How to travel from Nara to Himeji, Japan

The distance between Nara and Himeji is around 120km (75 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 Nara to Himeji 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 HimejiNara if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
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train
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Train

Take the train to Osaka-Namba and then to Himeji.

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

Multiple train operators

2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Osaka Itami Airport and then to Himeji Station.

  • Duration2h 45m
  • Departs5 times a day
  • Typical cost
    ¥7,120($52)
Operated by

Osaka Airport Transport

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Himeji.

  • Duration1h 25m
  • Distance120km (75 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Nara and Himeji

There are several options for getting from Nara to Himeji by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around ¥5,750 ($42) and will take around 1h 20m.

The distance between Nara and Himeji is around 120km (75 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 103km (64 miles)

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

The quickest way to get from Nara to Himeji 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 Nara and Himeji, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around ¥5,750 ($42) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

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

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

Kintetsu Railways, Japan Railways Shinkansen and Japan Railways Limited Express run train services between Nara and Himeji. 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 Nara and Himeji. It typically takes around 2h 45m and departs 5 times a day.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Nara to Himeji. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Osaka Itami Airport. These services run 5 times a day and will take a minimum of 2h 45m.

Osaka Airport Transport run regular bus services between Nara and Himeji. Buses run 5 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 Nara to Himeji. We recommend that you take the train to Osaka-Namba and then to Himeji. instead which will take 1h 20m.

The closest major airport to Himeji is Kobe Airport (UKB) (UKB) which is approximately 53km (33 miles) from Himeji. Kansai International Airport (KIX) (KIX) and Itami Airport (ITM) (ITM) 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 Nara and Himeji. The distance is around 120km (75 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 Nara to Himeji is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 20m and will usually cost around ¥5,750 ($42).

How do I get from Nara to Himeji

Compare travel optionsbetween Nara and Himeji

Transport options from Nara to Himeji
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 20m
¥5,750($42)
every 30 mins122km (76 miles)
Bus
2h 45m
¥7,120($52)
5 times a day238km (148 miles)
Drive
1h 25m
¥1,780($13)
on demand120km (75 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Nara and Himeji

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Himeji

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

UKB
Kobe Airport (UKB)
Domestic Airport
Distance
53km (33 miles) from Himeji
KIX
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
International Airport
Distance
66km (41 miles) from Himeji
ITM
Itami Airport (ITM)
Domestic Airport
Distance
69km (43 miles) from Himeji