The distance between Kyoto and Niigata is around 524km (326 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 35m.
We've found 7 different ways to get from Kyoto to Niigata 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 Niigata → Kyoto if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to Nagoya then fly from Nagoya Airfield (NKM) to Niigata (KIJ) then take the train to Aoyama(Niigata).
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the train to Tokyo and then to Niigata.
Take the bus to Nagano Station and then to Toppara.
Multiple bus operators
There are several options for getting from Kyoto to Niigata by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥11,090 ($81) and will take around 10h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥24,640 ($180).
The distance between Kyoto and Niigata is around 524km (326 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 435km (271 miles)
It takes around 4h 35m to get from Kyoto and Niigata by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 5h 50m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Kyoto to Niigata is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 35m and will set you back approx ¥24,640 ($180).
The cheapest way to travel between Kyoto and Niigata, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥11,090 ($81) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Kyoto and Niigata. It typically takes around 4h 35m and departs hourly.
There are no direct train services that runs from Kyoto to Niigata. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Kyoto, Tokyo and Niigata. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 35m.
Japan Railways Shinkansen run train services between Kyoto and Niigata. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 35m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Kyoto and Niigata. It typically takes around 10h 35m and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Kyoto to Niigata. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Nagano Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 10h 35m.
Alpico Group and Nagaden Bus run regular bus services between Kyoto and Niigata. Buses run once daily and take around 10h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Kyoto to Niigata. We recommend that you fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Niigata (KIJ) then take the train to Aoyama(Niigata). instead which will take 2h 35m.
The closest major airport to Niigata is Niigata Airport (KIJ) (KIJ) which is approximately 8km (5 miles) from Niigata. Narita International Airport (NRT) (NRT) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) (HND) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Yes it is possible to drive from Kyoto and Niigata. The distance is around 526km (327 miles) by road and it will take around 5h 50m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Kyoto to Niigata is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 35m and will usually cost around ¥23,000 ($170).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane + 3 similar | 2h 35m | ¥24,640($180) | hourly | 524km (326 miles) |
Plane and Train | 2h 35m | ¥21,080($155) | hourly | 540km (335 miles) |
Train to Shin-Kobe, plane | 2h 50m | ¥29,705($215) | hourly | 604km (375 miles) |
Train to Nagoya, plane | 2h 50m | ¥32,995($240) | hourly | 593km (369 miles) |
Train | 4h 35m | ¥23,000($170) | hourly | 784km (487 miles) |
Bus | 10h 35m | ¥11,090($81) | once daily | 590km (367 miles) |
Drive | 5h 50m | ¥7,665($56) | on demand | 526km (327 miles) |
Ibex Airlines
Fuji Dream
Alpico Group
Nagaden Bus
Meitetsu Bus
The following major airports near Niigata offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Japan and internationally.