 | Kyoto Transportation | Tips 1 - 10 of 141 |  |
Popular Transportation | Other Transportation Tips | All Tips (141) Getting around Kyoto is easy with the efficient bus network. It is even more convenient than the subway at times as buses stop you right in front of the places of interests whereas the subway station may be further away.
There are certain bus routes which are most convenient for tourists and visitors. The most convenient "tourist bus" being Bus 100.
A trip costs 220 Yen (kids pay 110 Yen) no matter where you board and alight. If you intend to use a lot of the bus, I would urge you to purchase a daily Bus Travel Pass which will cost only 500 Yen. For a travel pass which allow subway travel, it will cost 1000 Yen. You can purchase it from Kyoto Station where there is a Kyoto City Bus Information Counter and they will also give you a user friendly comprehensive bus map (NAVI Bus Map).
How to ride the bus
Enter at the rear,and put cash (or card) in the fare box next to the driver's seat as you leave. When you take the Numbered tickets car seiri-ken-sha),take a numbered ticket (seiri-ken) from the machine at the rear entrance and put it in the fare box with cash or bus ticket as you leave. Please ring the bell to indicate that you are alighting. Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Visiting Kyoto?
Read reviews about Kyoto Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Another convenient way of travelling within Kyoto is of course the use of the efficient subway network. Subway travel is more expensive than the bus though.
There are two subway lines in Kyoto, the Karasuma Line which runs from south to north along Karasumadori ("Karasuma Street") and stops at JR Kyoto Station, and the newer Tozai Line which runs from east to west and crosses the Karasuma Line at the intersection of Karasumadori and Oikedori.
FEE : Adults 200 Yen -320 Yen,Children 100 Yen - 160 Yen Leave a Comment
|
The Kansai Area Pass is somewhat similar to the Kansai Thru Pass, just that this Pass is offered by JR. You take the JR-West lines (except the bullet trains) if you use this Pass and you cannot seperate the dates you travel. It must be consecutive days.
There are a few types :
1-Day Pass : 2000 Yen
2-Day Pass : 4000 Yen
3-Day Pass : 5000 Yen
4-Day Pass : 6000 Yen Leave a Comment
|
We used the Kansai Thru Pass when we were in Kansai Area. This pass is very useful when travelling in the Kansai Area. It is inclusive of all intercity train networks in the Kansai Area (except the JR lines) and city subways and city buses (except for Nara for example). There are 2 types, 1 the 2-day pass (3800 Yen) and the other, 3-day pass (5000 Yen).
What is good about this Pass is that you do not need to travel on consecutive days. You will only validate your pass on the day which you are using.
The Pass is useful if you travel within the Kansai Area for further distances. For instance, from Kyoto to Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Himeji, etc. This Pass was definitely useful and it even comes with discount coupons. For instance, we saved quite a bit on our entrance fee to Himeji Castle and Kobe Tower.
Note : Study the map carefully and check out the gray portions as some cities do not allow for bus travel using the Kansai Pass, for instance, Nara City.
You can purchase it from the Kansai International Airport if you arrive there. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
The VERY best way to travel around Kyoto is by bus. Many of the best attractions in Kyoto are not situated near subway stations, while its bus system is not only extensive but also extremely easy to navigate.
Many bus lines starts at Kyoto Station, looping around the city with many of the city's sights on its route. Bus 100 is a great example stopping at/near Kiyomizu Temple, Ginkakuji, Yasaka Shrine, and the Gion area.
TIPS:
1. First thing you need to arm yourself with is a 1-day bus ticket which cost 500yen that lets you travel all day, hopping on and off.
A single trip already cost 220yen, so the ticket more than pays for itself.
If I am sightseeing in Kyoto for 3 days, I usually buy 3 bus tickets ahead of time and validate them on my first bus trip of each day.
2. A Kyoto city bus map is the most useful thing you can ever have. The user-friendly map with illustrations, shows colored coded bus routes and tells you which bus goes to which tourist attractions/sights. It is also very easy to figure out what bus to transfer to, to get to where you want to go.
Tickets and map can be obtain from the bus terminal office immediately outside Kyoto Station.
AT THE BUS STOP:
1. Get in line. Everyone does.
2. Kyoto buses are almost always on time. At every bus stop, you will find timetables with arrival times indicated, as well as electronic boards that tells you if the bus is 5 or 1 mins away.
ON THE BUS:
1. Enter through the back door and find a seat. If not, standing space then.
2. Because Kyoto is such a popular tourist destination, the announcements for each stop is broadcast in Japanese and English. The Japanese also installed electronic signboards that flash the destinations in both languages. You can't miss your stop.
As your stop nears, just hit one of the many purple "alight" buttons situated on the bus.
3. Exit through the front. For first trip of the day, the bus driver will validate the date on the ticket. After that, just flash & show the driver the ticket for the rest of the day. Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
|
| | |
Visiting Kyoto?
Read reviews about Kyoto Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
We found that taxis were only an option when you're stuck with a load of luggage and you're not "backpacker budget" enough to lug your belonging half way across town. While it may be tempting to just hail a taxi and jump in you'll still have to pay at least 550 yen for the first few kilometers. If you must use a taxi you'll have to cue in line outside the JR stations. If you're not near a taxi stand then you may hail a passing taxi. The drivers are usually extremely courteous & are dressed in a suit with white gloves. Their taxis are immaculate, unlike anything you'll ride in here in the US. Don't ever open the rear door from the backseat because the driver controls when the door is opened...they are automated. Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
|
Getting to Kyoto from KIX International airport near Osaka is as easy as following well marked signs from the arrivals terminal to the JR station which is a short walk away. You can purchase either un-reserved tickets or reserved tickets for the trip to Kyoto via the JR Express train. We purchased un-reserved tickets and found a few available seats in the train cars which are designated for this type of seating (infants & toddlers ride for free). We paid about 750 yen for a one way ticket to Kyoto Station that took about an hour on the express train. Leave a Comment Theme: Train
|
The minimum cost for a taxi ride is at least $6 usd so if you have the oppurtunity to use the public bus system in Kyoto I'd highly recommend this option. The bus fare is cheap. I think we averaged about $2 usd per trip & the bus does announce stops in English as well as Japanese. The main public bus terminal in Kyoto is at the Kyoto rail Station. Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
|
When making side trips from Kyoto, always take the express trains.
You will find yourself upon arriving at Kyoto Station faced with a departure board with many departures to Nara or Osaka within the hour. And that it will also state that the next train leaves in 5 mins and you better hurry to the platform if you are going to catch it.
Take a moment and actually see if that was a local, rapid or express train. No point rushing for the local train, the one that leaves in 5 mins, when it stops at every stop on the way and takes ages to get to where you want to go.
You may discover that though the rapid or express train leaves a good 20 mins or 1/2 hour later, they stop at far less places, the seats are more comfortable, and you may get to where you want to go alot faster.
The electronic boards for arrivals and departures rotates between English and Japanese, very convenient. Leave a Comment Theme: Train
|
| | |
The Kansai Airport Limousine Service will bring you to Kyoto or other parts of the Kansai. It is a bus service and cheaper than the train and it is right outside the arrival hall. About 90 minutes and 2,300 Yen (with reservation) to Kyoto. Buy return tickets (cheaper) if you intend to return from Kyoto.
Another option is the JR Limited Express "Haruka". About 70 minutes and 3,690 Yen (with reservation) to Kyoto. Reserved and non reserved seats are available. A reservation costs around 500 Yen. Leave a Comment
|
|
 |
 |
Search Hotels
Find the best room rates |
|
 |
|
on May 31, 2004
on January 22, 2004
on January 10, 2005
