Travelling to Nara

1. From overseas

ACM Multimedia 2012 - Travelling to Nara

ACM Multimedia 2012 - Travelling to Nara

The primary gateway to Nara (奈良)  is Osaka’s Kansai International Airport (KIX). However, if you choose to arrive at Tokyo or any other city in Japan, you may also be able to fly into Osaka’s domestic airport, Osaka Itami Airport (ITM).

2. From Kansai International Airport (KIX) to Nara

2.1. By Airport Limousine Bus
The easiest way to come to Nara from Kansai International Airport is to use a limousine bus. Bus stops are located outside the International Arrivals floor (1st floor) of the Passenger Terminal Building. The bus going to Nara Hotel, Kintetsu Nara Station, or JR Nara Station leaves once an hour from the No.9 bus stop and the ride takes about 90 minutes.

The ticket fare is JPY 2,000 each way and JPY 3,800 for round trip (valid for 14 days from the date of purchase) per person.  No advance reservations are needed. The ticket can be purchased at the ticket vending machines located outside the Passenger Terminal Building on the 1st floor.

Further information:

2.2. By Train – JR West Japan Railways
An alternative way is to use trains. You have to change trains at least once to come to Nara from the airport. You should prepare well in advance.

You can take JR Airport Express Haruka or JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service to Tennoji (天王寺) Station, then take JR Yamatoji Rapid Service to JR Nara Station. The total fare is JPY 2,700 (reserved seats) or JPY 2,390 (unreserved seats) if you take JR Airport Express Haruka, and JPY 1,660 if you take JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service. The travel time will be about 75 and 90 minutes respectively.
On your return journey, you should be careful when you take JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service. Only the front 4 cars out of 8 cars, cars No.1 through No.4, are bound for Kansai-airport. You should check the car No. before taking the train.

Further information:

2.3. By Train- Nankai Railways and Kintetsu Railways

You can take Nankai Rapi:t (approx. 37 min./fare: JPY 1,390) or Nankai Rapid Service (approx. 48 min./fare: JPY 890) to Nankai Namba Station, then walk to Kintetsu Osaka-Namba (大阪難波) Station (10 min.) to take Kintetsu Rapid Express to Kintetsu Nara Station (approx. 40 min./fare: JPY 540).

Nankai Rapi:t and Nankai Rapid Service depart KIX every 30 minutes. Rapi:t Alpha is slightly faster than Rapi:t Beta. Seats need to be reserved for Nankai Rapi:t.

At Kintetsu Osaka-Namba Station, please take a train directly bound for Nara as the transfer might not be easy due to the lack of English announcements.

Further information:

See also a brief guide to Kintetsu Railways.

3. Osaka Itami Airport (ITM) to Nara

An alternative airport for attendees who cannot easily access Kansai International Airport (KIX) is Osaka Itami Airport (ITM). Since the airport is only for domestic flights, you have to transit to a domestic flight at an international airport such as Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport, HND).

3.1. By Limousine Bus

The easiest way to come to Nara from Osaka Itami Airport is to use a limousine bus. Bus stops are located outside the Terminal Building. The bus going to JR Nara Station or Kintetsu Nara Station leaves approximately once an hour from the No.0 or No.10 bus stop and the ride takes about 75 minutes.

The ticket fare is JPY 1,440 each way per person. No advance reservations are needed. The ticket can be purchased at the ticket vending machines located outside the Terminal Building.

Further information:

4. Via Narita International Airport (NRT)
For attendees from some countries, it may be easier to enter Japan at Narita International Airport (NRT). There are mainly two ways to come to Nara via Narita International Airport.

4.1. By Air
Small number of domestic flights to Kansai International Airport or Osaka Itami Airport are available.
An alternative way is to move to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) by a limousine bus (approx. 75 min./fare: JPY 3,000) and then fly to Osaka Itami Airport or Kansai International Airport on a domestic flight.

Further information:

4.2. By Train
You can go to JR Tokyo (東京) Station by JR Narita Express (approx. 60 min./fare: JPY 2,940) or Limousine Bus (approx. 75-110 min./fare: JPY 3,000) to take JR Nozomi Shinkansen to JR Kyoto Station (approx. 140 min./fare: JPY 13,520).

From Kyoto Station, JR Miyakoji Rapid will take you to JR Nara Station (approx. 45 min./fare: JPY 690) or Kintetsu Limited Express (approx. 35 min./fare: JPY 1,110) or Kintetsu Express (approx. 45 min./fare: JPY 610) will take you to Kintetsu Nara Station. Please take a train directly bound for Nara as the transfer might not be easy due to the lack of English announcements on these trains.

Further information:

5. Via Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport, HND)

5.1. By Air
Many domestic flights to Kansai International Airport or Osaka Itami Airport are available..

5.2. By Train
You can go to JR Shinagawa (品川) Station by Keikyu Line Airport Limited Express (approx. 13 min./fare: JPY 400) to take JR Nozomi Shinkansen to JR Kyoto Station (approx. 135 min./fare: JPY 13,520). You can also go to Shinagawa Station by Keikyu Line Airport Express  (approx. 20 min./fare: JPY 400) . In this case, please do not take trains bound for Shinzushi, Kanazawa-bunko, Kanagawa-shinmachi, and Keikyu Kurihama.

From Kyoto Station, JR Miyakoji Rapid will take you to JR Nara Station (aprox. 45 min./fare: JPY 690) or Kintetsu  Limited Express (approx. 35 min./fare: JPY 1,110) or Kintetsu Express (approx. 45 min./fare: JPY 610) will take you to Kintetsu Nara Station. Please take a train directly bound for Nara as the transfer might not be easy due to the lack of English announcements on these trains.

Further information:

6. References

Acknowledgement: Some parts of this page are taken from DAS 2008 conference with permission of Dr. Masakazu Iwamura.