How to travel from Sendai to Kyoto, Japan

The distance between Sendai and Kyoto is around 707km (439 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 15m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Sendai to Kyoto by bus, car, train and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
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train
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train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Koriyama(Fukushima) and then to Kagamiishi then fly from Fukushima (FKS) to Osaka Itami (ITM).

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    ¥29,845($220)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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Bus to Kyōto

Take the bus to Kyōto.

  • Duration10h 50m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥15,335($110)
Operated by

Kintetsu Bus

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 Kyoto.

  • Duration8h 55m
  • Distance738km (459 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Sendai and Kyoto

There are several options for getting from Sendai to Kyoto by bus, car, train and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥15,335 ($110) and will take around 10h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥29,845 ($220).

The distance between Sendai and Kyoto is around 707km (439 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 582km (361 miles)

It takes around 12h 50m to get from Sendai and Kyoto by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Sendai to Kyoto is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 15m and will set you back approx ¥29,845 ($220).

The cheapest way to travel between Sendai and Kyoto, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥15,335 ($110) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Sendai and Kyoto. We recommend that you take the train to Koriyama(Fukushima) and then to Kagamiishi then fly from Fukushima (FKS) to Osaka Itami (ITM). instead which will take 3h 15m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Sendai and Kyoto. It typically takes around 12h 50m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Sendai to Kyoto. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Shonaikankobussankan. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 12h 50m.

Shonai Kotsu and Kintetsu Bus run regular bus services between Sendai and Kyoto. Buses run once daily and take around 12h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Sendai to Kyoto. We recommend that you take the train to Koriyama(Fukushima) and then to Kagamiishi then fly from Fukushima (FKS) to Osaka Itami (ITM). instead which will take 3h 15m.

The closest major airport to Kyoto is Itami Airport (ITM) (ITM) which is approximately 38km (24 miles) from Kyoto. Kansai International Airport (KIX) (KIX) and Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) (NGO) 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 Sendai and Kyoto. The distance is around 738km (459 miles) by road and it will take around 8h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Sendai to Kyoto is to take the bus which takes, on average, 12h 50m and will usually cost around ¥18,890 ($140).

How do I get from Sendai to Kyoto

Compare travel optionsbetween Sendai and Kyoto

Transport options from Sendai to Kyoto
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
3h 15m
¥29,845($220)
hourly707km (439 miles)
Bus to Kyōto + 1 similar
10h 50m
¥15,335($110)
once daily743km (462 miles)
Bus12h 50m
¥18,890($140)
once daily806km (501 miles)
Drive
8h 55m
¥10,680($78)
on demand738km (459 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Sendai and Kyoto

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Kyoto

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

ITM
Itami Airport (ITM)
Domestic Airport
Distance
38km (24 miles) from Kyoto
KIX
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
International Airport
Distance
80km (50 miles) from Kyoto
NGO
Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO)
International Airport
Distance
97km (61 miles) from Kyoto