Getting around Kyoto
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Kyoto is a compact and easily accessible city. Almost any two points can be linked within thirty minutes. Kyoto is served by integrated rail, subway, and bus services. When you are not hurrying to a meeting or appointment, the best way to see and experience Kyoto is on foot. Kyoto welcomes many visitors each year and every effort has been made to make navigating public transport as easy as possible, especially for the non-Japanese speaker. |
Walking & cyclingThe compact geography and narrow winding streets of Kyoto make the city a delight to stroll. Most distances are easily covered on foot, and if you take the long way around and the scenic route, Kyoto will reveal many of its delightful secrets to you that are normally hidden as people glide by on a train or bus. The streets are laid out in a north-south, east-west grid pattern that makes navigation and taking detours simple. Multilingual tourist information maps and signposts are located everywhere to give you hints of what places of interest to look for. Kyoto also lends itself to cyclists and bicycle rental is available throughout the city. |
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Kyoto City SubwayKyoto City Subway operates two lines: the Karasuma Line running north-south and the Tozai Line running east-west meet in the centre of the city at Karasuma Oike station. Subway stations are not only numbered in order, but have signs posted in Japanese, and Latin alphabet that indicate the next station on the route. Stops are announced in Japanese and English on the train. |
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JR (Japan Rail) Railway & Shinkansen bullet trainThe national rail network provider, JR (Japan Rail), operates many services from Kyoto Station including Shinkansen bullet train routes to Tokyo and Osaka. It is convenient to use JR to travel from south of the city to Arashiyama and also to nearby places of interest such as Uji, Nara, northern Kyoto prefecture and further a field into Kansai and beyond. Kyoto City Subway connects at Kyoto, Nijo, Yamashina and Rokujizo stations. |
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Keihan RailwayThe Keihan railway connects Kyoto with Osaka. It can be used to access sightseeing attractions on the eastern side of Kyoto city such as Gion, Higashiyama, Tofukuji Temple and Fushimi. From the Kyoto terminal of Demachiyanagi station you can take the Eizan railway out to the Kurama and Kifune rural retreats. Keihan railway connects with Kyoto City Subway at Sanjo station. |
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Hankyu RailwayThe Hankyu Railway runs east-west connecting the Shijo downtown area with rural Arashiyama and Osaka. It connects with the Kyoto Subway at Karasuma station, which is adjacent to Shijo station on the subway line. |
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Other rail servicesThere are a number of other rail services in the city such as the Keifuku Line to Arashiyama from Shijo Omiya; the Kintetsu line south to Nara and other Kansai destinations; and the Sagano Sightseeing Tram open air services along the Hozu River gorge. |
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Kyoto City BusBuses have destinations posted in both Japanese and English, as well as announcing points of interest in English. The new Raku Buses painted in distinct designs operate on the most popular tourists routes. These buses have clear signage in English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese and feature enhanced onboard announcements in English. Kyoto City Transport Department |
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Other bus servicesA number of companies operate bus services in Kyoto city and to locations beyond. JR Bus and Kyoto Bus serve city and surrounding places of interest. There are also long-distance bus services to other regions of Japan that depart from Kyoto station. |
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TaxiTaxis can be hailed anywhere in the city by raising your arm. You are most likely to find a taxi on a more major thoroughfare, near busy stations, and at popular shopping or sightseeing areas. It is recommended that you know the address of your destination if it is not a major landmark. Taxi companies also offer sightseeing tours with drivers who are professionally licensed to guide in English. Taxi fares include a service charge and tipping is not practised. Expect to use cash to pay your fare, but credit cards are accepted in more and more vehicles. |
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Kyoto travel cards and discount passesThere are a number of travel passes and cards available to make your journeys even cheaper and even more stress free. A summary is offered here.
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