How many ways are there to travel from Tokyo, Shinjuku to Kyoto?

Question:

I need to know if there are any other ways to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto besides the bullet train and bus services (it's for a project I'm working on). For example, if I took the bullet train and got off half-way into my journey. What other ways could I get to Kyoto. I anybody could answer this I would be most appreciative :D

Answer:

Ok this is a loaded question.

I want to first say that the MOST PRACTICAL way for most people if they are in Shinjuku Tokyo to get to Kyoto is to take the Bullet Train "Shinkansen" from Tokyo to Kyoto. This is the most practical way most people would research first.

If someone is on a budget, then the second most practical way would be taking a highway bus from Shinjuku to Kyoto, usually overnight bus, but they have day time buses as well.

Those are the most practical ways that "most" people would use.

Now for lesser practical ways:
If someone owned/rented/borrowed a car, they could drive. However driving might be expensive if you factor in the cost of fuel, tolls, and just travel time. Not including parking space etc. It's easier to just take the bus or bullet train.

Flying. Flying is impractical because Kyoto has no airport, someone in Shinjuku would have to travel a bit of a ways to get to one of Tokyo's airport, then fly into one of Osaka's airports then get local transport into Kyoto. Taking the train is just more direct and just as fast (and costs roughly the same). In fact the train beats the plane if you factor in the time it gets to the airport, do security checks, getting from the airport etc. ps. if you haven't seen some posters who don't give you helpful answers love to give me thumbs down, you can do the right thing and select the best answer.

Someone can also take local trains from Tokyo, however local trains require at least 4-5 transfers and take 9-10 hours! Compared to taking a bullet train which is about 2-3 hours direct. However it is good to note that twice a year there are special tickets for train tickets, they are very cheap however normally people would not take the local trains.

If someone took the bullet train half way, in logical theory they would take the bullet train again to Kyoto. Just depends on where "half-way" you mean. They could connect to a limited express train and get to Kyoto, but again "it just depends" on your intermediate location that you got off at.

So there are many ways.