Need help traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto

8 comments

1. You should use iphone maps or google maps while you are here. I use them daily and they are spot on. For example, go to Google maps right now and route from Ueno station to Kyoto Station. It will tell you how to get there. If you miss a train, reroute and wait for the next one.

   Shinkansen tickets don’t have to be bought in advance. I actually recommend against it. Just walk up to the “Shinkansen Tickets” room and buy them on the spot.

2. Starting 2019 til 03/2023, you may purchase JR pass locally in Japan. Just go to their official website for business hours.

3. Shinkansen is the move. I left a hostel in Ueno in the mid morning and hit Kyoto by afternoon. Google Maps will show you the way – don’t be afraid, the signage is clear and the station attendants can often help if you can tell them where you’re trying to go. No need for a rail pass unless you’re going to do more travel than that. Buy tickets day of, no problem if you avoid peak travel times.

4. *I wasn’t aware that the JR Rail Pass had to be delivered from Japan to your country.*

   IT is usually sold by authorized resellers, that are usually travel agents. So they usually deliver from outside of Japan (like France, Spain, UK, USA…). You can also buy it directly in Japan from some specific JR kiosk and online directly from JR. This is the official JR Pass website, if there is a link that say “buy online” it’s buying direct from JR and not need for physical voucher to be posted. [https://japanrailpass.net/en/](https://japanrailpass.net/en/)

   *And I’m afraid I’m out of time for that option and besides I don’t think it’s worth it for my itinerary.*

   You are actually right, you do not really have enough to fully justify it.

   *And was wondering how can I go from Ueno to Kyoto*

   From Ueno, Yamanote line or Keihin Tohoku line to Tokyo station. Change to Shinkansen, Tokaido shinkansen, you can use the Nozomi service (that is faster than Hikari). If you want reserved seat, you can buy them at any JR ticket office (even at non-shinkansen station), just properly give them the date/time/itinerary (you can show Google Map result to make it easy).

   *then Kyoto-Osaka-Kyoto in one day, just going for Universal Studios*

   This depend on your hotel location. Just use Google map.

   *and finally Kyoto – Narita Airport.*

   Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo station. If you arrive in Narita too and full trip is less than 14 days, then Narita Express discount round trip ticket [https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/nex.html](https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/nex.html)

5. I went to Japan in 2019 and I picked up my JR pass while I was at the airport. They even gave me a little map with what subway lines I could use with it and a small book to keep it safe in.

   Edit: The Narita airport

6. The JR Pass likely wouldn’t be worth it for your itinerary, or at best, it would break even. What you can do is just go to Tokyo Station, go to a JR ticket office, and buy shinkansen tickets from there to Kyoto. Same thing on the way back. The ticketing office is used to helping people who don’t quite know what to do. They’ll get you on a shinkansen to where you need to go.

   In order to get around Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka locally, just use Google Maps.

7. Unless you’ll be using the JR trains extensively, buying a JR pass is hardly a break even in your trip. You can just buy the Shinkansen tickets separately as you need them, and be able to get on the Nozomi which is the more frequent and faster train (it has less stops too).

   Plus, it’s arguably better to use the limited express or regular trains between Kyoto and Osaka as the Osaka stations would be more centrally located compared to Shin-Osaka Station. The difference of the duration of the trip would be less than an hour, not a biggie IMO.

8. You don’t need JR pass if you are only going to take one ride