How to travel from Nara to Sakata, Japan

The distance between Nara and Sakata is around 714km (444 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 4h 25m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Nara to Sakata by train, car, plane and bus. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
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plane
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train
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train
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Fly to Yamagata (GAJ), train

Fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Yamagata (GAJ) then take the train to Shinjo and then to Sakata(Yamagata).

  • Duration4h 25m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    ¥31,350($230)
Operated by

Multiple operators

5 similiar routes

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

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3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Tokyo then Niigata and then to Sakata(Yamagata).

  • Duration6h 55m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    ¥30,120($220)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Sakata.

  • Duration8h 30m
  • Distance744km (462 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Nara and Sakata

There are several options for getting from Nara to Sakata by train, car, plane and bus. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around ¥24,230 ($175) and will take around 8h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 4h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥31,350 ($230).

The distance between Nara and Sakata is around 714km (444 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 592km (368 miles)

It takes around 6h 55m to get from Nara and Sakata by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Nara to Sakata is to fly and then take the train which takes around 4h 25m and will set you back approx ¥31,350 ($230).

The cheapest way to travel between Nara and Sakata, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around ¥24,230 ($175) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Nara and Sakata. It typically takes around 6h 55m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Nara to Sakata. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Kyoto, Tokyo and Niigata. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 6h 55m.

Japan Railways Shinkansen, Japan Railways Limited Express and Japan Railways (JR) run train services between Nara and Sakata. Trains depart every 4 hours and will take around 6h 55m, 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 Sakata. We recommend that you fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Yamagata (GAJ) then take the train to Shinjo and then to Sakata(Yamagata). instead which will take 4h 25m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Nara to Sakata. We recommend that you take the train to Tennoji then fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Akita (AXT) then take the train to Sakata(Yamagata). instead which will take 4h 55m.

The closest major airport to Sakata is Yamagata Airport (GAJ) (GAJ) which is approximately 73km (45 miles) from Sakata. Akita Airport (AXT) (AXT) and Narita International Airport (NRT) (NRT) 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 Sakata. The distance is around 744km (462 miles) by road and it will take around 8h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Nara to Sakata is to take the train which takes, on average, 6h 55m and will usually cost around ¥30,120 ($220).

How do I get from Nara to Sakata

Compare travel optionsbetween Nara and Sakata

Transport options from Nara to Sakata
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly to Yamagata (GAJ), train + 5 similar
4h 25m
¥31,350($230)
5 times a day755km (469 miles)
Train to Nagoya, plane4h 30m
¥26,420($195)
5 times a day748km (465 miles)
Plane and Train4h 45m
¥36,140($265)
every 4 hours714km (444 miles)
Train and Plane4h 55m
¥47,095($345)
every 3 hours864km (537 miles)
Plane and Bus5h 50m
¥41,480($305)
every 3 hours865km (538 miles)
Fly to Morioka (HNA), train6h 10m
¥45,040($330)
every 3 hours1,051km (653 miles)
Train + 1 similar
6h 55m
¥30,120($220)
every 4 hours974km (605 miles)
Train via Kyoto8h 40m
¥24,230($175)
5 times a day754km (469 miles)
Drive
8h 30m
¥10,815($79)
on demand744km (462 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Nara and Sakata

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Sakata

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

GAJ
Yamagata Airport (GAJ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
73km (45 miles) from Sakata
AXT
Akita Airport (AXT)
Domestic Airport
Distance
84km (52 miles) from Sakata
NRT
Narita International Airport (NRT)
International Airport
Distance
353km (219 miles) from Sakata