Have you been planning a trip to Kyoto, Japan? How do you plan on getting about? Fortunately, Kyoto is pretty easy to navigate using public transport. The city is well connected with trains, subways and buses providing public transport. If you prefer a bit more privacy, you could use taxis, cycle or walk. Let’s explore all these options.

The city’s train system is made up of the national JR Line and some local privately operated lines. Many furnished apartments in Kyoto provide easy access to the Kyoto station. From the Oakwood Hotel Oike Kyoto, for example, you can reach the station within just 15 minutes. You can get to Arashiyama, Uji and Tofuku-ji by train from the station. You can also travel to cities nearby like Kobe or Osaka by train from Kyoto. If you’ve already got a JR Rail Pass you can use the JR line. But, sometimes, the private rail lines are faster and more convenient.

This is the most convenient way to get around Kyoto. There are only two subway lines in the city, but you can make the best use of these lines. The two systems of the Kyoto subway are called the north-south Karasuma Line and the east-west Tozai Line. The two lines connect in the middle of the city.

The Karasuma Line goes from north to south. You can use this one to get to the Kyoto station or downtown Kyoto. You can go further north on the line to get to the Gosho or the Imperial Palace Park. If you go all the way to the Kitaoji shop, you can get to the Daitoku-ji Temple.

This line also links to the Tozai Line at the Karasuma-Oike stop. If you switch lines at the Karasuma-Oike stop, you can get to the Higashiyama sightseeing district. The Tozai Line also gives access to the Nijo-jo Castle, Okazaki museum district and the Nanzen-ji Temple.

You can download the online bus map of Kyoto free of charge to get around in buses in Kyoto. To visit attractions like the Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji and Myoshin-ji temples, take the bus headed to the northwest of the town. If you want to explore the Ginkaku-ji, Honen-in, Manshu-in, Shisen-do and Shugaku-in temples, get on a bus headed to the northeast part of the city.

There are plenty of taxis in Kyoto, and they are reasonably priced. If you’re travelling with a group, they can offer you good value. Taxis also provide access to areas that public transport doesn’t cover. You’ll find taxis ranks outside the bus and train stations. All you have to do is simply flag down an available taxi when you see one. At night, they illuminate the roofs of taxis, so you won’t have much trouble flagging one down. During the day, you’ll need to keep an eye on the lower left side of the windshield to see if the light is on. This light signals that the taxi is available. Japanese taxi drivers are honest and you don’t have to worry about meter tampering. Most of them understand enough English to take you wherever you wish to go. But, if you’re going back to the hotel, simply hand the driver the hotel business card.

Kyoto is one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the region. There are plenty of cycle renting shops in Kyoto. But, make sure you check out a place that gives bicycles in good conditions and offer cycling maps. Traffic drives on the left in Kyoto, hence you should cycle on the same side. If you plan on cycling in teh night, rent a cycle with a light. It is illegal to cycle otherwise after darrk.