Getting there & Getting around

Getting there

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.

Getting around

Because central Kyoto is laid out in a logical grid, it's an easy city to get around by public transport, cycling or walking. There is an intricate network of bus routes at a moderate price, and many of the routes used by visitors have announcements in English. Kyoto has two efficient subway lines, which operate from 05:30 to 23:30.

Getting around by car is less enticing, given Kyoto's traffic problems, and you will almost always do better on a bicycle or public transport.

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.