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Getting There By Air:

Kansai International Airport
Tel: (072) 455 2500.
Website: www.kansai-airport.or.jp

Kansai International Airport is situated 70km (45 miles) south of Kyoto city center and is the main airport in the Kansai region.

Airport facilities: Facilities include currency exchange offices, ATMs, car rental, facilities for disabled people, a large number of shops of all kinds and a wide choice of bars and restaurants. There is also a business center, as well as Wi-Fi and Internet access via coin-operated computer terminals, several airline lounges and two VIP rooms. Other facilities include showers, medical and dental clinics, a nursery and a play room for children.

Transport to the city: Regular train services connect the airport with the city. It takes 75 minutes by the JR ‘Haruka’ Kansai Airport Limited Express train to get from the airport to Kyoto station. By car (whether rental car, taxi, limousine or van) it takes 100-120 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis can be booked on arrival at the airport. Driving to Kyoto from the airport is straightforward - follow the main road to the north and then follow the signs to Kyoto.

Getting There By Road:

Kyoto has good road connections, situated as it is almost at the crossroads of the transport lines running between Tokyo and the south west of Japan. It is connected to Osaka and Nagoya by the Meishin Expressway, which connects with expressways heading east, west and north.

The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) (tel: (03) 3436 2811 or 6833 9100; website: www.jaf.or.jp/e/index_e.htm), provides an English-language ‘Rules of the Road’ booklet and JAF Road Service offers 24-hour breakdown assistance for both members and non-members. In the case of an accident, the police must be informed (tel: 110).

Emergency breakdown service: JAF 8139

Highway bus services run regularly between Kyoto and Tokyo, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and several other cities across Japan. The trip from Tokyo to Kyoto by highway bus takes 7-8 hours. Both daytime and overnight buses are available. J R Bus Kanto (tel: (03) 3844 1950; website: www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/mn) operates regular coach services between Kyoto and Tokyo. J R Tokai (tel: (052) 563 0489; website: www.jrtbinm.co.jp) runs coach services to and from Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya and several other cities.

Getting There By Rail:

Kyoto Station (tel: (075) 365 7750) is the city’s main station and is served by all Japan Railways trains. Tokyo and Kyoto are connected with each other by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen line. The super fast Nozomi trains make the journey in 2 hours and 20 minutes, while Hikari trains are about 20 minutes slower. Central Japan Railway Company (website: http://jr-central.co.jp/english.nsf/index) operates the bullet trains that stop in Kyoto on their way between Tokyo and Shin Osaka. For more information in English, see this website: www.japanrail.com

Getting Around:

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 Centers.

Taxis
Kyoto has a great number of taxis, and it is rarely difficult to get hold of one in the city center. 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 center, 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 organize 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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Japan Airport Guides: Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) Kansai International Tokyo Narita	Japan City Guides: Kyoto City Guide Nagoya City Guide Osaka City Guide Tokyo City Guide
Japan Attraction Guides:
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Heiwa Kinen Shiryokan) Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) Mount Fuji (Fuji-san)	Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo) Sanjusangen-do Temple Senso-ji Temple (Kinryuzan Senso-ji)