Public transportation fares in Kyoto 京都の公共交通運賃
- Published on : 16/08/2018
- by : J.R.
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Buses, subways and trains: how to get around Kyoto
Kyoto, the former imperial capital, is an important place to visit during a trip to Japan. In addition to cycling, you can use public transportation: buses, subways, and trains are readily available.
The bus network: fares and maps
If the subway is king in Tokyo, it is pretty different in Kyoto. In the city of 1,000 temples, the buses rule the roost. Unlike trains and metros, the network is highly developed and meshes the town perfectly. So you can't cut it! Kyotoites prefer to travel by bicycle, a less expensive method in the long term. Because indeed, if the bus network is reliable and allows you to reach all the tourist places of the city, it is not less relatively expensive. Each trip will cost 230 yen (about $2/1.50€) for an adult and 120 yen ($1/.75€) for a child. Remember that buses should be boarded by the back door and paid when leaving, at the front, with spare change or an IC card ( Pasmo or Suica ). Also, note that the bus is not compatible with the JR Pass.
To read: Cheap travel in Japan.
There are several solutions to save a little on your bus journeys. The "One-day Pass" allows unlimited travel on the entire bus network for one day. Sold at 600 yen, or about $5/4.50€ (half price for children), it is profitable from the third trip. It can be purchased from automatic machines in the subway, at Kyoto Station, or even on buses.
To discover: Cheap travel in Kyoto.
And the Kyoto subway?
It's simple; there are only two subway lines in Kyoto, one connecting south to north (Karasuma line) and the other to the southeast (Tozai line). These two lines intersect at Karasuma Oike, which forms the city's center.
Subway fares are high: from 210 to 350 yen (between $1.75-3/1.50-2.50€) depending on the distance, half price for children. However, just like the bus, there is a Subway One-Day Pass, also sold for 600 yen. Like the bus pass, it grants its holder discounts on the Gion Corner and the Kyoto Aquarium, but also, in the case of the metro pass, for the Kyoto Museum, the municipal zoo, the Manga Museum, or again Nijo Castle.
Finally, since March 2018, a new bus and metro pass has been on sale: this is the " Subway & Bus One Day Pass, "offered at 900 yen ($7.50/7€, half price for children). It is also available in a two-day version for 1,700 yen. It can be advantageous because it allows you not to limit yourself in your movements.
Finally, unlike in French cities, be aware that there is no monthly or weekly subscription in Kyoto public transport.
Train lines in Kyoto
Finally, like many Japanese cities, Kyoto is served by train lines belonging to private companies. In particular, there are three JR lines that you can take with your JR Pass: the JR Sagano line, which serves the northwest, the JR Kyoto line, to the southwest; and the JR Nara line, to the south.
Another train line, the Hankyu, is very convenient and famous, due to the stations it serves and its reasonable fares. It joins Kawaramachi (the lively city center) in Karasuma, Arashiyama, and even serves Osaka (Umeda) for only 400 yen ($3.25/3€) from downtown Kyoto.
To read seven excursions from Kyoto.
The Keihan line is convenient for visiting the traditional east of Kyoto: it crosses it from north to south. Notably, it serves Fushimi-Inari and Gion-Shijo, two unmissable districts, for 210 yen ($2.50/2.25€). Finally, the small Keifuku line tram is charming to take you to Arashiyama from Shijo-Omiya (220 yen).
