Travel to Nara
Access from Japan's Major Cities
Just over 30 minutes by train from Kyoto and Osaka, Nara enjoys a convenient location with easy access to shinkansen lines connecting Tokyo, Fukuoka and other major Japanese cities. Domestic flights are available to Kansai Int'l Airport 90 minutes away and express bus routes also serve Nara.
- From Tokyo
- From Tokyo Sta. to Kyoto Sta. by JR Shinkansen : approx 142 min
- From Kyoto Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 41 min
- From Tokyo Sta. to Kyoto Sta. by JR Shinkansen : approx 142 min
- From Kyoto Sta. to Kintetsu-Nara Sta. by Kintetsu Limited Express : approx 34 min
- From Nagoya
- From Nagoya Sta. to Kyoto Sta. by JR Shinkansen : approx 36 min
- From Kyoto Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 41 min
- From Nagoya Sta. to Kyoto Sta. by JR Shinkansen : approx 36 min
- From Kyoto Sta. to Kyoto Sta. on foot : approx 10 min
- From Kyoto Sta. to Kintetsu-Nara Sta. by Kintetsu Limited Express : approx 34 min
- - From Chubu Centrair Int'l Airport
- From Central Japan Int'l Airport Sta. to Meitetsu Nagoya Sta. by µ-SKY Limited Express : approx 27 min
- From Meitetsu Nagoya Sta. to Nagoya Sta. on foot : approx 4 mins
- From Nagoya Sta. to Kyoto Sta. by JR Shinkansen : approx 36 min
- From Kyoto Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 41 min
- From Central Japan Int'l Airport Sta. to Meitetsu Nagoya Sta. by µ-SKY Limited Express : approx 27 min
- From Meitetsu Nagoya Sta. to Nagoya Sta. on foot : approx 4 min
- From Nagoya Sta. to Kyoto Sta. by JR Shinkansen : approx 36 min
- From Kyoto Sta. to Kintetsu-Nara Sta. by Kintetsu Limited Express : approx 34 min
- From Kyoto
- From Kyoto Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 41 min
- From Kyoto Sta. to Kintetsu-Nara Sta. by Kintetsu Limited Express : approx 34 min
- From Osaka
- From Osaka Sta. to Nara Sta by JR Rapid Express : approx 52 min
- From Shin-Osaka Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 69 min
- From Nanba Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 49 min
- From Osaka-Namnba Sta. to Kintetsu-Nara Sta. by Kintetsu Express : approx 34 min
- - From Kansai Int'l Airport
- From Kansai Airport Sta. to Tennoji Sta. by JR Express : approx 31 min
- From Tennoji Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 36 min
- From Kansai Airport Sta. to Shin-Imamiya Sta. by Nankai Express : approx 41 min
- From Shin-Imamiya Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 39 min
- From Kansai Airport Sta. to Tennoji Sta. by JR Express : approx 31 min
- From Tennoji Sta. to Tsuruhashi Sta. by JR Line : approx 6 min
- From Tsuruhashi Sta. to Kintetsu-Nara Sta. by Kintetsu Express : approx 28 min
- Hiroshima
- From Hiroshima Sta. to Shin-Osaka Sta. by JR Shinkansen : approx 94 min
- From Shin-Osaka Sta. to Osaka Sta. by JR Line : approx 4 min
- From Osaka Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 52 min
- From Fukuoka
- From Hakata Sta. to Shin-Osaka Sta. by JR Shinkansen : approx 168 min
- From Shin-Osaka Sta. to Osaka Sta. by JR Line : approx 4 min
- From Osaka Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 52 min
- From Fukuoka Airport (FUK) to Kansai Airport (KIX) by plane: approx 60 min
- From Kansai Airport (KIX) to Kansai Airport Sta. on foot : approx 6 min
- From Kansai Airport Sta. to Tennoji Sta. by JR Express : approx 31 min
- From Tennoji Sta. to Nara Sta. by JR Rapid Express : approx 36 min
Train
Nara's rail network is operated by the Kintetsu Railway and West Japan Railway (JR West). As such, Nara has two train stations: Nara Station on the JR Line and Kintetsu-Nara Station on the Kintetsu Line. Although IC cards like Suica and ICOCA can be used interchangeably on either line, restrictions apply to rail passes. Both rail operators offer money-saving passes allowing for affordable rail travel to and around Nara.
Train Passes
Japan Railway
In addition to the Japan Rail Pass offering unlimited travel on nationwide JR-operated lines and most Shinkansen services, the Japan Railways Group also issues a variety of regional passes covering the Nara area.
Kintetsu Railway
Kintetsu Railway offers four different train passes, some of which have the added benefit of inclusive bus travel.
Express & Limousine Bus
While rail is a quick and convenient way to travel to Nara, express buses offer a more affordable alternative and connect Nara with Nagoya and the Shinjuku area of Tokyo. Limousine buses, essentially airport shuttles, operating from Kansai Int'l Airport and Osaka Airport relieve some of the stresses of traveling with luggage, dropping passengers off in Nara City.
Express Buses
Limousine Buses
Airplane (Domestic Flights)
Although Nara does not have its own airport, neighboring Osaka is home to Kansai Int'l Airport and Osaka Airport. You may want to consider an internal flight to one of these airports if you are arriving in Japan at Narita, Haneda or Fukuoka airport and traveling directly to Nara. If already in Japan and traveling from central Fukuoka or Tokyo, in many cases the train is quicker.