A shinkansen train from Kyoto bound for Tokyo
By Train
The fastest, most convenient and most comfortable way to get from Kyoto to Tokyo is by the high speed shinkansen or “bullet train”. This can also be an economical route if you have a Japan Rail Pass. If you do not have a Japan Rail Pass then ordinary non-reserved seats cost about 13,320 yen one way. Reserved seats cost more, and the total varies by train and travel date.
There are three types of train on the Tokaido Shinkansen line: the Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama. The Nozomi is the most frequent and the fastest train as it travels between Kyoto and Tokyo in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. However, this train is not covered by the base Japan Rail Pass. Japan Rail Pass holders can use it only by buying a separate ticket before boarding; the Tokyo-Kyoto supplement is 4,960 yen. If you wish to use the Japan Rail Pass without this extra ticket, your best choice is the Hikari which takes about two hours and 40 minutes to cover the distance. The Kodama stops at every station en route and so takes about four hours.
Platt Kodama is a ticketless one-way and day-trip plan for Kodama trains sold online through JR Central Tours. It can be purchased from one month before travel until 23:30 on the day before boarding, subject to seat availability and exclusion dates. Prices are calendar-based; for example, ordinary-car reserved-seat table lists Tokyo or Shinagawa to Kyoto from 10,960 yen, with higher fares on some dates. Check the official website for details.
During major peak periods, all Nozomi seats are reserved, so it is better to reserve seats in advance. Passengers bringing oversized baggage with total dimensions of more than 160 cm on the Tokaido, Sanyo or Kyushu Shinkansen need to reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area. Baggage over 250 cm cannot be brought on board, and travelers without the required reservation may be charged a 1,000 yen fee.
A JR highway express bus at Kyoto Station’s Bus Terminal
Popular Hotels near Kyoto Station
By Bus
There are a variety of companies offering highway express bus services from Kyoto Station to Tokyo. This is certainly an economical option. However, the journey can take up to 8 or 9 hours. There are also night buses that leave the station in the evening and reach Tokyo at around 6 or 7 in the morning. If you can sleep on the journey, this will save you both time and the cost of one night’s stay at a hotel. However, if you are a light sleeper and find the bus seat uncomfortable, then you won’t be able to sleep and will arrive tired at your destination.
For online booking in English, start with Willer Travel and Japan Expressway Bus Net. Willer is useful for comparing night buses by seat type, toilet, Wi-Fi, charging points and other onboard facilities, while Japan Expressway Bus Net covers JR highway bus services. Most Willer bus stops are on the south side of Kyoto Station.
Willer Express bus stop on the south side of Kyoto Station
Two bus companies have offices near Kyoto Station where you can make enquiries and book tickets in person. These are JR Bus on the north side of the station and Keihan Bus on the south side. You can get information about JR Bus from the Bus Ticket Center in front of Kyoto Station’s north exit.
The Bus Ticket Center at Kyoto Station
Keihan Bus have a ticket office on the first floor of the Avanti Building which is directly opposite Kyoto Station on the south side.
Keihan Bus Ticket Office at the Avanti Building
Bus prices vary by the date of travel, the seat type and the level of comfort. Willer displays availability up to three months ahead and lets you filter Kyoto-Tokyo buses by daytime or nighttime departure, seat layout and facilities. For Shinjuku, Tokyo Station and other Tokyo-area stops, compare the live fare calendars rather than relying on a fixed fare range.
Popular Hotels near Tokyo Station
JR highway buses for Shinjuku and Tokyo Station can be searched through Japan Expressway Bus Net. Services and fares change by date, but the route search is a good way to compare daytime buses, overnight buses and more spacious seat types before you choose between price and comfort.
If traveling to Ueno, Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Disney Resort or Chiba, Keihan’s Kyoto/Otsu-Ueno/Tokyo Disney Resort/Chiba overnight route is available. It departs Kyoto Station Hachijo-guchi H2 at 22:50 and reaches Keisei Ueno at 6:20, Tokyo Disneyland at 7:30, Tokyo DisneySea at 7:35 and Chiba Station at 8:20. Fares from Kyoto/Otsu to Keisei Ueno, Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree are 6,000-8,000 yen, and other sections are 6,500-8,500 yen.
By Plane
If low cost airlines like Peach and Jetstar show a suitable flight between Osaka’s Kansai Airport and Narita Airport in Tokyo, the airfare can look inexpensive. However, you should check the airline schedules, baggage fees and airport access costs before planning around this option. When you include the time and cost of getting from Kyoto to Kansai Airport, and then from Narita Airport to your final destination in Tokyo, it may be just as easy to take the shinkansen.
By Car
It is possible to drive from Kyoto to Tokyo via the Chuo Expressway or the Tomei Expressway. This will take 5 or 6 hours depending on traffic. However, when you factor in expressway tolls, fuel, rental-car drop-off charges and parking, this does not seem cost effective for most visitors. To check routes and toll fees, use the NEXCO route and toll search.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 19-Jun-2026.
