What's the best way to go to Kyoto from Tokyo. How long is the travel and cost? Anything to see there?

Question

Can I make it just a day trip to sight see?

Answer 1

Like the others said, the Shinkansen is probably the easiest. but costs like 30,000 yen.

If you want to go cheap you can always take the Highway bus.
In the Tokyo Station (I think it was Yaesu Minami Guchi South exit) there's a bus terminal. Just go up to the window and buy a ticket for Kyoto. I think the price was around 6,000 yen one way and if you buy both ways it's like 10,000yen (Around US$100). It usually leaves Tokyo Station around 11:00PM and gets to Kyoto Karasuma Exit around 5:30 or 6:00AM the next day, so you have a whole day to look around and sight see.

The seats are a bit roomier than airplane economy class and the chairs usually recline more than that on the plane so you can (sort of) lie down. (I don't think the chairs were lined up side by side. I remember it was 3 chairs a row with spaces for people to walk in between.)
All buses have bathrooms and I think they stop maybe twice for break during the night at a rest area so you can strech and use the bathroom while staying still (Which is always easier). One thing you have to be careful of is to make sure you know what your bus looks like and where it is parked before you get off at the rest areas. Usually rest areas are filled with other buses that look exactly alike so very confusing, especially at night time and half asleep.

There's no movie, and no dinner or breakfast. But you can carry on stuff so make sure you bring something to drink and eat on the bus and maybe a book if you don't get motion sickness)

Like I said, the Shinkansen is easier since I think there's one going to Kyoto out of Tokyo every 20 mins or so. And you get there in less than 3 hrs. The highway bus is like a cheap alternative if you don't want to spend too much money on the transportation.
I used to go to Kyoto on the bus and come back on the Shinkansen when I was in Tokyo.
Kyoto is awesome. Be sure to go the Kiyomizu Dera!!!

Answer 2

It would be hard to make a day trip out of it. Kyoto Station is not really close to either downtown (Shijo-dori) or the big tourist attractions like Kiyomizu Temple, Ginkakuji, etc. By the time you got to Kyoto Station and then took a bus or taxi to one of these sites, you would not have much time to do anything else before you had to head back. You might think about spending more time there and maybe also going to Osaka, which is less than an hour by regular train (not Shinkansen)

Answer 3

Yes, you can do it in a day. Kyoto used to be the capital of Japan so it has a lot of history. Take the shinkansen from Tokyo or Shinagawa station. I really don't know the cost but it is so much better if you buy a JapanRail Pass which allows you to take the Yamanote line all over tokyo and the bullet trains to mostly all over Japan. It is worth it, believe me.

Answer 4

It's about four hours by bullet train. The first one leaves Tokyo around 5 am so it is possible. All the best bits of Kyoto around the edges. Ii's best to give yourself two days if you can

Answer 5

The best way is by Shinkansen. It'll take you 3-4 hours and it'll cost about 30,000 yen or about $300.

Kyoto is the ancient capital of Japan and has many old, interesting and beautiful temples. It is definately worth the trip!!

Answer 6

it's less than 2 and half hours by Nozomi and costs 13000yen
(around 110 USD) one way (for non-reserved seat). For
reservation, 800yen extra and for Green Card, 5000yen extra.