Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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).
you can pick up bus maps, purchase bus tickets and passes (on all lines, including high-
way buses), and get additional information.
Three-digit numbers written against a red background denote loop lines: bus 204 runs
around the northern part of the city and buses 205 and 206 circle the city via Kyoto Sta-
tion. Buses with route numbers on a blue background take other routes.
The TIC stocks the
Bus Navi: Kyoto City Bus Sightseeing Map
, which shows the city's
main bus lines. But this map is not exhaustive. If you can read a little Japanese, pick up a
copy of the regular (and more detailed) Japanese bus map available at major bus terminals
throughout the city, including the main bus information centre.
Bus stops usually have a map of destinations from that stop and a timetable for the
buses serving that stop. Unfortunately, all of this information is in Japanese, so nonspeak-
ers will simply have to ask locals for help.
Entry to the bus is usually through the back door and exit is via the front door. Inner-
city buses charge a flat fare (¥220), which you drop into the clear plastic receptacle on top
of the machine next to the driver on your way out. A separate machine gives change for
¥100 and ¥500 coins or ¥1000 notes.
On buses serving the outer areas, take a
seiri-ken
(numbered ticket) on boarding. When
alighting, an electronic board above the driver displays the fare corresponding to your
ticket number (drop the
seiri-ken
into the ticket box with your fare).
When heading for locations outside the city centre, be careful which bus you board.
Kyoto City buses are green, Kyoto buses are tan and Keihan buses are red and white.
Bicycle
Kyoto is a great city to explore on a bicycle. With the exception of the outlying areas, it is
mostly flat and there is a useful bike path running the length of the Kamo-gawa.
Many guesthouses will rent or lend bicycles to their guests and there are also rental
shops around Kyoto Station, in Arashiyama and Sagano, and in Downtown Kyoto. With a
