The distance between Nara and Nikko is around 611km (379 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 60m.
We've found 8 different ways to get from Nara to Nikko 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 Nikko → Nara if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to Kintetsunippombashi then fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Fukushima (FKS) then take the train to Koriyama(Fukushima) then Utsunomiya and then to Nikko.
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4 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the train to Tokyo and then to Tobu-Nikko.
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Take the bus to Tokyo Station Nihonbashi-guchi and then to Tobu-Nikko.
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There are several options for getting from Nara to Nikko by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around ¥20,810 ($150) and will take around 4h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 60m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥37,785 ($275).
The distance between Nara and Nikko is around 611km (379 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 418km (260 miles)
It takes around 4h 35m to get from Nara and Nikko by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6h 45m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Nara to Nikko is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 60m and will set you back approx ¥37,785 ($275).
The cheapest way to travel between Nara and Nikko, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around ¥20,810 ($150) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Nara and Nikko. It typically takes around 4h 35m and departs hourly.
There are no direct train services that runs from Nara to Nikko. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Kyoto, Tokyo and Kita-Senju. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 35m.
Japan Railways Shinkansen and Tobu Railway run train services between Nara and Nikko. 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 Nara and Nikko. It typically takes around 12h 10m and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Nara to Nikko. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Tokyo Station Nihonbashi-guchi and Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 12h 10m.
JR Bus Kanto and Tohoku Kyuko Bus run regular bus services between Nara and Nikko. Buses run once daily and take around 12h 10m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Nara to Nikko. We recommend that you take the train to Kintetsunippombashi then fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) then take the train to Tobu-Nikko. instead which will take 4h 40m.
The closest major airport to Nikko is Fukushima Airport (FKS) (FKS) which is approximately 86km (54 miles) from Nikko. 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 Nara and Nikko. The distance is around 620km (385 miles) by road and it will take around 6h 45m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Nara to Nikko is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 35m and will usually cost around ¥20,810 ($150).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train to Kintetsunippombashi, plane + 4 similar | 3h 60m | ¥37,785($275) | hourly | 748km (465 miles) |
Train and Plane | 4h 40m | ¥27,380($200) | hourly | 611km (379 miles) |
Plane and Train | 4h 55m | ¥36,005($265) | hourly | 939km (583 miles) |
Train to Tsuruhashi, plane | 5h 10m | ¥31,625($230) | hourly | 718km (446 miles) |
Train to Tsuruhashi, plane | 5h 20m | ¥27,925($205) | hourly | 659km (409 miles) |
Train | 4h 35m | ¥20,810($150) | hourly | 650km (404 miles) |
Bus | 12h 10m | ¥24,915($180) | once daily | 651km (405 miles) |
Drive | 6h 45m | ¥9,035($66) | on demand | 620km (385 miles) |
Ibex Airlines
Skymark Airlines
Tobu Railway
Watarase Keikoku Railway
JR Bus Kanto
Tohoku Kyuko Bus
Nippon Chuo Bus Co
The following major airports near Nikko offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Japan and internationally.