Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [286]
OSAKA ITAMI AIRPORT
There are frequent limousine buses between Osaka Itami airport (Map) and Kyoto Station (the Kyoto Station airport bus stop is opposite the south side of the station, in front of Avanti department store). Buses also run between the airport and various hotels around town, but on a less regular basis (check with your hotel). The journey should take around 55 minutes and the cost is ¥1280. Be sure to allow extra time in case of traffic.
At Itami, the stand for these buses is outside the arrivals hall; buy your tickets from the machines and ask one of the attendants which stand is for Kyoto (hint: you’ve got a better chance of getting a seat if you board at the South Terminal).
MK Taxi Sky Gate Shuttle limousine van service (778-5489) also offers limousine van service to/from the airport for ¥2300. Call at least two days in advance to reserve, or ask at the information counter in the arrivals hall on arrival in Osaka.
KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KIX)
The fastest, most convenient way to travel between KIX (Map) and Kyoto is on the special Haruka airport express, which makes the trip in about 78 minutes. Most seats are reserved (¥3290) but there are usually two cars on each train with unreserved seats (¥2980). Open seats are almost always available, so you don’t have to purchase tickets in advance. First and last departures from Kyoto to KIX are 5.46am and 8.15pm; first and last departures from KIX to Kyoto are 6.34am and 10.18pm.
If you have time to spare, you can save some money by taking the kankū kaisoku (Kansai airport express) between the airport and Osaka Station and taking a regular shinkaisoku to/from Kyoto. The total journey by this method takes about 92 minutes with good connections and costs ¥1830, making it the cheapest option.
It’s also possible to travel by limousine bus between Kyoto and KIX (¥2300, about 105 minutes). In Kyoto, the bus departs from the same place as the Itami-bound bus (see opposite).
A final option is the MK Taxi Sky Gate Shuttle limousine van service (778-5489), which will pick you up anywhere in Kyoto city and deliver you to KIX for ¥3500. Call at least two days in advance to reserve. The advantage of this method is that you are delivered from door to door and you don’t have to lug your baggage through the train station. MK has a counter in the arrivals hall of KIX, and if there’s room they’ll put you on the next van to Kyoto. A similar service is offered by Yasaka Taxi (803-4800).
Bicycle
Kyoto is a great city to explore on a bicycle; with the exception of outlying areas it’s mostly flat and there is a bike path running the length of the Kamo-gawa.
Unfortunately, Kyoto must rank near the top in having the world’s worst public facilities for bike parking and the city regularly impounds bikes parked outside of regulation bike-parking areas. If your bike does disappear, check for a poster in the vicinity (in both Japanese and English) indicating the time of seizure and the inconvenient place you’ll have to go to pay a ¥2000 fine and retrieve your bike.
There are two bicycle-parking lots in town that are convenient for tourists: one in front of Kyoto Station and another on Kiyamachi-dōri, halfway between Sanjō-dōri and Shijō-dōri (Map). It costs ¥150 per day to park your bicycle here. Be sure to hang onto the ticket you pick up as you enter.
BICYCLE PURCHASE
If you plan on spending more than a week or so exploring Kyoto by bicycle, it might make sense to purchase a used bicycle. A simple mama chari (shopping bike) can be had for as little as ¥3000. Try the used-cycle shop Ei Rin (Map; 752-0292; 28-4 Sekiden-chō, Tanaka, Sakyō-ku (on Imadegawa-dōri); 9.30am-7.30pm) near Kyoto University. Otherwise, you’ll find a good selection of used bikes advertised for sale on the message board of the Kyoto International Community House (Click here).
BICYCLE RENTAL
A great place to rent a bike is Kyoto Cycling Tour Project (KCTP; Map; 354-3636; www.kctp.net/en/index.html; 9am-7pm). These folk rent bikes (¥1000 per day) that are perfect for getting around the city.