Getting around · Kyoto · Japan
Getting around Kyoto
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cheng-en Cheng from Taipei City, Taiwan, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Kyoto combines two subway lines, several private railways and JR lines with an extensive city bus network that reaches temples away from rail stations. Buses get very crowded at peak sights, so combine trains and walking where you can. An ICOCA or other Japanese IC card works on nearly everything. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- KIX, ITM
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- ICOCA card
Ways to get around
Bus
City buses cover the main temples with a flat fare within the central zone; board at the back and pay at the front when you leave.
Buses to Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji fill up; take the train to the nearest station and walk, or travel early.
Metro
The north–south Karasuma line and east–west Tozai line serve Kyoto Station, downtown, Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace.
Train
JR lines run to Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Nara; the Keihan line follows the east bank via Gion and Fushimi; the Hankyu line links downtown with Osaka and Arashiyama.
Tram
The single-car Randen (Keifuku) tram links Shijo-Omiya with Arashiyama and the Kitano area, a scenic alternative to the bus.
Cycling
Kyoto is fairly flat and rental bikes are widely available; cycle on the road or marked paths and park only in designated bicycle lots, as bikes left elsewhere are removed.
Walking
Higashiyama, Gion and downtown are best explored on foot, and the walk from Ginkaku-ji to Kiyomizu-dera takes about two hours with stops.
Taxi
Taxis are plentiful and useful for groups of three or four; doors open automatically.
Tickets and passes
ICOCA card
A rechargeable IC card for trains, subways and buses throughout Kansai, also accepted in convenience stores; Suica and PASMO from Tokyo work too.
JR Kansai Area Pass
Unlimited travel on JR lines in the Kansai area, including the Haruka from Kansai Airport, for a set number of days; useful if you also visit Nara, Osaka and Himeji.
From the airport
Kyoto has no airport. From Kansai International Airport, the JR Haruka limited express reaches Kyoto Station in about 75–80 minutes, and limousine buses run to major hotels. From Osaka's Itami Airport, the limousine bus takes about 55 minutes to Kyoto Station.
Do you need a car?
No. Traffic and parking are difficult; trains, buses, bikes and walking cover the city and day trips.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Nara | About 45 minutes by train | Kintetsu limited express or JR Nara line from Kyoto Station |
| Uji | About 20–30 minutes by train | JR Nara line or Keihan Uji line |
| Kurama and Kibune | About 30 minutes by train | Eizan line from Demachiyanagi |
| Osaka | About 15–45 minutes by train | Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, JR special rapid, or Hankyu and Keihan lines |
| Himeji Castle | About 1 hour by shinkansen | Shinkansen from Kyoto to Himeji |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Kyoto?
No. Traffic and parking are difficult; trains, buses, bikes and walking cover the city and day trips.
+How do you get from the airport to Kyoto?
Kyoto has no airport. From Kansai International Airport, the JR Haruka limited express reaches Kyoto Station in about 75–80 minutes, and limousine buses run to major hotels. From Osaka's Itami Airport, the limousine bus takes about 55 minutes to Kyoto Station.
+What is the best way to get around Kyoto?
Bus: City buses cover the main temples with a flat fare within the central zone; board at the back and pay at the front when you leave.