Getting There & Around

From Kansai Airport
If you arrive in Japan at Kansai International Airport (KIX) outside Osaka, the JR Haruka Super Express train has direct service every 30 minutes to Kyoto Station; the trip takes approximately 75 minutes. It costs ¥3,490 ($29) for a reserved seat (recommended during busy departure times or peak season) and ¥2,980 ($25) for a nonreserved seat, or you can ride free with your JR Rail Pass. A cheaper (¥1,830/$15), though less convenient, alternative is the JR Kanku Kaisoku, which departs every 30 minutes or so from Kansai Airport and arrives in Kyoto 100 to 120 minutes later with a change at Osaka Station.

If you have a lot of luggage, we recommend taking the Airport Limousine Bus (tel. 075/682-4400) from Kansai Airport; buses depart every hour or less for the 105-minute trip to Kyoto Station. Fare is ¥2,300 ($19) one-way.

By Train from Elsewhere in Japan
Kyoto is one of the major stops on the Shinkansen bullet train; trip time from Tokyo is 2 1/2 hours. The fare for a nonreserved seat is ¥12,710 ($106) one-way if you don't have a rail pass. Kyoto is only 20 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka, but you may find it more convenient to take one of the local commuter lines that connect Kyoto directly with Osaka Station. From Kobe, you can reach Kyoto from Sannomiya and Motomachi stations. Kyoto Station, which is like a city in itself with tourist offices, restaurants, a hotel, a department store, a shopping arcade, an art gallery, a theater, and stage events, is connected to the rest of the city by subway and bus.

By Bus from Tokyo
Night buses depart from Tokyo every evening for Kyoto, arriving the next morning; the fare is ¥8,180 ($68) one-way or ¥14,480 ($121) round-trip. Buses depart from Tokyo Station at both 10 and 10:50pm, arriving in Kyoto at 5:55am and 6:32am respectively, and from Shinjuku Station at 10:45, 11:10, and 11:50pm, arriving in Kyoto at 6:02, 6:32, and 7:12am. Day buses depart Tokyo and Shinjuku stations several times daily, with fares starting at ¥5,700 ($48). Tickets can be purchased at any major JR station or a travel agency. Contact the Tourist Information Center (TIC) in Tokyo for more information. Kyoto is Japan's most visitor-friendly city, with lots of signs in English and an easy-to-navigate transportation system.

By Public Transportation
Kyoto has subway and bus networks that are efficient and quite easy to use, but one of the best ways to explore is by foot.

By Subway
Kyoto is growing by leaps and bounds - there are now two subway lines. The older Karasuma Line runs north and south, from Takeda in the south to Kokusai Kaikan in the north, with stops at Kyoto Station and Imadegawa Station (convenient for visiting the Imperial Palace). The newer Tozai Line runs in a curve from east to west and is convenient for visiting Nijo Castle and Higashiyama-ku. Stops are announced in English. The subway lines intersect in Central Kyoto at Karasuma Oike Station. Fares start at ¥200 ($1.65), and service runs from 5:30am to about 11:30pm. Although buses are generally more convenient (they usually get you closer to where you want to go), opt for the subway even if you I have to walk a bit, simply to avoid hassling with buses and their unknown stops.

By Bus
The easiest way to get around Kyoto and to most of its attractions is by bus. Buses depart from Kyoto Station's north (Karasuma) exit, with platforms clearly marked in English listing the bus destinations. The TIC and Kyoto City Tourist Information Office give out a city map showing major bus routes. Some of the buses loop around the city, while others go back and forth between two destinations. For tourists, old-fashioned buses nicknamed the Chin-Chin bus (bus no. 100) make runs every 10 minutes from Kyoto Station from 7:50am to 4:10pm, with stops in central and east Kyoto that are convenient to major attractions, including Kyoto National Museum, Gojo-zaka, Gion, and Nanzenji. The fare is the same as for other local buses: ¥220 ($1.85) for a single fare or ¥500 ($4.15) for a 1-day pass (good for all local buses). Chin-Chin bus no. 101 travels a different route from Kyoto Station northward to Nijo Castle, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and beyond.

Board the bus at the rear entrance. If the bus is traveling a long distance out to the suburbs, there will be a ticket machine right beside the back door -- take the ticket and hold onto it. It has a number on it and will tell the bus driver when you got on and how much you owe. You can see for yourself how much you owe by looking for your number on a lighted panel at the front of the bus; the longer you stay on the bus, the higher the fare.

If you're on a local loop bus, however, the fare is the same no matter how long you stay on -- ¥220 ($1.85) -- and you pay when you get off. Exact fare is required, which you drop into the machine box next to the driver. There's also a change machine for ¥500 coins and ¥1,000 bills next to the driver; after getting your change, drop the fare into the box. There are no transfer tickets, so you have to pay separately for each ride.

Transit Passes
If you think you'll be doing a lot of sightseeing in 1 or 2 days, it may pay to buy a pass. A day pass for buses only costs ¥500 ($4.15); a day pass for both buses and subways costs ¥1,200 ($10). A 2-day pass valid for both buses and subways costs ¥2,000 ($17). You can purchase passes at subway stations, the city bus center at Kyoto Station, and major hotels. Finally, prepaid cards come in different values and can be used for the subway and most city buses. Because there is no time limit, they're convenient if you're staying in Kyoto for several days.

By Taxi
Taxis in Kyoto come in two different sizes with only slightly different fares. Small ones are ¥580 ($4.85) for the first 2km (1 1/4 miles), and large ones are ¥640 ($5.35). Taxis can be waved down or, in the city center, boarded at marked taxi stands or at hotels. MK Taxi (tel. 075/721-2237) has the cheapest fares and also offers individualized guided tours in English.

By Bicycle
A popular way to get around Kyoto is by bike, made easy because there are few hills and because most streets are named. You do, however, have to be on guard for vehicular traffic. Kyoto Cycling Tour Project, a 3-minute walk from the north Karasuma exit of Kyoto Station at Aburanokoji Dori, Shiokoji-sagaru (tel. 075/354-3636; www.kctp.net), open daily 9am to 7pm, rents bikes beginning at ¥1,000 ($8.35) a day and even offers a delivery or pickup system for an additional ¥500 ($4.15).