Kyoto Transportations
In Kyoto, there are several transportations, and the major transportations are buses and subways. Here I will introduce transportations in Kyoto! For the detailed ways how to use each transportation, please check Kyoto Travel Guidebook for the First Visitors. It explains where and how to buy tickes, and how to ride on each transportations. It also gives you ideas how to save transportation costs!
Which transportation do you use?
In Kyoto there are several transportations. Depending on your tour style, please select your favorite ones. If you want to ask a tour guide, you can use a taxi or a tour bus. You can cover the major famous places with English explanations, but it's rather expensive. If you want to move around by yourself, its better to use buses or subways, and the prices are also reasonable. Please decide the area first, and move to the area by buses or subways. And walking around the area. I think this is the best way for Kyoto sightseeing. Please enjoy Kyoto!
Bus - Kyoto Transportation(1)
This is the most common transportation. In Kyoto there are many bus lines. So by riding buses, you can go to the most of the famous sightseeing places, and the prices are also low. But depending on traffic conditions, it takes much time and it tends to be crowded especially during the peak seasons.
At the Kyoto station. There is a big bus terminal and there are major bus lines that cover all the famous sightseeing places. At the terminal, city buses and several private company buses (KYOTO bus/KEIHAN bus/JR bus/TANBA bus) are available.
For sightseeing, you use City bus. And if you want to go to OOHARA area, you need to use Kyoto bus too. For the first-time foreign visitors, how to use buses properly might be difficult, and you may be confused. To travel smoothly, please check Kyoto Travel Guidebook for the First Visitors. It explains the the detailed ways how to use each transportation.
City Subway - Kyoto Transportation(2)
This is the 2nd common transportation in Kyoto. But not like buses with many lines, we have only two lines here. One is KARASUMA line( north-to-south) along KARASUMA street, and another is TOZAI line ( west-to-east) along OIKE street. They cross at the intersection of KARASUMA street and OIKE street. If your target area is near the subway station, it's might be better to use the subways, because it's faster and always on time!
Tour Bus - Kyoto Transportation(3)
There are English bus tours for foreigners. The name is SUNRISE TOURS by JTB. It's might be rather expensive, but you can cover the most of the famous sightseeing places with English explanations in a short time! I picked up 4 tours as of December 2007. They have pick-up services at major hotels. The following are the hotels that they provide the pick-up services.
- KYOTO 1DAY Course: JPY11,600 with lunch
- KYOTO AFTERNOON Course: JPY5,600
- KYOTO MORNING Course: JPY5,600
- KYOTO SPECIAL NIGHT Course: JPY11,300 with supper
* For the details, please check their website: SUNRISE TOURS by JTB
And please reserve by the internet before you depart your country.
Taxi - Kyoto Transportation(4)
There are taxi terminals at the major stations, or you can stop it by raising your hand. Only some drives can speak English, so you'd better show some memo or a name card showing the address of your destination. Each taxi has a fare meter and you will pay upon riding off.
Some taxi companies provide private tours in English.
I introduce MK Taxi.
For the details, please check at thier webiste: MK Taxi.
Rental Bicycle - Kyoto Transportation(5)
If you want to move around by bicycle, you can rent it. If it' a sunny day, traveling Kyoto by bicycle must be nice!
I introduce two shops. For the details, Please check thier website.
*They have bicycle delivery service to your hotel.
Price: JPY1,000 a day / For delivery and pick up: JPY500
*Their website is only in Japanese. So if you want, you'd better ask assistance to your hotel's staff.
- Kyoto Cycling Tout Project -
*You can rent a bicycle at 5 places in Kyoto city.
Price: JPY1,000 to 2000 a day
JINRIKISHA - Kyoto Transportation(6)
At the famous sightseeing places, you can find JINRIKISHA. It is a man-pulled car and old time vehicle in Japan. The places you can ride are ARASHIYAMA, KIYOMIZU TEMPLE, and so on. There are several JIRIKISHA groups. I show you the prices of one group. For the details, you'd better ask them on the site. You may get a discounted price!
- Sample Price -
30 minutes: One person JPY5,000 / Two JPY8,000
1hour: One person JPY9,000 / Two JPY15,000
