From Kurama to Itami Airport?

Hi there! I reworked my schedule to afford more time + activities, but it meant that my last day would be in Kurama, just outside of Kyoto.

Our flight leaves at 14:00 on the day of departure (goes to Tokyo first).

How early should we leave Kurama, and what is the best way to get to Osaka Itami Airport?

Thank you so much for your help! Hope someone might know the answer to this.

Take the bus from Kyoto station which arrives at 12:50 or 13:10 (13:30 should be fine too, but since it's a connection with an international flight I'd allow a bit more time just in case).

http://www.okkbus.co.jp/en/timetable/itm/f_kyt.html

(Actually, with the new timetables from March 1, the buses will depart and arrive five minutes earlier than now.)

That's great, thank you!

So in that case we should leave Kurama ideally around 11:00am, then? Or is that too late/too early?

I am not familiar with Kurama and how you get there from Kyoto station. I see there is a Kurama station, so if you go by tran you can look up connections on Hyperdia. (For that matter, you could also go to the airport by train, but it would require many transfers.)

Honestly, Kurama to Osaka Airport is somewhat complex. I am familiar with this route, so, I think it is not so difficult, but first timer might feel it difficult to get the right way.

http://goo.gl/rmYQyb

This is the "normal" route which Hyperdia shows. Navitime also shows the same route: Kurama-(Eizan Electric railway)-Demachiyanagi-(Keihan)-Gion Shijo-(walk)-Kawaramachi (Hankyu)-Ibarakishi(transfer to slower train)-Minamiibaraki-(Walk to Monorail Minamiibaraki)-Osaka Airport.

If you take the bus from Kyoto as Firas suggested, it also requires 4 times transfer (at Demachiyanagi, Sanjo, Tofukuji and Kyoto).

http://goo.gl/61XiSW

I would take the following route (or even not to go to Kurama since it would make a hectic schedule):

Kurama-Demachi Yanagi by Eizan railway
Demachi Yanagi - Kyoto station (Karasuma) by Kyoto bus No.17
Kyoto station (Hachijo guchi) - Osaka Airport by airport bus

The two bus stops are located at opposite side of the station (across railway)

Cheers !

Once correction in my posting above - "Kyoto Bus" should read as "Kyoto City Bus"

Hmmm thank you everyone! I am not sure what to do now : leave Kurama on that last day and face the complexity of the string of connections, or just rearrange my itinerary again. I will have to look it over again.

Thank you so much for the help, I will think about this! I may end up taking transit to Kyoto Station and then yeah, take the airport limousine/bus to Itami just to simplify things.

Maybe by the end of my trip I will be familiar enough with Japan's transit systems that it won't be difficult? heh

Maybe by the end of my trip I will be familiar enough with Japan's transit systems that it won't be difficult?

I think so :). Both of the bus and trains have their pros and cons. I would prefer trains in this case, since buses (Kyoto city bus 17 and Airport limousine) tend to be slower and less reliable due to possible traffic jams. Train transfers might at first site seem to be complex including 6 transfers, but actually you need four transfers, as will be explained.

1. From Kurama to Demachiyanagi, you have no choice. This should be only practical route. Kurama is the first station of the Eizan line while Demachiyanagi is the final station so you can't make mistake. If you have train IC card such as SUICA or ICOCA, you can use them from 16th March.

2. Demachiyanagi to Gion-shijo. Get out of the Eizan line gate using your IC card. Demachiyanagi station of Keihan line is on the second underground floor.

https://www.keihan.co.jp/en/station/pdf/180_demachiyanagi.pdf

Enter from Eidenguchi ticket gate on the first underground floor using your IC card and then get down to the second underground floor. This is the first station of Keihan line, so you can't choose wrong train. From Demachiyanagi to Gion-Shijo, there are about 12 trains per hour, of which 6 are the limited express trains (every 10 minutes). These limited express trains are almost always (probably always, but I am not sure) the fastest, taking only 4 min. You don't need express fee on Keihan line. Get off at Gion-Shijo, just touching the card.

3. Gion-Shijo to Kawarawachi (Hankyu line) by walk

https://www.keihan.co.jp/en/station/pdf/162_gion-shijo.pdf

Go through north ticket gates and get out of the station from Exit No. 4. Walk toward Shijo Ohashi bridge and you will see the Hankyu Kawaramachi station.

4. Kawaramachi to Minamiibaraki with a transfer at Ibarakishi

Find Kotocross Hankyu Kawaramachi

https://goo.gl/tbu6Se

and then go down through Exit 3.

http://www.hankyu.co.jp/global/common/pdf/station_guide/kawaramachi.pd...

Take limited express to Umeda (Osaka) and get off at Ibarakishi (You don't need to pay the express fee as well). Your connecting sub-express train is waiting on the same platform (opposite side). The transfer time is only one minute, but you don't need to worry, since you just need to walk about 10 meter.

5. Hankyu Minamiibaraki to Monorail Minamiibaraki

I can't find good map for this section, but you go up the stairs (or you can use escalator or elevator), go out through the ticket gate and then walk about 3 min to Monorail Minamiibaraki station.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kQM9OD3CeY

6. Minamiibaraki to Osaka Airport by Osaka Monorail

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKBuUg6_RMU

From 12'00" you can see the view from the front window from Minamiibaraki to Osaka Airport. This is my favorite train in Kansai area. Note the traffic jam on the Highway (opposite direction though) :).

That is incredibly helpful, thank you! With that, then if we leave with more than enough time to spare (say, early around 9AM) I think we should be able to muddle through! If we allow time for a mishap or two, then all should be good, I think! ;)

If you take 10:58 train from Kurama, you will arrive Osaka Airport at 12:49. The train from Kurama to Depachiyanagi runs every 20 min while other trains run every 10 min (very straightforward). So if you miss Eiden, you will loose 20 min and for other trains you will loose 10 min each. Considering these, I would suggest taking 10:18 train from Kurama. I think you will not miss Kurama, and if you make two mishap, you will still arrive the airport at 12:29. You will be able to have lunch at the airport.

Enjoy your trip!