Kyo-Train Garaku from Osaka-umeda to Kyoto-kawaramachi

Japan’s one of those places that warrants a visit any time of the year. Go in spring and it’s the pastel pink of cherry blossoms in spring you’ll see. In summer, irises and sunflower fields take over. Then, you’ve got the gold hues of foliage in autumn, and the snow-capped bamboo groves that captivate just about every photo you take.

Now imagine getting to experience all that in one 43-minute journey. That’s what you get riding on the Kyo-Train Garaku, a Rapid Limited Express train filled with zen gardens and cosy seats done up in traditional, seasonal decor. Best of all, tickets cost less than $4/pax:

The current exchange rate is ¥100 = ~S$0.87 as of 6th January 2025.

What can I expect on the Kyo-Train Garaku

Image credit: Hankyu

The Kyo-train Garaku runs only 6 stops from Osaka-umeda to Kyoto-kawaramachi stations, and the entire journey takes just 43 minutes one way. And in that time, you’ll be taken through all 4 seasons in Kyoto in the comfort of the train.

Step on board an...