Japan’s public transportation system is convenient and on time (on the dot!), but it can also be rather intimidating and confusing when you are researching it prior to your trip. There’s a lot of information out there and it can be overwhelming to figure out what you need. Not to worry, I did all the research so you don’t have to! Here are some of my tips for a fuss-free trip to Kyoto.

Japan Rail Pass

Foreign travelers can purchase a nationwide Japan Rail pass which grants them unlimited travel for one week, two weeks or 21 days. However, the various national passes are expensive and may not be worth it if you are just visiting a few cities. The JR pass also doesn’t work with some non-JR lines so you will have to check if the train you need accepts them. Read up on the JR Pass here to see if it’s suitable for your travel plans. Note that the JR pass must be purchased outside of Japan and you will be mailed a voucher. Once you’re in Japan, you have to exchange your voucher at a JR office in the train station for the actual pass. It will be activated on the day you exchange for the pass so make sure it is the day you want to start using it. You may also reserve your seats at the counter but the non-reserved sections have plenty of seats.

If you’re traveling from Tokyo, there are several bullet trains to Kyoto but only the Hikari train accepts the JR pass. If you’re traveling from Osaka, you can take the shinkansen service, a bullet train that will only take 15 minutes! It also accepts the JR pass. However, if you aren’t using the JR pass, your best option is to take the Midosuji subway line that will only take around 30 minutes for just ¥540.

If you’re activating your JR pass in Kyoto for further travels, the JR office is at the Kyoto Station by the Central Gate. There’s only one counter to exchange your coupon for the JR pass and it gets really crowded during peak tourist season. If you have a specific time to catch a train, give yourself about an hour extra to wait in line for the JR pass.

With the pass, you have to go through a specific entrance that has a counter and a person checking the passes. It is at the corner of the normal entrance (where people tap their cards etc.) so it’s not hard to find at all.

There are also very specific regional JR passes that may work better for your travel plans. Look into passes like the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass that covers Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa and Takayama. This 5-day pass is much cheaper than the national JR pass and it more than pays for the express train from Kyoto to Kanazawa and back to Osaka. Note that it only works for 5 days so plan accordingly!

ICOCA Card

The best card to get is the ICOCA card! Even if you have the JR pass, you will still need to pay extra to use non-JR subway lines. Instead of buying individual tickets all the time, it’s much easier to use the ICOCA card. This card can be used on every line out there, including JR lines and on buses too. It’s incredibly easy to purchase and top up with money. Just go to any train/subway station and you will see a machine to purchase them. There are instructions in English so you don’t have to worry. I’d start off with ¥3,000 and then top up if needed (there are top up machines in the station as well). When you get to the gate of the subway line, just tap the card on the blue pad (the same color as the card). If you’re not using the JR pass at all, it’s definitely worth getting the ICOCA card because it can be used everywhere. You can even use it to purchase items at convenience stores (just look for the ICOCA sign).

The Bus System in Kyoto

The public transportation system is really easy to navigate in Kyoto. There are English words to show you where each bus is going and electronic signboards in the buses to tell you what each stop is. You do have to stand in line at the bus stop and it’s usually one long line. I haven’t quite figured out how that works with all the different bus numbers!

When taking the bus in Kyoto, note that you have to enter from the back entrance and you don’t tap your ICOCA card until you exit the bus from the front! If the bus is incredibly crowded and you can’t get to the front, exit from the back and run up to the front to tap your card (insider tip from a friendly elderly Japanese man who saw the panic in my face when I couldn’t get to the front).

Depending on where you want to go, it may be closer to a bus stop or a subway station. I used Google maps to figure out which stop I needed and it had precise information!

Subway Stations

The smaller stations are easy to figure out. Just look for the line you need (for example, Keihan line) and take the direction that will go to your stop. When it is a larger station like the Kyoto Station with railway and subway lines, it can get a little overwhelming. The station masters are very helpful! They can speak a little English or at least point you to the right direction. Some subway stations have multiple exits so it’s helpful to know which exit is closest to your destination.

Local SIM Card

Probably the most important accessory you’ll need in Japan is a local SIM card with data. You may purchase these cards online prior to your trip from a bunch of websites or at the airport in Japan. The ones you buy online are much cheaper though! You won’t be able to make any voice calls but you will get 3 to 5GB of data!

What started off as a travel article about Kyoto morphed into one about how to get around in the city! Stay tuned for future articles on where to go and what to eat in this gorgeous city!