Kintetsu Kyoto Station

Kintetsu Kyoto Station is a separate private railway station run by Kintetsu Railway within the greater Kyoto Station building. You can find it on the south side of Kyoto Station on the 2nd floor. Kintetsu is useful for travel from Kyoto to Nara, Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, and Ise, Toba and Kashikojima in Mie Prefecture. You can also travel by Kintetsu to Osaka Namba Station, but from Kyoto this is often less convenient and more expensive than other routes. See our article on traveling from Kyoto to Osaka for better options.

Table of Contents

Key Destinations

Kintetsu fares and journey times vary by departure time, transfers, train type and seat type. Kintetsu Limited Express trains require a Limited Express ticket in addition to the basic fare, and all Limited Express seats are reserved. Premium services such as Shimakaze and Blue Symphony cost more than regular Limited Express trains.

Nara

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.

There are two rail lines that run between Kyoto and Nara: the JR Nara Line and the Kintetsu Kyoto Line. For many visitors without a Japan Rail Pass, Kintetsu is the more practical route because Kintetsu Nara Station is closer to Nara Park and the main sightseeing area than JR Nara Station. Read our article on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for Nara to find out more about this route.

Train fare: 760 yen by ordinary train, or 1,280 yen by Limited Express
Train time: about 35 – 50 minutes depending on the train

Yoshino

Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture is Japan’s most famous location for cherry blossom viewing. Thousands of cherry trees cover the mountain, and have bloomed beautifully here for hundreds of years. The town of Yoshino has many shrines and temples of historical significance and is a starting point for hikers and pilgrims heading for the sacred mountain of Omine. In 2004 Yoshino was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kintetsu Railway is usually the simplest rail route to Yoshino from Kyoto. Some routes use a Limited Express for part of the journey; others use ordinary Express and Local trains. A common route is to take a train toward Kashiharajingu-mae Station and then change to the Kintetsu Yoshino Line for Yoshino Station. Check the route finder carefully, because some searches may show premium sightseeing trains such as Blue Symphony.

Train fare: from 1,480 yen by ordinary trains; Limited Express examples from 2,000 yen, with premium trains costing more
Train time: about 1 hour 50 minutes – 2 hours 10 minutes depending on the route

Station signs and destinations on trains are all bilingual

Ise

The major attraction in Ise is Ise Jingu Grand Shrine, a huge shrine complex which is considered Japan’s most sacred site. Other local attractions include Ise-Shima National Park, the traditional wooden merchant houses of Kawasaki Kaiwai, and the sacred “wedded rocks” of Meoto-Iwa, two rocky outcroppings in the sea which are joined by a heavy ceremonial rope.

Kintetsu Railway is the main private-rail route from Kyoto to Ise. A regular Limited Express can take you directly to Iseshi Station or Ujiyamada Station. Both stations are in Ise city, but Ujiyamada Station is closer to Ise Jingu Grand Shrine. Read our comprehensive guide: Traveling from Kyoto to Ise-Shima.

Train fare: regular fare to Iseshi 2,430 yen; standard Limited Express total from 4,070 yen; Shimakaze costs more
Train time: about 2 hours by direct Limited Express

Toba Station

Toba is a city by the sea in Mie Prefecture. Attractions in Toba include the Toba Aquarium, Toba Castle ruins, and easy access to Mikimoto Pearl Island, an island museum where you can see traditional women pearl divers known as “ama”.

The Limited Express is the most practical Kintetsu option for this longer journey from Kyoto.

Train fare: regular fare 2,740 yen; standard Limited Express total from 4,380 yen
Train time: about 2 hours 20 minutes by direct Limited Express

Kashikojima Station

Kashikojima Station is in the city of Shima, a seaside resort on the scenic Ago Bay in Mie Prefecture. Nearby attractions include the Shima Spain Village theme park and boat cruises around Ago Bay. The area is also famous for pearl cultivation. Shima is not far from Ise, and can be a useful overnight base if you are visiting the area with children. If you are considering the former Miyako Resort Shima Bayside Terrace listing, check the current Miyako Hotels & Resorts site before planning around it, because the old property link no longer resolves to a hotel page.

Again, the Limited Express is the practical Kintetsu option for this journey. Some premium services cost more than a standard Limited Express.

Train fare: regular fare 3,060 yen; standard Limited Express total from 4,990 yen
Train time: about 2 hours 50 minutes by direct Limited Express

Trains bound for Kashikojima are emblazoned with characters from the Shima Spain Village

Planning Your Journey

For Kintetsu train times and fares, use the official Kintetsu Railway Route/Fare Search and Timetable pages. These are the best sources for checking whether you have a direct train, where you need to transfer, and whether your result uses a regular train, Limited Express, or premium train.

You can also use English language online route finders like Jorudan and Navitime to compare routes. For a broad view of Kintetsu services, see the official Kintetsu railway network map.

Ticket Machines at Kintetsu Kyoto Station

Buying Tickets

Kintetsu ticket machines have an English button in the upper right-hand corner. The fare chart above the ticket machines is also bilingual. You can see a full guide to buying tickets on the official Kintetsu Railway website.

For Limited Express trains, buy both the basic fare ticket and the Limited Express ticket. All seats on Kintetsu Limited Express trains are reserved, so do not board one with only a basic fare ticket.

Discount Tickets

Because Kintetsu train services are run by a private railway company, they are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. However, Kintetsu does offer a range of rail passes and special tickets. If you plan to use Kintetsu frequently, compare the current pass area and conditions with your itinerary on the official Kintetsu ticket and pass page.

Kintetsu Trains at Kyoto Station

Finding Your Train

There are four platforms in Kintetsu Kyoto Station. Many Limited Express services use platforms 1 and 2, while Local and Express trains can depart from any platform, so always check the current departure boards before boarding. If you have not bought a Limited Express ticket, be careful not to board a Limited Express train by mistake.