Getting around
There are various ways to get around Kyoto City. The streets in Kyoto are laid out in a grid with the main shopping area around Shijo. Kyoto Station is further south and most of the temples are off to the east. How you choose to get around will probably depend on where you live. For all public transport it is cheaper to get a teiki or monthly pass, if you plan on using it a lot. You can find out prices in any major station. Bus teikis are available from an office under Kyoto Station.
There are several main companies in Kyoto - JR, Hankyu, Keihan, Kintetsu, and Eizan, as well as a subway line. All except for the Eizan line will have Local, Express or Super Express trains that stop at different stations. To check which trains stop where look at the timetables on the platforms, or alternatively ask a station attendant or conductor. Tickets are bought from machines outside the station barriers. To use a machine, look at the map above it and buy a ticket equal to the biggest price under your destination (the smaller number is the price for a child). If you need information on times and train routes, you can enter station names into this web page.
This is the probably the easiest way to get around, locally. The most popular bicycle is the ubiquitous mamachari. Usually nothing more than a simple bicycle with a shopping basket on the front, it is possible to pick up a new mamachari for anywhere upwards of eight thousand yen. Mountain bikes and foldable bikes are also easy to get hold of. Big bike shops are generally quite cheap and have a wide range to choose from. Second hand shops are inexpensive, too. It is sometimes worthwhile to ask around and find out if anyone is leaving the country - they might want to pass on their bike for free.
Bikes are supposed to be parked in special areas. Often found near stations, they charge small fees. Cheaper, monthly permits can also be bought. You can just leave it on the side of the street, but you might find that your bike gets impounded and taken to an lot in or near your local area. It costs three thousand yen to pick it out from the yard - it's a sad identity parade of forgotten, unlucky bicycles. If you do return to find your bike isn't where you left it, look out for a flyer on a sign, as on the left. It will show where your bike is being held.
There is an extensive network of buses in Kyoto which service most areas, especially major tourist spots. However, getting from one place to another can involve a lot of connections and may seem intimidating without a basic knowledge of Japanese. Buses will have a number and the destination on the front. On the side, there are four or five major stops that the bus will use. Buses are boarded at the back, after which passengers should take a numbered ticket (if available). When alighting, payment is made by dropping the exact fare into a machine next to the driver. There is a change machine there, too. If you take a numbered ticket, look at the board at the front of the bus to see how much the journey will cost. For buses operating within the city, there is a flat fee of 220 yen or 110 yen for children.
Scooters are quite popular. They are a quick way to get around and are fairly cheap to run. You can ride anything up to 50ccs on a car license, a motorcycle license is required for anything bigger. If you go to a bike shop, then all the paperwork and forms should be handled by them. An insurance policy (called jibaiseki) is required to own a bike up to 50ccs. You don't need any additional insurance but most people take some out. The jibaiseki needs to be renewed once every two years. There is also a tax that is payable to the city. Payment is made when you first get a scooter and from then on, a bill should be sent to you annually.
To drive in Japan, an international licence is a good idea, especially if you are going to be here for a limited time. They are valid for one year. If you have a UK, Australian or New Zealand license, you can change it for a Japanese one without having to undergo a written or practical test. If however, you have an American or Canadian license you must take these tests. Procedures for changing over licenses can be found on the Embassy's website for your country. To own a car (and even a scooter, perhaps) it is necessary to show proof that you have a space to park it in. The street, unfortunately, does not count as a parking space.