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From Tokyo to Kyoto (about 500 km)
1 Shinkansen Time: 2:15 (Nozomi), 2:40 (Hikari) Fare (one way): 14,190 yen (Nozomi), 13,220 yen (Hikari) Japan Rail Pass is valid to Shinkansen trains except Nozomi. The majority of travellers will choose Shinkansen. Its scenary is not so interesting but of course convenient due to the high speed and frequency. If you are in hurry, surely Shinkansen is the best choice from Tokyo to Kyoto, but I will introduce you some other choices in following stories. 2 Local trains Time: eight to nine hours Fare (one way): 7,980 yen Seishun 18 Kippu (seasonal discount ticket) is valid to local trains. It especially saves your budget during Seishun 18 kippu seasons taking only 2,300 yen, which is quite popular choice for young people. Leaving Tokyo late at night by overnight train Moonlight Nagara, you will reach Kyoto in the next morning. If departing Tokyo in the morning, you will arrive at Kyoto in the evening. Local trains along Tokyo - Kyoto line is fairly frequent, and traveling this route by local trains is not so difficult task even if you are not used to travel in Japan. It might be a good chance to get a glimpse of everyday life of Japanese people. 3 Overnight bus Time: eight hours Fare (one way): 8,180 yen The overnight bus services from Tokyo to Kyoto and some other Kansai cities called 'Dream' express is fairly popular. The fare is nearly equal to local trains, and the seat is much more comfortable like the first class car of Shinkansen. 4 Air Time: about three hours (including the transport between airport and city) Fare (one way): 16,250 yen (normal fare. Not includes the transport between airport and city) Kyoto does not have its own airport and you have to go to Itami or Kansai Airport in Osaka, both taking an hour or more. So air does not have an advantage compared to Shinkansen in the case of Kyoto, unless you are special air enthusiasts. In the case of Osaka, air is a bit popular for business people, still about ninety per cent of passengers to Tokyo use Shinkansen. 5 Other rail routes If you have time, it is recommendable to avoid industrialized Shinkansen route and enjoy the scenary of rural area. One relatively easy bypass route with fine landscape is Chuo line passing inland from Tokyo to Nagoya. There is a frequent service of Limited Express along this route, though no direct service from Tokyo to Nagoya so change at Shiojiri on the way. If no stopover, you can travel from Tokyo to Kyoto within seven hours using this line. The mountain and valley along Chuo line is fairly nice. Small towns such as Tsumago and Magome in Kiso area (near Nakatsugawa) are also well worth visiting. Locating along old Tokyo - Osaka road during Edo era, they retain the landscape of traditional Japanese town. Taking a bit more time, Kisei line is also nice facing Pacific and providing good coastal view. Ise and Toba area, and Shingu area are the main attraction along this line for old temples and natural beauty of coast. It is about seven or eight hours from Nagoya to Osaka. Other famous sightseeing spot is Takayama and Kanazawa, both retaining traditional street landscape (please consult the map above). |