Kintetsu Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train あをによし
Kintetsu Aoniyoshi limited express (JLM)
Beautiful train
From one imperial city to another by rail
1,300 years of history and culture culminates in a superb train set up by the private company Kintetsu. Comfort and beauty in a train of a rare class, the Aoniyoshi connects Kyoto to Nara several times a day.
A train with a rich cultural history
The private company Kintetsu, the largest in the Kansai region, put into service in the summer of 2022 a train of a high class, a tourist express that mainly connects Kyoto to Nara, two former imperial capitals, so important in the history of Japan. The Aoniyoshi train must therefore reflect the rich history of Nara, highlighting its beginnings with the introduction of Buddhism during the Tenpyo Period (729-749). The architecture of early temples, such as Shoso-in, places where the treasures of Todai-ji were preserved, is found in the Aoniyoshi, as is the case for the counter in the on-board sales area, which is in the Azekura construction style.
Beautiful comfort spaces
The Aoniyoshi Train sports a superb deep purple coloration, a symbol of nobility in imperial Japan, which can be found in the interior decoration of the four cars, as well as multiple details relating to the tenpyo period and its temples in Nara.
Comfort is at its peak, with the 'Twin seats' arrangement of very large seats facing each other with a wooden tablet and a small blue lamp. Some seats are oriented towards the landscape of the great Kansai plains with its beautiful rice fields.
If you are several, 3 or 4 people, you can reserve the 'Salon' space, three spaces of this kind in car 2, the same one where there is the sales area with counter. Four pretty red leather seats are arranged around a large wooden coffee table.
Kintetsu Aoniyoshi Twin seats (JLM)
Multiple Destination Options
The Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train connects mainly to Nara, and does so several times a day from Kyoto Station, where you can catch JR trains, the subway, and the Shinkansen.
Eight roundtrips are offered each day, except Thursdays. The first train in the morning leaves Osaka at 9:10 AM on weekdays and 9:35 AM on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. It goes directly to Nara, then back to Kyoto. All day long, it shuttles between Nara and Kyoto.
The very last train of the day makes the reverse journey, finishing its journey in Osaka-Namba at 5:35 PM on weekdays and 5:59 PM on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
The journey takes only 35 minutes between Kyoto and Nara and will cost you 1490 yen for each adult when you are two, and 750 yen for a child, but 1860 yen if you are traveling alone on the same route, because the seats are rather intended for couples.
