The closest international airport to Kyoto is Kansai International Airport (KIX), near Osaka. KIX does have domestic flights, particularly to major cities, but the majority of internal air traffic uses Osaka's Itami Airport. Flight time between Tokyo and Osaka is about 70 minutes.
Itami Airport (06/6856-6781). Kansai International Airport (0724/55-2500).
From KIX to Kyoto Station, take the JR Haruka Limited Express, which departs every 30 minutes to make the 75-minute run and costs ¥3,490 including charges for a reserved seat; or use a JR Pass. From Itami, buses depart for Kyoto approximately every 20 minutes from 8:10 AM to 9:20 PM. Some stop at major hotels, but most go straight to Kyoto Station. The trip takes from 55 to 90 minutes and costs ¥1,280 or ¥1,370, depending on the Kyoto destination.
Taxis cost more than ¥10,000 from KIX and Itami to Kyoto.
JR Haruka Limited Express (JR West, Kyoto Station building, Karasuma-dori. 075/691-1000)
