Transport from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station
JR・Shinsanken・Bus・Car
Osaka Station to Kyoto Station: How Far & How to Get There?
Osaka Station and Kyoto Station are about 43 km apart, making it one of the most popular and convenient day trips in Japan. The fastest and most convenient way is to take the JR Special Rapid Service on the JR Kyoto Line, which travels directly in about 28–30 minutes. You can also take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station, which takes around 15 minutes on the bullet train, though a short transfer from Osaka Station is required. Buses and rental cars are available as well, but travel time can take 60–80 minutes depending on traffic. For most travelers, the JR train is the easiest and most affordable way to travel between Osaka and Kyoto.
Major Transport from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station：JR、Shinsanken、Bus、Car
Compare Prices for Traveling from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station
| Operator | Price (From) | Duration | Route | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JR Kyoto Line | $4–$5 | 30min | Osaka Station → Kyoto Station | Direct TrainFrequent Departures |
| Shinkansen | $10–$20 | 35min | Osaka Station → Shin-Osaka → Kyoto Station | FastestReserved Seats |
| Willer | $15–$20 | Approx. 1h 30min | Osaka Station → Kyoto Station | ComfortableVehicle Transport |
| Car Rental (Times / Nippon / Orix) | $80-$120+/day | Approx. 43 km | Via Meishin Expressway | FlexibleScenic StopsDaily Rate |
Compare Operators between Osaka Station and Kyoto Station
JR Trains (JR West)
JR Kyoto Line – Special Rapid Service
Departure: Osaka Station (JR Kyoto Line)
Arrival: Kyoto Station
Duration: About 30 min
Price: $4-$7
JR Kyoto Line – Rapid / Local
Departure: Osaka Station
Arrival: Kyoto Station (more intermediate stops)
Duration: 40–45 min
Price: $6-$7
Tokaido Shinkansen (via Shin-Osaka)
Departure: Shin-Osaka Station
Arrival: Kyoto Station
Duration: 13–15 min on Nozomi (plus transfer from Osaka Station)
Price: $13 - $26 depending on seat type
Highway buses
Osaka–Kyoto highway buses
Departure: Osaka Station
Arrival: Kyoto Station
Duration: 60–90 min (traffic dependent)
Price: $15–$20
Taxi & private transfer
Licensed taxis & private cars
Departure: Taxi ranks around Osaka Station / city hotels
Arrival: Kyoto Station or your hotel
Duration: 50–80 min
Price: $102 – $154+ depending on route
Car rentals in Osaka
Osaka car rentals (Trip.com partners)
Pick-up: Osaka city locations or Kansai International Airport
Drop-off: Kyoto / Kansai region or back in Osaka
Drive: 50–80 min from Osaka to Kyoto by expressway
Price: From about $100+/day for small cars
Japan Travel Tips
Daily Budget
S$80 - 160
Best Season
Distinct four seasons
Power Plugs
Type A (two flat pins)
Time Difference
+1 hour ahead
Internet
SIM / eSIM / Roaming / WiFi
Local Transport
Train・Bus・Car
Top Hotels in Kyoto
5 star
Great2462 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|3.13km from downtown
This is a 4-star hotel, very close to Kyoto Station, and they offer a free shuttle bus to and from the station. The shuttle picks up on the left side when you exit the *Karasuma Central Exit* (条口) of Kyoto Station. There isn't much to explore around the hotel itself, and very few restaurants. If you plan on taking the train or eating out, it's best to head to Kyoto Station. Kyoto Station is large and beautiful, a tourist attraction in itself, and even has a big Isetan department store!
The breakfast restaurant on the 14th floor is a revolving restaurant with panoramic views of Kyoto. However, the Western set breakfast is quite mediocre. The breakfast restaurant on the first floor offers both Japanese and Western options, but the value for money isn't great. In terms of transportation, besides taking the train from Kyoto Station, you can also catch a bus nearby. It's a bit far from the livelier areas of Sanjo and Shijo, making it suitable for guests who prefer a quiet stay and want to be close to Kyoto Station.FromSGD 53
Amazing589 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|2.98km from downtown
Hotel Granvia Kyoto
★★★★★
An exceptional stay at Hotel Granvia Kyoto. The location is unbeatable, directly connected to Kyoto Station, which makes traveling around the city incredibly convenient. Whether heading out early for sightseeing or returning after a long day, the accessibility is a huge advantage.
The service was warm, professional and attentive from the moment we arrived. Staff were efficient yet genuinely welcoming, making the check in process smooth and comfortable. The rooms were spacious, clean and thoughtfully designed, offering a relaxing retreat after exploring Kyoto.
What truly stands out is the balance between comfort, convenience and quality hospitality. Everything felt seamless and well managed. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Kyoto. Five stars without hesitation.FromSGD 139
Amazing1267 Reviews
Kawaramachi Kyoto|1.01km from downtown
The biggest advantage of Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is definitely its location. Beyond its prime spot in the city center, there's a direct walkway from the hotel's third floor straight to Takashimaya. You can walk along the green passage into the mall, turn a corner, and be at Din Tai Fung – it's incredibly convenient. This stay, I specifically booked a corner room to experience the lounge. The room was spacious, and the bathroom had a great four-piece layout. The large windows let in plenty of light, and catching a glimpse of the beautiful Higashiyama scenery in the distance was a pleasant surprise. The lounge is also on the third floor, so after browsing Takashimaya, it was lovely to just tap my card, go in, and relax with a drink.
The breakfast selection wasn't huge, but most items were high quality. I ate there for three days and didn't get bored. The ham, salmon, and homemade yogurt sauce were all excellent, and the latte was delicious too.
Furthermore, the cleanliness of this popular hotel exceeded my expectations. Daily housekeeping was impeccable, and they didn't compromise on standards under the guise of being eco-friendly, which I really appreciated. Huge thanks to the staff.FromSGD 291
Amazing801 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|2.87km from downtown
Extremely close to Kyoto Metro Station, and also conveniently accessible via the airport express. It's super easy to get to nearby attractions, restaurants, and shopping. The facilities are clean and hygienic, and the living experience was fantastic!FromSGD 316
Great774 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|2.36km from downtown
It was a grea hotel with free shuttle to station. The room size was big compared to other usual Japanese hotel and the longer bathtube made a difference.
Breakfast buffet was the best with many many variety and staff produced french toast at site served with honey.
Underground Carpark was really convenient and you coud get discount by joinning as its member at once!FromSGD 64
Amazing960 Reviews
Higashiyama Kyoto|1.54km from downtown
Highly Recommended Stay in Kyoto
I would like to strongly recommend this hotel for anyone visiting Kyoto. The staff demonstrate exceptional professionalism and hospitality.
In particular, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Miss Yuki, who assisted us with our check-in and kindly introduced many wonderful sightseeing spots and activities in Kyoto, as well as to Miss Tsai, a ********* staff member who supported us during check-out with great warmth and care. Their thoughtful service truly reflects the welcoming spirit of Kyoto and the hotel’s commitment to excellence.
I am genuinely impressed by the quality of the team members who bring guests happiness and satisfaction through their dedication. They truly deserve recognition and applause for their outstanding service.
Our two-night stay was far too short, and we are already looking forward to returning in the near future.FromSGD 364
Business travel
Great460 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|3.43km from downtown
The room is clean and the location is good (Near Kyoto station, which is convenient for one day tour)FromSGD 48
Great904 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|3.47km from downtown
This hotel provides good services and facilities. It is not far from kyoto station. It is close to subway station and bus stop. The staffs are friendly. The room is clean.FromSGD 83
Great573 Reviews
Kyoto Gosyo/Karasuma Kyoto|1.51km from downtown
This is my favorite hotel thus far across the 5 hotels I've stayed in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. It gives you the ”zen” feeling and services are great. We booked the room without breakfast, but the grab and go (bread, waffles, milk, tea, coffee,etc.) they provided are already sufficient for a quick breakfast before travelling around. I personally also like the smell of the shampoo and conditioner they gave (light tea smell).FromSGD 50
Great1200 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|3.18km from downtown
I stayed a total of 6 nights here at this hotel. First 2 nights was with family, the other 4 were as a solo traveler. I booked a single room. As expected, It was compact but the bed was wide and the bathroom is the same size as a twin and double room. Compact but totally served my needs for my travels. It had a window and had great natural light and a view of the city. Service at the hotel was friendly and helpful and the location can’t be beat. 5 mins away from the train station and subway and plenty of options for restaurants. 7-11 and bus to the airport right outside the hotel. My last night in Japan, I booked again for 1 more night for a single room. They upgraded me to a twin double room, which was a nice surprised at the end of my stay in Japan. The hotel price, location and service was so good. Highly recommend and I will definitely revisit when I go back to Kyoto.FromSGD 83
Amazing994 Reviews
Kawaramachi Kyoto|1.02km from downtown
One of the best natural hotspring hotel in Kawaramachi Kyoto. Everything in the hotel is amazing. Amenetoes, services, food, view, location and facilities. One of the best and highly recommended hotel for family and it's also Muslim friendly.FromSGD 242
Very Good508 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|2.32km from downtown
Hotel design is superb and great! They don’t have a room for family of 4 adults, so I booked for 2 rooms. Love the buffet breakfast. Receptions is very friendly and helpful. Location wise, need to walk and and take bus to various places. Overall is good.FromSGD 51
Family friendly
Great8885 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|3.27km from downtown
The hotel has a great location, very close to JR Kyoto Station, and is popular with tour groups, so the elevators are busy most of the time.
We were assigned a room on the 7th floor near the elevator. Unfortunately, the room above us was extremely noisy, with loud footsteps and constant jumping—likely from a family with young children. We reported the issue to the reception, and the staff said they would check on it. The noise stopped temporarily, but it did not go away completely. We had to endure the disturbance for two nights.
Considering the high price we paid during peak season, this was definitely not worth the money. The hotel did not make any real effort to assist us—no room change or alternative solution was offered, even though we followed up again both in person and by email. Because of this experience, we would choose a different hotel next time.
Additionally, there were Post-it notes stuck on the air vent and the smoke detector in our room, which was quite strange and unclear why they were there. There were also very few power outlets, and the hotel lacked basic facilities such as a vending machine or a laundromat.
Overall, I would recommend staying at one of the newer hotels nearby instead.FromSGD 78
Amazing581 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|3.34km from downtown
Potel Umokoji Kyoto redefines what a hotel offers its guests. Firstly, the location is unique, an easy 5 min walk from the station ( Umokoji Kyotonishi) and 3 min train ride to the center of Kyoto. Yet this convenience is coupled with its location adjoining a large wooded park which some guest rooms overlook - a special and calm outlook right in the city centre.
Rooms are large by Japan standards and both the Japanese style rooms ( super comfy ) and more traditional Western styled rooms offer a Scandanavian/ Japanese decor style which is both modern and uncluttered.
In addition, guest services on offer include complementary DIY fresh brewed coffee and in the evenings, complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks . Can be taken either to your room with balcony overlooking parklands or in the guest book or music library, both offering a calm respite from a sometimes frenetic Kyoto CBD.
Unique, special and largely overlooked by tourist group bookings, the Potel Umokoji manages to offer the ambience and guest experiences that many mass tourism venues have lost. Try it, you won't be disappointed.FromSGD 114
Amazing620 Reviews
Higashiyama Kyoto|1.94km from downtown
Superb experience in Nohga. Everything here has been curated very carefully, you can tell the people or group behind this whole hotel concept really put in so much thought for their guests.
Absolutely loved my entire stay here. I eat breakfast at their bakery every morning. Love their customisable bagels, mortadella sandwich, salted bun and cinnamon mochi donut. Chocolate mochi donut was a little too sweet. Americano and matcha latte were great.
Thoroughly enjoyed their rooftop bar every night (opens till 12am). Awesome vibes, very romantic atmosphere. Staff are sweet, gives heat packs and blankets to keep us warm. Warm cocktails are a must during winters. You can order any random cocktails and they all taste so good.
The distance from the train station to this hotel is quite a distance but I think the overall experience you get in this hotel makes the walk a worthwhile one. Def recommending this hotel to my friends who wanna come to Kyoto.FromSGD 189
Great301 Reviews
Kawaramachi Kyoto|0.76km from downtown
The location is great, right near Karasuma Station. The hotel itself is new and stylishly designed. They even have a record player in the room! For this price, it's excellent value for money. The hotel's location makes it convenient to get anywhere, and there are many charming Kyoto-style neighborhoods nearby. I especially loved the breakfast spots around there. The staff were also very enthusiastic. A really good experience overall.FromSGD 293
Amazing713 Reviews
Kyoto Station Kyoto|3.39km from downtown
The hotel is just one subway stop away from Kyoto Station. There's a shuttle bus that runs between the hotel and Kyoto Station, and you can get discount coupons at the hotel lobby. It's 100 yen per ride for both adults and children. On the second floor, there's a restaurant, and on the first floor, there are shops and experience centers for flower arrangement, tea ceremony, and pottery. The hotel also provides discount coupons for dining on the second floor, with no restrictions on use. Each coupon is worth 1000 yen, and we received and used all four of them.
Behind the hotel is the Central Fish Market. I recommend visiting between 4-5 AM to witness the wholesale auction. We arrived at 5:45 AM and it was almost over. If waking up that early is too difficult, exploring all the exhibitions in the corridor on the second floor will also provide a lot of interesting insights.
Next to the hotel are Umekoji Park, an aquarium, and a railway museum, making it very suitable for families with children.
The hotel rooms are spacious, and the hot spring on the third floor is very comfortable. There's also a rooftop on the ninth floor where you can enjoy the night view.FromSGD 100
Great114 Reviews
Higashiyama Kyoto|2.59km from downtown
All good
But 1. The view outside the window is not good, the house is under renovation, 2. The room is very far from the elevatorFromSGD 388
Popular Attraction: Fukuoka Tower
Travel Guide
Kyoto: Heart of Traditional Japan
Kyoto, once the imperial capital of Japan, is famous for its timeless temples, traditional streets, and cultural heritage. The city is home to iconic landmarks such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the scenic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and the historic geisha district of Gion. Visitors can explore centuries-old shrines, stroll through charming alleys lined with wooden machiya houses, and experience authentic Japanese cuisine and tea culture. With its rich history and beautifully preserved traditions, Kyoto offers one of the most memorable cultural experiences in Japan.
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FAQs About Osaka Station to Kyoto Station
How far is Osaka Station from Kyoto Station?
Osaka Station and Kyoto Station are about 43 km apart. The journey is short and convenient, making Kyoto a popular day trip from Osaka.How much does the train from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station cost?
A one-way ticket on the JR Special Rapid train costs around ¥580 (about S$6–7). Prices may vary depending on the train type or seat reservation.Is the JR Pass valid for travel between Osaka and Kyoto?
Yes. The JR Pass covers the JR Special Rapid Service on the JR Kyoto Line, making it a convenient option for travelers using the pass.Is Kyoto a good day trip from Osaka?
Yes. Because the journey only takes about 30 minutes by train, many travelers visit Kyoto from Osaka for a day to explore temples, shrines, and historic districts.What is the major highway connecting Osaka Station to Kyoto Station?
The major highway connecting Osaka Station to Kyoto Station is the Meishin Expressway. This is the main route for cars or buses traveling between Osaka and Kyoto.