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 and you’ll notice that all 6 cars have been transformed into scenes you’d see in onsen towns across Japan. Think tatami mats, bamboo panels, shoji panels, and Japanese motifs all around. It doesn’t matter which car you board – all tickets are for unreserved seats, so feel free to get up to explore, and we implore you to.

Car 1 with ryusui-ni-kaede pattern, AKA fallen maple leaves floating in a river.
Image credit: Hankyu

Zen garden in Car 2.
Image credit: @misoobon via Instagram

In Car 1, you’ll be greeted by autumn in Kyoto with maple leaf motifs on tatami seat booths that comfortably sit up to 4. Then, move over to Car 2 for a taste of winter, where there’s an indoor bamboo garden to admire as the train moves along. The seats face the panoramic windows too, so you can admire the scenery outside.

Car 3.
Image credit: Hankyu

Car 4.
Image credit: Hankyu

Cross over to Car 3, which has the theme of cherry blossoms in spring. Choose between couple booths to share a romantic moment with your partner, or go for the long benches that face the windows. Either way, you’ll get a cosy, cherry blossom-motifed seat to enjoy the train ride and view. It’s summer in Car 4, which has window-facing seats printed in a traditional hollyhock or iris print.

Car 5.
Image credit: Hankyu

That’s the 4 seasons covered but there are still 2 more cars to go. Car 5 is one of the most popular, so make it the first car you board. It’s built to look like a traditional wooden townhouse from Kyoto, complete with a Japanese garden right in the centre of the car. The bamboo-panelled walls and silver grass motifs on the seats evoke the subtle sense of change from summer to autumn.

Car 6.
Image credit: Hankyu

Finally, Car 6 is another spring-themed cabin, but this time with plum blossoms and cranes decorating the place. Similar to Car 1, there are box seats for groups of friends to share.

How much is the train ticket for Kyo-Train Garaku

You’d think a train this fancy would come with a hefty price tag, but it costs just as much as any other train on this line. Currently, the fare stands at ¥410 per person per trip.

The only difference is that the train only runs every 2 hours from 9.32am to 5.28pm on weekends and public holidays. You can check the Kyo-Train Garaku train schedule to see if it’ll be operating on the days you’re visiting Osaka or Kyoto. Here’s also a breakdown of the departure and arrival times at the first and last station of each train:

On days where the Kyo-Train Garaku train isn’t operating, regular trains will run on the schedule instead.

While the journey is short, you might want to pack a couple of snacks for the trip, as there are no dining cars onboard. Eating is allowed on trains in Japan; just be sure to clear up after yourself when you’re done.

Ride the Kyo-Train Garaku from Osaka to Kyoto

One of the best things about the Kyo-Train Garaku is that it’s a functional Rapid Limited Express that’ll take you to some of Osaka and Kyoto’s top attractions like the Katsura Imperial Villa near Katsura station, Nijo Castle at Karasuma station, and the Kyoto Samurai Ninja Museum near Kyoto-kawaramachi station.

If these places are already on the itinerary, do yourself a favour and buy a train ticket on the Hankyu Line. You’ll get to ride the Kyo-Train Garaku and cross out another item on your Japan travel bucket list.

Find out more about Kyo-Train Garaku

More train journeys:

• Singapore to Penang via KTMB
• Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train no. 9
• Panoramic train from Jakarta to Bandung

Cover image adapted from: Hankyu