How to travel from Kyoto to Hakuba, Japan

The distance between Kyoto and Hakuba is around 378km (235 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 45m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Kyoto to Hakuba by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
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train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Shin-Kobe then fly from Kobe (UKB) to Matsumoto (MMJ) then take the train to Shinano-Omachi.

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    ¥26,420($195)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Nagoya then Matsumoto and then to Shinano-Omachi.

  • Duration4h 20m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    ¥11,635($85)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
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bus
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bus
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Bus via Meitetsu Bus Centre

Take the bus to Meitetsu Bus Centre and then to Happo.

  • Duration9h 20m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥6,845($50)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

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car
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Drive

Drive to Hakuba.

  • Duration4h 45m
  • Distance408km (253 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Kyoto and Hakuba

There are several options for getting from Kyoto to Hakuba by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥6,845 ($50) and will take around 9h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥26,420 ($195).

The distance between Kyoto and Hakuba is around 378km (235 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 266km (165 miles)

It takes around 4h 20m to get from Kyoto and Hakuba by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 45m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Kyoto to Hakuba is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 45m and will set you back approx ¥26,420 ($195).

The cheapest way to travel between Kyoto and Hakuba, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥6,845 ($50) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Kyoto and Hakuba. It typically takes around 4h 20m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Kyoto to Hakuba. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Kyoto, Nagoya, Matsumoto and Shinano-Omachi. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 20m.

Japan Railways Shinkansen, Japan Railways Limited Express and Japan Railways (JR) run train services between Kyoto and Hakuba. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 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 Kyoto and Hakuba. It typically takes around 10h 5m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Kyoto and Hakuba with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 10h 5m.

Alpico Group, Meitetsu Bus and Jam Jam Liner run regular bus services between Kyoto and Hakuba. Buses run once daily and take around 10h 5m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Kyoto to Hakuba. We recommend that you take the train to Shin-Kobe then fly from Kobe (UKB) to Matsumoto (MMJ) then take the train to Shinano-Omachi. instead which will take 3h 45m.

The closest major airport to Hakuba is Matsumoto Airport (MMJ) (MMJ) which is approximately 59km (37 miles) from Hakuba. Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) (HND) and Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) (NGO) 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 Kyoto and Hakuba. The distance is around 408km (253 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 45m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Kyoto to Hakuba is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 20m and will usually cost around ¥11,635 ($85).

How do I get from Kyoto to Hakuba

Compare travel optionsbetween Kyoto and Hakuba

Transport options from Kyoto to Hakuba
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
3h 45m
¥26,420($195)
every 3 hours449km (279 miles)
Train
4h 20m
¥11,635($85)
every 3 hours383km (238 miles)
Bus via Meitetsu Bus Centre + 1 similar
9h 20m
¥6,845($50)
once daily400km (249 miles)
Bus10h 5m
¥8,625($63)
once daily378km (235 miles)
Drive
4h 45m
¥6,160($45)
on demand408km (253 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Kyoto and Hakuba

Bus companies

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near Hakuba

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

MMJ
Matsumoto Airport (MMJ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
59km (37 miles) from Hakuba
HND
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
International Airport
Distance
215km (133 miles) from Hakuba
NGO
Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO)
International Airport
Distance
226km (140 miles) from Hakuba