Transportation options from Kyoto to Tokyo for flight home
We are going on the Essence of Japan trip which begins 09/29/2025. I was able to get direct flight from Minneapolis to and from Tokyo for a very reasonable price today. I am now looking at options to get from Kyoto to Tokyo for our flight home. Our flight leaves at 4 pm. I know there is a high speed train that takes less than 3 hours. I was wondering if anyone has advice? Delta does not partner with Allnippon airlines so if we fly we will have to go through security twice and the Tauck agent did not recommend that.
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Have you researched flights yourselves? Tauck isn’t always able to see all available flight options. We have found this out on numerous occasions with them. They sometimes do not have the best prices either. Tauck insurance covers flights even if you book your own.
Done this tour in 2023.
I flew domestic flight on ANA from Osaka to Tokyo on the last day. Yuck got a taxi for me and another couple to go to the Kansai Airport, arranged asistance at check in and the group of us flew a domestic one hour flight from Osaka to Tokyo Narita. The other couple and I went from the domestic terminal to international on a shuttle bus after they picked up their luggage and mine went through the airport transit. They flew Delta back to Seattle with a very tight connection and checking in again at Terminal 1 at Narita. I waited five hours at the ANA lounge, the shopping area at Narita at Terminal 1 and took a red eye from Narita to San Francisco.
No one has any problem, much preferred over using the subway which involves a change in subway station.
Hello Anne,
We have the same issue, as our flights will be to and from Narita Tokyo. We plan to stay a few extra days in Kyoto at another hotel and then take the Nozomi Shinkansen bullet train to the Tokyo main station. They run every 20 minutes or so and take around 2 hours non-stop.
It seems fairly easy to book tickets on-line through a simple to use app called smartEX which you can download to your smartphone. You have to actually collect your physical tickets at Kyoto station and there are a number of Youtube videos online which show you how to do this. Looks fairly straightforward. Depending on the class of travel (Ordinary or Green which is first class), cost would be around US$125 for Green for two. You could also buy your ticket at Kyoto station from one of the self-service machines when you are in Tokyo with Tauck, many Youtube videos on how to do this too.
Another good link is the Japan section of Man in Seat 61 web site which has lots of information on Japan rail and booking tickets.
https://www.seat61.com/Japan.htm
Once in Tokyo, you should be able to transfer easily to the airport. So that we are not too rushed we plan to stay an extra night in Tokyo and the Hotel Metropolitan which is minutes walk from Tokyo station looks good.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g14129528-d653033-Reviews-HOTEL_METROPOLITAN_TOKYO_MARUNOUCHI-Marunouchi_Chiyoda_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html
I did this trip last year. We spent several days at the end of the trip back in Tokyo and took the train from Kyoto. It was easy, and we bought tickets at Kyoto station just prior to departure. We had the Four Seasons Kyoto ship our luggage to our Tokyo hotel. It was cheap and easy. In every hotel, you'll find a "mystery" multi-page NCR form in one of the drawers in your hotel room. That's the ticket for luggage transfer. Have the front desk or concierge help you with it. IIRC, it was about 20 USD per bag. It makes life easier not having to deal with your big suitcase on the train. I don't know if you can ship bags to Tokyo Station.
If I were not spending any additional time in Tokyo, I'd fly from Osaka. While the train is an adventure in itself, I don't know if I'd want to hassle with it at the end of a trip, if flying directly home. As stated above, the train is about 2 hours and they run every 15-20 minutes. Once at Tokyo station, you'll need to buy another train ticket and transfer to another train. To NRT, the NEX (Narita Express) runs directly from Tokyo Station and takes about 50 minutes. The NEX is several flights down and finding the elevator wasn't easy (it was just outside the main entrance of the station). To HND, it's a shorter trip, butyou'll have to change trains a few stops from Tokyo Station.
(edited for typo)
BKMD - We too will be doing the luggage transfer option to our Tokyo hotel, sounds pretty straightforward. I believe you can transfer from hotel to the airport.