Getting to Kyoto

Arrival in Osaka Kansai
Okaka's Kansai International Airport (KIX), Japan's second-largest international airport, is the closest international airport serving Kyoto and is located only a little over an hour away from the city depending on your choice of ground transportation. KIX has direct flights from approximately 70 different cities in over 30 different countries, making it a major gateway to the rest of the world A flight from Europe takes approximately ten hours - nearly the same amount of time as it would take to travel to the West Coast of the United States.  Airport services at the Kansai International Airport include currency exchange, ATMs, internet access, postal services, traveler's insurance services, credit card services, car rental, and business services.

From Kasai to Kyoto
There are a number of different ways to get from Osaka's Kansai International Airport to Kyoto, and all methods of transportation vary in terms of cost and convenience.
By Train: The quickest way to get to Kyoto from the Kansai International Airport is by the direct JR Haruka Limited Express (70 minutes).  The cost is approximately 3,690 Yen.  After you clear customs, take the escalator up one floor and follow the signs to the railway station, located only minutes from customs.  Tickets can be purchased by vending machine or at the ticket counter.  The JR Airport Line and JR Kyoto Line are also available, though you must transfer at the Osaka Station.  The trip takes 100 minutes, but only costs approximately 1,830 Yen.
By Bus: Direct airport buses take about 100 minutes and cost approximately 2,500 Yen.  Buses leave from the 1st floor, outside the International Arrival Terminal.  Ticket machines are outside the building.  Passengers bound for the Kyoto Station need to take the number 8 bus.
By Airport Shuttle: Sky Gate Shuttle, the door-to-door jumbo taxi service between Kyoto and Kansai Airport (KIX) operated by MK Taxi, costs approximately 3000 Yen one-way between the airport and the individual's hotel in Kyoto.  Other companies offer a similar service, however MK allows bookings from overseas via the internet.  The service between Kyoto and the airport is timed for smooth check-in to the designated flight. Due to traffic conditions the taxi is slower than the train, but the personal touch makes it worth the time.  Sky Gate Shuttle drivers welcome passengers with a name card as they exit the customs area.  Please see the adjoining map of the Meeting point at the Kansai International Airport.  To make a reservation call +81+75+721+2237 or visit the Sky Gate Shuttle web site: http://www.mk-group.co.jp/english/shuttle2/top.htm.  Reservations must be made at least two days prior to departure date.
By Taxi: Taxi Stands are located outside the 1st floor of the Passenger Terminal Building.  Travel time to Kyoto via taxi is approximately 120 minutes; the approximate fare is 32,000 Yen.

Arrival in Tokyo
The Tokyo International Airport (Narita) is the destination of choice for those wishing to travel to Kyoto via Tokyo.  For your convenience, services available at the Narita Airport include currency exchange, ATMs, credit card service counters, railway and bus ticket counters, car and cell phone rental services, internet access, and traveler's insurance services, among others.

From Tokyo to Kyoto
From the Narita Airport, travelers have the option of getting to Kyoto via land or air.

By Air to Osaka's Kansai International Airport: Check-in counters for domestic flights are located on the 1^st floor of the southern end of Terminal 2 (on the same floor as the international arrivals lobby).  After checking in, proceed to the domestic terminal on the 2^nd floor.  If you arrive at Terminal 2: After completing Immigration and Customs procedures, pass through into the arrival lobby, turn left and move down to the domestic check-in counters at the southern end of the terminal.  If you arrive at Terminal 1: After completing Immigration and Customs procedures, board the Terminal Connection Bus (free of charge) at Stand 6 outside Terminal 1 to Terminal 2.  Exit from the bus at Terminal 2, turn right and make your way down to the domestic check-in counters at the southern end of the terminal.

By Train: The Narita Express (N'EX) train from Narita Airport takes 53 minutes to arrive at Tokyo station, where the famous Shinkansen ("bullet train") departs.  There are N'EX stations in both the Narita Airport Terminal and Terminal 2.  From the Tokyo station, the Shinkansen ride to Kyoto Station is as short as 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs approximately 13,220 Yen.

Getting Around Kyoto
Kyoto is a compact and very accessible city. Almost any two points within the city can be reached within thirty minutes.  Kyoto is serviced by a city bus system run by several companies, Japan Railways (JR) lines, two subways, five private train lines, and a large number of taxi companies.  A one-day ticket allows for unlimited use of City and Kyoto bus lines as well as the subway line throughout the day.
Since Kyoto welcomes many foreign visitors each year, every effort has been made to make navigating public transportation as easy as possible, even for non-Japanese speakers. Buses have destinations posted in both Japanese and English, and announce points of interest in English as well. Subway stations have signs posted in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, and stops are announced in Japanese and English.  Residents are friendly to foreigners, and if you speak in slow, simple English, even the average pedestrian will likely be able and willing to help you if there should be a need.  Hotels also have bilingual staff on call for the convenience of guests.

By Bus:  A network of bus lines covers the entire city of Kyoto.  Buses run every 7-20 minutes until 22:00.  Entry to the bus is usually through the back door; exit via the front door (and pay at the front). In nearly all cases, inner-city bus fares are fixed (220Yen).  If you only plan to ride the bus for one day, there is also a special one-day ticket available for 500Yen.  Upon boarding buses serving outer areas, take a numbered ticket (seiri-ken) when entering the bus. The number of the ticket is indicated on an electronic board at the front of the bus, telling you how much you will have to pay. All of the above buses have change making machines for 100Yen and 500Yen coins, or 1000Yen notes (the driver will not usually be able to change larger notes). Children under 12 years of age pay half of the adult fare; children under 6 do not have to pay (limited to two children under six years of age per adult). To pay, simply put the money into the see-through plastic box next to the driver on your way out.

By Train or Subway: Two subway lines serve Kyoto: the Karasuma Line from north to south beginning at one end at the KICH and ending at Takeda; and the Tozai Line running from east to west.  In addition to the subway, there are five private train companies operating in the city area (Keifuku, Eizan, Keihan, Hankyu, and Kintetsu). Most train and subway stations are equipped with automatic ticket dispensing machines. Tickets for short distance trips are best purchased at vending machines, while tickets and seat reservations for long distance trips can be purchased at ticket counters in train stations. To purchase your ticket at a vending machine first find your destination and the corresponding fare on the map above the vending machine.  Put your money into the machine, then press the button for your ticket price.  Most machines accept coins of 10, 50, 100 and 500 Yen and bills of 1000 Yen. Many machines also accept larger bills. If you are unable to find your destination and the corresponding fare, you can purchase a ticket for the lowest possible price, and pay the difference at the destination station. After buying the ticket, you can proceed through the ticket gate.  Automatic ticket gates can be found in busy stations: Insert the ticket into the slot, walk through the gate and pick up the ticket on the other side. If you insert an invalid ticket, the gate will close and an alarm will sound.  If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you cannot use automatic gates, but must pass through a manned gate, showing your pass to the station staff.  In order to access shinkansen platforms, you need to pass through a second or separate set of ticket gates. They are usually well marked. Find your platform by looking for your train line and direction. Most important signs are written in Japanese and English, and increasingly also in Chinese and Korean.  On many platforms, marks on the floor indicate where the doors of the arriving train will be located. Waiting passengers will line up behind those marks. Train drivers are trained to stop within centimeters. In case of long distance trains, additional marks will indicate car numbers and whether the car is an ordinary or green car, and whether it carries reserved or non-reserved, and smoking or non-smoking seats.  Note that some platforms are served by trains of different train categories (e.g. local and rapid trains). Displays indicate the next arriving train's category and, at some stations, the set of upcoming stations it serves. Wait for passengers to exit before entering the train. Be careful not to block the door at stations, especially if the train is crowded.  Put back bags on the floor or onto the baggage shelves.  Talking on mobile phones inside trains is forbidden, except in the entrance sections of shinkansen and limited express trains.   Upcoming stations and connecting lines are announced in Japanese.  On shinkansen and some other lines frequently used by foreign visitors, the announcements are also made in English.  Shinkansen and other newer trains also feature displays showing the next station. The station names on platforms are written in kanji, hiragana, and romaji (Roman letters). Furthermore, station signs always show the previous and next station.  At your destination, leave the paid fare zone through the ticket gates in the same way as you entered. However, in case of single tickets, you won't get your ticket back this time. If you did not pay the correct fare for your destination station, you have to pay the difference at a "Fare Adjustment" machine before leaving through the gates.  For more information on train travel in Kyoto Japan Railway (JR): 075-351-4004 Hankyu Railways: 075-211-1052 Keihan Railways: 075-561-0033 Keifuku Railway: 075-841-9381 Eizan Railway: 075-781-5121

Trafica Pre-paid Tickets: These prepaid cards can be used for all city subways and buses. They come in 1,000Yen and 3,000Yen value sizes, and can be used like a ticket to enter the transportation. The 3,000Yen cards are discounted. There is no time limit on these cards.

All-Kyoto Tickets: If you plan to use Kyoto's transportation system a lot in a single day or over a two-day period, the city offers all-Kyoto tickets (one-day and two-day) that can be used on City buses, Kyoto buses and subways without limit. The ticket also entitles you to some discounts at temples, and comes with a guide map. You can purchase these tickets at the city bus & subway information center, subway stations, city bus operating stations, and at appointed hotels and inns in the city.  Fares: Adult one-day ticket is 1.200Yen; Two-day ticket is 2.000Yen.

We wish you safe and happy travels and look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful city of Kyoto, Japan, in May for the ISMRM 12^th Scientific Meeting & Exhibition.