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
2011.02.24
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:

How to use JR West Kansai Area Pass. Compare pass and single fare.
This posts explains you how to use Kansai Area Pass. It is one of JR West rail passes and it covers whole part of Kansai area.
jprail.com
2012.10.19

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 Tokaido, the Sanyo and the Kyushu Shinkansen (Bullet Train) train ride guide. Most popular train between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata and Kagoshima.
This Shinkansen ride guide gives you all information about the Shinkansen between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata, Kumamoto and Kagoshima in this post.
jprail.com
2014.05.27

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:

Kyoto train route guide. How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots?
There are lots of the train lines and subway lines in Kyoto. This post shows you the train network in Kyoto. You can learn how to get the major places in Kyoto.
jprail.com
2013.09.22

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

Comments

  1. Dinie says:
    February 25, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    Hi Takeshi. Thank you so much for your effort in maintaining this website; I have used it a lot in planning my Japan trip!

    The following is my planned itinerary during the cherry blossom season this year:

    3/4 – 5/4 Narita & Tokyo
    5/4 – 7/4 Osaka (hotel in Esaka)
    7/4 – 9/4 Day trips to Kyoto from Osaka (hotel in Tennoji, because I couldn’t find a place to stay in Kyoto)
    9/4 – 10/4 Hakone area
    10/4 – 11/4 Mt. Fuji (Kawaguchiko area)
    11/4 – 12/4 Return to Tokyo
    12/4 – 13/4 Narita (early morning flight on the 13th)

    If you could help me with a few questions, I would be so grateful!

    My questions:

    1) Is my planned itinerary feasible? I plan to purchase a 7-day JR Pass. I am thinking of starting using the pass from 5th onwards.

    2) I understand that if I start using the pass on the 5th in the morning, it will expire on the 11th 11.59pm. Is this correct? I could still use the pass to explore Tokyo on the 11th without having to spend anymore on JR tickets? And I could just purchase the discounted N’EX return trip ticket for Narita-Tokyo-Narita. Is this okay?

    3) Are day trips to Kyoto from Osaka advisable? I mean, going out to Kyoto in the morning and returning to Osaka later in the day. I couldn’t find any place to stay in Kyoto for 7/4-9/4. Trains from Kyoto-Osaka run until the evening, don’t they?

    4) If day trips are feasible, just using JR Pass is enough right for the going and coming back from Osaka-Kyoto-Osaka?

    5) Is the train trip from Osaka to Hakone going to be difficult? My research tells me that I have several ways to reach Hakone, but with luggage in tow, switching between shinkansen and bus at Mishima/Atami/Yugawara station is going to be quite difficult. My hotel is nearby Hakone-Yumoto, thus Odawara is the best transit stop for me. Is this correct?

    6) Do you have any ideas on ways to make my itinerary better i.e. less rushed, maximize use of JR Pass etc (apart from extending my stay hehe)? I would very much appreciate your input.

    Thank you in advance for your help, Takeshi.

    Best regards from Malaysia,
    Dinie

  2. Macon says:
    February 16, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    Thank you for this helpful site. I’d like to check if we are making the right choice of what to buy for the subway.
    Here is our IT
    We will be staying in Osaka
    Day 1 :Kyoto + Nara (if time permits)
    Day 2: Osaka
    Day 3: Osaka
    Day 4: Nara if in we can’t go there during Day 1, in case we get that covered on Day 1 then we might go to Kobe

    would the JR West Kansai Area Pass be enough? or JR West Kansai Area Pass +Kansai thru pass?

    Thanks,

    Regards,
    Macon

  3. tom says:
    February 15, 2015 at 2:48 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    First of all, thank you so much for taking time to maintain your website with such usefull informations. I would appreciate to have your advise regarding the card or pass to purchase about my trip as following :
    Arrival in Tokyo 28.03 – staying 5 nights in Tokyo
    Dep. to Kyoto 02.04 – staying 6 nights in Otsu
    03.04 KYOTO
    04.04 KYOTO
    05.04 KYOTO
    06.04 Himeji / Nara
    07.04 KOBE / OSAKA
    08.04 travelling back to Tokyo
    09.04 Last day in Tokyo , Visit Yokohama & Kamakura
    10.04 fly back to home

    So what would be the best for our 5 nights stay in Tokyo if we want to move around?
    And then travel to Kyoto , what would you recommend ?
    Many thanks for your feedback.
    Kind regards

  4. Jaymee says:
    January 8, 2015 at 9:57 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I was wondering which card should we get for our 10 day itinerary on Apr. 2 – 11, 2015:

    Apr 2 (Thursday) – 8pm: Travel from Kansai Airport to Hotel in Kyoto
    Apr 3 (Friday): Kyoto: Day 1
    Ginkakuji
    Philosopher’s Path.
    Nanzenji
    Keage Incline
    Heian Shrine
    Yasaka Shrine
    Kodaiji
    Higashiyama Street
    Kiyomizudera
    Fushimi Inari Shrine
    Gion

    Apr 4 (Saturday): Kyoto: Day 2
    Monkey Park
    Togetsukyo Bridge
    Tenryuji
    Bamboo Groves
    Jojakkoji
    Gioji
    Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street
    Otagi Nenbutsuji
    Daikakuji
    Ryoanji
    Kinkakuji
    Ninnaji Temple
    Pontocho Alley

    Apr 5 (Sunday): Himeji + Nara: Day 3
    Himeji Castle
    Nara
    Walk to Kofukuji (5-storey pagoda)
    Great Buddha
    Kasuga Shrine
    Board train going to Tokyo

    Apr 6 (Monday): Tokyo: Day 4
    Meiji Shrine
    Takeshita Dori
    Omotesandoo
    Shibuya
    Shinjuku
    NHK Studio Park
    Yoyogi Park
    Omoide Yokocho
    Evening:
    Kabukicho
    Golden Gai

    Apr 7 (Tuesday): Tokyo: Day 5
    Kaminarimon
    Nakamise Dori
    Sensoji Temple
    old-fashioned neighborhoods around Asakusa
    Sumida River Boat Ride
    Hama Rikyu
    Aquacity and Decks
    Palette Town
    Diver City
    Miraikan
    Oedo Onsen
    Optional additions:
    Tokyo Skytree
    Walk across Rainbow Bridge

    Apr 8 (Wednesday): Yokohama: Day 6
    Yokohama
    Kirin Beer Village
    Tulips in Yokohama park
    Then go back to Tokyo

    Apr 9 (Thursday): Tokyo: Day 7
    Training session at a sumo stable
    Breakfast at Tsukiji Fish Market
    Imperial East Garden
    Outer Park
    Ginza
    Marunouchi
    Board train going to Nagoya

    Apr 10 (Friday): Nagoya: Day 8
    Morning: Cherry blossoms at Osu Kannon
    Afternoon: Tokugawa Garden
    After dark: City views from Nagoya Station

    Apr 11 (Saturday): Nagoya: Day 9
    Morning: Nagoya Castle
    Afternoon: Last minute shopping
    Go to Nagoya airport

    Thank you in advance.

  5. Li says:
    October 14, 2014 at 9:34 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    Planning a day trip to Awaji Island on 4 Nov 14. I’m not able to find English transport information at the island. Only transport i found, Kotsu website is in Japanese. Hope you able to provide more detail and suggestion. We have 5 adults, not driving and staying at Osaka Namba area.

  6. Gigi says:
    October 2, 2014 at 4:51 am

    hi, as i mentioned earlier, i’m planning a day trip to Kyoto.
    Could you advise me my route in term of cost effective ways?

    1. Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
    2. Fushimi-Inari Shrine
    3. Kiyomizu-dera –

    Thank you.

  7. Mike says:
    September 9, 2014 at 11:53 pm

    Hello,

    Thank you very much for this website and your efforts.

    Any suggestions for my upcoming itinerary:

    25-Sept Arrival at Kansai Airport at 16:30, then going directly to Kyoto
    26-Sept Kyoto
    27-Sept Kyoto
    28-Sept Kyoto
    29-Sept Kyoto
    30-Sept Leaving Kyoto to Nara, then going to stay in Osaka overnight
    01-Oct Flying out of Kansai Airport at 12:30

  8. Silke says:
    September 4, 2014 at 8:05 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am visiting Japan from 18 Oct – 26 Okt 2014 with my husband and my 17 months old son. We will arrive at Kyoto on 23 Oct around 12am and go back to KL from Osaka Kansai Airport on 26 Oct 2014 at 04:50 pm. I just wonder what public transport card would be best for Kyoto city exploring – one day in Nara – and the way to Kansai Airport.
    Do you have any advice for us?

    Thank you so much and greeting from Penang / Malaysia!
    Silke

  9. june says:
    August 31, 2014 at 1:58 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am visiing Japan from 14 Nov – 29 Nov 2014, arriving Kansai a/port arround 8.25 am and heading to Kyoto , stay 5 nights there , 2 nights Takayama,1 N Kyoto (may be change to Oaka), 2 N Hiroshima, 5 N Osaka,

    1. KIX to Kyoto – ICOCA/Haruka pass
    2. explore Kyoto 15/11 – 19/11/2014
    3. JR pass – activate 19/11 – 25/11/2014
    4. Kansai Thru pass 4 days pass 26/11 – 29/11/2014

    Please advise thank you

  10. Maggie Szasz says:
    April 21, 2014 at 1:05 pm

    Dear Takeshi,

    I will be visiting Kyoto this coming October and as a side trip I am going to Kinosaki Onsen for a couple of nights,then returning to Kyoto.
    Either on the way to Kinosaki from Kyoto or on the way back to Kyoto I would like to take a train ride along the coast of the Sea of Japan.
    For scenery from the train, would you recommend taking the JR Sanin line towards Takeno and then west, or should I consider a ride on the Kitakinki Tango line from Toyooka?
    I’ve spent a fair amount of time reading all the wonderful articles you have posted and very much look forward to my visit to Japan. Thanks for your time.
    Maggie S.

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      April 21, 2014 at 4:38 pm

      Hi Maggie,

      Both lines are good. But if you have a time, I recommend you to take a train to Hamasaki. The train passes on Amarube bridge. This is one of the best in Japan.
      http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201111/05/80/d0171080_1642859.jpg

      This bridge is located between Yoroi and Amarube.
      https://goo.gl/maps/jOiqq

      Of course, you will be able to see Sea of Japan on the way to Amarube bridge.

      Actually Kitakinki Tango Railway is a good choice too. It’s very hard to choose one of these. If you have extra time, take both.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Maggie Szasz says:
        April 21, 2014 at 6:29 pm

        Hi Takeshi,
        Thanks so much for your reply and the fantastic pic of Amarube bridge. Since I plan on getting the JR Kansai 4 day pass, I will take your great advice and take both trains. I am also very much looking forward to riding on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto.
        You have an awesome and incredibly informative website. Thanks again.
        Warm regards from Toronto
        Maggie

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