Survival Guide - Kyoto - page 409

once you've figured out the fare to your destination, just insert your money and press the
yen amount. Most of these machines accept paper currency in addition to coins (usually
just ¥1000 notes). If you've made a mistake, press the red tori-keshi (cancel) button.
There's also a help button to summon assistance.
KYOTO BUS & SUBWAY PASSES
To save time and money you can buy a kaisū-ken (book of five tickets) for ¥1000. There's also a shi-basu senyō
ichinichi jōshaken cādo (one-day card) valid for unlimited travel on city buses that costs ¥500. A similar pass
(Kyoto kankō ichinichi jōsha-ken) that allows unlimited use of the bus and subway costs ¥1200. A Kyoto kankō
futsuka jōsha-ken (two-day bus/subway pass) costs ¥2000. Kaisū-ken can be purchased directly from bus
drivers. The other passes and cards can be purchased at major bus terminals and at the bus information centre.
Also, be sure to refer to the Kansai Thru Pass entry.
Kansai Thru Pass
This new pass is a real bonus to travellers who plan to do a fair bit of exploration in the
Kansai area. It enables you to ride on city subways, private railways and city buses in
Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Wakayama. It also entitles you to discounts at many attrac-
tions in the Kansai area. A two-day pass costs ¥3800 and a three-day pass costs ¥5000. It
is available at the Kansai airport travel counter on the 1st floor of the International Ar-
rivals Hall and at the main bus information centre in front of Kyoto Station, among others.
For more information, visit www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng .
Discount Ticket Shops
Known as kakuyasu-kippu-uriba, these stores deal in discounted tickets for trains, buses,
domestic flights, ferries, and a host of other things such as cut-rate stamps and phone-
cards. Typical savings on shinkansen tickets are between 5% and 10%, which is good
news for long-term residents who are not eligible for Japan Rail Passes. Discount ticket
agencies are found around train stations in medium and large cities. The best way to find
one is to ask at the kōban (police box) outside the station.