Planning your trip on traveling to Kyoto, Japan can feel a little overwhelming at first. With all the different options it can be hard to decide which one would be best for your family. Do you fly? Take the train? Or ferry your way there?

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

If you’re traveling from Okinawa, the Naha airport is the fastest way of traveling to Kyoto, Kansai Airport.  When looking at skyscanner.net, both ANA and Jetstar average 2 flights per day for just under $200USD, one way, fees not included.

There are also creative ways to save money and design a trip you will never forget.  Airports like Osaka, Kobe, Tokyo, and Hiroshima all connect to JR (Japan Railways Group) in some way.  The shinkansens connect the big cities to each other and the trains will get you across the city once you are there.

Once you get to Kyoto, a taxi or bus is a viable transport option when you are close enough to your destination, but keep in mind that taxis can be expensive.  It is also not highly recommended to rent a car in Kyoto.  The city is extremely busy, making parking difficult to find, and traffic jams fairly common.

Last but not least, don’t forget about the option of a boat!  There are ferries that leave Naha and land in Kagoshima.  From here you could, again, select a plane, train, or automobile as your choice of travel when traveling to Kyoto.

Planning Your Trip

First, plan your mode of travel, whether it will be plane, train or car. Next, select a hotel or airbnb based on the activities you want to check out while you’re in the city. Once you have these planned, you can plan away on your itinerary!

Kyoto is an iconic destination in Japan.  The skyline is dotted with the iconic red of Tori gates, pagodas, and shrines.  This city is well-known for its rich history and tradition.  You can expect to see Geishas and Maiko in traditional dress in the Gion district. 

Fun fact! Kyoto is also the origin of the tea ceremony. I think it would be such a memorable experience to enjoy the tea ceremony in Kyoto.

Our Must See List When Traveling to Kyoto

Here our some of our absolute favorite spots to check out when traveling to Kyoto:

• Fushimi Inari Shrine
• the thousands of tori gates
• Kinkaku-ji
• the golden temple
• Arashiyama
• the bamboo forest
• Iwatayama
• the Monkey Park
• Nishiki market
• Shinkyogoku shopping street
• Teramachi shopping street. 

Oh, there is so much to do and see, but just like Tokyo, you could spend weeks and not be able to scratch the surface of everything this city has to offer.  

Another helpful tip is to look into a walking tour offered by a local.  You may be lucky to find an English speaking tour that will offer behind the scenes info you might never have come across on your own. 

Kyoto really is breathtaking.  Traveling to Kyoto may be difficult, but you just might find that traveling from Kyoto is just as hard for other reasons.  It’ll take a piece of your heart.  

So how do you want to travel to Kyoto? 

Looking for more? Check out these other popular articles on sports and activities in Okinawa

Tiffany Leary is an Air Force spouse of 14 years and counting!  She grew up in San Diego, CA, has a degree in Spanish, and has travelled quite a bit.  This is her 6th duty station (her husband’s 7th!) and they have mostly been stationed in PACAF.  This is their family’s third tour in Japan, fulfilling the Air Force trifecta: Misawa, Yokota, and capping it off with a tropical location, Kadena.  Their daughter recently graduated from college, but she has joined them on the island as she does grad school, so they are not quite empty nesters.  She love all that is Japan: the food, the people, the scenery, even the language. She tries to get off base and explore every chance she gets and to experience the beauty of Okinawa.