Travel to Japan

There are two major international airports in Japan: Narita International Airport (NRT) and Kansai International Airport (KIX).

The nearest international airport to Kyoto is Kansai International Airport, which is located 80 km southwest of Kyoto. It is convenient to go to Kyoto but has less numbers of flights than Narita. Narita International Airport is located 50 km east of Tokyo, 500 km east from Kyoto. There are direct flights from many countries to Narita, but you have to take another domestic flight or Shinkansen to reach Kyoto.

People from some country need visa to enter Japan. If you need visa, please see Visa page.

Travel to Kyoto

From Kansai International Airport

(http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access/index.html)

The nearest international airport to Kyoto is Kansai International Airport, which is located 80 km southwest of Kyoto. From this airport, Limited Express, "HARUKA" departs to Kyoto every 30 minutes. It takes 75 minutes to arrive at Kyoto station. If you have Japan Rail Pass, you can take HARUKA for free.

There are limousine bus from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto Station.
It costs 2,500 JPY for one way or 4,000 JPY for round trip. It takes about 115 minutes to Kyoto station. Please see following web site for details (http://www.kate.co.jp/pc/e_time_table/e_kyoto_tt.html).

There is special taxi "MK Sky Gate Shuttle". It brings you directly to your hotel. The cost and time is 3,500 JPY and about 2 hours (depends on traffic conditions). For more information, please see MK Group web site(http://www.mk-group.co.jp/english/shuttle/).

From Narita International Airport

(http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/access/index.html)

Narita International Airport is located 50 km east of Tokyo, 500km east from Kyoto. There is no direct train or bus from Narita to Kyoto. At first, you will get to Tokyo station by Narita Express or Airport Rapid. From Tokyo station, Tokaido Shinkansen brings you directly to Kyoto station.
There are two types of express trains:

• NOZOMI superexpress (140 minutes to Kyoto, every 10 minutes)
• HIKARI superexpress (170 minutes to Kyoto, every 30 minutes)

Please note that Japan Rail Pass is NOT valid for NOZOMI super express. If you want to use Japan Rail Pass, you can only take HIKARI superexpress.

You can take another domestic flight to Kansai International Airport or Osaka Itami Airport. Some airlines offer a ticket including such a domestic flight, but it might be full because there are not so frequent flight from Narita to Osaka. From Itami Airport, There is an Airport Limousine directly goes to Kyoto Station (3,000 JPY, 75min).

Japan Rail Pass

Japan Rail Pass (JRP) is a special train ticket for foreign people visiting Japan. A Holder of a Japan Rail Pass can take all local and express and limited express trains freely except "NOZOMI" Superexpress of Tokaido Shinkansen. Tickets cost 37,800 JPY for 1st class and 28,300 JPY for 2nd class (7-day duration). If you have a plan to visit Tokyo, Kyushu, etc., Japan Rail Pass will be the best choice. It is also useful for those who arrive at Narita International Airport and go to Kyoto by Train.

If you want to buy JRP, please reserve it through a travel agency in your country before your departure. You will receive an "Exchange Order" and you can change it to the JRP after arrival at Japan.

For more information, Please see JR group web site (http://www.japanrailpass.net/).

Travel inside Kyoto

Subway "Karasuma Line" is the most convenient way from Kyoto Station to Kyoto International Conference Center(KICC). It takes 20 minutes from Kyoto Station (K11: Kyoto) to KICC (K01: Kokusaikaikan).

Subway "Tozai Line" is also important to go to the banquet place "Miyako Messe". Please change trains at Karasuma-Oike station (K08/T13) and get off at Higashiyama station (T10). Along this line, there are many place to visit, "Nijo Castle" and "Heian Jingu", etc.

Please see the web site of Kyoto city Transportation Bureau (http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/transport.html).