The JR Nara Line runs between Nara and Kyoto with stops at the important sightseeing locations: Uji, Inari and Tofukuji along the way. This line is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
At JR Nara Station JR Nara Line trains depart from platforms 3, 4, and 5.
A Miyakoji Rapid Service train bound for Kyoto at JR Nara Station
JR Nara Line Stations
There are 21 stations on the JR Nara Line. These are as follows:
Nara > Narayama > Kizu > Kamikoma > Tanakura > Tamamizu > Yamashiro-Taga > Yamashiro-Aodani > Nagaike > Joyo > Shinden > JR Ogura > Uji > Obaku > Kohata > Rokujizo > Momoyama > JR Fujinomori > Inari > Tofukuji > Kyoto
For more details on these destinations please see our JR Nara Line article at KyotoStation.com. The JR Nara Line is served by Local, Regional Rapid, Rapid and Miyakoji Rapid services.
A local train on JR Nara Line
Traveling to Kyoto
Local trains on the JR Nara Line stop at every station and take around 70 minutes to travel between Nara and Kyoto. If you wish to travel directly to Kyoto, take a Miyakoji Rapid train, which takes around 48 minutes. Miyakoji Rapid trains stop at Uji, Inari, and Tofukuji on the way, as well as selected other stations, so they are also useful for sightseeing stops at Byodoin, Fushimi Inari Taisha, and Tofukuji Temple. For smaller stations that rapid trains skip, take a local train. To plan your journey use English language online route finders like Jorudan and Ekispert.
Information on departures is given in both Japanese and English
Fares and Train Times
| Nara – > Uji | 510 yen | 30-31 minutes |
| Nara -> Inari | 680 yen | 42-43 minutes |
| Nara – > Tofukuji | 720 yen | 45-46 minutes |
| Nara – > Kyoto | 720 yen | 48 minutes |
Other Options
If you are carrying a Japan Rail Pass the Miyakoji Rapid service on the JR Nara Line is the best service to use between Nara and Kyoto. However, if you do not have a Japan Rail Pass, you might choose to take the Kintetsu Kyoto Line from Kintetsu Nara Station. Express trains to Kyoto on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line are frequent, take between 44 – 50 minutes to reach their destination and cost no more than 760 yen.
Kintetsu Nara Station is also more centrally located than JR Nara Station and closer to the major tourist sites. If you are in a hurry, another option is a regular Kintetsu Limited Express, which takes about 35 minutes and costs 1,280 yen in total: a 760 yen basic fare plus a 520 yen limited express charge. Sightseeing Limited Express AONIYOSHI services also run between Kintetsu Nara and Kyoto on selected departures and cost more because they add a special car fare. For more details see our article on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line at KyotoStation.com.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 16-May-2026.
