Is Kyoto Walkable? The Reality About Getting Round Kyoto

On one hand, getting round Kyoto is comparatively merely. The town is essentially a grid-patterned one; you normally simply have to go north, east, west or south.

Then again, Kyoto is way larger than it seems; its public transit consists largely of buses that may be intimidating to overseas guests. Whereas particular person districts of Kyoto are very walkable, the town as a complete isn’t.

Don’t fear, both means. By the point you end studying this publish, you’ll know Kyoto at the very least in addition to I do. I’ll additionally reply frequent questions, together with “is Kyoto walkable?”.

The Reality About Kyoto’s Measurement and Scope

Getting round Kyoto requires first getting a way of Kyoto. Whereas smaller than Tokyo each in inhabitants and space, the town nonetheless requires a big plain between the mountains that encompass it to the north and east, and to the plains heading south and west towards Osaka. The town additional occupies the confluence of the Katsuura and Kamo Rivers; most locations value visiting sit close to certainly one of these. 

The problem of Kyoto isn’t a lot getting between particular person sights, however getting between areas. For instance, when you arrive to temple-filled Higashiyama, it’s principally simple to stroll between numerous sacred websites; the identical is true for Arashiyama and its bamboo forest, and for Fushimi and its shrine. Though sure central Kyoto sights like Nijo Fort and the Kyoto Imperial Palace are most remoted, they’re additionally related to the town’s (admittedly restricted) subway system.

Methods to Get Round Kyoto

Subway

The unhealthy information? The Kyoto Metropolis Subway is fairly paltry, and consists of solely two traces that cease very in need of serving in every single place in Kyoto. The excellent news? This makes it a lot simpler to navigate than Tokyo’s subway system, which makes that totally making the most of it (largely to journey to and from Kyoto Station) is easy.

Bus

In case you don’t communicate Japanese or if doing so intimidates you, you won’t like what I’m about to say: Buses, each tourist- and local-focused ones, are a necessary a part of getting round Kyoto. Don’t fear, nonetheless. Kyoto’s transit schedules are very nicely built-in into Google Maps, which is able to precisely let you know which bus you could take and the place to catch it.

JR trains

As is the case with subways, Kyoto’s JR Strains are far much less ubiquitous as Tokyo’s. You’re primarily speaking in regards to the Sagano Line, which travels between Kyoto Station and Arashiyama and the Nara Line, which may take you to Fushimi, Uji and (in fact) Nara. You may as well use non-Shinkansen JR traces to journey to Kyoto day-trip locations in Shiga and Osaka prefectures.

Non-public trains

Until you’re completely against utilizing transportation not coated by the Japan Rail Move, non-public trains are one other essential a part of getting round Kyoto. The Keihan Line runs north-south and connects Higashiyama to Osaka and Kyoto’s Fushimi district; the Hankyu Line runs east-west and in addition goes to Osaka, however through Arashiyama and Nagaokakyo. Smaller rail traces embody the Eizan Railway that leads from Demachiyanagi subway station to Kurama-dera and the Randen Tram Line that connects the subway Tozai Line to Arashiyama. 

Taxi

Taxis are surprisingly low cost in Kyoto, though this assertion does include a caveat. Specifically, that the majority taxi journeys journey between Kyoto Station and Higashiyama, which is just a few miles. Sadly, touring to Higashiyama, Kita-ku, Fushimi or mainly anyplace else in Kyoto will probably be a lot, way more costly.

Bicycle

Whereas I don’t personally love using bikes in Japan—I cease too typically to take footage—Kyoto is a reasonably bike-friendly metropolis, on account of its grid sample and flat geography. Do take note, nonetheless, that many busy areas require you to stroll slightly than journey your bike; bike parking may also be tough, so be conscious of this.

On foot

Is Kyoto a walkable metropolis? Kyoto is just too huge to stroll on the entire, however lots of its particular person districts are very walkable. A few of my favourite Kyoto walks embody the one via Higashiyama from Chion-in temple to Kiyomizu-dera, after which down into Gion and ultimately again as much as Higashiyama station through Shirakawa Canal. I additionally love strolling round Arashiyama, irrespective of the place I’m.

Plan the Final Journey to Kyoto

Belief somebody who is aware of: Actually attending to know Kyoto takes a number of visits and a few years. You’ll ultimately get there, however for a few years, you’ll really feel like Japan’s erstwhile capital is an unsolvable thriller. Visiting could overwhelm and even frustrate you, or just depart you wishing you could possibly discover, uncover or perceive extra deeply. That’s the unhealthy information.

Different FAQ About The Finest Option to Get Round Kyoto

What’s one of the best ways to get round in Kyoto?

Getting round Kyoto requires a mixture of various transport modes. Whereas particular person districts reminiscent of Arashiyama or Higashiyama are walkable inside their borders, touring between districts requires some sort of car, be that the Kyoto Metropolis Subway, non-public rail traces, JR Strains, native buses, vacationer buses, bicycle or some mixture thereof. There’s nobody greatest strategy to get round Kyoto, sadly.

Is there a subway in Kyoto?

There’s a subway in Kyoto, though it’s not extraordinarily helpful. Composed of the east-west Tozai Line and the north-south Karasuma Line, the Kyoto Metropolis Subway types a cross sample that principally serves locations north of Kyoto Station and throughout the metropolis heart, though the japanese a part of the Tozai Line does considerably buck this pattern, because it’s helpful for journey all the best way to Lake Biwa.

How a lot is transportation in Kyoto?

Buses in Kyoto value ¥230 for a one-way journey, whereas journeys on the Kyoto Metropolis Subway begin at ¥220 as of October 2022. How a lot you pay to make use of the JR Strains and personal railway traces relies upon upon your origin and vacation spot. Surprisingly, taxis in Kyoto aren’t extraordinarily costly, significantly these between Kyoto Station and Higashiyama.

The Backside Line

I hope you’re feeling much more assured about getting round Kyoto now than you probably did if you navigated to this publish. When you understand that buses are fairly simple to make use of, and perceive the number of non-JR practice traces working via the town, it appears loads much less intimidating. The important thing, when you’ve established a way of route inside Kyoto, is to right-size your journey: You must have the appropriate variety of sights for what number of days in Kyoto you intend to spend. A technique to make sure this? Fee a customized Japan itinerary—and let me sweat the main points of your journey.