How to get from Kyoto Station to Fushimi Inari Taisha by train or taxi
In the bus article, I described taking a bus from Kyoto Station to Fushimi Inari Taisha as a 'last resort'.
| Transport | Fare | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Adults ¥230, Kids ¥120 | Hard |
| Train(JR) | Adults ¥150, Kids ¥70 | Hard |
| Taxi | Around ¥1,000 | Easy |
Did you understand? If you want to save money, take the train. If you want to get there without hesitation, take a taxi.
I'll also tell you how to get there by train or taxi. To do that, you first need to know about Kyoto Station. Japanese terminals are often compared to RPG dungeons. If you think of Tokyo's Shinjuku Station or Osaka's Umeda Station as the final boss dungeons, Kyoto Station can be seen as a mid-boss dungeon. It's a bit of a tricky opponent.
Are you coming to Kyoto Station by Shinkansen? Or are you coming from Kansai Airport by bus? Those are two completely different approaches.
How to get to Fushimi Inari Station after arriving at Kyoto Station by Shinkansen
Let's explain it from the scenario of coming to Kyoto Station by Shinkansen. Do you already have a ticket from Kyoto Station to Inari Station? Sometimes the Shinkansen ticket includes the local line fare. If you have an IC card, it might also have enough credit loaded.
If it's any of the above, or you're not sure, hold off on leaving the ticket gate for a bit. There's a transfer gate from the Shinkansen to the local lines, so give that a try first.
If you don’t have a ticket from Kyoto Station to Inari Station, you’ll exit the Shinkansen gate and turn right to go to the local line gate. Buy a ticket there and then enter the station again.
The local line has platforms numbered from 0 to 10. To get to Fushimi Inari Taisha, you need to take the train bound for Nara from platform 8 or 9 or 10. The platform numbers clearly marked at the entrance.
Starting in 2026, all trains will stop at Inari Station. Until then, unlucky tourists on the express trains might have passed through Inari Station without stopping. You don’t need to worry about that.
How to get to Inari Station from the bus stop at Kyoto Station.
The bus from the airport stops on the south side of Kyoto Station. Cross the street from the stop and turn left. Walk a bit along the station building. When you see a McDonald's on your right, enter Kyoto Station through the side entrance (Hachijo East Exit). Next to the Shinkansen gate, there's a gate for the local line. After passing through the gate, go up the stairs in front of you for Platform 10, or go down the stairs for Platform 8 or 9.
How to get to Fushimi Inari by taxi
It's even simpler for taxis. There are taxi stands at both the North Exit (Karasuma Central Exit) and the South Exit (Hachijo Exit). If you're going to Fushimi Inari Taisha, the South Exit is closer.