How to travel from Takayama to Kyoto, Japan

The distance between Takayama and Kyoto is around 257km (160 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 55m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Takayama to Kyoto by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to Nagoya and then to Kyoto.

  • Duration2h 55m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    ¥10,540($77)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Kyoto Station Hachijou gate.

  • Duration4h 5m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    ¥4,790($35)
Operated by

Nouhi Bus

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Kyoto.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Distance257km (160 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Takayama and Kyoto

There are several options for getting from Takayama to Kyoto by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥4,790 ($35) and will take around 4h 5m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥10,540 ($77).

The distance between Takayama and Kyoto is around 257km (160 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 184km (114 miles)

It takes around 2h 55m to get from Takayama and Kyoto by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Takayama to Kyoto is to take the train which takes around 2h 55m and will set you back approx ¥10,540 ($77).

The cheapest way to travel between Takayama and Kyoto, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥4,790 ($35) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Takayama and Kyoto. It typically takes around 2h 55m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Takayama to Kyoto. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Nagoya and Kyoto. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 2h 55m.

Japan Railways Limited Express and Japan Railways Shinkansen run train services between Takayama and Kyoto. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 2h 55m, 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 Takayama and Kyoto. It typically takes around 4h 5m and departs every 20 mins.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Takayama and Kyoto with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 20 mins and takes 4h 5m.

Nouhi Bus run regular bus services between Takayama and Kyoto. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 4h 5m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Takayama to Kyoto. We recommend that you take the train to Nagoya and then to Kyoto. instead which will take 2h 55m.

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 Takayama and Kyoto. The distance is around 257km (160 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Takayama to Kyoto is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 55m and will usually cost around ¥10,540 ($77).

How do I get from Takayama to Kyoto

Compare travel optionsbetween Takayama and Kyoto

Transport options from Takayama to Kyoto
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 55m
¥10,540($77)
every 3 hours303km (188 miles)
Bus
4h 5m
¥4,790($35)
every 20 mins264km (164 miles)
Drive
3h 15m
¥3,695($27)
on demand257km (160 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Takayama and Kyoto

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