Date I went: 03/31/2020
Youtube video:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oritabi808/
From Okinawa I caught a flight to my next (and what was supposed to be my final stop at the time until Corona hit) Kyoto!
My first step to get from Okinawa to Kyoto was to board the monorail going to Naha Airport; it is also known as the Yui Rail. There are departures on this monorail every 10 minutes, and you don't need a reservation to board it. Most everyone going to the airport in Okinawa takes this monorail, but you can also go by bus or taxi. This was the most convenient way for me though.
Naha Airport: https://www.naha-airport.co.jp/
Okinawa Monorail: https://www.yui-rail.co.jp/en/
Yui Rail (ユイレール)
There are various stations you can board the monorail from in Naha, and finding the monorail is not hard as it runs above the city below.
I then flew over the Pacific Ocean to Kansai International Airport!
The flight over from Okinawa to Kansai International Airport only takes two hours. It is one of two main airports that you can fly into the Kansai area, the other one being Osaka International Airport; by the way the Kansai area encompassing Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto generally speaking, but encompasses a few other bigger cities.
Kansai International Airport: https://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/
Kansai International Airport (関西国際空港)
Osaka International (Itami) Airport 大阪国際空港（伊丹空港）
Flying into the Kansai Area
Which airport should I fly into?
It really depends on where your final destination is, but for going to Kyoto it's really convenient from either airport! When I arrived at KIX I boarded a train called the Haruka Limited Express also known as the Kansai Airport Limited Express (関空特急) to get to Kyoto Station.
This doesn't quite go as fast as the Shinkansen, but is still as speedy as can be. You can get from KIX to Kyoto station in about 1 hour and 20 minutes, without a single train or vehicle change and there is a good amount of luggage space on the train as well.
Website detailing how to travel between KIX and Kyoto Station:
Haruka Limited Express Route from KIX to Kyoto Station
*There is english as well but the hiragana characters look like this => はるか*
You are treated to some really nice views of the Osaka Bay when you leave KIX as it is on a manmade island.
So 1 hour and 20 minutes or so later I arrived at Kyoto Station! I'm going to make a post/video about all the cool things you can do at Kyoto Station another time, so look out for that. Kyoto Station is perfectly situated in the middle of Kyoto City. You can catch a Shinkansen to go to Tokyo to the East, or go West to Kyushu. It's a very central location in Japan to access many parts of it's splendor.
Kyoto Station: https://www.kyotostation.com/
Kyoto Station (京都駅)
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