By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 27 May 2024 | Updated: 26th January 2026
Nara is a great place for a day trip from Kyoto. With beautiful gardens, temples, shrines and a park filled with friendly deer, why wouldn’t you want to visit? So what is the best way to get from Kyoto to Nara?
Getting Around Japan
When planning a trip to Japan, one of the best ways to get around is via public transport. Having visited Japan a couple of times, we would always opt for taking the train over driving, especially if you plan on visiting the typical tourist areas or cities.
The most popular option for getting around is the Japan Rail Pass, an all-in-one pass which includes most public transport across Japan. With this pass, you simply need to exchange the voucher at a station within Japan for a JR Pass, then keep it with you for your entire trip so you can show it if asked for it. You can book all of your onward trains and seats for your entire trip right away, saving time and hassle!
How to get from Kyoto to Nara
There are three main transportation options to get between Kyoto and Nara: renting a car, by bus or by local train.
Kyoto to Nara by Car
You can drive from Kyoto to Nara in roughly 35 minutes, but as with Kyoto to Osaka, we wouldn’t necessarily suggest driving, as the train is so quick.
Kyoto to Nara by Bus
As with driving, taking the bus between Kyoto and Nara is not recommended, as it is quicker and cheaper to take one of the Local Trains.
Kyoto to Nara by Local Train
There are three types of local trains that you can take from Kyoto to Nara: the JR Miyakoji Rapid Trains and the Kintetsu Railway Limited Express Trains or Direct Express Trains.
The Miyakoji Rapid Trains take 45 minutes and cost roughly 720 yen, whilst the Limited Express Trains take roughly 35 minutes and cost 1,280 yen one way. The Express Trains require you to transfer once at the Yamato-Saidaiji Station, takes 45 minutes and costs 760 yen one way.
All these routes are served by the Japan Rail Pass.
Kyoto to Nara by Shinkansen
There isn’t a Shinkansen that serves the route between Kyoto and Nara.
Kyoto to Nara Tours
Nara can easily be done as a day trip from Kyoto, especially with a tour like this one: Kyoto to Nara with Fushimi Inari Taisha & Arashiyama.
If you would rather take the train between Kyoto and Nara, then do a dedicated tour at either end, (which is what we would suggest), then here are our favourite options:
Where To Stay In Kyoto & Nara
Where to stay in Kyoto
🏨 Budget – Piece Hostel Sanjo
🏨 Mid Range – Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto (we’ve stayed here on both our trips to Japan, as we loved it so much the first time!)
🏨Luxury – Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion
Where to stay in Nara
🏨 Budget – Iroha Grand Hotel Kintetsu Nara Ekimae
🏨 Mid-range – Nara Ryokan
🏨 Luxury – Ryokan Asukasou
How To Get From Kyoto To Nara FAQs
Is Nara worth a day trip from Kyoto?
Nara is a great place to take a day trip from Kyoto, as it is only a short journey via train for Kyoto, and also fairly cheap to get to as well.
Is it better to go to Nara from Kyoto or Osaka?
It is better to go from Kyoto to Nara rather than Osaka, as it takes nearly double the time from Osaka.
What is the best way to travel from Kyoto to Nara?
The best way to travel from Kyoto to Nara is via the Kintetsu Limited Express train or via the Nara Line Rapid train.
How far is it from Kyoto to Nara?
Kyoto is located approximately 49 km / 31 miles north of Nara.
Should I buy a JR Pass to get from Kyoto to Nara?
No, it only takes 30 minutes and costs roughly 1,500 yen, so there is no need to get a JR Pass for a trip between Kyoto and Nara. Check out our guide to getting around Japan without a Rail Pass for more info.
Conclusion: How To Get From Kyoto To Nara
Getting between Kyoto and Nara is really easy, and fairly cheap and quick, with some public transport taking as little as 30 minutes. So we would suggest the best way to get from Kyoto to Nara is going via the Local Trains.
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.