Osaka - Kyoto - Tokyo

Hi Kiapso,

Will you be flying out of Tokyo or Osaka? This make a big difference if how useful a JR Pass could be for you.

As for staying overnight, what time will you be arriving? There are different business hotels around Kansai Airport starting at 4000~yen a night which make for a good nights sleep.You can then use the Hakura Express the following morning from Kansai Airport to Kyoto.

The 500yen Kyoto bus ticket is a recommendation in any event. Buses are the way to get around in Kyoto and a single ride is 220yen, so it's very easy to make savings.

I hope this helps!
Daniel

Hi Daniel-san,

Thank you for your reply.

Our destinations and travel method are as follows:

Fly Aus - Osaka
Train Osaka - Kyoto
Train Kyoto - Tokyo
Fly Tokyo - Sapporo
Fly Sapporo - Aus

We aren't using too many trains, although understand we may have to when we arrive at Osaka.

We will be arriving at Kansai at around 6:30pm. I was thinking we could catch the train to Shin-Osaka for the evening, which should make it easy to get to Kyoto the next morning; would that be correct?

Thank you for the tip on the 500yen Kyoto Bus Ticket.

Thanks,

Kiapso

Hi Kiapso,

I think that you should be more than fine if you want to travel to Kyoto directly after arrival. Trains to Kyoto keep departing until around 22:00. Immigration at Kansai Airport takes about 40min, so there should still be a good amount of time after. You could also travel to Shin-Osaka or Osaka station and travel from there the next morning but personally I'd try to arrive at Kyoto the same evening and leave as much travel behind me as I can.

I hope this helps too!
Daniel

Hi Daniel,
Thanks again for your help.
We will do just that, and go to Kyoto upon landing in Kansai.
The only thing I am yet to work out is if I should purchase a rail pass? I don't think we will be using enough trains to warrant one.
Thanks,
Kiapso

Hi Kaipso,

I think it would be best to buy normal tickets, you won't do enough travel for a JR Pass to pay off.

Enjoy Japan!
Daniel

Thought so. Thanks so much for your assistance Daniel!