Kyoto Station Ticket Vending Machine Shinkansen'to Tokyo Train Tour
Kyoto Station Ticket Vending Machine Shinkansen'to Tokyo Train Tour
Overview
John Daub takes viewers on an exhilarating journey through Kyoto Station, sharing his decades of Japan travel expertise as he navigates one of Japan's most iconic train stations and catches the Shinkansen bullet train back to Tokyo. The video captures the grandeur of Kyoto Station's architecture—built before the 1998 Nagano Olympics—with its sweeping escalators and open central entrance that John describes as reminiscent of "climbing a mountain."
The narrative follows John's race against time as he attempts to accomplish multiple missions before his 12:01 Shinkansen departure: buying Yatsuhashi (Kyoto's famous sweet) for his wife Kanae, grabbing a coffee for the journey, and reaching the platform with minutes to spare. Along the way, he provides invaluable tips about ticket reservations, platform navigation using Kyoto Station's color-coded floor system, and the importance of not panicking when using ticket gates.
This video serves as both a practical travel guide for Shinkansen novices and a nostalgic reflection for Japan veterans, as John reminisces about his first overwhelming experience at Kyoto Station over 27 years ago. The adventure concludes with John successfully boarding car number three with coffee in hand and Yatsuhashi under his arm, proving once again his mastery of Japanese train travel.
Highlights
- 00:00:03 John welcomes viewers to Kyoto Station, sharing his emotional connection to the station built before the 1998 Nagano Olympics
- 00:00:35 Practical tip: Kyoto to Tokyo Shinkansen costs 14,370 yen; strongly recommends reservation tickets due to Osaka-origin crowding
- 00:03:51 Introduction of the tourist express bus system with 500 yen passes keeping local buses uncrowded
- 00:09:13 Mastering the Kyoto Station navigation system: blue line for Shinkansen, color-coded pathways (gray=taxi, orange=bus, green=subway)
- 00:10:47 John discovers the omiyage gift shop and desperately searches for Yatsuhashi for Kanae
- 00:13:56 Race against time: standing in line for coffee with 10 minutes to spare before Shinkansen departure
- 00:16:33 John demonstrates the correct way to use ticket gates—calmly, like water
- 00:18:38 Philosophy of Shinkansen boarding: "Don't panic. Trust your instincts. Be like water"
- 00:19:39 Dramatic conclusion: John sprints to car number three and successfully boards with Yatsuhashi and coffee secured
Timeline / Chapters
Introduction at Kyoto Station (00:00–02:14)
- John greets viewers at Kyoto Station, reflecting on its beauty and history
- Mentions the station was built before the 1998 Nagano Olympics
- States ticket price (14,370 yen) and recommendation for reserved seating
- Introduces the mission: return to Tokyo with souvenirs and coffee
Exploring the Central Entrance (02:14–05:30)
- John shows the iconic artistic entrance and station exterior
- Explains the tourist express bus system (500 yen passes)
- Notes nearby convenience stores and Bic Camera for last-minute shopping
- Mentions destinations: Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
Navigating the Station Interior (05:30–10:15)
- John heads toward Shinkansen platforms through the central entrance
- Demonstrates the color-coded floor navigation system
- Discovers the multilingual tourist information center
- Shows the intersection of local train lines
Omiyage Shopping Attempt (10:15–12:51)
- John enters the omiyage gift area looking for Yatsuhashi
- Explains Yatsuhashi: mochi with anko (red bean paste), triangular shape
- Searches for the famous brand but settles for alternatives
- Mentions Royce Matcha potato chips (1,300 yen)
Coffee Mission and Ticket Gates (12:51–17:04)
- Time check: 10 minutes until departure
- Joins coffee line underground, orders straight coffee
- Successfully gets coffee despite slow service
- Navigates ticket gates with panicking tourists
- Reaches platform 12 with 6 minutes to spare
Shinkansen Boarding (17:04–21:47)
- John walks from car 8 to car 3, describing the boarding process
- Shows platform amenities: convenience store, bentos, souvenirs
- Philosophy: "Be like water" when boarding trains
- Successfully boards with Yatsuhashi for Kanae and coffee
- Mentions reservation cost (approximately 900 yen extra)
- Reflects on completing the mission as doors close
Japan Travel Tips
- Always reserve your Shinkansen seat — John strongly recommends paying the extra ~900 yen for a reserved seat, especially when departing from Kyoto, because most trains originate in Osaka and fill up quickly.
- Use the color-coded floor system — Kyoto Station uses a brilliant navigation system: blue line leads to Shinkansen, gray for taxis, orange for buses, and green for subways. Follow the colored lines like a breadcrumbs trail.
- Don't panic at ticket gates — New visitors often freeze at ticket gates. Simply insert your ticket and walk through calmly. If there's an issue, station staff will assist.
- Grab a tourist express bus pass — For 500 yen, you can ride the tourist-limited express buses to major attractions. This keeps regular local buses less crowded for residents while getting tourists to destinations faster without stopping at every stop.
- Shop for omiyage before leaving — Kyoto Station has excellent omiyage options, including famous Yatsuhashi sweets. Prices at tourist sites are higher, so buy gifts before departing.
- Arrive early for your Shinkansen — Even for an experienced traveler, navigating Kyoto Station takes time. Give yourself at least 15–20 minutes from the central entrance to your platform.
- Platform 12 is a key departure point — Know your platform number and look for signs with your destination (Tokyo, Shin-Osaka, etc.) well before boarding.
- Try the platform convenience stores — If you forget to buy food, Shinkansen platforms have convenience stores with bentos, sandwiches, and drinks, though selection may be limited.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Shinkansen (新幹線) — Literally "new main line," but universally known as the bullet train system. John uses this term throughout, emphasizing its importance in Japanese transportation.
- Omiyage (お土産) — Souvenirs or gifts, traditionally purchased when traveling. The concept is deeply embedded in Japanese culture; failing to bring back omiyage for colleagues or family is considered socially notable. Omiyage are typically food items from the region.
- Yatsuhashi (八ツ橋) — Kyoto's most famous confectionery, made from mochi (rice cake) with anko (sweet red bean paste). Traditional yatsuhashi is cut into triangular shapes. John specifically mentions his wife Kanae's preference for this sweet.
- Anko (餡子) — Sweet red bean paste made from azuki beans, a staple filling in many Japanese sweets and pastries.
- Tourist buses (観光周遊バス) — Kyoto has implemented special tourist-only express buses to reduce overcrowding on regular city buses. The 500 yen pass allows unlimited rides on these tourist routes.
- "Be like water" philosophy — John's advice for navigating Japanese transportation systems reflects a broader cultural value of adapting calmly to situations rather than resisting or panicking.
- Car number system — On Japanese trains and Shinkansen, cars are numbered sequentially from the front (1) to the rear. Passengers should note their car number since platforms have multiple doors. John mentions his seat is in car 3 but he enters through car 8.
Food & Drink Guide
Yatsuhashi (八ツ橋)
- Description: Traditional Kyoto sweet made from mochi (glutinous rice cake) filled with anko (sweet red bean paste). Shaped into triangles or rolled sticks.
- Where to find: Kyoto Station omiyage shops, specialty sweet shops throughout Kyoto
- Price: Varies by brand and type (plain, flavored, frozen)
- John's verdict: Kanae's favorite; John desperately searches for "the famous one" before settling for alternatives
- Timestamp: 00:14:58
Coffee (コーヒー)
- Description: Freshly brewed coffee from Kyoto Station's underground café area
- Where to find: Underground level of Kyoto Station, near Shinkansen entrance
- Price: Not specified; specialty drinks available (gingerbread latte mentioned)
- John's verdict: Essential for the journey; John stands in line despite limited time
- Timestamp: 00:16:02
Royce Matcha Potato Chips
- Description: Premium Japanese potato chips coated with matcha (green tea) chocolate, from Hokkaido-based chocolatier Royce
- Where to find: Kyoto Station omiyage shops
- Price: Approximately 1,300 yen
- John's verdict: "Looks good" but rejected because "Kanae doesn't like that"
- Timestamp: 00:11:49
Platform Bentos (駅弁)
- Description: Traditional Japanese train station lunches, variety of options including rice dishes, noodles, and regional specialties
- Where to find: Shinkansen platform convenience stores
- John's note: Available for last-minute purchases if you forget to buy food before boarding
- Timestamp: 00:18:38
People
John Daub Host and narrator of Only in Japan Go. An American who has lived in Japan for over 27 years (self-described as "30+ years" in earlier videos), John brings warmth, humor, and deep expertise to every video. His conversational style, self-deprecating humor, and genuine love for Japan shine through as he races to catch his Shinkansen while sharing practical travel wisdom. His affection for his wife Kanae and son Leo is evident even when they're not present, as he searches for Yatsuhashi as a gift.
Kanae Daub (mentioned) John's Japanese wife. Her preferences drive John's shopping mission—she specifically requested "the famous" Yatsuhashi, which John struggles to find. She represents the local perspective that helps John's content resonate with both international and Japanese audiences.
Leo (mentioned) John's son, referenced affectionately at the coffee counter when John says "Nothing for you, Leo. I swear." This brief mention adds personal warmth and reminds viewers of John's family life in Japan.
Key Takeaways
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Reservations save the day — Always book reserved seats on the Shinkansen, especially when departing from Kyoto where Osaka-originated trains fill up quickly. The ~900 yen premium is worth the guaranteed seat and peace of mind.
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Master the color-coded navigation — Kyoto Station's floor system (blue=Shinkansen, gray=taxi, orange=bus, green=subway) is an elegant solution for massive station complexes. Learn it once and navigate confidently forever.
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Don't panic, be like water — Ticket gates, crowded platforms, and language barriers are all manageable when you stay calm. Trust your preparation and instincts.
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Omiyage timing matters — Buy souvenirs at major stations before departing for your destination. Stations have excellent selections and competitive prices compared to tourist sites.
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Tourist buses improve everyone's experience — Kyoto's 500 yen tourist express bus pass benefits both visitors (faster, direct routes) and locals (less crowded regular buses).
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Know your car number — Shinkansen cars are numbered from front to back. If you board through car 8, your seat in car 3 means a brisk walk through the train.
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Plan buffer time — Even an expert like John values having 15 minutes to navigate from central entrance to platform. First-time visitors should allow even more.
Notable Quotes
00:00:03 John Daub: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Kyoto Station. It's a massive building, really beautiful. They built it before the Nagano Olympics in 1998. I remember I was here, and every time I come here, it reminds me of the first time I came to Japan overwhelmed with the beauty of its train stations."
00:01:05 John Daub: "I highly recommend you get a reserve ticket if you're leaving from Kyoto, because the trains are usually full from Osaka, because that's the origin of most of the trains. How would I know that? Because I've been here for 27 years."
00:04:29 John Daub: "They have these super express tickets... It keeps the local buses local because a lot of the locals were complaining about overcrowded buses. But now the local buses that stop everywhere aren't overcrowded anymore."
00:09:13 John Daub: "Gray is a taxi. Orange is bus, and the green is the subway. I want to go this way. Stay on the blue one. Stay on the blue one. John, do not deviate from the blue one."
00:10:15 John Daub: "They have English speakers, Chinese, Thai. It's pretty crazy how many languages they could speak inside there. You could challenge them. Break into Swahili or Swedish or one of the other languages. See if they pick it up."
00:14:58 John Daub: "What's the yatsuhashi? It's mochi with anko. Red bean paste cut into a triangle."
00:16:33 John Daub: "Don't ever doubt. I forgot about how tourists can't put their tickets in. They don't know how to do it. They just stand there. Don't panic. Trust your instincts. Be like water."
00:18:38 John Daub: "It's extraordinarily easy to get onto the Shinkansen train. All you need to do is to not panic. Trust your instincts. Be like water."
00:19:09 John Daub: "Never doubt John. He knows how to do this better than anybody."
00:20:11 John Daub: "The ticket to Kyoto is 14,370 yen or about $88. And that's all she wrote."
Related Topics
- Shinkansen Basics — This video is part of John's ongoing series on mastering Japan's bullet train system
- Kyoto Travel — Explore John's other Kyoto content covering temples, Gion, and sightseeing strategies
- Japanese Train Station Culture — Understanding the ecosystem of stations as transportation hubs, shopping destinations, and architectural marvels
- Omiyage Shopping — The tradition of bringing back souvenirs and regional specialties from travel
- JR Pass Strategy — Maximizing value from Japan Rail Passes on Shinkansen routes
- Station Navigation — Color-coded systems, signage, and practical tips for finding your way
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #kyoto-station #shinkansen #bullet-train #train-travel #japan-travel #tokyo #kyoto #transportation #japanese-trains #omotenashi #yatsuhashi #japanese-sweets #japan-tips #travel-guide #onlyinjapango #john-daub #station-navigation #tourist-tips #jr-pass #shinkansen-tips #japan-souvenirs #omiyage #coffee #japan-life
Full Transcript
00:00:03 John Daub: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Kyoto Station. It's a massive building, really beautiful. They built it before the Nagano Olympics in 1998. I remember I was here, and every time I come here, it reminds me of the first time I came to Japan overwhelmed with the beauty of its train stations.
00:00:35 John Daub: So much love put into the design of this one. The escalators going all the way to the top, like you're climbing a mountain. I actually already have my ticket to go back to Tokyo from Kyoto, and we're going to be. Oh, by the way, the price is 14,370 yen if you have a reserve ticket. I highly recommend you get a reserve ticket if you're leaving from Kyoto, because the trains are usually full from Osaka, because that's the origin of most of the trains. How would I know that? Because I've been here for 27 years. Every time I say that, you're supposed. You're supposed to take a drink.
00:01:38 John Daub: This is the ticket. I'm going to show you a little bit around the station. Maybe we can pick up really quickly a gift for Kana. If not, I'll actually be back here really soon. But I'm going to try my best to maybe even get a coffee, something to eat on the train. I do have a window seat, which is good, but not the site of Mount Fuji. But you're probably not going to be able to see it today. I don't know. All right, let's get moving, everybody. As you can see, the station is really busy. I don't know if there's a day where the station is not super busy, but the escalator coming down. I remember going to the top and then coming down. It's just one of those memorable escalator rides. Because the central entrance of the station is so open and so beautiful, you don't have to go too far to get to the Shinkansen. Before we do that, I just wanted to take you outside here one, because the signals are always kind of wacky.
00:03:18 John Daub: So if you did arrive to Kyoto from Tokyo, this is what you would see. You're looking back. This is the iconic sign of Kyoto Station. The. The very artistic entrance. It's. It really is lovely. Gosh, it brings back so many memories to be here. After you exit Kyoto Station, you don't have to go very far. You see that line of tourists over there in the center of your screen? That is for the express buses going to all the attractions. I believe you can get a pass. I introduced this to you yesterday a little bit but now they have these super express tickets. You see the sightseeing limited express buses highly recommend that you get that 500 yen. It keeps the local buses local because a lot of the locals were complaining about overcrowded buses. But now the local buses that stop everywhere aren't overcrowded anymore. The tourists are taking the tourist bus, which is actually better because you don't stop at every single stop. You go straight to your destination, which is right there. Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Gion Heian-jingu, and Ginkaku-ji, which is the Silver Temple. I think they have one that goes to the Kinkaku-ji as well. It can be a little crowded, but you can see the line of people quite long going somewhere. And they'll usually have a person standing at the end of the line who also take questions. They have a sign that says make two rows. Very cool. The buses are nice. It's the only way to really get around. There's a 7-Eleven in there. Gotta note that there's also a Bic Camera. There's also a Bic Camera over there. So if you need some electronics, it's probably your last chance before you get out into the countryside or out into the tourist areas where things are kind of pricey. But Kyoto Station, very nice, very convenient like that. My train is actually 12:01, so we have about 15 minutes to get to it. And trust me, every time I take the Shinkansen, it is an adventure. So instead of going up the escalators, I'm going to go through here, the central entrance, and show you the local trains. And maybe, just maybe, we'll get a chance to get a cup of coffee somewhere. They don't. They don't. I didn't see it being sold on the last one. The lines are cleaning. Somebody looks like they lost their ticket. Oh, I gotta go straight into the Shinkansen. This is for the local trains. Usually you could go in there with this ticket. All right, there's a follow. Follow the floor. Do you see this here? I might have done that on purpose. Bradshaw Studios in the house. Follow the things on the. On the. There's a taxi, the bus, and then the Shinkansen. All right, let's just do this here. Let's get. Let's get this out of the way. We have 15 minutes. I might have done that on purpose.
00:08:10 John Daub: Follow this arrow. Literally, I'm following it so you don't have to, but you would want to. So I'm following it so that you know what to do. All right, I'm not. I'm gonna skip the escalator and just go right to the stairs because I'm hardcore. Oh. Oh, my gosh. Backpack heavy. Stairs are healthy. Just don't trip. All right, here we go. Follow the. Follow the yellow brick. Road. No, no, no. That's for. That's tactile pavement for the visually impaired. Follow the. No bricks. We get 14 or 13 minutes. Keep your eye on that blue line. So this is the main artery of Kyoto Station. Okay. Follow the blue line. Well, there's another color thrown in here. Gray. Gray is a taxi. Orange is bus, and the green is the subway. I want to go this way. Stay on the blue one. Stay on the blue one. John, do not deviate from the blue one. Tourist information, right over there. So you can get a lot of stuff. This one's kind of a secret when people don't know about it. I've been in there many times, gotten some good information. They have English speakers, Chinese, Thai. It's pretty crazy how many languages they could speak inside there. You could challenge them. Break into Swahili or Swedish or one of the other languages. See if they pick it up. All right. Local trains here. Look at this big intersection. Look at all these. These colors crossing. I thought blue and green made another color, but apparently the blue is much stronger. Punching through here. We're following now the Suki. I could just make out the blue here. Oh, look. Omiyage Gifts. How much time we got? Okay, I got just enough time to grab a Yatsuhashi, maybe. All right, let's go see if we can do that right now. Yatsuhashi. Yatsu Hashi. That's what Kanae wants. Yatsu. Oh, that looks good. Baku. Yatsu Hashi. Yatsu Hashi. Kanae wants Yatsu Hashi. She said get it now. I gotta do it now. Where are they? There's a couple of famous companies. Oh, wow. Godiva has a Yatsuhashi. Yatsuhashi. I was looking for the Mega. The Mega Yatsuhashi, but I don't see it. Where'd it go? Whoa. They have a Royce Matcha potato chips. That looks good. It's a little bit more expensive. 1300 yen. But Kanae doesn't like that. She likes Yatsuhashi. Yatsuhashi. By the end of the stream, you'll be saying Yatsuhashi. Yatsu Hashi. Really? They don't have Yatsu Hashi. What the heck? She doesn't want these weird ones. She wants the. The famous one. No, that's not it really. What's up with that? Look, the official mascots for the expo. That's finished. But they're still selling it. Okay, bail, bail. We got no time. Get back on the blue line. I know, I know. I'm gonna miss this train. Follow the blue line. Personality of a brick wall is here. Follow the yellow brick road. Yellow and blue make green go. Follow the green. No, no, no, no, no. Stay on the blue road. Follow that lady. Oh, how you doing? What you holding there? 5% alcohol. We are going down, ladies and gentlemen. The ants go marching one by one, hooray, hurrah. The ants go marching one time check. Time check. Anyone? Time check. Go marching one by one, hooray, hurrah. The ants go marching one by one the little one stops to twiddle his thumb and they all go marching down into the ground. Oh, look, I can get a coffee here. Am I late? I got 10 minutes. That's plenty of time. That's plenty of time. The ants go marching two by two, hooray, hurrah. I'm standing in line for a hot coffee. Hooray, hurrah. I need it because I'm. I didn't get one before. And I'm on a Kyoto tour. And we all go marching. We're literally in the underground. All right, they do have the gingerbread latte, but I'm going straight, straight up coffee because I don't have any time. But people are slow, so. What's the yatsuhashi? It's mochi with anko. Red bean paste cut into a triangle. It's quite nice. Time's a wasting. Johnny needs to catch his train. Oh, they got brownies. When do I bail? All these specialty drinks. You all need to just get black coffee. Am I gonna make this train? Am I gonna. Miracle nakatara daijaba. Hi. They said no milk. They're gonna get my coffee. Please wait. Look at this Christmas coin. I'm not going to be able to get the yatsuhashi. You're not going to make it. People doubt me. Do not doubt me. Never doubt me. All right. Daddy's got a cup of coffee. Nothing for you, Leo. I swear. I gave it a good. I gave it a good shot, but I'm not done yet. We still have a shot inside there. And we all go marching into the Shinkansen. Follow those people with those bags. It's hot. Coffee is hot. Oh, my gosh. This receipt is massive. I forgot about how tourists can't put their tickets in. They don't know how to do it. They just stand there. Don't ever doubt. What? What the heck, man? Should be fine. All right. He said just go through. He said just go through. All right. We got six minutes. See? I told you. You guys. Don't you doubt me. Platform number 12. Which is right there. Boom. All right. Yatsuhashi. Six minutes. You can do a lot of damage in six minutes. The world could end in six minutes. I could miss my train in six minutes. Ah. Mine is. Ah. Okay. Done. Who doubted me? But watch me miss the train. Hey, look. There's Macho. All right. I never panic until I do. And then it's not a pretty sight. Really. All right. Make sure you go up to right one. I am the master of boarding the Shinkansen at the exact moment in which the doors close. I've done it a hundred times. I have yet to miss the train. But if I did, you would see it live. That's not funny. That's not funny. I'm in car number three. This car number eight. So I'm not done yet. You have to know that the car number three is in this direction. But you just learned something. It is extra. Look. They got stuff on the platform. A little convenience store. Wow. They got bentos and sandwiches and lions and tigers and bears. Oh my. It's extraordinarily easy to get onto the Shinkansen train. All you need to do is to not panic. Trust your instincts. Be like water. That's my train. I told you. I'm right on time. Car number five. I got two cars to walk down to. But I'm gonna make it. This is so much fun. Never doubt John. He knows how to do this better than anybody. But the signal's not always so great. I apologize if this is not working out so well. But I'm gonna take you as far as I can as I'm. I'm just there. Look. I'm about car number three. She was a viewer. I should miss. I should just miss the train on purpose. This car number three. There it is. I could get it. If I had another 30 seconds. I could get one of these coffees. But I was able to get one and Yatsuhashi. I planned it. I planned this all. Guys. I also have the ticket to Kyoto. Is 14,370 yen or about $88. And that's all she wrote. Ramsey Silent. You were never here. My brother. I got it. I got it. We did this. Mission accomplished. I know how to do this for a living. And I got the Yatsuhashi under my arm like any good dada. This is interesting. You could put your bags in here. I don't know if you need. I don't think you need a reservation. But you can put it in there. And they have actually places to lock it up. The train's full. I'm very glad I got a reservation. I'm very glad I got a seat reservation. It's an extra about 900 yen I believe or so for the reservation. That guy looks really bored. Don't look this way. That train's going to Osaka. But look. Getting the train and leaving Kyoto for Tokyo is sometimes a little hard. Finding something to eat and drink for the train. Sometimes even harder. But we were able to do it. As the doors close. I will see you in another episode as I take you to another corner of this amazing country. Probably my living room or somewhere around Tokyo tomorrow. This is a whirlwind trip where I got a chance to. There's another Shinkansen pass in there. World whirlwind trip to do some scouting. And I think I completed my mission together. Matane.