Transportation to Kyoto

The fares shown below are as of November 2007 and are subject to change.

The most convenient way to get to Kyoto is to take Airport Express 'Haruka'. 'Haruka' starts every 30 minutes at the JR (Japan Railways) station located just next to the airport terminal building. It takes about 75 minutes to get to Kyoto, which is the final destination of the train. The fare is 3,290 yen for a reserved seat and 2,980 yen for a seat without reservation. [Note that the fare is the sum of the fare for the regular ticket (1,830 yen) and the additional fare for the express train (1,460 yen for a reserved seat and 1,150 yen for a seat without reservation). You can buy tickets from a machine or the ticket counter at the station.]
Alternatively, you can first take a train called Kanku Kaisoku to Osaka, and change a train for Kyoto. This route is less expensive (1,830 yen), but somewhat complicated and time-consuming (65 minutes to Osaka, and another 30 minutes to Kyoto). Besides JR, there is another local railway called Nankai Railway. But Nankai trains only go to Osaka, not further to Kyoto. This train is not recommended unless you want to visit Osaka directly from the airport.
Limousine bus service is also available at the airport. It normally takes about 105 minutes, but varies depending on traffic conditions. A bus for Kyoto leaves every 30 -- 60 minutes. The fare is 2,300 yen. Every bus for Kyoto will stop at the JR Kyoto station.
More about Kansai International Airport, click here

There is another airport in Osaka, called Osaka Airport or Itami Airport. This airport was the only international airport before Kansai Airport opened. Currently it is mainly used to serve domestic flights.
From this airport, the most convenient way to get to Kyoto is to take a limousine bus. A bus normally starts every 20 minutes and it takes about 55 minutes to get to Kyoto. All buses will arrive at the JR Kyoto Station, and some of them go further to several hotels. The fare is 1,280 yen.
You may go to the train station of Osaka by bus and then take a train to Kyoto. But it is not recommended unless you are interested in visiting Osaka, because it is more complicated, time-consuming, and expensive.
For a transfer between the two airports, Kansai and Itami, it is recommended to take a limousine bus. It normally starts every 30 minutes. It takes about 75 minutes. The fare is 1,700 yen.

Shinkansen is the most convenient means of transportation from Tokyo to Kyoto. The line connecting Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka is called Tokaido Shinkansen. There are three types of trains: 'Nozomi', 'Hiraki' and 'Kodama' in Tokaido Shinkansen. [The fare shown below is the sum of the fare for the regular ticket and the (additional) fare for the express train. The fare may slightly vary depending on the season.]
'Nozomi': 2 hours 20 minutes from Tokyo to Kyoto; fare is 13,520 yen, and 12,710 yen for a seat without reservation.
'Hikari': 2 hours 40 -- 50 minutes from Tokyo to Kyoto; fare is 13,220 yen for reserved seat, and 12,710 yen for a seat without reservation. Hirari is much less frequent than Nozomi.
'Kodama': 3 hours 50 minutes from Tokyo to Kyoto; it stops at all stations; fare is the same as 'Hikari'. Kodama that reaches Kyoto leaves every hour.
It is possible to travel by a Highway Bus, which leaves Tokyo late in the evening and arrives in Kyoto early in the next morning. The fare is much cheaper than Sinkansen. [There are several bus companies that have a service between Tokyo and Kyoto. For example, in the case of JR Bus, which serves between Shinjuku (in Tokyo) and Kyoto, the fare is 8,180 yen.]
It is not a very good idea to fly from Tokyo or Narita, because there is no airport in Kyoto. The closest airport is Itami Airport in Osaka, which mainly serves domestic flights. It takes more than an hour to get to Kyoto from Itami Airport.
For Shinkansen Timetable, click here

Campus/Office/Guest Houses

My office is located in the Engineering Building No. 8 in the Main Campus (also called Yoshida Campus) of Kyoto University. My phone number is 753-5519. (075-753-5519 from outside Kyoto; 81-75-753-5519 from outside Japan). My fax number is 753-4756 (075-753-4756 from outside Kyoto; 81-75-753-4756 from outside Japan).
Main Campus of Kyoto University is located in the north-east part of the city of Kyoto.
By taxi, it takes about 20 minutes and costs about 2,500 yen from JR Kyoto Station to the campus.
Aceess and Maps

Seifu Kaikan: 8 minutes' walk from the main campus. Tel: 721-0661 (Download a map of Seifu Kaikan. Show this map to the taxi driver when you take a taxi.)
Shiran Kaikan: 5 minutes' walk from the main campus. Tel: 771-0958 (A map of Shiran Kaikan.)
Kyodai Kaikan: 8 minutes' walk from the main campus. Tel: 751-8311 (A map of Kyodai Kaikan.)
By taxi, it takes about 20 minutes and costs about 2,500 yen from JR Kyoto Station to each of these guest houses.
Map is here.

<Last update: October 15, 2008 >