How to travel from Takayama to Nara, Japan

The distance between Takayama and Nara is around 272km (169 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 20m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Takayama to Nara 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 NaraTakayama 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.

  • Duration3h 20m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    ¥13,825($100)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2
bus
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plane
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Bus and Plane

Take the bus to Shinshimashima Station then fly from Matsumoto (MMJ) to Kobe (UKB).

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    ¥31,625($230)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Nagoya Station and then to Nara Station.

  • Duration5h 10m
  • Departs5 times a day
  • Typical cost
    ¥6,980($51)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Nara-shi.

  • Duration3h 30m
  • Distance272km (169 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Takayama and Nara

There are several options for getting from Takayama to Nara by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥6,980 ($51) and will take around 5h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥13,825 ($100).

The distance between Takayama and Nara is around 272km (169 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 208km (129 miles)

It takes around 3h 20m to get from Takayama and Nara by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Takayama to Nara is to take the train which takes around 3h 20m and will set you back approx ¥13,825 ($100).

The cheapest way to travel between Takayama and Nara, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥6,980 ($51) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Takayama and Nara. It typically takes around 3h 20m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Takayama to Nara. 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 3h 20m.

Japan Railways Limited Express and Japan Railways Shinkansen run train services between Takayama and Nara. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 3h 20m, 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 Nara. It typically takes around 5h 10m and departs 5 times a day.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Takayama to Nara. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Nagoya Station. These services run 5 times a day and will take a minimum of 5h 10m.

Nouhi Bus and Meitetsu Bus run regular bus services between Takayama and Nara. Buses run 5 times a day and take around 5h 10m 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 Nara. We recommend that you take the bus to Shinshimashima Station then fly from Matsumoto (MMJ) to Kobe (UKB). instead which will take 4h 50m.

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 Takayama and Nara. The distance is around 272km (169 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Takayama to Nara is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 20m and will usually cost around ¥13,825 ($100).

How do I get from Takayama to Nara

Compare travel optionsbetween Takayama and Nara

Transport options from Takayama to Nara
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 20m
¥13,825($100)
every 3 hours335km (208 miles)
Bus and Plane
4h 50m
¥31,625($230)
4 times a day463km (288 miles)
Bus
5h 10m
¥6,980($51)
5 times a day279km (173 miles)
Drive
3h 30m
¥3,970($29)
on demand272km (169 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Takayama and Nara

Bus companies

Train operators

Airlines

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