Hanshin offers services from Kobe's Sannomiya Station to Kintetsu Nara via the Hanshin Namba line for �940. Direct Kaisoku-Ky?k? services leave three times per hour during most of the day; otherwise, you change trains at Amagasaki. The trip takes about 90 minutes.
If traveling between Kyoto, Nara and Osaka consider purchasing the Kansai thru-pass which enables unlimited travel for 2 or 3 days on private railways, buses and subways (not-JR) in the Kansai area.
By bus
As Nara is a major tourist attraction, there are a good number of buses that run between Nara and other locations throughout Japan, which can result in significant savings when compared to train fares.
The following buses run from Tokyo and take approximately 7-8 hours to reach Nara: (Current as of March, 2012)
JR Bus
A major operator of the bus routes from the Tokyo area is JR Bus (Japanese website). Seat reservations for JR Buses can be made in train stations at the same "Midori-no-Madoguchi" ticket windows used to reserve seats on trains. JR Buses depart from Tokyo Station - Yaesu Exit and the JR Highway Bus Terminal located adjacent to Yoyogi Station on the Yamanote Line (one stop south of Shinjuku). In Nara, buses stop at the JR Nara train station.
JR Bus offers, in order of comfort and price, Seishun (youth) buses with 2x2 seating configurations, Standard buses with individual seats arranged 1x1x1, and Premium Buses that offer wider seats and more amenities.
JR Bus' overnight one-way fares to/from Tokyo start from approximately �3500 for overnight trips in Seishun buses up to �7400 for premium buses with advanced purchase. Daytime buses to Kyoto start from �4200, from which Nara can easily be reached by train. Fares are typically higher on weekends and holidays.
Willer Express
Discount bus operator Willer Express does not operate any direct bus services into Nara. The nearest Willer Express
