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
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.html
- Fare: Y1280
- 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.html
- Fare: Y2300
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: Y3490/2980 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
- Company: Osaka Airport Transport
- Tel: 06-6844-1124
- Site: www.okkbus.co.jp/en/index.html
- Fare: Y2500
- Duration: about 90 minutes
- Company: MK Taxi Sky Gate Shuttle
- Tel: 075-778-5489
- Site: www.mk-group.co.jp/english/shuttle/index.html
- Fare: Y3500
- Fare: Y850
- Duration: 30 minutes
- English website: www.meitetsu.co.jp/english/airport-access/
- Note: You cannot use the Japan Rail Pass on this leg.
- Fare: Y5640
- Duration: 36 minutes
- Note: You can use the Japan Rail Pass on this leg.
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
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
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
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 Airport 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)
JR Tokaido Shinkansen (Nagoyaa – Kyoto)
Central Japan International Airport Hotel
If you need to stay at Central Japan International Airport overnight, Centrair Hotel is located directly within the airport itself. There are also several hotels nearby the airport in the surrounding Tokoname area with airport shuttle services.
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 Y15,000 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 Y14,000 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.
