Can I get a train direct from Kyoto to Narita
 

Can I get a train direct from Kyoto to Narita? I looked this up but the routes seem to involve going to tokyo first.

Thank you.

I believe there is one change of train involved at Shinjuku.

see hyperdia.com.....
you can change at Tokyo or Shinagawa which is a bit easier....

Yes, you have to travel via Tokyo, but it's quite uncomplicated. Take Shinkansen towards Tokyo (lots of trains, takes less than 3 hours), and then change to Narita Express, preferably at Shinagawa, where every Shinkansen stops before proceeding to the terminus at Tokyo station, and where there is easy transfer to Narita Express. You can also do the transfer at Tokyo, but that will involve a long trek through a crowded station and going about five levels down with stairs and escalators. Only advantage of Tokyo station is there are twice as many departures for Narita - every 30 min instead of every hour at Shinagawa. Book your ticket a few days in advance, and they will sell you the right combination of tickets for your journey (compulsory seat reservation for Narita Express). If you have a JR Pass, it will be valid on both trains ,but not on the faster and more frequent Nozomi shinkansen.

Let's be clear.

First, the answer to your question is no. There is no shinkansen line to Narita Airport and Narita Airport is not on the Tokaido railway line that connects Tokyo to Kyoto. You will have to change trains, period.

Second, THERE IS NO SHINKANSEN AT SHINJUKU STATION, therefore you cannot transfer from your Kyoto-Tokyo train at Shinjuku because your train simply will not go there. Shinjuku isn't on the Tokaido non-shinkansen line either (although if you take a non-shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo, you're just daft). Hanuman is wrong.

Third, be clear. Looking up the routes can show you Tokyo but there are two meanings to the word. Tokyo is the largest city in Japan (duh), but there is also TOKYO STATION, which is one of the eight or so major rail hubs in the city. You do not need to go to Tokyo STATION to transfer. Instead, you can transfer at <b>Shinagawa Station</b> (which is in Tokyo) and get on the NEX earlier (that means less NEX travelers piling onto the train because most of the NEX passengers embark at Tokyo Station). This is very easy to do -- did it myself two years ago, took about two minutes.

Check the NEX schedules to see what fits for you. We had a 6 pm flight home from Narita, took a Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shinagawa that arrived around 2, took the NEX from Shinagawa to Narita, which arrived around 3:25-3:30 or so.

Thank you everyone for all the info you are very generous. i will have a JR pass I am guessing that doesn't cover NEX (is that another rail company?).

The other thing is by Narita I meant the city not the airport as I am staying in the mercure Hotel in Narita.

To summarise I understand I can get off at Shinagawa if I take a Shinkansen from Kyoto (I am presuming a Shinkansen is a JR Train service).

Thank you again.

Your JR Pass is good on the NEX.

Yes, every Shinkansen train from Kyoto to Tokyo stops at Shinagawa, and it is a JR service (operated by JR Central, one of 6 privatised passenger train companies that formerly comprised the Japan National Rail).
For your hotel, you really want to get off at Narita (City) station, but except for some late night departures, N'Ex doesn't stop there. But the hotel does run a free shuttle bus service from Narita Airport, so you can get off at Terminal 2 station (the first of the two airport stops), go up one level and catch the bus at stop #32.
Bus timetable at http://www.mercurehotelnarita.com/sub_access/index.html

Even though you want to get to Narita city, it may be fastest and easiest to take the NEX to the airport, then transfer to a local JR or Keisei train. Narita is an interesting temple town in its own right. There's a useful guide here: http://www.mgnewman.com/Naritax/donarita.html

Thank you everyone. That is all excellent info. much appreciated.

Another gap to fill in, and this one is my fault.

N'Ex, NEX are both short for the Narita Express, which goes from central Tokyo to Narita Airport (which I assumed you were inquiring about).

Someotherguy or Alec seem to have good suggestions to get to Narita.

Thanks Bigruss I assume Shinagawa is central tokyo.

Shinagawa lies on the Yamanote loop line that encircles Central Tokyo. About 4 miles south of Tokyo station, it's a major train station.

Does the advice to change from shinkansen to NEX at Shinagawa Station still hold? This is for a trip from Kyoto to NRT.

Yes a change at the JR Shinagawa is still your best option.

Aloha!

Arigatou gozaimasu ;)

Do Itashimashite!