By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 27th May 2024 | Updated: 29th November 2024
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?
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide & Viator
Currency Conversion: We recommend Wise
Travel Insurance: World Nomads
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 train 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.
Kyoto to Nara by Shinkansen
There isn’t a Shinkansen that serves the route between Kyoto and Nara.
Want to experience traditional Japanese snacks? Following our trip to Japan we wished we could have tried more cuisine, which is where Sakuraco comes in. Delivering monthly boxes to your home straight from the heart of Japan, Sakuraco is a box filled to the brim with Japanese snacks and treats, (including pottery!), making it perfect for anyone wanting to experience Japanese food and tea culture from home!
How To Get From Kyoto To Nara FAQs
Is Nara 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.
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.
All Our Japan Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 How To Get From Tokyo To Kyoto
📍 How To Get From Kyoto To Osaka
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.