Traveling to Japan Question

[princessmarisa]

Is it too late to change your ticket to land at KIX instead?

With all the expense and fuss of trains to get from Tokyo to Kyoto, I would suggest getting a internal connecting flight to KIX from Narita.


Otherwise it is

Narita -[N'EX Train] - Tokyo - [Shinkansen] - Kyoto

and the total time for that including transfers will be probably over 4hours if not more, and the cost will be $$.
Quick google says about Y10,000 plus an extra booking fee so maybe up to Y20000, and you have to go and book the shinkansen ticket at Tokyo station before you can get on it, and hope it isn't already fully booked.

*edit* oh I think you have to book the N'EX in advance too~

Without being able to reserve in advance, um you are on non shinkansen trains all the way..I daren't look that up.

Once at KIX to get to Kyoto is much easier, quoted from Japan-Guide:

The JR Haruka limited express takes about 70 minutes and costs 2980 yen by non-reserved seat or about 3500 yen by reserved seat from Kansai Airport to Kyoto. There are departures every 30 minutes

You can also get the shinkansen between the two but it is only 10mins faster and you have to figure out how to reserve in advance, so not really suitable for you.

Don't forget how to plan to get from Kyoto station to your hotel, kyoto is a mix of different branded subways and very few useful JR trains, so you will be forking out yet more money, and dragging cases in and out of subways/onto busses. Taxis are super expensive in Japan too.

[Igawa29]

Thank you so much for the help. I have been doing my research based on suggestions, and I have found that if I connect through Seattle Washington I can get a direct flight to Osaka. I used Orbitz or one of those travel sites that gets your airfare deals and I found going from CHA -> ATL -> SEA -> Osaka, is like $1411.00. Is this a good price, or can I find them cheaper at a Japanese travel site?

Also my travel agent is setting us up with a shared taxi transfer from the Osaka airport to Kyoto. Does anyone have any information on this type of transport?