By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 27 May 2024 | Updated: 26th January 2026
Osaka is a great place to visit from Kyoto as a day trip, or as your next overnight destination. From the ancient capital of Japan with its vast amount of heritage to the bright lights and city streets of Osaka, both these places are worth a visit. So how do you get from Kyoto to Osaka, and what is the best mode of transport?
Getting Around Japan
One of the best ways to get around Japan is via the train network. Having visited Japan a couple of times, we opted for taking the train or local buses over driving, especially as if you plan on only visiting the typical tourist areas or main cities, having a car can actually be more of a pain than not!
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 just exchange the voucher at a station within Japan for a JR Pass, then keep it with you for your 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 Osaka
There are four main transportation options to get between Kyoto and Osaka: renting a car, by bus, by local train or by Shinkansen.
Kyoto to Osaka by Car
It takes approximately 1 hour to get from Kyoto to Osaka via car, but with the speed of the trains / Shinkansen, we wouldn’t suggest driving between the two unless you have hired a car for your entire Japan trip.
Kyoto to Osaka by Bus
A one-way trip from Kyoto to Osaka takes roughly 2 hours, which costs between 1,700 and 2,100 yen depending on the bus type – either discount bus or a premium bus. You can also get a Japan Bus Pass which reduces the costs further and reserve a seat online at Japan Bus Online.
Kyoto to Osaka by Local Train
There are numerous local train options for getting between Kyoto and Osaka due to how close they are to one another. The quickest and cheapest is the JR Special Rapid Train which takes 30 minutes direct and costs 580 yen. You can also take the JR Limited Express Train, which takes 30 minutes and costs between 1,350 and 2,300 yen, or Hankyu or Keihan railway Limited Express Trains, which take around 40 / 50 minutes and cost roughly 430 yen.
Kyoto to Osaka by Shinkansen
Taking the Shinkansen is one of the easiest ways to get from Tokyo to Kyoto, with multiple trains every hour that run along the JR Tokaido Shinkansen, including the Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama.
🚄 The first Shinkansen departure from Kyoto to Osaka is at 06:55 and last departure is at 22:00 🚄
How long does it take to get from Kyoto to Osaka by Shinkansen?
It takes just 15 minutes to travel from Kyoto to Osaka via the Tokaido Shinkansen, which is ideal for day trips!
How much is the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Osaka?
For a non-reserved seat on the Shinkansen between Kyoto and Osaka, it costs roughly 1,450 yen. We wouldn’t suggest paying any more for a reserved seat, purely as the travel time is so short.
What rail passes cover the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Osaka?
The JR Pass covers the Hikari and Kodama Shinkansens between Kyoto and Osaka, but it doesn’t cover the Nozomi Shinkansen.
Kyoto to Osaka by Flight
There are no direct flights between Kyoto and Osaka.
Kyoto to Osaka Tours
There are a few tours that go between Kyoto and Osaka; however, they can be quite expensive and honestly, aren’t as good as if you were to do two separate tours, one in Kyoto and one in Osaka. So here are our favourite tours for each:
Where To Stay In Kyoto & Osaka
Where to stay in Kyoto
🏨 Budget – Piece Hostel Sanjo
🏨 Mid Range – Sora Niwa Terrace Kyoto (we stayed here on both our trips to Japan, with a rooftop bar and two onsens, you can’t get much better)
🏨Luxury – Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion
Where to stay in Osaka
🏨 Budget – The OneFive Osaka Namba Dotonbori
🏨 Mid-range – APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Namba Ekimae Tower
🏨 Luxury – The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Osaka Midosuji
How To Get From Kyoto To Osaka FAQs
Is it easy to visit Osaka from Kyoto?
Yes, Osaka is very easy to visit from Kyoto, and is a great idea for a day trip.
What is the best way to get from Kyoto to Osaka?
The best way to get between Kyoto and Osaka is via train, either the local rapid train or the Shinkansen, which takes as little as 15 minutes!
Can you do a day trip from Kyoto to Osaka?
Yes, you can easily take a day trip from Kyoto to Osaka, as there are multiple trains running between the two cities throughout the day for as little as 500 yen and 30 minutes of travel.
How far is it from Kyoto to Osaka?
Kyoto is located approximately 48 km / 30 miles north east of Osaka.
How long is the bullet train ride from Osaka to Kyoto?
It takes only 15 minutes to travel via bullet train / shinkansen between Kyoto to Osaka.
How much is the bullet train from Kyoto to Osaka?
For a non-reserved seat between Kyoto and Osaka, it costs around 1,450 yen. Reserved seats are a little more, but with the journey time being so short, it isn’t worth it.
Conclusion: How To Get From Kyoto To Osaka
Taking the JR Special Rapid Train is by far the best way to get from Kyoto to Osaka. There are numerous other ways to get between the two cities, but in terms of cost and time then taking the Special Rapid Train is the best option.
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.