How to travel from Himeji to Nara, Japan

The distance between Himeji and Nara is around 118km (73 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 20m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Himeji to Nara by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out NaraHimeji if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Shin-Osaka and then to Shinomiya(Nara).

  • Duration1h 20m
  • Departsevery 30 mins
  • Typical cost
    ¥5,750($42)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Osaka Itami Airport South Terminal and then to Nara-ken Convention Center.

  • Duration2h 45m
  • Departs4 times a day
  • Typical cost
    ¥5,615($41)
Operated by

Osaka Airport Transport

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Nara-shi.

  • Duration1h 25m
  • Distance118km (73 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Himeji and Nara

There are several options for getting from Himeji to Nara by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥5,615 ($41) and will take around 2h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥5,750 ($42).

The distance between Himeji and Nara is around 118km (73 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 103km (64 miles)

It takes around 1h 20m to get from Himeji and Nara by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Himeji to Nara is to take the train which takes around 1h 20m and will set you back approx ¥5,750 ($42).

The cheapest way to travel between Himeji and Nara, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥5,615 ($41) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Himeji and Nara. It typically takes around 1h 20m and departs every 30 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Himeji to Nara. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Shin-Osaka and Namba(Subway). These services run every 30 mins and will take a minimum of 1h 20m.

Japan Railways Shinkansen, Japan Railways Limited Express and Kintetsu Railways run train services between Himeji and Nara. Trains depart every 30 mins and will take around 1h 20m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Himeji and Nara. It typically takes around 2h 45m and departs 4 times a day.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Himeji to Nara. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Osaka Itami Airport South Terminal. These services run 4 times a day and will take a minimum of 2h 45m.

Osaka Airport Transport run regular bus services between Himeji and Nara. Buses run 4 times a day and take around 2h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Himeji to Nara. We recommend that you take the train to Shin-Osaka and then to Shinomiya(Nara). instead which will take 1h 20m.

The closest major airport to Nara is Itami Airport (ITM) (ITM) which is approximately 35km (22 miles) from Nara. Kobe Airport (UKB) (UKB) and Kansai International Airport (KIX) (KIX) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Himeji and Nara. The distance is around 118km (73 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Himeji to Nara is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 20m and will usually cost around ¥5,750 ($42).

How do I get from Himeji to Nara

Compare travel optionsbetween Himeji and Nara

Transport options from Himeji to Nara
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 20m
¥5,750($42)
every 30 mins122km (76 miles)
Bus
2h 45m
¥5,615($41)
4 times a day166km (103 miles)
Drive
1h 25m
¥1,780($13)
on demand118km (73 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Himeji and Nara

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Nara

The following major airports near Nara offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Japan and internationally.

ITM
Itami Airport (ITM)
Domestic Airport
Distance
35km (22 miles) from Nara
UKB
Kobe Airport (UKB)
Domestic Airport
Distance
53km (33 miles) from Nara
KIX
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
International Airport
Distance
58km (36 miles) from Nara