The best ways to get around Kyoto

After Tokyo, Kyoto is the most popular city for tourists coming to Japan. Even many Japanese visit the city very often. Kyoto offers so many nice temples and shrines and, of course, the popular geisha area of Gion.

There are a few options for the traveler to get around Kyoto:

Local trains
There are a few local trains from JR and private train companies (Keihan line, Hankyu line, Kintetsu line, Keifuku line, Eizan line), which are running mostly to the outerskirts of Kyoto. It is convenient to use these trains / lines if you want to go to the bamboo forrest of Arashiyama, to Uji Byodoin Temple or the popular Fujimi Inari Shrine. If you have a Japan Rail Pass you can use all the JR trains but not the private lines. Also, the seasonal "Seishun 18 Ticket" is a good choice for unlimited rides on the JR lines, including those in and around Kyoto.

Kyoto Subway
There are two subway lines running through Kyoto. The Karasuma Line runs from north to south and the Tozai Line runs from west to southeast. The subway is a good choice for visiting places in central Kyoto like Nijo Castle or the Daigoji Temple.

The fares for an adult range from 210 – 340 yen for a single ride. It is possible to buy a Kyoto City Subway one-day pass which allows you unlimited rides for 600 yen.

You can buy the pass at the Kyoto Tourist Information Center or on the second floor of Kyoto station. The pass even gives you some discounts on admission to the Municipal Museum of Art, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Zoo, The Museum of Kyoto and the Kyoto International Manga Museum.

Kyoto City Bus One Day Pass
This one day pass offers unlimited rides on all Kyoto City buses within the applicable flat-fare routes. If you want to go outside of central Kyoto you have to pay an extra fee (for example, if you want to go to Arashiyama by bus). The ticket costs 500 yen and can be purchased at the Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Center, Commuter Pass Sales Booth, Kyoto City Bus Management Center, on the Kyoto City Bus or at any Kyoto subway station. Also, many hotels sell this bus ticket to their guests.

All bus signs are in Japanese and English in Kyoto, so you don't have to worry about missing the right station.

The pass is valid for one day but you have to pay an extra fee if you want to use the late night bus.

Renting a bicycle
If you are not in a hurry and would like to explore Kyoto a little bit deeper, it might be a good option to rent a bicycle. It is very convenient to go around the city by bicycle and most of the popular tourist attractions even have a small parking spot for them.

You can rent bicycles at Kyoto Station, at the Golden Pavilion, and also in Arashiyama. The fee for the whole day typically costs around 1,000 yen. It is even possible to rent a bicycle only for a few hours.

Finally, it can be said, that you should basically choose the mode of transportation in and around Kyoto depending on the places you want to see and what is most convenient for you. For central Kyoto, the bus and bicycle are the best options. For places farther away, you should use the local (JR) trains or the Kyoto Subway.