Where should I stop between Tokyo and Kyoto?

The best stops are Hakone and Nagoya. To make a trip of it, spend a night in Hakone and Nagoya. Open the drive on the map to see each stop and the drive time between them.

How far is Kyoto from Tokyo?

Tokyo to Kyoto is about 455 km (283 miles) by road.

How long does it take to drive from Tokyo to Kyoto?

Roughly 5.5 hours of driving direct, before any stops.

Is Tokyo to Kyoto a good road trip?

Yes — with the stops above it makes a 5-day trip. Stopful maps the whole route, drive times, where to stay, and what the trip will cost before you book.

Japan · road trip

Tokyo to Kyoto by car: where to stop on the way

≈ 455 km / 283 mi · ~5.5 h driving · 4 stops

Tokyo to Kyoto is ≈ 455 km (283 miles), about 5.5 hours of driving direct. The best places to stop on the way: Hakone and Nagoya — with them it makes a relaxed 5-day road trip.

Map of the Tokyo to Kyoto drive: the route via Tokyo, Hakone, Nagoya, Kyoto — The live route on Stopful — open it to edit · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles © OpenFreeMap

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The bullet train does it in about two and a quarter hours, so drive it only for what's between: Hakone's hot springs and Mount Fuji views, and Nagoya's castle.

Where to stop between Tokyo and Kyoto

1
Tokyo
Out of the city on the Tomei Expressway towards the mountains.
2
Hakone
Onsen hot springs, Lake Ashi and — on a clear day — Mount Fuji across the water.
3
Nagoya
A rebuilt castle with golden dolphins on the roof, and hitsumabushi grilled eel.
4
Kyoto
Temples, Gion and the Fushimi Inari gates — return the car; Kyoto is best on foot and by bus.

Good to know

Expressway tolls for the full drive come to around ¥10,000 or more. Most foreign licences need an International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva Convention) to drive in Japan. An ETC card for tolls makes it smoother.

Tokyo to Kyoto — FAQ

Where should I stop between Tokyo and Kyoto?: The best stops are Hakone and Nagoya. To make a trip of it, spend a night in Hakone and Nagoya. Open the drive on the map to see each stop and the drive time between them.
How far is Kyoto from Tokyo?: Tokyo to Kyoto is about 455 km (283 miles) by road.
How long does it take to drive from Tokyo to Kyoto?: Roughly 5.5 hours of driving direct, before any stops.
Is Tokyo to Kyoto a good road trip?: Yes — with the stops above it makes a 5-day trip. Stopful maps the whole route, drive times, where to stay, and what the trip will cost before you book.

More drives

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≈ 355 km · ~4.5 h drive

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≈ 280 km · ~3 h drive

Barcelona to Madrid

≈ 620 km · ~6 h drive

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London to Edinburgh

≈ 660 km · ~7 h drive

Or start from a blank map and plan any drive — Stopful shows drive times and distance for every leg, finds hotels and EV chargers along the route, and estimates what the trip will cost — stays, food, fuel and tolls — before you book any of it.