How to travel from Sendai to Nara, Japan

The distance between Sendai and Nara is around 709km (441 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 20m.

7 routes found

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

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
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train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Sendai (SDJ) to Osaka Itami (ITM) then take the train to Yamatosaidaiji.

  • Duration3h 20m
  • Flight time1h 25m
  • Typical cost
    ¥23,000($170)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

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

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Tokyo and then to Kyoto.

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Departsevery 30 mins
  • Typical cost
    ¥29,570($215)
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Nara-shi.

  • Duration9h 15m
  • Distance820km (509 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Sendai and Nara

There are several options for getting from Sendai to Nara by train, car, plane and bus. The cheapest option is to fly and then take the train which costs around ¥15,880 ($115) and will take around 3h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥23,000 ($170).

The distance between Sendai and Nara is around 709km (441 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 603km (375 miles)

It takes around 4h 50m to get from Sendai and Nara by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 9h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Sendai to Nara is to fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 20m and will set you back approx ¥23,000 ($170).

The cheapest way to travel between Sendai and Nara, if you exclude driving, is to fly and then take the train which will typically cost around ¥15,880 ($115) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Sendai and Nara. It typically takes around 4h 50m and departs every 30 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Sendai to Nara. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Tokyo and Kyoto. These services run every 30 mins and will take a minimum of 4h 50m.

Japan Railways Shinkansen and Japan Railways Limited Express run train services between Sendai and Nara. Trains depart every 30 mins and will take around 4h 50m, 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 Sendai and Nara. We recommend that you fly from Sendai (SDJ) to Osaka Itami (ITM) then take the train to Yamatosaidaiji. instead which will take 3h 20m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Sendai to Nara. We recommend that you fly from Sendai (SDJ) to Osaka Itami (ITM) then take the train to Yamatosaidaiji. instead which will take 3h 20m.

The closest major airport to Nara is Itami Airport (ITM) (ITM) which is approximately 35km (22 miles) from Nara. Kobe Airport (UKB) (UKB) and Kansai International Airport (KIX) (KIX) 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 Nara. The distance is around 820km (509 miles) by road and it will take around 9h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Sendai to Nara is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 50m and will usually cost around ¥29,570 ($215).

How do I get from Sendai to Nara

Compare travel optionsbetween Sendai and Nara

Transport options from Sendai to Nara
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train + 4 similar
3h 20m
¥23,000($170)
every 30 mins709km (441 miles)
Fly to Kobe (UKB), train3h 35m
¥15,880($115)
every 30 mins739km (459 miles)
Fly to Chūbu Centrair (NGO), train3h 35m
¥22,860($165)
every 30 mins743km (462 miles)
Train and Plane3h 50m
¥34,360($250)
hourly741km (461 miles)
Bus, Plane and Train4hrs
¥39,840($290)
every 4 hours752km (467 miles)
Train
4h 50m
¥29,570($215)
every 30 mins835km (519 miles)
Drive
9h 15m
¥11,910($87)
on demand820km (509 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Sendai and Nara

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Nara

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

ITM
Itami Airport (ITM)
Domestic Airport
Distance
35km (22 miles) from Nara
UKB
Kobe Airport (UKB)
Domestic Airport
Distance
53km (33 miles) from Nara
KIX
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
International Airport
Distance
58km (36 miles) from Nara