In this article we will look at all your options for traveling between Haneda Airport and Kyoto. Travel options include train, bus, plane, and car, but for most travelers the easiest and most practical way to go is by train.
Though there are no direct trains between Kyoto and Haneda Airport, it is very easy to make a transfer in Tokyo. From Haneda Airport you can take the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa Station, and then transfer to a shinkansen bullet train for Kyoto. Times vary, but with this route it is possible to cover the distance in under 3 hours. Let’s look at the details of this train route first before considering other options.
Tokyo Haneda Airport terminal
Traveling by Train
When traveling from Haneda Airport, we recommend taking the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa Station. The fastest services from Terminal 3 reach Shinagawa in about 11 minutes, and the fare is 330 yen by ticket or 327 yen by IC card. At Shinagawa Station you can then transfer to the Tokaido Shinkansen for Kyoto.
The Nozomi shinkansen bullet train arriving at Kyoto Station
At Shinagawa Station there are three types of Tokaido Shinkansen services you can take to Kyoto: the Nozomi, the Hikari, and the Kodama. You should not take the Kodama for this journey unless you have a special reason to do so, because it stops at every station on the way and takes about four hours. The Nozomi is the fastest and most frequent train, traveling between Shinagawa and Kyoto in about 2 hours and 10 minutes.
If you wish to use the Japan Rail Pass, the Hikari remains the simplest choice and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Shinagawa to Kyoto. Japan Rail Pass holders can also ride Nozomi services by purchasing the separate NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket before boarding. Regular-season SmartEX adult fares from Shinagawa to Kyoto are 13,320 yen for a non-reserved ordinary seat, 13,650 yen for a Hikari or Kodama reserved ordinary seat, and 13,970 yen for a Nozomi reserved ordinary seat. Fares vary by seat type, season, and purchase method, so check your ticketing service before you travel.
When traveling from Kyoto Station to Haneda Airport you can simply take the same route in reverse.
The Keikyu website has an excellent online Haneda Airport Access Guide with train timetables, fare information, and a guide to the airport. To plan your overall route and check the latest departure times and fares, we recommend using online English language route finders like Jorudan and Navitime.
Traveling by Bus
There are no direct bus services between Haneda Airport and Kyoto. If you wish to save money by traveling by bus, you will first need to travel from the airport into Tokyo and then take a highway bus service to Kyoto. This can be an economical option, but a bus journey can take up to 8 or 9 hours. There are also night buses that leave Tokyo in the evening and reach Kyoto at around 6 or 7 in the morning. This will save you the cost of one night’s stay at a hotel, but some people find it hard to sleep comfortably on a bus, so you may find the trip exhausting.
Willer runs an overnight highway bus service between Tokyo and Kyoto
Traveling from Haneda Airport into Tokyo you have a number of options. There are airport bus services to a variety of destinations in Tokyo, but depending on where you are going, it may be cheaper and faster to use the Keikyu train. There is also a Tokyo Monorail which you can use in combination with the JR Yamanote Line to get to destinations like Shinjuku and Shibuya. For these destinations, it is worth comparing the Keikyu route before you choose a bus or monorail connection.
There are a variety of companies offering highway express bus services between Tokyo and Kyoto. Willer Travel is one English-language booking option for Tokyo-Kyoto highway and night buses, with departures from major Tokyo bus terminals and arrivals around Kyoto Station. In Tokyo, buses may run from places such as Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro. In Kyoto, many bus stops are on the south side of Kyoto Station. To find out more about bus routes between Tokyo and Kyoto, read our article: Traveling from Kyoto to Tokyo.
Traveling by Air
At Haneda Airport it is possible to transfer to a domestic flight and fly into one of two airports in Kyoto’s neighboring city of Osaka. These airports are Osaka Itami Airport and Kansai International Airport. Flying can make sense if you are connecting from an international flight or can obtain a good airline deal, but once airport transfers, check-in time, and luggage handling are included, the train is usually simpler. Of the two Osaka airports, Osaka Itami Airport is closer to Kyoto.
Traveling via Osaka Itami Airport:
There are frequent domestic flights between Haneda Airport and Osaka Itami Airport, operated mainly by ANA and JAL, and the scheduled flight time is around 1 hour and 10 minutes. If you can get a deal from the airline flying you into Japan from overseas, then it may be possible to add this domestic flight at a reduced price.
You can travel between Osaka Itami Airport and Kyoto by either limousine bus or taxi. The airport limousine bus between Osaka Itami Airport and Kyoto Station takes about 50-55 minutes and costs 1,500 yen for adults. From Kyoto Station, buses depart from the Hachijo Exit side.
The limousine bus for Osaka Itami Airport
MK Taxi no longer operates its former shared Sky Gate Shuttle service, but it does offer airport flat-rate taxi service between Osaka Itami Airport and Kyoto. This can be convenient for groups or travelers with heavy luggage, but the fare depends on your Kyoto area and vehicle type.
Traveling via Kansai International Airport:
There are also domestic flights between Haneda Airport and Kansai International Airport, but Kansai Airport is farther from Kyoto than Itami, so this is usually less convenient unless it fits your flight connection.
The Limited Express Haruka at Kyoto Station
From Kansai International Airport, the Limited Express Haruka provides direct JR service to Kyoto; both a basic fare ticket and a limited express ticket are required. Airport limousine buses also run between Kansai Airport and Kyoto Station, with the Kyoto Station-Kansai Airport ride listed at about 88 minutes to Terminal 1 or 99 minutes to Terminal 2 and costing 2,800 yen for adults. For full details check our article: Traveling Between Kyoto and Kansai International Airport.
Traveling by Car
It is possible to drive between Haneda Airport and Kyoto via the Chuo Expressway or the Tomei Expressway. This could take 6 or 7 hours depending on traffic, and longer after rest stops or delays. For most visitors this is not cost effective once expressway tolls, fuel, rental fees, and parking are included. For information about car access and rental car services at Haneda Airport check the airport website. For information about car rental companies near Kyoto Station check our article: Car Rental in Kyoto.
Staying Overnight at Haneda Airport
If your plane arrives late at Haneda Airport or you have an early departing flight, you may need to stay overnight. There are several hotels connected to or beside the terminal buildings.
The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda is located at Terminal 3.
Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu is directly connected to Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 2, with Terminal 1 reachable by airport shuttle or terminal connections.
Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport and Villa Fontaine Premier Haneda Airport are connected to Terminal 3 through Haneda Airport Garden.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 04-Jul-2026.
