How to travel from Nara to Tokyo, Japan

The distance between Nara and Tokyo is around 473km (294 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 40m.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Nara to Tokyo 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 TokyoNara if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Tokyo.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Departsevery 30 mins
  • Typical cost
    ¥17,935($130)
2
train
+
plane
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Kintetsunippombashi then fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Tokyo Haneda (HND).

  • Duration2h 50m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    ¥24,095($175)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3 similiar routes

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

3
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Tokyo Station Nihonbashi-guchi.

  • Duration9h 10m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥21,905($160)
Operated by

JR Bus Kanto

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Tokyo.

  • Duration5hrs
  • Distance474km (294 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Nara and Tokyo

There are several options for getting from Nara to Tokyo by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around ¥17,935 ($130) and will take around 2h 40m.

The distance between Nara and Tokyo is around 473km (294 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 376km (234 miles)

It takes around 2h 40m to get from Nara and Tokyo by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 5hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Nara to Tokyo is to take the train which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx ¥17,935 ($130).

The cheapest way to travel between Nara and Tokyo, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around ¥17,935 ($130) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Nara and Tokyo. It typically takes around 2h 40m and departs every 15 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Nara to Tokyo. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Kyoto. These services run every 15 mins and will take a minimum of 2h 40m.

Japan Railways Shinkansen run train services between Nara and Tokyo. Trains depart every 15 mins and will take around 2h 40m, 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 Tokyo. It typically takes around 9h 10m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Nara and Tokyo with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 9h 10m.

JR Bus Kanto run regular bus services between Nara and Tokyo. Buses run once daily and take around 9h 10m 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 Tokyo. We recommend that you take the train to Kintetsunippombashi then fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Tokyo Haneda (HND). instead which will take 2h 50m.

The closest major airport to Tokyo is Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) (HND) which is approximately 15km (9 miles) from Tokyo. Narita International Airport (NRT) (NRT) and Ibaraki Airport (IBR) (IBR) 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 Tokyo. The distance is around 474km (294 miles) by road and it will take around 5hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Nara to Tokyo is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 40m and will usually cost around ¥17,935 ($130).

How do I get from Nara to Tokyo

Compare travel optionsbetween Nara and Tokyo

Transport options from Nara to Tokyo
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 40m
¥17,935($130)
every 30 mins511km (317 miles)
Train and Plane + 3 similar
2h 50m
¥24,095($175)
every 15 mins473km (294 miles)
Train to Kyoto, plane3h 25m
¥62,565($455)
every 30 mins509km (316 miles)
Train to Tsuruhashi, plane3h 30m
¥24,640($180)
every 30 mins521km (324 miles)
Bus and Plane4h 25m
¥38,880($285)
hourly695km (432 miles)
Bus
9h 10m
¥21,905($160)
once daily499km (310 miles)
Drive
5hrs
¥6,845($50)
on demand474km (294 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Nara and Tokyo

Bus companies

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Tokyo

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

HND
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
International Airport
Distance
15km (9 miles) from Tokyo
NRT
Narita International Airport (NRT)
International Airport
Distance
58km (36 miles) from Tokyo
IBR
Ibaraki Airport (IBR)
Domestic Airport
Distance
81km (50 miles) from Tokyo