Kyoto To Nara Park - Nara Park Website

Trying to figure out how to get from Kyoto to Nara Park? The train is your best option if you don’t have a rental car in Japan!

Nara Park is located in the city of Nara, which is about 46 kilometers (about 28.5 miles) south of Kyoto, and most travelers take the train from Kyoto to Nara, whether they plan to visit Nara on a day trip, or stay a night or two in Nara.

You can also opt for a guided day tour of Nara’s highlights from Kyoto. You’ll travel by air-conditioned coach for an efficient and convenient visit to Nara Park to meet the deer, Todai-ji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Uji for traditional matcha tea.

A deer in Nara Park, Nara, Japan — A deer in Nara Park reaching for a rice cracker

Best Things to Do in Japan at a Glance

Place Activities & Best Tours
(Reserve early, these sell out fast!)
Tokyo Mt Fuji & Hakone, Tokyo highlights, Go-Kart, bar-hopping, sushi-making, local food tour, sumo
Kyoto Kyoto highlights, Fushimi Inari hike, local food tour, ramen cooking, samurai, kimono tea ceremony, sake tasting, Nara highlights
Osaka Osaka castle, Go Kart, street food, sushi making, Nara highlights, Kyoto highlights

Place	Activities & Best Tours (Reserve early, these sell out fast!)
Tokyo	Mt Fuji & Hakone, Tokyo highlights, Go-Kart, bar-hopping, sushi-making, local food tour, sumo
Kyoto	Kyoto highlights, Fushimi Inari hike, local food tour, ramen cooking, samurai, kimono tea ceremony, sake tasting, Nara highlights
Osaka	Osaka castle, Go Kart, street food, sushi making, Nara highlights, Kyoto highlights

How to Get from Kyoto Station in Kyoto to Nara Park

Japan Rail

From Kyoto Station, take the JR Nara Line to JR Nara Station in Nara.

Miyakoji rapid trains take 45 minutes from Kyoto to Nara and are the quickest option to Nara Station. They depart every 30 minutes.

Locals also run on this route, but a local train takes much longer, about one hour and 15 minutes.

If you have a JR Pass, you can use it for this journey on the JR Nara Line from Kyoto to Nara.

The train is unquestionably the best way to get around Japan. Click to get your Japan Rail Pass now!

From the JR Nara Station, Nara Park is a 20-minute walk.

You can also take a local bus from the station and be dropped off at one of several bus stops around Nara Park, depending on where you want to start your exploring.

Kintetsu Rail

Alternatively, you can take the Kintetsu Limited Express from Kyoto Station to the Kintetsu Station in Nara. This is the fastest option, taking 35 minutes. Express trains, which are less expensive, take about 44-50 minutes.

From the Kintetsu Nara Station, Nara Park is just a 6-minute walk.

A Kintetsu Rail Pass allows for convenient travel across the Kansai Region of Japan: Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Mie, and Nagoya. Get your digital pass online today and enjoy unlimited rides!

Planning a trip? Visit our Nara Park website for the complete rundown on every single detail!

And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Japan, check out some of the top things to do in Japan, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!

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