4 Cheapest Ways to Travel from Kyoto to Osaka

When in Japan, you must make the most of it with an adventure to all—or, at least, most—of the country's best attractions. Although you can just take multiple trips to the country, a more affordable way to sightsee in Japan is by taking day trips from one city to another!

Going from Kyoto to Osaka and vice versa is one of the most popular day trips in Japan because the two cities are well connected and there are heaps of attractions to see between the two of them.

With that said, there are a lot of ways to go about travelling to Osaka from Kyoto from high-speed trains to a scenic ride in your car.

The Shinkansen, or bullet train, is clearly the fastest—and maybe even the coolest—way to get from Kyoto to Osaka. The quickest journey will take only 14 minutes if you hop on the Nozomi bullet train of the Tokaido Shinkansen line (not covered by the JR Pass), after which you can alight at Shin-Osaka station and head to Osaka station.

Shinkansen tickets from Kyoto to Osaka cost around 15.55 AUD (¥1,456) for an unreserved seat or 38.95 AUD (¥3,648) for a first-class reserved seat.

Shinkansens are a must-try experience while in Japan, and if you're curious about them, we've got a whole guide to these amazing bullet trains.

One of the most popular ways for tourists choose to explore Japan is with the Japan Rail Pass, and it's all because of how simple, and convenient it is. With just one pass, you can travel nonstop for 7, 14, or 21 days on JR buses, shinkansen lines, local trains, limited express trains, monorail, and even the Miyajima Ferry.

It's definitely the best option if you're planning on travelling to other cities besides Kyoto and Osaka as well, but if you truly wanna find out if the JR pass is gonna be worth it for your trip, we've got a calculator that'll help you!

The JR Pass costs around 317 AUD (¥29,646), depending on if you choose seats from the Green Cars (first class) or the Ordinary Cars (standard class).

To get from Kyoto to Osaka, using your JR pass, board the Hikari or Kodama trains from Kyoto station. These trains are a part of the Tokaido Shinkansen line and you'll arrive at Shin-Osaka station in just 15 minutes!

From Shin-Osaka, you can take another short ride on the JR Kyoto Line to reach Osaka station. You could also take the Midosuji subway line for 12 minutes, take a cab, or just walk to Osaka station as well.

There are also other JR trains that you can opt for to get from Kyoto to Osaka, but none will be as fast as the Shinkansen.

Feeling nervous about riding Japanese trains for the first time? Check out our guide for tips and tricks on riding trains in Japan.

Travelling through Osaka and Kyoto? Don't miss out on what Hiroshima has to offer! Explore its poignant past, wander cherry-blossom adorned gardens, and savour Japan's legendary okonomiyaki!

There are also local railway lines that will take you from Kyoto to Osaka in under an hour. You can take the Keihan line from Sanjo Station in Central Kyoto and ride all the way to Yodoyabashi Station in Osaka in 55 minutes for about 4.38 AUD (¥410).

You can also head for Osaka-Umeda Station using the Hankyu line at Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station or Karasuma Station. Arrive in Osaka in 40 minutes for just 4.27 AUD (¥400).

Although there are no direct bus rides from Kyoto to Osaka—there aren't any direct rides from Osaka to Kyoto either—you can still take at least two bus rides to reach Osaka.

Some services allow passengers to board the bus from Kyoto Station Hachijou Gate and alight at Osaka Itami Airport (55-minute ride), from which other buses will be able to take you to your accommodation.

You can also take the Keihan Bus from the many stations in Kyoto, and the bus will drop you off at either Hotel Keihan or Universal Studios Japan for 7.47 AUD (700 YEN) in an hour.

If you've got time to explore and wanna make a trip out of the journey, then a car rental might be the best means of transportation for you. Take your adventure into your own hands with a road trip from Kyoto to Osaka.

53 kilometres of road separate the two cities, so you can expect a 40-50 minute car ride depending on traffic and how many stops you make along the way.

We recommend making the most out of your trip with the many stops to more of Japan's interesting attractions you'll find along the way, such as Nara Park in Nara and Ikuta Shrine in Kobe. Prices would depend on the type of car you rent, as well as the current gas prices.

Ride around Kyoto in style in your very own private car, or give driving in Japan a try with your own car rental. Either way, you'll have an amazing time exploring the two cities on the ground while sightseeing from your window or making a stop whenever you want!

Plan your trip as early and as detailed as possible to avoid losing time getting lost, boarding the wrong train, or anything else going wrong, so you can have more time exploring either city. After all, the attractions on your itinerary await!