Taking the Kyo-train Garaku from Osaka to Kyoto; Using the Suica prepaid card on the Apple iPhone

For your journey from Osaka to Kyoto, you can take the train from Osaka-Umeda to Kyoto-Kawaramachi on the Hankyu Kyoto Line. To add more colours to your journey to Kyoto, I would highly recommend taking the Kyo-train Garaku provided by Hankyu Railway which runs every two hours starting from 9.32am with the last train departing at 3.32pm. Do note that the Kyo-train Garaku is available only during the weekend.
The Kyo-train Garaku is a train specially designed to give passengers the vibes of Japan's ancient capital the moment they step on board the train. There are six carriages and each are designed to represent the different seasons of Kyoto and their respective botanic motifs.
Carriage 1 represents the Autumn season with the maple leaf as its motif.
Carriage 2 represents the Winter season with bamboo as its motif.
Carriage 3 represents Spring with cherry blossom as its motif.
Carriage 4 represents Summer with hollyhock as its motif.
Carriage 5 represents early autumn with silver grass as its motif.
Carriage 6 represents early spring with plum blossom as its motif.
The price is simply the same as the regular train ride, just 400 yen or SGD4. Hope you enjoy the video!

[@Jopster266]

Awesome video! Very short yet informative. 👏🏻

[@gibbontravelogue]

Thanks Gillian. Glad you like it.

[@ShayFarrelly]

Lovely video and helping me plan for our holiday to Japan. We will start in Osaka and end in Tokyo, going to Kyoto and Takayama. So i'm trying to plan the train routes we will need. We will definitely take this train thank you!

[@ShayFarrelly]

Do you know what platform these leases from

[@gibbontravelogue]

Sounds great! So glad you enjoyed the video and left such a lovely comment. Have a great trip to Japan!

[@emaknyadlyrics3110]

Nice vlog

[@gibbontravelogue]

Thank you 😊

[@xPeoplex3]

Thanks for this great video, I'll make sure to try and get seats in the summer or spring carriages ! Do you think we will be able to bring two large suitcases? And do you have any advice to ensure getting seats ?

[@gibbontravelogue]

Thanks, glad you like the video. To ensure you get seats, go for the first train out. It’s free seatings and no luggage restrictions. Just remember the Kyo-train Garaku is only available on weekends.

[@kauaimartasboat]

We just returned from Kyoto yesterday and as non-Japanese speaking old people , we were overwhelmed figuring out the trains . There are very nice busses to take which handle the luggage mostly, and no stairs and nothing complicated . No crowds too! Also on one we could use our Icoca cards . As well as as the Family Marts etc.

[@gibbontravelogue]

Yes, the limousine buses can be quite convenient too. Hope you had a great time in Kyoto!

[@ken23n63]

Hi do u mind to share the station in Osaka to ride for this kyo train garuka? And the stop station in kyoto? Is our 1st trip to Japan and we are little confuse with the station and type of transport mode. Hopefully u could gv us more info and enlighten us 😊

[@gibbontravelogue]

Hey Ken, the station at Osaka is the Osaka-Umeda Station and the station at Kyoto is Kyoto-Kawaramachi station. The train runs everyday but the themed train that u see in the video only runs in the weekend.

[@Janetjx1996]

Is there a schedule for this train?

[@gibbontravelogue]

Yes, there is. You can check it out at hankyu.co.jp/kyotrain-garaku/en/service/#info

[@jessicatan726]

Hi, thanks for the video. Have you tried the sightseeing limited express Aoniyoshi? We are plnning to take d train but after watching your video we have changed our mind. Btw, is Friday consider weekend? Coz in one of your comments you mentioned that the theme train only operate on weekend, and our day deparrt from Osaka to Kyoto is on Friday. So i wonder will i get the chance to take the train Garaku. Thanks

[@gibbontravelogue]

Glad the video is useful to you. Not yet, haven’t tried the Aoniyoshi. Hmm I don’t think Friday is considered weekend, should be just Sat and Sun. For more info, check this site out
www.hankyu.co.jp/kyotrain-garaku/en/service

[@deebusoh9023]

Hi, this train come only once in every 2hr?

[@gibbontravelogue]

Yes, two-hour intervals, during weekends only. You can check it out here
www.hankyu.co.jp/kyotrain-garaku/en/service#timetable

[@cecilia2737]

Can the regular passmo card be used on kyo train?

[@gibbontravelogue]

Of course it can.

[@Lambie13]

Any smoking room in this train?

[@gibbontravelogue]

Hmm… afraid not. As far as I know, smoking is not allowed in most Japanese trains. I think the only exception is the smoking designated car in some Shinkansen trains.

[@imp168]

Awesome video. Very informative and interesting. Will definitely explore this option on my next trip. Thanks and pls continue to produce more of sure videos.

[@gibbontravelogue]

Thanks Jeremiah for the encouraging words. Very glad you like the video!

[@lilianchan3621]

Thanks for the information on the interesting train ride to Kyoto. Will definitely do this train ride when I’m there!

[@gibbontravelogue]

You are welcome, Lilian. Great this is useful to you!

[@chinyenchee1105]

Can the jr pass be used for this train?

[@gibbontravelogue]

From what I understand, the Kyo-train Garaku is operated by Hankyu Railway which is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
The alternative route to Kyoto/Osaka is to travel via the Special Rapid train on the JR Kyoto Line for a fare of 560 yen.
But you will miss out on the fun of traveling on the Kyo-train.

[@ahQ69]

非常喜欢Gibbon Travelogue, 每一个视频都发自真心，充满诚意。加油！

[@gibbontravelogue]

谢谢你的支持，Xiaodong!