Explore Kyoto and enjoy your stay, from sightseeing the most popular areas to join activities in the city and its surroundings.
Get around Kyoto by metro, train and bus, and access the most popular areas like Arashiyama, Ryoan-ji Temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Ginkaku-ji Temple, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Heian-jingu Shrine, Gion District, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, or escape by train to nearby destinations like Uji and Nara.
Continue your journey from Kyoto to your next destination in Japan.
Contents
Discover Kyoto
Discover a full range of places to see and activities to do in Kyoto.
Don’t miss
- - Kyoto's grand shrines, ancient castles and historical streets
- - The stunning autumn foliage and the symbolic gardens
- - The traditional Japanese inns, an essential convergence of Japanese tradition and culture
- - Kyoto cuisine, which perfectly encapsulates the Japanese spirit and art of food preparation
Kyoto: Experience the essence of Japanese culture, constantly evolving throughout history
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Getting around Kyoto
Kyoto's urban transportation network comprises metro lines operated by Kyoto Subway as well as train lines operated by JR West and Hankyu Railway.
Getting around Kyoto by metro
The metro operator Kyoto Subway interconnects Kyoto Station with Nijo and Kyoto Imperial Palace.
Kyoto Subway
Karasuma Line serving Kyoto Station, Shijo and Karasuma Oike| Stations | Local |
| Kokusaikaikan | |
| Matsugasaki | |
| Kitayama | |
| Kitaoji | |
| Kuramaguchi | |
| Imadegawa | |
| Marutamachi | |
| Karasuma Oike | |
| Shijo | |
| Gojo | |
| Kyoto | |
| Kujo | |
| Jujo | |
| Kuinabashi | |
| Takeda |
| Stations | Local |
| Rokujizo | |
| Ishida | |
| Daigo | |
| Ono | |
| Nagitsuji | |
| Higashino | |
| Yamashina | |
| Misasagi | |
| Keage | |
| Higashiyama | |
| Sanjo Keihan | |
| Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae | |
| Karasuma Oike | |
| Nijojo-mae | |
| Nijo | |
| Nishioji Oike | |
| Uzumasa Tenjingawa |
Getting around Kyoto by train
The railway companies JR West and Hankyu Railway operate train lines that interconnect Kyoto Station with Nijo, Arashiyama and Inari.
JR West
JR Nara Line serving Kyoto Station, Inari, Uji and Nara
| Stations | Miyakoji Rapid | Rapid | Regional Rapid | Local |
| Kyoto | ||||
| Tofukuji | ||||
| Inari | — | — | ||
| Fujinomori | — | — | — | |
| Momoyama | — | — | — | |
| Rokujizo | ||||
| Kohata | — | — | — | |
| Obaku | — | — | — | |
| Uji | ||||
| Ogura | — | |||
| Shinden | — | |||
| Joyo | ||||
| Nagaike | — | — | ||
| Yamashiro-Aodani | — | — | ||
| Yamashiro-Taga | — | — | ||
| Tamamizu | ||||
| Tanakura | — | — | ||
| Kamikoma | — | — | ||
| Kizu | ||||
| Narayama | — | — | ||
| Nara |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | Rapid | Local |
| Kyoto | ||
| Umekoji-Kyotonishi | — | |
| Tambaguchi | — | |
| Nijo | ||
| Emmachi | — | |
| Hanazono | — | |
| Uzumasa | — | |
| Saga-Arashiyama | ||
| Hozukyo | — | |
| Umahori | — | |
| Kameoka | ||
| Namikawa | ||
| Chiyokawa | ||
| Yagi | ||
| Yoshitomi | ||
| Sonobe |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Hankyu Railway
Hankyu Kyoto Main Line and Hankyu Arashiyama Line serving Kyoto Station and Arashiyama
| Stations | Limited Express | Local |
| Arashiyama | ||
| Matsuo-taisha | ||
| Kami-Katsura | ||
| Kyoto-Kawaramachi | ||
| Karasuma | ||
| Katsura | ||
| Nagaoka-Tenjin | ||
| Takatsuki-shi | ||
| Ibaraki-shi | ||
| Awaji | ||
| Juso | ||
| Osaka-Umeda |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Areas
The most popular areas in Kyoto include Arashiyama, Ryoan-ji Temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Ginkaku-ji Temple, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Heian-jingu Shrine, Gion District, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.
Train routes to Arashiyama
Train routes to Nijo-jo
Train routes to Gion
Train routes to Fushimi Inari Taisha
Getting out of Kyoto
If you are staying in Kyoto and you want to explore the surroundings, Uji and Nara are nearby destinations perfect for one-day or two-days escapes.
Getting out of Kyoto by train
The railway companies JR West and Kintetsu Railway operate train lines that interconnect Kyoto with Uji and Nara.
JR West
| Stations | Miyakoji Rapid | Rapid | Regional Rapid | Local |
| Kyoto | ||||
| Tofukuji | ||||
| Inari | — | — | ||
| Fujinomori | — | — | — | |
| Momoyama | — | — | — | |
| Rokujizo | ||||
| Kohata | — | — | — | |
| Obaku | — | — | — | |
| Uji | ||||
| Ogura | — | |||
| Shinden | — | |||
| Joyo | ||||
| Nagaike | — | — | ||
| Yamashiro-Aodani | — | — | ||
| Yamashiro-Taga | — | — | ||
| Tamamizu | ||||
| Tanakura | — | — | ||
| Kamikoma | — | — | ||
| Kizu | ||||
| Narayama | — | — | ||
| Nara |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Kintetsu Railway
Kintetsu Kyoto Line serving Kyoto and Nara
| Stations | Limited Express | Express |
| Kyoto | ||
| Toji | — | |
| Takeda | — | |
| Kintetsu-Tambabashi | ||
| Momoyamagoryomae | — | |
| Okubo | — | |
| Shin-Tanabe | — | |
| Shin-Hosono | ||
| Takanohara | ||
| Yamato-Saidaiji | ||
| Shin-Omiya | — | |
| Kintetsu-Nara |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Destinations
Kyoto is connected by train with the following destinations in Kansai region:
Train routes to Uji
Train routes to Nara
Continue your journey from Kyoto
From Kyoto, you can continue your journey to your next destination in Kanto, Chubu, Hokuriku, Kansai or Chugoku region.
Continue your journey from Kyoto by train
The railway company JR Central operates train lines that interconnect Kyoto with Tokyo, Yokohama and Nagoya in Kanto and Chubu regions; and the railway company JR West operates train lines that interconnect Kyoto with Kanazawa and Toyama in Hokuriku region as well as Osaka, Okayama and Hiroshima in Kansai and Chugoku regions.
JR Central
Tokaido Shinkansen serving Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka
| Stations | NOZOMI | HIKARI | KODAMA |
| Tokyo | |||
| Shinagawa | |||
| Shin-Yokohama | |||
| Odawara | — | ||
| Atami | — | ||
| Mishima | — | ||
| Shin-Fuji | — | — | |
| Shizuoka | — | ||
| Kakegawa | — | — | |
| Hamamatsu | — | ||
| Toyohashi | — | ||
| Mikawa-Anjo | — | — | |
| Nagoya | |||
| Gifu-Hashima | — | ||
| Maibara | — | ||
| Kyoto | |||
| Shin-Osaka |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
JR West
| Stations | NOZOMI | HIKARI | KODAMA | MIZUHO | SAKURA |
| Shin-Osaka | |||||
| Shin-Kobe | |||||
| Nishi-Akashi | — | — | |||
| Himeji | |||||
| Aioi | — | — | — | ||
| Okayama | |||||
| Shin-Kurashiki | — | — | — | ||
| Fukuyama | — | ||||
| Shin-Onomichi | — | — | — | ||
| Mihara | — | — | — | ||
| Higashi-Hiroshima | — | — | — | ||
| Hiroshima | |||||
| Shin-Iwakuni | — | — | — | ||
| Tokuyama | — | ||||
| Shin-Yamaguchi | — | ||||
| Asa | — | — | — | — | |
| Shin-Shimonoseki | — | — | |||
| Kokura | |||||
| Hakata |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | KAGAYAKI | HAKUTAKA | ASAMA | TSURUGI |
| Joetsumyoko | — | |||
| Itoigawa | — | |||
| Kurobe-Unazukionsen | — | |||
| Toyama | ||||
| Shin-Takaoka | — | |||
| Kanazawa | ||||
| Komatsu | ||||
| Kagaonsen | ||||
| Awaraonsen | ||||
| Fukui | ||||
| Echizen-Takefu | ||||
| Tsuruga |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | THUNDERBIRD |
| Osaka | |
| Shin-Osaka | |
| Takatsuki | |
| Kyoto | |
| Katata | |
| Omi-Imazu | |
| Tsuruga |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | HARUKA |
| Kansai Airport | |
| Hineno | |
| Izumi-Fuchu | |
| Tennoji | |
| Osaka | |
| Shin-Osaka | |
| Takatsuki | |
| Kyoto |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Destinations
Kyoto is connected by train with the following destinations in Kanto and Chubu regions:
Train routes to Tokyo
Train routes to Yokohama
Train routes to Nagoya
Kyoto is connected by train with the following destinations in Hokuriku region:
Train routes to Kanazawa
Kyoto is connected by train with the following destinations in Kansai and Chugoku regions:
Train routes to Osaka
Train routes to Okayama
