in the vicinity. Note that the nearby Fushimi-Momoyama Station on the Keihan Main Line and Momoyama Station on the JR Nara Line also give access to this area.

Kintetsu Nara Station

The city of Nara is famous for its many shrines and temples, many of which date back to the 8th century when Nara was Japan’s first permanent capital. Eight locations are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is the most popular destination for tourists using the Kintetsu Kyoto Line.

A Kintetsu train bound for Nara

Traveling to Nara

There are two rail lines that run between Kyoto and Nara: the JR Nara Line and the Kintetsu Kyoto Line. Of the two, the Kintetsu Kyoto Line is the most popular.

Access to Nara by JR

As Kintetsu Railways are a private company, they are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. If you are carrying a Japan Rail Pass, you may want to use the Miyakoji Rapid service on the JR Nara Line. This will get you to Nara in about 45 minutes for a fare of 720 yen. See the JR Nara Line article for more information on this service.

Access to Nara by Kintetsu

If you do not have a Japan Rail Pass, there are a number of advantages to taking the Kintetsu Kyoto Line.

• Location: Within Nara city, Kintetsu Nara Station is more centrally located than JR Nara Station and has better access to the main sightseeing locations.
• Price: Express trains on the Kintetsu line are frequent, take about 45 – 50 minutes to reach their destination and cost 760 yen.
• Speed: The Kintetsu Limited Express takes about 35 minutes and costs 1,280 yen in total: the 760 yen basic fare plus a 520 yen reserved-seat Limited Express ticket.

Planning Your Journey

Many trains running on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line continue all the way to Nara, but some do not. You may have to change at Yamato-Saidaiji Station and then continue on for two stops to Kintetsu Nara Station. To find out if you need to transfer or not, use English language online route finders like Jorudan and Navitime. These are easy to use and the best way to plan your journey.

For Kintetsu train times and fares, use the Kintetsu Railway Route/Fare Search or Timetable pages. Rail services are usually shown by destination, so check whether your train goes directly to Kintetsu Nara or requires a transfer at Yamato-Saidaiji.

Finding Your Train

Kintetsu Railway ticket machines

You can find the entrance to Kintetsu Kyoto Station on the south side of the Kyoto Station building on the 2nd floor.

There are four platforms in the Kintetsu Kyoto Station. Limited Express trains depart from platforms 1 and 2. Local trains and Express trains depart from all platforms. If you have not bought a Limited Express ticket, be careful not to board a Limited Express train by mistake. All seats on Limited Express trains are reserved, and you need a Limited Express ticket in addition to your basic fare ticket; for Kyoto to Kintetsu Nara, the Limited Express charge is 520 yen.

If you are traveling from elsewhere in Kyoto by the Karasuma Subway Line, you can also join the Kintetsu Kyoto Line by transferring at Takeda Station.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 13-Jun-2026.