Amanohashidate (天橋立), one of the Three Views of Japan (日本三景, Nihon Sankei), is just stunning throughout the year. The 3.6 km sandbar with 5,000 pine trees growing on top is what makes Amanohashidate so famous. When you view it from the observation decks on top of the hill, Amanohashidate looks like a flying dragon and a Bridge to Heaven when seen upside down. So if you have visited the main attractions in Kyoto, how about venturing out to the northern part of the prefecture for a different side of Kyoto?
As Amanohashidate isn’t in Kyoto’s city center, refer to the below for different ways to get to Amanohashidate.
Table of Contents
- How to Get to Amanohashidate from Kyoto
- How to Get to Amanohashidate from Osaka
- By Bus from Kyoto or Osaka
- Visiting Amanohashidate by Taking Kyoto Tango Railway’s Sightseeing Trains
How to Get to Amanohashidate from Kyoto
Depending on which route/method you choose, the time required to get to Amanohashidate from Kyoto is around 2 to 3 hours.
Visiting Amanohashidate by Taking Kyoto Tango Railway’s Sightseeing Trains
Kyoto Tango Railway (京都丹後鉄道) or Tantetsu (丹鉄) is the rail company that serves the region where Amanohashidate is. A benefit of taking Kyoto Tango Railway is you can board their sightseeing trains. There are three of them that you can choose from.
- Tango Kuromatsu-gō (丹後くろまつ号): A restaurant-style train
- Reservation required
- The most expensive but luxurious train
- Tango Akamatsu-gō (丹後あかまつ号): A cafe-style train
- Reservation required
- Normal train fare + 550 yen
- Tango Aomatsu-gō (丹後あおまつ号)
- No reservation required
- Normal train fare
For more information and reservation, please refer to their website HERE.
By JR Limited Express – Hashidate-gō (はしだて号) from Kyoto
JR Kyoto Station (京都駅) → Amanohashidate Station (天橋立駅)
< 2.5 hours
There are two ways that you can get to Amanohashidate by train. The first choice is to take the limited express – Hashidate-gō from Kyoto. This is the fastest way to get to Amanohashidate, albeit the most expensive. You will be there in less than 2.5 hours.
Note that the Limited Express Kinosaki-gō (きのさき) might be replacing Hashidate-gō. If you want to check which trains will run, please use the Timetable Finder on JR West’s website HERE.

Important:
☛ The Limited Express Hashidate-gō is a reserved-only train.
☛ If you have large suitcases that don’t fit into the overhead compartment, please utilize the space behind the last row of the carriage
Tip: Get the 5-Day JR Kansai WIDE Area Pass to save. A one-way trip from Kyoto to Amanohashidate costs 5,000 yen (2,500 yen for children). So a return trip will be almost the cost of the pass, costs 12,000 yen for adults! Get yours before you depart for Japan to save on tax through KLOOK!
By JR Train from Kyoto + Kyoto Tango Railway (京都丹後鉄道) – Option One
JR Kyoto Station (京都駅) → JR Fukuchiyama Station (福知山駅) → (Miyazu Station (宮津駅)) → Amanohashidate Station (天橋立駅)
2.5 – 3 hours, excluding waiting time

- This method gives you a lot more flexibility with more services throughout the day.
- Refer to HERE and click “福知山” for the timetable departing for Amanohashidate.
- For the timetable for the return trip, please click “天橋立(上り)”.
- If you are catching the local train, you will need to change trains at Miyazu Station (宮津駅) for Amanohashidate.
- Refer to HERE and click “宮津” for trains departing from Miyazu Station. All trains will stop at Amanohashidate (天橋立).
- HERE is the rail map for Kyoto Tango Railway for a better picture of how you can hop between the train lines. Scroll down for the English names of all stations. HERE is the fare table for Kyoto Tango Railway.
- You can also use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your visit.
Tips:
☛ The JR Kansai WIDE Area Pass (5 Days) can be used to board the Tango trains. Note you can only board non-reserved carriages
☛ You can also consider getting one of the discounted ticket deals that give you unlimited rides on Tantetsu and/or other rail lines and bus routes. For more information, please refer to HERE and scroll down to the bottom of the webpage.
By JR Train from Kyoto + Kyoto Tango Railway (京都丹後鉄道) – Option Two
JR Kyoto Station (京都駅) → JR Nishimaizuru Station (西舞鶴駅) → Amanohashidate Station (天橋立駅)
A bit less than 3 hours
- This option will take around 2.5 – 3 hours, excluding waiting time.
- Refer to HERE and click on “西舞鶴” for the timetable of the trains departing for Amanohashidate.
- For the timetable for the return trip, please click “天橋立(上り)”.
- You can also use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your visit.
How to Get to Amanohashidate from Osaka
Depending on which route/method you choose, the time required to get to Amanohashidate from Osaka is around 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
By JR Train from Osaka + Kyoto Tango Railway (京都丹後鉄道) – Option One
JR Osaka Station (大阪駅) → JR Fukuchiyama Station (福知山駅) → Amanohashidate Station (天橋立駅)
2.5 – 3 hours
- If you are coming from Osaka, the fastest way is to take Kōnotori-gō (こうのとり号) from JR Osaka Station (大阪駅) and transfer at JR Fukuchiyama Station for the Limited Expres – Hashidate-gō.
- The required travel time for this option can be around 2 – 2.5 hours if you can catch the Hashidate-gō straightaway.
- You can use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your visit.
Important: You will have limited time to change trains.
By JR Train from Osaka + Kyoto Tango Railway (京都丹後鉄道) – Option Two
JR Osaka Station (大阪駅) → JR Nishimaizuru Station (西舞鶴駅) → Miyazu Station (宮津駅) → Amanohashidate Station (天橋立駅)
A bit more than 3 hours
If you aren’t catching the limited express, change trains at Nishimaizuru Station to get to Miyazu Station and then Amanohashidate. Refer to HERE and click on “西舞鶴” for the timetable of the trains departing for Amanohashidate.
By Bus from Kyoto or Osaka
You can also take an express bus from Kyoto or Osaka. It takes just a bit over 2 hours from Kyoto and around 2 hours and 40 minutes from Osaka.
To check the bus timetable and for reservations, please refer to Tango Kairiku Kōtsū’s (丹後海陸交通) website HERE.
Visit Amanohashidate for One of the Three Views of Japan
Now that you know how to travel between the attractions in Amanohashidate, it is time to plan your visit!
Check out our article on Amanohashidate to find out why people are bending down over on the observatory and how the 5,000 pine trees can grow on the 3.6 km sandbar surrounded by seawater!