By plane
Nara does not have its own airport; most visitors arrive via either Kansai International Airport or Osaka's Itami Airport (for domestic flights).
From Kansai Airport, Airport Limousine buses run to the two Nara train stations every hour (�2000, 1 1/2 hours). More frequent service is available by rail: If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can take the Haruka limited express to Tennoji station and then transfer to the Yamatoji line for the run to Nara (�2900, no charge with rail pass). Otherwise, it's cheaper to take the Nankai Railway's K?k?-Ky?k? (????) express train to Shin-Imamiya, and then take the JR Yamatoji line from there (�1430). With good connections, both trips take around 1 1/4 hours and 1 1/2 hours, respectively.
Limousine buses connect Itami Airport to the two Nara train stations for �1440; the ride takes about one hour.
By train
From Kyoto Station, both the JR Nara Line and the private Kintetsu Kyoto Line will get you to Nara quickly. The Kintetsu Nara Station is better located than the JR Nara Station, and all-reserved Tokky? trains leave Kyoto twice an hour, making the run to Nara in 35 minutes. On slower but more-frequent Ky?k? services, the trip takes about 50 minutes and you may need to change trains at Yamato-Saidaiji Station. The trip costs �610, plus �500 extra on the Tokky?. For Japan Rail Pass holders, JR's Miyakoji Kaisoku runs during mid-day hours from Kyoto to Nara in 45 minutes (�690, no charge with rail pass).
The fastest route from Osaka is to take the private Kintetsu Nara Line from Namba Station. Kaisoku-Ky?k? trains run three times per hour to Kintetsu Nara (40 minutes, �540). For Japan Rail Pass holders, JR runs up to three Yamatoji Kaisoku trains each hour from Osaka, Tenn?ji, and intermediate stations on the Osaka Loop Line. The run to Nara is 45 minutes from Osaka Station and 30 minutes from Tenn?ji (�780 and �450 respectively, no charge with rail pass)
