Fastest and Cheapest Way To Get To Kyoto From Tokyo

Above, JR Kyoto Station, where Gamera and Irys had their final battle in Gamera 3. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the most interesting cities in Japan is its ancient capital, Kyoto.

For those who have never been to Kyoto, it should be included in all Japan travel itineraries. There are many ways to get to Kyoto (my preference is by shinkansen) and Tokyo Cheapo has an article on them.

They start it with:

Tokyo and Kyoto, along with neighboring Osaka, are usually at the top of the itinerary when you visit Japan. Tokyo is commonly regarded as a hub of modernity, whereas Kyoto is seen as a city of tradition. The distance between the two is roughly 450km, so how do you get from Tokyo to Kyoto? 

There are plenty of ways, and what to choose depends on whether you consider time or cost to be more important. Probably your best bet is getting the amazing-value Japan Rail Pass, especially if you have more than just Tokyo and Kyoto on your itinerary. If it’s just one Tokyo to Kyoto trip, consider getting a discounted round-trip bullet train package. But read on for the full low-down.

Of coure, taking the shinkansen will have visitors arrive at the JR Kyoto Station, where Gamera had the final battle with Irys in Gamera 3 (1999). So right off, kaiju fans will visit a monster movie location.

To read more, go here.