How to travel from Nara to Kumamoto, Japan

The distance between Nara and Kumamoto is around 552km (343 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 5m.

5 routes found

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

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Tennoji then fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Kumamoto (KMJ).

  • Duration3h 5m
  • Flight time1h 20m
  • Typical cost
    ¥18,480($135)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
2
train
+
train
+

Train

Take the train to Shin-Osaka and then to Kumamoto.

  • Duration4h 10m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    ¥17,385($125)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Kumamoto.

  • Duration8h 15m
  • Distance735km (457 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Nara and Kumamoto

There are several options for getting from Nara to Kumamoto by train, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around ¥17,385 ($125) and will take around 4h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 5m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥18,480 ($135).

The distance between Nara and Kumamoto is around 552km (343 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 529km (329 miles)

It takes around 4h 10m to get from Nara and Kumamoto by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Nara to Kumamoto is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 5m and will set you back approx ¥18,480 ($135).

The cheapest way to travel between Nara and Kumamoto, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around ¥17,385 ($125) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Nara and Kumamoto. It typically takes around 4h 10m and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Nara to Kumamoto. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Shin-Osaka. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 4h 10m.

Japan Railways (JR) and Japan Railways Shinkansen run train services between Nara and Kumamoto. Trains depart every 20 mins and will take around 4h 10m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Nara and Kumamoto. We recommend that you take the train to Tennoji then fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Kumamoto (KMJ). instead which will take 3h 5m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Nara to Kumamoto. We recommend that you take the train to Tennoji then fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Kumamoto (KMJ). instead which will take 3h 5m.

The closest major airport to Kumamoto is Kumamoto Airport (KMJ) (KMJ) which is approximately 30km (18 miles) from Kumamoto. Amakusa Airport (AXJ) (AXJ) 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 Kumamoto. The distance is around 735km (457 miles) by road and it will take around 8h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Nara to Kumamoto is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 10m and will usually cost around ¥17,385 ($125).

How do I get from Nara to Kumamoto

Compare travel optionsbetween Nara and Kumamoto

Transport options from Nara to Kumamoto
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 2 similar
3h 5m
¥18,480($135)
every 30 mins552km (343 miles)
Train to Tennoji, plane3h 15m
¥20,810($150)
every 30 mins638km (397 miles)
Train to Kyoto, plane3h 50m
¥34,770($255)
every 30 mins820km (510 miles)
Train
4h 10m
¥17,385($125)
every 20 mins697km (433 miles)
Drive
8h 15m
¥10,950($80)
on demand735km (457 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Nara and Kumamoto

Bus companies

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near Kumamoto

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

KMJ
Kumamoto Airport (KMJ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
30km (18 miles) from Kumamoto
AXJ
Amakusa Airport (AXJ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
48km (30 miles) from Kumamoto
FUK
Fukuoka Airport (FUK)
International Airport
Distance
106km (66 miles) from Kumamoto