Kyoto is a place everyone should see while in Japan, but that’s not the only place worth seeing in Kansai region. That’s why during my stay, just after spring semester was over, I went for a one week “road trip” there. The idea was to see as much as I could in a week and not limit myself to one city. Before I’d start talking about all the things and places worth visiting, the question is: how to get there?


Now, I know that not everyone stays in Tokyo, but that’s probably one of the most popular starting points. As to where one should start the actual trip around Kansai: I could recommend two cities: Osaka and Kyoto. There are also many routes available.
Important note: a person with visa other than tourist one (such as myself) can’t buy a JR Pass, so I have no information about how to travel with this kind of ticket. What I do have information about, is how to travel without it.

Route 1: Tokyo -  Kyoto by Shinkansen

This option was the most popular one among my friends visiting Kyoto. Mostly, because it:: was convenient if one choose a weekend trip to Kyoto and Nara; and gave a chance to travel on the famous bullet train. This journey is something that many people have on their “to do in Japan” list.

• Cost (one way): 13,940 yen. 
• Name of the Train: Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen
• Where from: Tokyo Station
• Where to: Kyoto Station
• Time: 2 hours 8 minutes

Route 2: Tokyo - Kyoto through Yokohama by Shinkansen

This route is slightly less pricey, but longer and require two transfers. It’s still an option if someone feels like seeing Yokohama during the trip.

• Cost (one way): 13,300 yen. 
• Name of the Train:
  Keihintohoku Line from Tokyo Station to Higashi-Kanagawa Station (35 minutes).
  Yokohama Line from Higashi-Kanagawa Station to Shin Yokohama Station (9 minutes).
  Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin Yokohama Station to Kyoto Station.
• Where from: Tokyo Station
• Where to: Kyoto Station
• Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

Route 3: Tokyo - Osaka by plane

Surprisingly, going to Osaka by plane is much cheaper than using Shinkansen to Kyoto. Really. If one buys tickets earlier (a month or two before) the price one way may be 3,000 yen. This was the rout I've taken, and I bought my ticket (from Peach Airline, more about it soon) two weeks before my trip and paid 12,000 for two way ticket, all airport fees included. Of course, going by plane requires getting to the airport and from the airport to the city. So let’s look closely at costs:

• To get to Narita Airport:
  Skyliner from Ikebukuro Station to the Narita Airport: 2,640 yen
  OR
  Yamanote Line from Ikebukuro Station to Nippori Station, then Keisei Line to Narita Airport: 1,200 yen
• To get to Osaka Airport
  Plane ticket (one way): 3,000 - 11,000 yen (depends on the date and hour, most tickets for this and next week are around 5,000-8,000)
• To get to Osaka (I chose Namba Station, since this one quite convenient for further travel around Kansai): covered in Kansai Thru Pass (more about this ticket for unlimited travel around Kansai in later posts) or around 730 yen.
• All (one way): 4,000 - 14,370 yen
• Flight time: 1,5 hour

Route 4: Tokyo - Osaka by Shinkansen

Why start from Osaka instead of Kyoto? Because from they one can go easier to other places. It’s convenient to go to Nara, Kyoto and Koyasan from there.
Cost (one way): 14,490 yen.
Name of the Train: Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen
Where from: Tokyo Station
Where to: Shin-Osaka Station
Time: 2 hours 22 minutes

Which one?

To sum up: the time of all the routes is aroun 2-3.5 hours. The fastest is Shinkansen to Kyoto. The cheapest is a plane to Osaka. To travel around the region, one can buy Kansai Thru Pass which gives the bearer unlimited travels by Nankai trains and buses in Kansai region and also discounts to the most popular objects.