Kyoto - Getting Around

Geishas walking down a street © www.123fr.com / Naomi Hasegawa
Most Popular Hotels in Kyoto:
179, Higashi Kazariya Cho, 600-8107
 
 




Public Transport

As Kyoto is laid out in a grid system, the city is fairly easy to navigate. It is also easy, however, to underestimate distances, so it is a good thing that the local transport network covers all parts of the city quite well. The Kyoto Subway Line is easy to use, but limited in reach. There are just two lines: the inner city south-north Karasuma Line and the east-west Tozai Line, with intersection at Karasuma Oike station. The bus network is more comprehensive. The green Kyoto city buses are numerous and convenient and cover central Kyoto very well. The red Kyoto Bus services offer access to more outlying parts of the city. Bus information (tel: (075) 371 4474) is available at the bus terminal in front of Kyoto Station. For some attractions it is necessary to use local trains, for instance the JR Nara Line to the get to Fushimi Inari Shrine.

There are various passes available for the public transport network. The most relevant for tourists are the Kyoto Sightseeing Card, which is valid for one or two days and offers unlimited travel on all subway and bus services within a designated area of the city, and the City Bus All-day Pass, which offers unlimited travel on city buses within a central area outlined on the back of the pass. These passes are available at automatic subway ticket vending machines and Kyoto City Bus and Subway Information Centres.

Taxis

Kyoto has a great number of taxis, and it is rarely difficult to get hold of one in the city centre. At times the entire space in front of Kyoto Station is occupied by a vast fleet of taxis. To prebook, try MK Taxi (tel: (075) 721 2237; website: www.mk-group.co.jp/english) or Keihan Taxi (tel: (075) 602 7777; website: www.joho-kyoto.or.jp/~keihan).

Car Hire

There are numerous car hire companies operating in Kyoto. Among them are Hertz, 31-1 Higashikujo, Kamitonodacho (tel: (075) 365 0100; website: www.hertz.com) and National, 9 Higashi-tonoda-cho, Minami-ku (tel: (075) 681 0311; website: www.nationalcar.com). Japanese companies include Nippon Rent-A-Car (tel: (03) 3485 7196; website: www.nipponrentacar.co.jp) and Nissan Rent-A-Car (tel: 0120 004 123; website: http://nissan-rentacar.com).

Bicycle Hire

Cycling is popular in Kyoto, and as many of the city's major attractions are located within cycling distance of the city centre, it can be a convenient and pleasant way of going sightseeing. Kyoto Cycling Tour Project, 552-13 Higashi-Aburanokoji-cho, Aburanokoji-dori, Shiokoji sagaru, Shimogyo-ku (tel: (075) 354 3636; website: www.kctp.net/en) has five bicycle terminals where it is possible to hire bikes in Kyoto, one of which is just three minutes west of Kyoto Station's Karasuma exit. They also organise guided tours. Rent-a Cycle Kyoto Kenbunroku, 570-51 Minamigawa, Gion-machi, Higashiyama-ku (tel: (075) 551 8447 or (090) 7117 0410; website: www2.odn.ne.jp/kyoto) is located in Gion. You can pick up your bike at the shop or having it delivered to any address in town.
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