If you have any questions for the logistics between the airports to the hotel, please mail to contact[at]ifip119-kyoto.org.

Kyoto travel guide

Consider to get into Kyoto via one of 3 major international airport.

• Osaka’s Kansai International Airport (KIX)
• Nagoya’s Chubu International Airport "Centrair" (NGO)
• Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT)

Taking trains is the most convenient and easy way to move between cities in Japan. In particular, if you take JR lines including Shinkansen, just go to the ticket office and just ask for the ticket for your final destination. The officer will check the timetable, arrange your trip and make reservations for the trains. The trains between these airports and Kyoto are frequent enough so you do not have to make reservation from your country in advance.

• From Kansai International Airport(KIX) to Kyoto(80min.)
  • [KIX] - JR Airport Limited Express HARUKA - [JR Kyoto Station]
    • HARUKA runs every 30 min. You can reduce the cost with JR-West Rail Pass (Kansai Area Pass) which is valid for all JR local lines and HARUKA trains in Kansai Area (including Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Osaka).
      • After going through the customs which is located at the ground floor of KIX, go up to the second floor and follow the signs to “JR Line”. You will cross a bridge to the JR/Nankai Kansai-Airport Station. At the station, you can find JR ticket office indicated by a GREEN sign (be sure not to confused by Nankai's ticket office). At the ticket booth, ask the staff (they understand English) to make a reservation of Haruka Limited Express for Kyoto. You will get two tickets, one is for a ride from KIX to Kyoto and the other is for a reserved seat for the HARUKA train. It costs about 3000 yen. If you don't need a reserved seat, just ask for Kansai Area Pass (1-day pass) which is available to ride a non-reserved seat of HARUKA trains. It costs 2000 yen. Credit cards can be used at the office. Almost all of HARUKA trains stop at Kyoto but please make sure at the platform.
    • Alternatively, you can ask for the shuttle-van but you must book them 2 days in advance.
      • MK Taxi Skygateshuttle
      • Yasaka Kanku Shuttle
• From Chubu International Airport(NGO) to Kyoto (90min.)
  • [NGO] - Meitetsu Line - [Meitetsu Nagoya Station]
  • [Meitetsu Nagoya Station] - on foot - [JR Nagoya Station]
  • [JR Nagoya Station] - JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line - [JR Kyoto Station]

• From Narita International Airport(NRT) to Kyoto (4hours)
  • [NRT] - JR Narita Express - [JR Tokyo Station]
  • [JR Tokyo Station] - JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line (Nozomi Super Express) - [JR Kyoto Station]
    • After arriving NRT, follow the signs to “JR Lines” to go to one of the JR stations (NRT has two JR stations). At the station, you can find JR ticket office indicated by a GREEN sign. At the ticket booth, ask the staff to arrange your ticket to Kyoto. They will check the availablity and make reservations of Narita Express for Tokyo and Shinkansen Nozomi Superexpress for Kyoto. These trains are frequent enough (Narita express: every 30min. Shinkansen: every 10-20min.) You will get 3 tickets: one is a ticket for a ride from NRT to Kyoto, one is a reserved seat ticket for the Narita express from NRT to Tokyo, and the other is a reserved seat ticket for the Nozomi superexpress from Tokyo to Kyoto. It will cost you 16230 yen. Credit cards are available. You can reduce the cost with a non-reserved seat ticket but for your comfortable trip we strongly recommand you to reserve your seat because Nozomi trains are often busy.

If you want to know how long your trip will take exactly, use an expert system ”Hyperdia”. For example, if you want to know the time and fee from NRT to Kyoto, enter “NARITA AIRPORT” as start point, “Kyoto” as Destination and press search button. If you want to start from KIX or NGO, enter “KANSAI AIRPORT” or “CHUBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT”.

Not all people in Kyoto including taxi drivers can understand English well. For your convenience, please hold a copy of the following sheet to ask your way.

• By taxi:

It takes 15-20 min. and costs 1000-1500 yen between JR Kyoto Station and Kyoto Royal Hotel. Be sure to ask to the driver to go to “KYOTO Royal Hotel”, not simply “Royal Hotel” because there are two “Royal hotels” in Kyoto (The other is “Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto” near Kyoto Station). Please note that not all taxis accept credit cards, so please make sure to the driver if you want to use. Tipping is not needed.

• By subway:

The subway map is here. From JR Kyoto Station = Subway Kyoto(K11) Station, take a train bound for Kokusai-Kaikan(K01) Station and change the train at Karasuma-Oike(K08/T13) Station to Tozai Line. Take a train travelling to Rokujizo(T01) Station or Hamaotsu, and get off at Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae(T12) Station. It takes about 15 min. and costs 250 yen. From the Station, walk about 80 meters south along Kawaramachi Street. You can see the hotel on the east side of the street.

• By bus:

The bus route map is here and how to ride a bus is here. At north side (Karasuma Gate) of JR Kyoto Station, there is the bus terminal. Go to A2 stop and take a bus of Route 4, 17 or 205. Get off the bus at Kawaramachi-Sanjo stop. You can see the hotel just the other side of the street of the bus stop. It takes about 20 min. and costs 220 yen.

Chartered buses will be provided.

• Jan. 27 (Sun): The dinner is at the hotel.
• Jan. 28 (Mon): In the morning, the bus departs the hotel at 8:30am. Meet at the lobby. In the evening, the bus departs the venue at 18:30 to the restaurant.
• Jan. 29 (Tue): In the morning, the bus departs the hotel at 8:30am. Meet at the lobby. In the evening, the bus departs the venue at 18:00 to the hotel. The restaurant is near the hotel so meet at the lobby at 18:45.
• Jan. 30 (Wed): In the morning, the bus departs the hotel at 8:30am. Meet at the lobby. In the evening, the bus departs the venue at 18:00 to the hotel.

• Google Maps
• Kyoto Maps and Tourist Guides
• English Maps for Railways
• English Map for Bus Lines in Kyoto