How to travel from Nara to Kōchi, Japan

The distance between Nara and Kōchi is around 288km (179 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 15m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Nara to Kōchi 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 KōchiNara if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Tennoji then fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Kochi (KCZ).

  • Duration2h 15m
  • Flight time45min
  • Typical cost
    ¥17,385($125)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Okayama and then to Kochi(Kochi).

  • Duration4hrs
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    ¥13,690($100)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Osaka Itami Airport and then to Harimayabashi.

  • Duration6h 25m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    ¥11,635($85)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Kōchi.

  • Duration4h 10m
  • Distance320km (199 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Nara and Kōchi

There are several options for getting from Nara to Kōchi by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥11,635 ($85) and will take around 6h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥17,385 ($125).

The distance between Nara and Kōchi is around 288km (179 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 243km (151 miles)

It takes around 4hrs to get from Nara and Kōchi by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Nara to Kōchi is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 15m and will set you back approx ¥17,385 ($125).

The cheapest way to travel between Nara and Kōchi, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥11,635 ($85) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Nara and Kōchi. It typically takes around 4hrs and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Nara to Kōchi. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Kyoto and Okayama. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4hrs.

Japan Railways Shinkansen and Japan Railways Limited Express run train services between Nara and Kōchi. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4hrs, 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 Kōchi. It typically takes around 6h 25m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Nara to Kōchi. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Osaka Itami Airport and Kobe Sannomiya Station. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 6h 25m.

Osaka Airport Transport and JR Shikoku Bus run regular bus services between Nara and Kōchi. Buses run every 4 hours and take around 6h 25m 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 Kōchi. We recommend that you take the train to Tennoji then fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Kochi (KCZ). instead which will take 2h 15m.

The closest major airport to Kōchi is Kochi Ryoma Airport (KCZ) (KCZ) which is approximately 13km (8 miles) from Kōchi. Kansai International Airport (KIX) (KIX) and Fukuoka Airport (FUK) (FUK) 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 Kōchi. The distance is around 320km (199 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Nara to Kōchi is to take the train which takes, on average, 4hrs and will usually cost around ¥13,690 ($100).

How do I get from Nara to Kōchi

Compare travel optionsbetween Nara and Kōchi

Transport options from Nara to Kōchi
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 2 similar
2h 15m
¥17,385($125)
hourly288km (179 miles)
Train to Osaka, plane2h 35m
¥20,670($150)
hourly291km (181 miles)
Train to Kyoto, plane2h 45m
¥22,040($160)
hourly551km (343 miles)
Train
4hrs
¥13,690($100)
hourly410km (255 miles)
Bus
6h 25m
¥11,635($85)
every 4 hours363km (225 miles)
Drive
4h 10m
¥4,655($34)
on demand320km (199 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Nara and Kōchi

Bus companies

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near Kōchi

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

KCZ
Kochi Ryoma Airport (KCZ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
13km (8 miles) from Kōchi
KIX
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
International Airport
Distance
184km (115 miles) from Kōchi
FUK
Fukuoka Airport (FUK)
International Airport
Distance
287km (178 miles) from Kōchi