How Fast Is The Bullet Train From Tokyo To Kyoto?

Are you planning a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto? If you are then you are bound to wonder how fast the bullet train actually is.

Well, that is what we aim to answer in this article. With all of that said, we can finally talk about how fast the bullet train actually is.

How Fast Is The Shinkansen Bullet Train From Tokyo To Kyoto?

The Shinkansen bullet train is able to go up to 199 miles per hour.

When we are considering your travel time between Tokyo and Kyoto we can see that your trip should take between two hours and fifteen minutes and three hours and forty minutes. That is pretty fast!

Shinkansen Bullet Train

In this section we are going to take a look at some things that you absolutely need to know about the Shinkansen bullet train.

If you are looking to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto then you are going to need the inside scoop and we have it all for you below. So, let’s dive right in and get started!

Let’s Talk About The Time And Cost

First off you are going to need to know how long your train may be and what the approximate cost will be.

As any seasoned traveler, you will likely have a budget. On top of that you will need to know how long you will be traveling.

• Time – Overall the Shinkansen bullet train should get you from Tokyo to Kyoto in between two hours and fifteen minutes and three hours and forty minutes. The amount of time you spend traveling may vary depending on what delays are occurring at the time.
• Cost – The cost of getting this train may vary. On average, it should be between $72 and $97. These rates vary depending on what time of day you are traveling and various other factors. So make sure to do additional research before you take the plunge.

Be aware that the cost will vary depending on a bunch of factors. So make sure you have a bit more than what we have stated here.

Likewise, with your travel time. The length of time you are on the bullet train could be longer depending on whether there are any delays. So, make sure to bear that in mind.

Let’s Talk About Your Departure And Arrival Stations

You will need to start off by boarding the Shinkansen at the Tokyo Station which you will then ride all the way to the Kyoto Station. There may be some stop-overs depending on what ticket you get so make sure to double-check your train journey.

Any service that is running on these lines should stop at either of these stations. The Nozomi service may make one more stop in Nagoya before you reach Kyoto. Both the Kodama and Hikari services will make multiple stops on the way to Kyoto.

The Shinkansen station is located at Tokyo Station, in downtown Tokyo. In Kyoto the Shinkansen station is located in the town center.

From either of these stations you should be able to transfer to trains that are local to the city. You may even be able to catch the bus, taxi or get to the subway station from Shinkansen station.

Let’s Talk About The Timetables And Seat Reservations

The most popular bullet train route in Japan is the Tōkaidō Shinkansen. They have trains which depart from Tokyo to Kyoto nearly every ten minutes.

There should be sites that you can use to check out timetables and routes. For example, you could use Japan-Guide.com or Central Japan Railway Company.

Just because there are trains for Kyoto so frequently does not mean that you can get on board without purchasing tickets and making a seat reservation.

If you opt to not reserve a seat you may find that you can save a bit of money, but that does mean that you may be standing while you are on your nearly three-hour journey.

Let’s Talk About Your Luggage

What if you have luggage? Firstly, there are carriages that have larger baggage areas. This means that those of you that have a larger piece of luggage may be able to take it with you.

Remember that in some cases if you do not have a reservation and you have a large bag you may need to source an alternate way of transporting your belongings.

If your bag is larger than ninety-eight centimeters then it may not be allowed to take it on board the bullet train. If your luggage is between sixty-three inches and ninety-eight inches you are going to need a special reservation.

Saving Money Using The Shinkansen Bullet Train

Are you on a budget? If you are then you will need to better understand how to save money on travel. Travel is expensive as it is.

Luckily for you there are ways to save money when you are using the Shinkansen bullet train. In this section we are going to explore three of the ways to do this. So, without further ado, let us dive right in and get started!

The Hokuriku Arch Pass

If you are happy to travel quite slowly then the Hokuriku Arch Pass may be ideal for you. This is a regional pass which will take you between Tokyo and Kyoto while following an arching route around Nagano and Kanazawa.

Discount Tickets

There is a Puratto Kodama Economy Plan which lets you travel on the Kodoma service from Tokyo to Kyoto. This may cost you between $72 and $82.

This ticket will be one way, but this price may vary depending on the season. In order to make use of this discount ticket you will need to purchase Puratto tickets a minimum of one day in advance. This is because the numbers are very limited.

Japan Rail Pass

You could purchase a Japan Rail pass. This pass will let you travel on Japan Rail or JR as much as you like. You will be able to do this for a week or longer depending on what you have applied for.

The Kodama and Hikari services are totally covered by this pass. Bear in mind that the Nozomi service is not. The JR pass will only be available for people that are visiting Japan for the short-term.

Final Thoughts

We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about how fast the bullet train is from Tokyo to Kyoto. Hopefully all the information we have provided above will be enough for you to plan your trip to and from Tokyo and Kyoto.

With all of that being said, we hope that you have a wonderful day. Goodbye for now!