Ruth Haines
Kyoto, Japan, is served by several airports, including Kansai International Airport (KIX), which is the closest airport to the city. Other options include Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), and Osaka International Airport (ITM). Many travellers opt to fly into one of Tokyo's two airports, Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND), and then connect to Kyoto.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport to Kyoto | Kansai International Airport (KIX) |
| Other nearby airports | Osaka Itami Airport (ITM), Osaka International Airport, Centrair Airport, Narita International Airport (NRT), Haneda Airport (HND) |
| Transport options from KIX to Kyoto | JR Haruka Airport Express train, bus |
| Transport options from ITM to Kyoto | Limousine bus, shared taxi van |
| Transport options from Centrair Airport to Kyoto | Meitetsu line train, shinkansen train, bus |
| Transport option from Narita Airport to Kyoto | N'EX express train, shinkansen train |
| Transport option from Haneda Airport to Kyoto | Shinkansen train |
| Transport costs covered by Japan Rail Pass | Narita to Kyoto by train, Centrair to Kyoto by Meitetsu line and shinkansen, KIX to Kyoto by JR Haruka Express |
| Transport costs not covered by Japan Rail Pass | Haneda to Tokyo |
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What You'll Learn
- The closest airport to Kyoto is Kansai International Airport (KIX)
- Centrair Airport is another option, but it is further away
- You can get to Kyoto from KIX by train or bus
- The JR Haruka Airport Express train from KIX to Kyoto is covered by the Japan Rail Pass
- Itami Airport (ITM) is another airport option, with direct buses to Kyoto Station
The closest airport to Kyoto is Kansai International Airport (KIX)
Kyoto, Japan, is served by three airports: Kansai International Airport (KIX), Itami Airport (ITM), and Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO). Of these, Kansai International Airport (KIX) is the closest to Kyoto.
KIX is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, approximately 75 kilometres from Kyoto. While it is the closest airport to Kyoto, it can be a bit of a hassle to get into the city from KIX. The fastest and most convenient way to travel between KIX and Kyoto is the special JR Haruka Airport Express train. This train is also covered by the Japan Rail Pass. At KIX, you can buy your ticket from the transport counter in the international arrivals hall and wait at the curb at the designated boarding point. In Kyoto, the main stop is near the Avanti department store, and attendants at this stop can also sell you a ticket.
If you are travelling on a budget, you may want to consider taking a bus from KIX to Kyoto. This option can take around 3 hours and 15 minutes, as you will need to take two buses, but it is a more affordable choice.
Alternatively, you can fly into Osaka's Itami Airport (ITM), which is a domestic airport, and then take a bus or shared taxi van to Kyoto. This journey takes about an hour by bus and costs around 1,310 JPY (approximately $12).
Another option is to fly into Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) and then take a combination of trains or buses to Kyoto. The best way is to take the Meitetsu Line train followed by the Shinkansen train, with a combined travel time of just over an hour. You can also take two buses, but this option will take around 3 hours and 15 minutes.
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Centrair Airport is another option, but it is further away
Kyoto has three nearby airports, with Centrair Airport being one of the options. Centrair Airport is located further away from Kyoto compared to the other airports, and transferring to the city can be done via train or bus.
If you choose to go by train, the best way is to take the Meitetsu Line to Nagoya and then transfer to the Shinkansen to Kyoto. This option has a combined travel time of a little over an hour. Please note that the Japan Rail Pass is not valid for this journey.
Alternatively, you can opt for the bus, but this will take significantly longer, around 3 hours and 15 minutes. From Centrair Airport, you'll first need to take a bus to Kintetsu-Yokkaichi Station in Yokkaichi. From there, you'll change buses for the second leg of the journey to Kyoto. The fare for the entire one-way trip is approximately 3,000 JPY (about $28).
While Centrair Airport is an option, it is important to consider the additional travel time and potential inconvenience due to its distance from Kyoto. The other two airports closer to Kyoto, Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Itami Airport (ITM), offer more convenient transportation options and faster travel times to the city.
KIX, located near Osaka, provides a direct airport bus service, the JR Haruka Airport Express, which you can use with the Japan Rail Pass. This express train option offers a faster and more convenient connection to Kyoto.
On the other hand, ITM is a domestic airport, so you cannot fly directly into it from international destinations. However, if you are already in Japan or transferring from another domestic location, ITM offers a convenient connection to Kyoto. You can use the limousine bus service or a shared taxi van to reach the city in about an hour.
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You can get to Kyoto from KIX by train or bus
Kansai International Airport (KIX) is the closest international airport to Kyoto, located in Osaka Bay off the Honshu shore. It is about 90 minutes from Kyoto by direct express train.
If you are travelling by train, the JR Haruka Express will take you directly from Kyoto Station to KIX. This train is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, and the normal fare for the journey is 2,850 yen. The train has luggage racks, and you can buy your ticket from the Japan Rail ticket office at Kansai Airport. The fastest and most convenient way between KIX and Kyoto is the special JR Haruka Airport Express, and you can use the Japan Rail Pass for this train.
If you are travelling by bus, there is a Limousine Bus service that runs regularly between Kyoto Station and Kansai Airport. The bus departing from Kansai Airport also makes stops at several other locations in Kyoto after Kyoto Station. The earliest departure from Kansai Airport is at 6:05 am from Terminal 2 and 6:20 am from Terminal 1, arriving at Kyoto Station at 7:45 am. The latest departure from Kansai Airport is at 23:40 from Terminal 2 and 23:55 from Terminal 1, arriving at Kyoto Station at 1:20 am. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Tickets from Kyoto Station must be reserved any time from one month to one hour before departure, and you can buy them at the Keihan Bus Center, which is directly behind the bus stop in the Avanti building.
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The JR Haruka Airport Express train from KIX to Kyoto is covered by the Japan Rail Pass
The JR Haruka Airport Express train is the fastest and most convenient way to get from Kansai International Airport (KIX) to Kyoto. The train offers direct transportation from KIX to downtown Kyoto, with a one-way trip taking around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
The JR Haruka Airport Express train is covered by the Japan Rail Pass, which can be a great option if you plan to make frequent train journeys during your visit to Japan. The Japan Rail Pass also covers the shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto, so it can be a cost-effective option if you're planning to visit both cities.
When travelling from KIX to Kyoto on the JR Haruka Airport Express train, you can purchase your ticket from the transport counter in the international arrivals hall. There is no need to reserve a seat on the train, except during busy seasons such as shogatsu, Obon, and Golden Week. However, if you are travelling from Kyoto to KIX, it is recommended to ask at your lodgings if your train originates in Kyoto or Shiga, as trains starting in Shiga may be full by the time they reach Kyoto.
In Kyoto, the main stop for the JR Haruka Airport Express train is near the Avanti department store, and attendants at this stop can sell you a ticket. There are also other boarding points in Kyoto, including major hotels, where you can board the train.
The JR Haruka Airport Express train offers a comfortable and accessible travel experience, with each train providing restroom facilities, a vending machine, luggage racks, and wheelchair accessibility. Free Wi-Fi service is also provided on board.
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Itami Airport (ITM) is another airport option, with direct buses to Kyoto Station
Kyoto, Japan, is served by several airports, with varying levels of convenience for travellers. One option is Itami Airport (ITM), a domestic airport that cannot be reached by direct international flights. However, travellers can reach ITM via Haneda Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo.
ITM is located about 50 kilometres from Kyoto and offers a direct bus service to Kyoto Station. The bus departs every 20 minutes and the journey takes approximately one hour, costing around 1,310 JPY (about $12). This bus service is the fastest and most convenient option for travellers, offering a direct connection to the city.
In addition to the direct bus service, ITM also offers a shared taxi van or shuttle taxi service to Kyoto. While this option is more budget-friendly at 2,300 JPY (about $22) per person, the travel time can be longer due to multiple stops along the way.
For travellers considering ITM as their arrival airport, it is worth noting that flying into Tokyo and then connecting to ITM can be a strategic choice. Booking both legs on a single ticket can provide advantages in terms of convenience and peace of mind, as the airline will be aware of your full itinerary and can provide assistance in case of disruptions or delays.
Overall, ITM, served by Tokyo's HND or NRT airports, stands as a viable gateway to Kyoto, especially with its direct bus service to Kyoto Station, offering a balance of convenience, frequency, and affordability for travellers.
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Frequently asked questions
The three closest airports to Kyoto are Itami Airport (ITM), Kansai International Airport (KIX), and Centrair Airport.
You can take a limousine bus or a shared taxi van from the airport to Kyoto. The limousine bus is the fastest option, taking around an hour.
The fastest way to get from KIX to Kyoto is by taking the JR Haruka Airport Express train.
You can take a combination of the Meitetsu line train and the Shinkansen train to get from Centrair Airport to Kyoto. The total travel time is a little over an hour.
