As Japan’s capital city, Tokyo is one of the most essential cities to visit when taking a trip to Japan. However, alongside Tokyo, there are also various other cities that are worth paying a visit to, including both Osaka and Kyoto.
However, if you only have time to visit Tokyo and one other city, then you may be wondering whether Osaka or Kyoto is closer to Tokyo.
If so, you have come to the right place, because we are going to find out, once and for all, which of the two cities is closest to Tokyo! Read on down below to get the answers that you seek!
Which Is Closer To Tokyo, Osaka, Or Kyoto?
Generally, the city that is closest to Tokyo is actually Kyoto! By simply looking at a map, it can be quite difficult to tell which of the two cities is closest to Tokyo, thanks to the fact that Kyoto and Osaka are within incredibly close distance of one another.
The distance between Kyoto and Tokyo is around 283 miles, whereas the distance between Osaka and Tokyo is 307 miles.
How long it actually takes to get from one of these two cities to Tokyo can depend on what method of transportation you take! Let’s take a look at how long it takes to get from Kyoto or Osaka to Tokyo!
Car
If you were to drive from Osaka to Tokyo, you should expect the journey to take around 6 and a half hours. The most common route will take you through Nagoya, Okazaki, and the Northernmost part of Hamamatsu.
If you were to drive from Kyoto to Tokyo, it would take you just under 6 hours. Again, this route would take you through Nagoya, Okazaki, and the Northernmost part of Hamamatsu.
Bus
Bus journeys from Osaka and Kyoto towards Tokyo generally take around the same amount of time as car journeys between the cities and generally follow the same routes.
However, many bus journeys will take slightly longer, because the bus will make a number of stops along the way to Tokyo.
If you are catching a bus from Kyoto to Tokyo, you should expect the journey to take anywhere from 6 and a half hours to 9 hours. This range will depend on the stops being made along the route.
If you were to catch a bus heading from Osaka to Tokyo, then you should expect the journey to, again, take around 6 to 9 hours, depending on the stops along the route.
Train
One of the most common forms of transportation taken by those heading from either Kyoto or Osaka to Tokyo is the bullet train.
A bullet train can travel at incredible speeds, and the bullet train system is known for being highly efficient, so you can expect your journey to be far shorter.
A bullet train from Kyoto to Tokyo takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes. This takes into account the stops that you may encounter over the course of the journey.
It is very uncommon that this journey would ever take longer than 2 hours and 15 minutes, as bullet trains are known for their promptness.
A bullet train journey from Osaka to Tokyo will take you around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Once again, this takes into account all of the various stops along the line, and it is unlikely that a journey would take longer than this period of time.
As you can see, using a bullet train to journey to Tokyo from Osaka or Kyoto is one of the best-recommended methods, due to how much time they can cut off of the journey time.
On average, a bullet train journey from Kyoto to Tokyo should cost you around 13,080 Yen for a one-way journey, while a one-way bullet train journey from Osaka to Tokyo should cost you around 13, 620 Yen.
Plane
Planes are also a popular option for those heading from Osaka or Kyoto to Tokyo. This is because not only are they very quick, but they also cost slightly less.
A plane journey from Osaka to Tokyo can take anywhere between 1 hour and 40 minutes, or up to 2 hours. Such a flight can vary massively in price from 12,000 to 30,000 Yen.
A plane journey from Kyoto to Tokyo can take anywhere from a single hour to up to 2 hours. And, once again, the price can vary massively from flight to flight. 13,000 Yen to 30,000 Yen.
It is also worth mentioning that, while plane journeys between the cities can be affordable and much faster than even a bullet train, the cost of transportation from the airport to Central Tokyo must also be taken into account.
Tokyo’s major airports are a fair distance from the city center, and Tokyo’s taxis can also be rather expensive. So you must make sure to account for the journey from the airport to the city center!
To Wrap Up
As you can now see, Kyoto is much closer to Tokyo than Osaka is, despite the fact that both Kyoto and Osaka are within close proximity to one another.
Traveling from these cities to Tokyo can be a very long journey if using traditional methods such as cars or buses, but methods such as airplanes and bullet trains can significantly shave down journey times, though at the cost of higher ticket prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kyoto Near To Tokyo?
Kyoto is actually within fairly easy access to Tokyo, and can easily be accessed by traveling via bullet train!
Can Kyoto Be A Day Trip From Tokyo?
Provided you are ready for a long day, Kyoto could well be a day trip from Tokyo. However, you would likely have to leave Tokyo quite early in order to have a good amount of time to spend in Kyoto.
Is It Cheaper To Fly Into Kyoto Or Tokyo?
Generally speaking, it would be much cheaper to fly into Tokyo than Kyoto, as Narita airport and Haneda airport are much more major airports that will be more affordable to land in.
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
