How to travel from Nikko to Kōchi, Japan

The distance between Nikko and Kōchi is around 778km (483 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4hrs.

7 routes found

We've found 7 different ways to get from Nikko 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 KōchiNikko if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Kita-Senju then fly from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Kochi (KCZ).

  • Duration4hrs
  • Flight time1h 20m
  • Typical cost
    ¥37,235($270)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3 similiar routes

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

2
3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Kita-Senju then Okayama and then to Kochi(Kochi).

  • Duration7h 45m
  • Departsevery 2 hours
  • Typical cost
    ¥27,245($200)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit and then to Harimayabashi.

  • Duration15h 25m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥15,745($115)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Kōchi.

  • Duration10h 60m
  • Distance939km (583 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Nikko and Kōchi

There are several options for getting from Nikko to Kōchi by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥15,745 ($115) and will take around 15h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 4hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥37,235 ($270).

The distance between Nikko and Kōchi is around 778km (483 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 660km (410 miles)

It takes around 7h 45m to get from Nikko and Kōchi by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 10h 60m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Nikko to Kōchi is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4hrs and will set you back approx ¥37,235 ($270).

The cheapest way to travel between Nikko and Kōchi, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥15,745 ($115) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Nikko and Kōchi. It typically takes around 7h 45m and departs every 2 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Nikko to Kōchi. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Kita-Senju, Tokyo and Okayama. These services run every 2 hours and will take a minimum of 7h 45m.

Tobu Railway, Japan Railways Shinkansen and Japan Railways Limited Express run train services between Nikko and Kōchi. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 7h 45m, 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 Nikko and Kōchi. It typically takes around 15h 25m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Nikko to Kōchi. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 15h 25m.

Tohoku Kyuko Bus and JR Bus Kanto run regular bus services between Nikko and Kōchi. Buses run once daily and take around 15h 25m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Nikko to Kōchi. We recommend that you take the train to Kita-Senju then fly from Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Kochi (KCZ). instead which will take 4hrs.

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 Nikko and Kōchi. The distance is around 939km (583 miles) by road and it will take around 10h 60m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Nikko to Kōchi is to take the train which takes, on average, 7h 45m and will usually cost around ¥27,245 ($200).

How do I get from Nikko to Kōchi

Compare travel optionsbetween Nikko and Kōchi

Transport options from Nikko to Kōchi
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 3 similar
4hrs
¥37,235($270)
every 2 hours778km (483 miles)
Train to Kita-Senju, plane4h 20m
¥27,925($205)
every 2 hours873km (543 miles)
Train, Plane and Bus5h 40m
¥50,790($370)
every 2 hours883km (549 miles)
Train to Kita-Senju, plane and bus6h 15m
¥41,890($305)
every 2 hours922km (573 miles)
Train
7h 45m
¥27,245($200)
every 2 hours991km (616 miles)
Bus
15h 25m
¥15,745($115)
once daily972km (604 miles)
Drive
10h 60m
¥13,555($100)
on demand939km (583 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Nikko and Kōchi

Bus companies

Train operators

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