Getting here & around

Arriving from Tokyo.

The Tōkaidō Shinkansen is the straightforward choice: board at Tokyo or Shinagawa and travel directly to Kyoto Station. Nozomi services take roughly two hours and a quarter from Tokyo; Hikari services take longer. Reserve a seat for a busy travel day and plan the final connection from Kyoto Station to your accommodation.

Buses, two subway lines, and a little walking.

Buses are an everyday part of getting around Kyoto and reach many temple districts beyond the subway. The city has just two subway lines: the Karasuma Line runs north–south, while the Tōzai Line crosses east–west and continues towards Yamashina and Rokujizō. They meet at Karasuma Oike.

Use a train or subway for the longer stretch when it fits, then walk or take a short bus ride. Buses can be crowded and delayed in traffic, especially around popular sights. Keeping a day within one part of the city makes the journeys much easier.

A day pass for exploring the city.

For a day with several journeys across Kyoto, I recommend considering the Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass. It currently costs ¥1,100 for adults and ¥550 for children, and covers both subway lines, Kyoto City Buses and specified routes of other bus operators. It is valid for one calendar day, rather than 24 hours.

Compare your planned fares before buying: a day spent mostly walking in one neighbourhood may be cheaper with individual rides. The former bus-only day pass is no longer valid. Check the coverage map for outlying trips; JR and private railway trains need separate fares. An IC card such as ICOCA or Suica is convenient for ordinary pay-as-you-go journeys.

Travelling around Kansai.

Regional trains make Kyoto an easy part of a wider Kansai trip. JR connects Kyoto Station with Osaka and Kobe, and the Nara Line serves Uji and Nara. Hankyu links Osaka-Umeda with central Kyoto at Karasuma and Kyoto-Kawaramachi; Keihan is useful for Osaka, Fushimi and Kyoto’s eastern side, including Gion-Shijō. Kintetsu provides another route between Kyoto and Nara, with a change on some services.

For Arashiyama and Kameoka, use JR’s Sagano Line; Randen and Hankyu also reach the Arashiyama district. From Kansai International Airport, JR’s Haruka limited express runs to Kyoto. Choose the operator that gets you closest to your destination, and check any reserved-seat or limited-express supplement.

Suica or PASMO, already within reach.

Compatible iPhones bought outside Japan can add Suica or PASMO directly in the built-in Wallet app—there is no need to buy a Japanese phone or install a separate transit app. On an iPhone 8 or later with current supported iOS, open Wallet, tap +, choose Transit Card, then Suica or PASMO and add a balance. You need an Apple Account with two-factor authentication and an eligible payment card for funding.

Once set up, Express Mode lets you tap through supported gates without unlocking your phone. You still need to add and fund the transit card; it does not come preloaded with credit.