Transfer of Kyoto
There's no major international or domestic airport in Kyoto, but Osaka's Itami domestic airport and Kansai International Airport (KIX) are both within easy reach. Japan's expansive and highly efficient railway services make train travel an ideal way of getting from anywhere in the country to Kyoto. Buses are slower, but as reliable as every other form of Japanese public transport.
Kyoto is reached from most places in Japan by JR (Japan's main train company), but there are also several private lines connecting Kyoto with Nagoya, Nara, Osaka and Kobe. Where they exist, private lines are always cheaper than JR.
Public Transport System in Kyoto
Because central Kyoto is laid out in a logical grid, it's an easy city to get around by public transport, cycling or walking.
Kyoto has an intricate network of bus routes providing an efficient way of getting around at moderate cost. Many of the routes used by visitors have announcements in English. The core timetable for buses is between 07:00 and 21:00 , though a few run earlier or later. The main bus terminals are Kyoto Station on the JR and Kintetsu lines, Sanjo Station on the Keihan line, Karasuma-Shijo Station on the Hankyu and Karasuma lines, and Kitaoji Station on the Karasuma line. The bus terminal at Kyoto Station is on the north side and has three main departure bays (departure points are indicated by the letter of the bay and number of the stop within that bay).
Kyoto has two efficient subway lines, which operate from 05:30 to 23:30 . The quickest way to travel between the north and south of the city is the Karasuma subway line. The line has 15 stops and runs from Takeda in the far south, via Kyoto Station, to the Kyoto International Conference Hall (Kokusaikaikan Station) in the north. The east-west Tozai subway line traverses Kyoto from Nijo Station in the west, meeting the Karasuma subway line at Karasuma-Oike Station, and continuing east to Sanjo Keihan, Yamashina and Rokujizo, in the east and southeast.
Kyoto is a great city to explore by bicycle; it's mostly flat and there is a new bike path running the length of the Kamo-gawa. Walking is often the best way to explore the city, taking away the cost and concerns of traffic and parking and allowing you the chance to wander through narrow backstreets where you're far more likely to catch a glimpse of old Kyoto.
