Nearest Airport To Kyoto

The nearest airport to Kyoto is Osaka — but is it the most convenient for you? Here’s the deal on airports nearest to Kyoto and the Kyoto airport transport links

[Hello Kitty Haruka Airport Express — image © Maarten Heerlien / CC BY 2.0 DEED]

The takeaway

There are three airports with easy access to Kyoto (listed in order of convenience to Kyoto):

• 1. Osaka International Airport (Itami; ITM): The closest airport to Kyoto — 50 minutes by convenient airport limousine bus. Serves mostly domestic flights (many airlines will fly you here free from Narita if you fly with them internationally).
• 2. Kansai International Airport (KIX): The main international access point to Kyoto — about 90 minutes from Kyoto by direct express train.
• 3.Central Japan International Airport (Centrair; NGO): less than 90 minutes from Kyoto by airport express and shinkansen.

See also the note below about flying into Tokyo (Narita or Haneda) — in certain circumstances, it may be easier to do this.

You can check a flight comparison site for current flight prices and times to each airport.

Each of these airports has its own transport options for getting to Kyoto from the airport (and, of course, getting from Kyoto to the airport).

[Sunset at Osaka Kansai International Airport: ThamKC / Shutterstock.com]

Osaka International Itami Airport (Itami; ITM) Transport To Kyoto

The best way between Kyoto from Itami is an airport limousine bus:

Limousine bus Itami — Kyoto

• Company: Osaka Airport Transport

• Tel: 06-6844-1124

• Site: www.okkbus.co.jp/en/index

• Fare: ¥1280

• Duration: about 55 minutes

  Notes: No reservations necessary. At Itami, buy your ticket from the ticket machines outside the arrivals hall and wait at the curbside at the correct boarding point. In Kyoto, the main stop is near Avanti department store; attendants at the stop will sell you a ticket (see the website for more boarding points in Kyoto, including main hotels).

Shared taxi van Itami — Kyoto

• Company: MK Taxi Sky Gate Shuttle

• Tel: 075-778-5489

• Site: www.mk-group.co.jp/english/shuttle/index

• Fare: ¥2300

  Note: Reserve online at least two days in advance. Note that this is convenient because the service will drop you right at your lodgings (and pick you up at your lodgings). However, because it’s shared, you may have to stop at several places, so it can be time consuming.

Kansai International Airport (KIX) Transport To Kyoto

The fastest, most convenient way between KIX and Kyoto is the special JR Haruka Airport Express. You can use the Japan Rail Pass for this train:

JR Haruka Airport Express KIX — Kyoto

Fare: ¥3490/2980 reserved/unreserved

Duration: about 75 minutes

First departure from KIX to Kyoto: 6:33am (6:42am Sat/Sun)

Last departure from KIX to Kyoto: 10:16pm

First departure from Kyoto to KIX: 5:46am

Last departure from Kyoto to KIX: 8:16pm

Note: You don’t need reserved seats on this train except in the busy shogatsu, Obon and Golden Week seasons. If traveling from Kyoto to KIX, ask at your lodgings if your intended departure originates in Kyoto or Shiga; some trains start in Shiga, meaning they are mostly full when they reach Kyoto — opt for a train starting in Kyoto. Details on this useful Wikipedia page.

Limousine bus KIX — Kyoto

• Company: Osaka Airport Transport
• Tel: 06-6844-1124
• Site: www.okkbus.co.jp/en/index
• Fare: ¥2500
• Duration: about 90 minutes

Notes: No reservations necessary. At KIX, buy your ticket from the transport counter in the international arrivals hall and wait at the curbside at the correct boarding point. In Kyoto, the main stop is near Avanti department store; attendants at the stop will sell you a ticket (see the website for more boarding points in Kyoto, including main hotels).

Alternatively, you can purchase a limousine bus ticket online and collect the voucher at the airport on arrival.

Shared taxi van KIX — Kyoto

• Company: MK Taxi Sky Gate Shuttle
• Tel: 075-778-5489
• Site: www.mk-group.co.jp/english/shuttle/index
• Fare: ¥3500

Note: If possible, reserve online at least two days in advance. If you have no reservation, you can approach the MK counter at the south end of the international arrivals hall and see if they can fit you in (they probably can). Note that this is convenient because the service will drop you right at your lodgings (and pick you up at your lodgings). However, because it’s shared, you may have to stop at several places, so it can be time consuming.

Kansai Airport Hotel

If you need to stay at Kansai Airport overnight, there is the excellent Hotel Nikko Kansai which is located within the airport itself. There are several other hotels located nearby to Kansai Airport in the surrounding Izumo-Sani area which provide regular airport shuttle services.

Central Japan International Airport Centrair (NGO) Transport To Kyoto

The best way to travel between Centrair and Kyoto is Meitetsu Line (between the airport and Nagoya) and the shinkansen (between Nagoya and Kyoto):

Meitetsu Tokoname Railroad (NGO — Nagoya)

• Fare: ¥850
• Duration: 30 minutes
• English website: www.meitetsu.co.jp/english/airport-access/
• Note: You cannot use the Japan Rail Pass on this leg.

JR Tokaido Shinkansen (Nagoyaa — Kyoto)

• Fare: ¥5640
• Duration: 36 minutes
• Note: You can use the Japan Rail Pass on this leg.

Tokyo (Narita or Haneda International Airports): Travelling NRT/HND to Kyoto

Depending upon where you are flying from, it may be cheaper to fly into Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda (HND) than into KIX. It costs about ¥15,000 and takes about five hours to get from Narita to Kyoto by train (by the N’EX express train and shinkansen). The Japan Rail Pass will cover the entire trip from NRT to Kyoto. It takes about four hours and costs about ¥14,000 to get from Haneda to Kyoto. The Japan Rail Pass will cover the shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto, but not the trip between Haneda and Tokyo. Thus, if you’re not in a hurry and it’s cheaper to fly via Tokyo, consider this option.

Visiting Tokyo As Well?

Check my Tokyo Airport Transport page on TrulyTokyo.com for information on how to get from Narida or Haneda airports into downtown Tokyo.

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