How to Get to Universal Studios Japan from Kyoto

A common question for visitors to Japan is how to get to Universal Studios Japan from Kyoto. This article will assist you in better understanding the options to travel from Osaka to USJ.

When we first visited USJ we did it as a day trip from Kyoto.  It was a very long day with an early start, but it meant we didn’t have to move to another hotel.  On our second visit to USJ we stayed at a hotel outside the entrance to USJ which was a much better experience!

How to Purchase Universal Studios Japan Tickets and Express Passes

We have a detailed article to help you plan your visit to USJ, including how to purchase your tickets and skip the queue Express Passes.


How to Get to Universal Studios Japan from Kyoto

Travel time from Kyoto Station to Universal City Station is about 45-55 minutes, and you have to use 3 or 4 trains to get there.

If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you will be able to use your JR Pass for all parts of the trip. Note that not all trains between Kyoto and Osaka are included in the Japan Rail Pass, so check before booking. Also, be aware that there is a shinkansen bullet train as well as local trains between the two cities, so use Google Maps to look up your specific location in Kyoto to work out which option will make the most sense to get to USJ.


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Join the Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group or Discord Server

You are also welcome to join our Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group and our Japan Travel Planning Discord Server – they are great resources to enable you to ask questions about your upcoming trip to Japan!

Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Anne Sutherland-Smith is the founder of the Pretraveller and Japan Travel Planning blogs which focuses on travel planning. Anne has made multiple visits to destinations like Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, the USA and Europe and has also extensively explored her home country of Australia. As a result she writes from personal experience to help others plan their trips to Japan.