How to use JR Pass in downtown Kyoto. Find how much you can use Japan Rail Pass in Kyoto.

Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara
There are a big number of Torii at Fushimi Inari shrine. ©Kyoto Convention Bureau /©JNTO
Kyoto Imperial Palace ©Akira Okada/©JNTO
Kyoto Imperial Palace ©Akira Okada/©JNTO

Kyoto is most popular destination in Japan. You may visit Kyoto by JR Pass and other JR West Rail Passes. You may be wondering how much you can use your pass to explore Kyoto?

In this post, I explain you about the coverage of JR Pass and other rail passes in Kyoto.

Explaination by movie

You may watch same content as this post in the movie below as well.

Overview

First of all, please see the map below. I put train routes, a bus route and the name of the tourist spots in the map.

Click to view large.

These are covered by JR Pass. And also these following other regional JR deal have same coverage:

Kansai Area Pass does not cover West Japan JR Bus line but it covers Kyoto subway and some part of Keihan railway. Please find more information in the post below:

Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass can take you to Kyoto. But it does not cover any modes of transportation after arrival in Kyoto.

How to get Kyoto by JR Pass and JR regional passes

There are many ways to get Kyoto.

The Tokaido Shinkansen

You can get Kyoto by the Shinkansen from Tokyo, Yokohama, Odawara (near Hakone), Nagoya, Shin-Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima, Hakata and many more stations. Please find more information of the Shinkansen in the link below:

The limited express Haruka

If you arrive in Kansai airport and move to Kyoto right after, you may take Haruka. It takes you to Kyoto directly.

Limited Express Haruka from KIX is covered.

You may use this train for Tennoji to Kyoto or Shin-Osaka to Kyoto instead of taking a local train.

Special Rapid train

Special Rapid Service operated by JR West 223 series.
Special Rapid Service is the fastest commute train between Himeji, Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto

Special Rapid train runs every 15 minutes day time. It offers very frequent and very fast service. It takes just 30 minutes from Osaka to Kyoto. The trip time is same as other limited express train. The Shinkansen is fast but you have to change trains at Shin-Osaka. If you travel from Osaka (Umeda) to Kyoto. This train is the best choice.

From Kanazawa, Amanohashidate, Kinosaki, Nara

Kyoto is connected with these cities as well. You can get Kyoto from Kanazawa by the limited express Thunderbird. From Amanohashidate, you can take the limited express Hashidate. The limited express Kinosaki connects Kyoto and Kinosaki Onsen. And Nara and Kyoto are connected by JR Nara line. You can get Kyoto from Nara by a local train or a rapid train.

The coverage of JR Pass and JR regional passes

There are tree routes are covered.

JR Sagano line

Sagano line is shown in a pink line. You can get these following places by this line:

  • Kyoto Railway Museum (from Umekoji -Kyotonishi station)
  • Kyoto Aquarium (from Umekoji-Kyotonishi station)
  • Nijo castle (from Nijo station)
  • Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (from Uzumasa station)
  • Arashiyama (from Saga-Arashiyama station)
  • Sagano Scenic Railway, a.k.a. Torokko train (from Saga-Arashiyama station)

A local train and a rapid train runs every 15 minutes in daytime.

Sagano Scenic Railway departs from JR Saga-Arashiyama station but this train is not covered by JR Pass and JR regional deals.

Nara line

This line is shown in a brown line. This line connects Kyoto and Nara. These following places can be accessed by Nara line:

  • Tofuku-ji temple (from Tofukuji station)
  • Fushimi Inari shrine (from Inari station)
  • Uji (from Uji station)

I did not put any stations on the map between Uji and Inari. But there are many stations. It take 5 to 10 minutes to get Tofukuji and Inari from Kyoto. But it takes 30 minutes from Kyoto station to Uji. Uji is located in the middle of Kyoto and Nara.

A local train and a rapid train runs every 10 to 15 minutes in daytime.

West Japan JR bus

There are huge number of bus routes in Kyoto. You can get almost anywhere in Kyoto by a bus. Most bus routes are operated by Kyoto city bus which is not covered by JR Pass and JR regional deals. But there is only one route which is operated by West Japan JR Bus. This is covered by JR Pass and JR regional deals.

This route connects Kyoto station and Takao. There are some tourist spots on the route of this bus service:

  • Kitano Tenmangu shrine (from Kitano bus stop)
  • Kinkaku-ji temple, a.k.a. Golden Pavillion (from Wara Tenjin bus stop)
  • Ryoan-ji temple (from Ryoanji bus stop)

This bus runs every 15 minutes between 8:00 and 18:00.

Around Kyoto station

JR Kyoto station is the biggest shopping area in Kyoto. There are some shopping buildings around the station. And Kyoto tower is located in front of the station.

The places which are not covered

JR Pass Kyoto uncovered places

Eastern and northern Kyoto are not covered by JR Pass and JR regional deals. These following popular places cannot be accessed by JR Pass and JR regional deals:

  • Kiyomizu-dera temple
  • Yasaka shrine
  • Gion
  • Nishiki Market
  • Imperial Palace
  • Ginkaku-ji temple
  • Kurama
  • Kifune shrine
  • Hieizan

You have to take Keihan Railway, Hankyu Railway, Kyoto city subway, Kyoto city bus and/or Eizan Railway to get these places. Please refer the post below to find all trains information:

I hope you have foud how to maximize using JR Pass in Kyoto. Enjoy your trip to Kyoto.

Comments

  1. Ching says:

    Hi Takeshi-San,
    My family will be visiting Japan on April 26 to May 2, 2017

    April 26 – Arrival at Kansai Airport and stay at Osaka(hotel)
    April 27 – Go to Hiroshima and Huis Ten Bosch Sasebo City
    April 28 – Explore Osaka and Kobe
    April 29 – From Osaka to Kyoto day tour
    April 30 – Osaka to Tokyo
    May 1 – Explore Tokyo
    May 2 – Narita Tokyo back to the Phils.
    Is JR pass applicable for our trips? Or pay as we go?

    Thank you,

    ChingS8U

    • Hi Ching san,

      JR pass will work but day 2 (Hiroshima and Huis Ten Bosch) is too much. You have to stay in Sasebo otherwise it does not work. It takes 2 hours to get Hiroshima. And you need to spend at lease another 3.5 hours to get Sasebo from Hiroshima. If you really want to go to Huis Ten Bosch, you have to stay in Sasebo on Apr 27 and you have to change your schedule on Apr 28. You will reach Osaka in the evening on Apr 28.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Scott Tran says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    I will be visiting Japan for the first time and your replies to everyone is very helpful. Could you help me to know what passes I should get? I was planning to get the 14 day JR pass but not sure if it is worth the money since it seems I need other passes as well?

    1. April 4-April 7 – Narita Airport to Tokyo Station; then explore Tokyo
    —- April 7 – Tokyo to Akayu Station
    2. April 7-April 10 – Yamagata Prefecture for a few days
    —- April 10 – Akayu Station to Yokohama
    3. April 10-April 12 – Yokohama
    —- April 12 – Yokohama to Osaka Station
    4. April 13-April 16 – Osaka (with day trips to Kyoto)
    —- April 16 – Osaka Station to Tokyo
    5. April 17-April 18 – Tokyo

    Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!!! Hopefully I didn’t double post ><

  3. Jose Vilhena says:

    Hello Takeshi.
    We are flying in and out from Narita Airport in our trip and we buyed a 14 days JP PASS

    Our itinerary in Japan is as follows:
    2017:
    27/02 – NARITA/TOKYO/KYOTO (by NEX+JR train)
    28/02 – KYOTO
    01/03 – KYOTO
    02/03 – KYOTO
    03/03 – KYOTO
    04/03 – KYOTO/NARA/KYOTO (by JR train)
    05/03 – KYOTO/HIMEJI/ MIYAJIMA (by JR train)
    06/03 – MIYAJIMA/ HIROSHIMA/KANAZAWA (by JR boat and train)
    07/03 – KANAZAWA
    08/03 – KANAZAWA/ SHIRAKAWA (by BUS – extra payed)
    09/03 – SHIRAKAWA/TAKAYAMA (by BUS – extra payed)
    10/03 – TAKAYAMA/TOKYO (by JR train)
    11/03 – TOKYO – HAKONE (by JR train)
    12/03 – TOKYO – NIKKO (by JR train – LAST DAY PASS)
    13/03 – TOKYO
    14/03 – TOKYO
    15/03 – TOKYO
    16/03 – TOKYO
    17/03 – TOKYO
    18/03 – TOKYO
    19/03 – TOKYO/NARITA (by NEX – extra payed)

    We would like to maximize the use of the JR Pass, but we read somewhere that the JR Pass was not accepted in some regions like Kyoto and we are considering buy two SUICA in Tokyo Station before go to Kyoto, to pay the transport that isn’t included in our 14 JR PASS and to use it after the JR PASS has finished, and buy the One day pass in the days of Kyoto, to maximise the use in this city.

    It’s my plan right? Would you so kind to advise us better manners of do this trip?

    Thank you in advance for your comments and suggestions.

  4. Myriam says:

    Hello Takeshi ,
    At first: thanks for this website! It’s the first really helpful one I could find! 🙂

    We (8 friends) will fly to Japan in March 2017. But we are really insecure if the JR-PASS is really the best choice for our journey…

    This is our journey (more a city trip, maybe just 3-4 trips to a theme park, fuji, etc.):

    25. March > Landing on Kansai airport
    25. March – 31. March Osaka
    31. March – 05. April Kyoto
    05. April – 16. April Tokio
    16. April > flight back from Narita airport

    Maybe you can help as a bit answering this question? That would be so nice. 🙂

    Greetings from Munich
    Myriam & friends

  5. Yuli Samantha says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    Need you valuable advise here 😀
    I will travel to Japan in Feb 2017 and my itinerary is as follows:

    1. Arrival in Kansai Intl Airport, stay in Osaka for 1 night
    2. Kyoto 3 nights (want to visit Nara and Arashiyama as day trips)
    3. Takayama 1 night, Shirakawa-go as day trip from Takayama
    4. Tokyo 2 nights, Departure from Narita airport

    What pass should I purchase? Thank you!

  6. George O Sunio says:

    Hello Takeshi. We are flying in to Narita Airport and flying out of Haneda Airport.

    Our itinerary in Japan is as follows:

    Tokyo – April 2 to 5 (Staying at 101-0032, Tokyo, Chiyoda Ward, Chiyoda-Ku Iwamoto-Cho 2-1-1 )

    Kyoto – April 5 to 11 (Staying at 7-8 Okazakinishifukunokawa-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8326, Japan)

    Tokyo – April 11 to 14 (Staying at 101-0032, Tokyo, Chiyoda Ward, Chiyoda-Ku Iwamoto-Cho 2-1-1 )

    We was considering purchasing the 14-day JR Pass. We would like to maximize the use of the JR Pass, but we read somewhere that the JR Pass was not universally accepted in Kyoto. Or is the 7-day pass more practical?

    Thank you in advance for your comments and suggestions.

    George

  7. Lidia says:

    Hello I will arrive at Haneda airport and stay in Tokyo for 3 days before heading to Kyoto for another 3 days. I will leave Kyoto and depart Japan through Haneda airport on Jan 19th.

    Will the Jr Pass be best suitable option? Or pay as we go?

    Thanks
    Lidia

  8. Gee says:

    Hi Takeshi-san

    I will be in Osaka for 7days and arriving in Kansai Airport.

    Itinerary are as follows:

    Osaka to Kyoto – 2days
    Kyoto to Kobe/Nara – 2days
    Kobe to Osaka – 3days

    I plan to stay lastly in Osaka as there were many tourist spots therein. Is it possible to get a JR Pass for 7days? What is advisable route to get into the abovementioned places?

    PS: I just want to go to dotonbori longer and eat kobe beef

    Thank you.

  9. Susan says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    Thank you for this post. It is very helpful!
    May I ask for advice on the JR Pass?

    I will be in Japan from May 10-27, 2017, and I want to visit southern Japan, Kyoto area, between May 17-May 23.

    1. May 10-17 Narita airport to Tokyo on single ticket.
    2. May 17-23 travel to Kyoto on Shinkansen. I will visit around Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, and Miyajima during this time.
    3. May 23 travel back to Tokyo on Shinkansen.
    4. May 27 Tokyo to Narita airport on single ticket.

    What do you think?
    Is the 7-day JR Pass the best option for the duration of my trip in southern Japan? I am planning to use the IC Card for travelling within Tokyo. Can I use this on the Kyoto bus lines?

    Thank you for your time,
    Susan

  10. Grace Anne Rebebes says:

    Hi Takeshi-San,

    I will be visiting Japan on April 3-7, 2017.

    1. April 3-5 at Kyoto from Kansai Airport
    2. April 5 travel to Tokyo through Bullet Train
    3. April 5-7 Tokyo
    4. April 7 fly out of Tokyo from Narita Airport

    Will JR Pass be worth to purchase for the duration of my travel?

    Will I be able to navigate through Kyoto and Tokyo through JR Pass?

    Thank you very much for your help!!!

    Cheers,
    Grace

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