Private car transfer from Kyoto to Tokyo

For example, you can visit the Hakone Open Air Museum and be captivated by its lush landscapes and outdoor sculpture collection. There is also Gotemba, a town nestled beneath the famous Mt Fuji and known for its amazing shopping experiences.

You can also choose to stop at the Sakitori Shrine, which is dedicated to the god Sakitori, before you make your way to the southern beach of Chigasaki, which is well respected for being the birthplace of Japanese surfing culture. These are only a few of the stops worth considering. Your Daytrip driver will be more than happy to give you insights into the places you want to visit while driving you to Tokyo, where your city adventure will begin!

According to accounts, Tokyo rapidly expanded and modernized in the first half of the 20th century. Even after the 1923 earthquake, which killed an estimated 100,000 people, the city remained prosperous. Tokyo even survived World War II, with much construction and renovation occurring after the sustained barrage of air raids. By 1964, Tokyo had fully recovered and continued to grow, especially after the Olympic games.

You will find Tokyo on the Pacific Ocean side of central Honshu, one of Japan's main islands, near the Kanto Plain, the country's largest low-lying territory. Visitors to Tokyo will be surprised to learn that volcanic mountain ranges are on Tokyo's north and west sides. One of these mountains is the much-loved and feared Mount Fuji – which happens to be the largest mountain in Japan.

Depending on your vantage point, these mountains can be seen from the city and add to its incredible appeal. The city is also known for its many green zones, parks, and cherry blossom trees, which are in full bloom during the spring season.

When you visit, you can tour the city center and look at the Imperial Palace, which overlooks the city's central business district near Tokyo station. If you walk to the south side of the palace, you can see the city's governmental district, which houses the beautifully ornate Supreme Court, Foreign Finance, and Parliament houses.

Today, Tokyo is also known for having several unique attractions and activities. From cultural temples dedicated to various gods, arcade galleries, and nightclubs to hole-in-the-wall eateries, gaming lounges, and alleyways where one can find almost anything, considering the numerous shops.

Tipping isn't necessary but is sometimes included

Tipping culture varies wildly from country to country, but in Japan, and thus in places like Kyoto and Tokyo and destinations in between, tipping is often unnecessary. You often won't need to tip at restaurants, hotels, airports, bars, or taxis. However, it is always appreciated, and you might get an additional service charge on specific bills at restaurants that cover wait staff tips.

There is free WiFi

WiFi is a necessity in the modern world, especially when traveling abroad and locally from Kyoto to Tokyo. Fortunately, unlike many other places in the world where you might travel, this route offers numerous WiFi locations where you can connect. Airports, train stations, cafes, restaurants, and libraries offer free high-speed WiFi. This allows you to video call loved ones, send messages, book transportation, or search for where to visit next.

You can buy a point-to-point Shinkansen train pass at a few places, such as Rakuten Travel and Klook. Usually, a one-way ticket from Kyoto to Tokyo will have a price of between $88 and $96, and you can expect the trip to take only two and a half to three hours, depending on your train, considering it's a direct route with no stops. It's also worth noting that a Shinkansen bullet train departs every six to 10 minutes between these cities.

However, there is a major downside to traveling by bullet train between Kyoto and Tokyo—luggage. If you have a lot of luggage, and by a lot, we mean a bag bigger than 34 inches by 98 inches (160 cm x 250 cm), you won't be able to take it onboard. Instead, you'll need to send it ahead with a luggage delivery service, which can be frustrating and expensive. Not to mention, it carries the risk of items being lost or damaged.

From Kyoto to Tokyo by bus

Bus travel from Kyoto to Tokyo is popular with budget-conscious travelers, especially night buses. Taking an overnight bus saves on accommodation and means you have more time to explore Tokyo if you are only visiting on a day trip.

On average, overnight bus tickets cost about $20, and you can book them on Kosoku Bus, an English bus booking site. However, you need to know that booking an overnight bus means sacrificing comfort, and the trip will take about seven hours.

Most overnight buses leave Kyoto just before midnight and deposit passengers in Tokyo around 6:30 a.m. It's also worth noting that women-only buses are available if you're a single woman traveling from Kyoto to Tokyo on your own and want a safer way to travel. In the same breath, Daytrip—a private car transfer service—can offer the same option.

From Kyoto to Tokyo by flight

Surprisingly, flights from Kyoto to Tokyo are pretty affordable. But there is a catch. Although ticket prices can be as low as $23 to $52, you must travel from Kyoto to Kansai International Airport before flying to Tokyo International Airport.

Usually, travelers book with Peach Airways or Jetstar as they offer the most value for money. Flights are also known to take about 90 minutes. However, you must also factor in travel times, especially if you're landing at different airports, like Haneda Airport or Narita Airport, before transferring to Tokyo Airport.

Unfortunately, airport transfer services can be expensive, especially since Kyoto to Kansai is about a 75-minute drive, and this ride costs about $24 on its own during the high season.

From Kyoto to Tokyo by private car transfer service Daytrip

You might be tempted to drive yourself from Kyoto to Tokyo, but we advise against this. The cost of fuel, tolls, and vehicle hire can often be incredibly high. According to travel sites, the tolls alone would cost you between $66 and $99, and you would need at least one tank of fuel one-way.

Fortunately, if you do want to drive and the main reason for this is sightseeing opportunities, you can book with a private door-to-door transfer service like Daytrip. With Daytrip, you'll have access to a safe, vetted, private English-speaking driver who knows the route between Kyoto and Tokyo. Along the way, your driver can share insights about travel destinations you should explore and can help you decide the best spots along the way to visit that are worth your time.

A Kyoto to Tokyo transfer with Daytrip will set you back about $317, but this includes tolls, fuel, car hire, and your private driver. You will also get to choose when you travel, and your trip will be flexible, with you having control over where you stop and explore along the route. It's also handy that there are no luggage limitations and that your driver will handle them.

Harmonica Yokocho

Harmonica Yokocho is not so much a specific attraction as an entire alleyway worth visiting.

Only a short walk from JR Kichijoji station, this clutch of narrow alleyways is filled with enticing hole-in-the-wall eateries, bustling bars, restaurants, fishmongers, and traditional sweet makers.

Although this area began as a post-war flea market in the 1940s, it has grown to encompass a network of entrepreneurs worth supporting.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to tour an open green zone with English, French, and Japanese-inspired landscapes? Well, you won't have to wonder anymore, as you'll get to witness this amalgamation of greenery yourself at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

This garden in downtown Tokyo is a gorgeous urban oasis comprising 144 acres of lush greenery and unique landscaping styles. You can explore French formal, Japanese traditional, and English garden styles when you visit. As a bonus, there are cherry blossom trees to see in the springtime.

But no matter when you come, these gardens are beautiful. Just remember to bring along a picnic and a camera, as you will want to capture the gardens to reminisce about later.

Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa

The Senso-ji Temple is the oldest and most visited religious site in Tokyo. It was built in 628 but sadly was razed during World War II and rebuilt, but it's still a beautiful spot to visit.

Not only will you get to see the traditional Japanese style of a temple when you visit, but you'll also learn more about the god—Asakusa Kannon—to which the temple is dedicated.

If you're wondering when to avoid Tokyo, you shouldn't plan to visit in August if you can avoid it. In August, the city can be sweltering, humid, and sweaty, which is no one's definition of fun!