Rules for riding bicycles

• ・Using mobile phones or headphones/earphones while riding a bicycle is strictly prohibited．＊Kyoto Prefectural Regulations prohibits those acts. If anyone violates this rule, the person shall be fined or punished.
• ・As a rule, cyclists must keep the very left on the road. If a street has a sign “Cyclists allowed on a Sidewalk,” you can ride a bicycle on the sidewalk. When you cycle on a sidewalk, please keep the road side and ride slowly. You must also be careful not to disturb pedestrians, and if necessary, you must temporarily stop riding in order to let pedestrians proceed. (Those who violate this rule are subject to punishment.) If available, cyclists can ride on a “cyclists’ zone” designated on the left side of a road.
• ・If a crossing has a “Crossing for Cyclists,” you need to cross on the zone.
• ・You must walk your bicycle on sidewalks especially where crowded.
• ・When you intend to turn right at the crossing with no traffic lights, you must keep the far left side of the street, first cross to the other side, and then turn right slowly after confirming the flow of traffic (Those who violate this rule are subject to punishment).
• ・Do not turn to right in the same way the automobiles do at intersections.
• ・You must switch on your headlight when riding at night. (Those who violate this rule are subject to punishment).
• ・Both drunk riding and riding a bicycle with two persons are prohibited. (Those who violate this rule are subject to punishment).

You can ride a bicycle on sidewalks with this sign

Rules for Parking Bicycles

Do not leave your bicycle on streets or sidewalks, which may block traffic or disturb pedestrians. Please park your bicycle in designated areas. You can search for bicycle parking on the Kyoto City Cycle Website. When you park your bicycle, please make sure that you lock it.

the Kyoto City Cycle Website

Removal of bicycles

• ＊Kyoto City Ordinances prohibit the parking of bicycles on the street, especially in front of stations or other congested areas, and remove illegally parked bicycles to the other area.
• ＊The city will remove bicycles parked in any area of Kyoto City marked with a no parking sign (See below).

Bicycle, etc. Removal Enforcement Area

If your bicycle is removed?

• ・Removed bicycles will be kept at the bicycle impound lot for 4 weeks.
• ・If you do not retrieve your bicycle within 4 weeks, it will be disposed of.
• ・If your bike is missing, first check to see if there are any signs nearby or notifications placed on the pavement. These will indicate which impound lot your bicycle was taken to.

How to retrieve your bicycle

Look for a signboard or poster near the spot where you left your bicycle to find out which impound lot your bicycle was taken to. To retrieve your bicycle, you need your bicycle key, a form of identification, and money for the handling charge of \2,300.

Risk Management for Bicycle Accidents

You must enroll in bicycle insurance to provide a means to provide financial coverage for injuries to yourself and others, etc. in the case of an accident.

See the following website for more information:

Kyoto City Cycle Website

Bicycle Policy Promotion Office　TEL：075-222-3565

Bicycle Registry (Jitensha Bohan Toroku)

• ・Bicycle Registry is helpful to identify the owner of a stolen bicycle and return the removed ones left at stations.
• ・Bicycle Registry is compulsory by the law. When you buy a bicycle, register your ownership at the bicycle shop. It is valid for ten years and the fee costs \600. (The fee is changed from \510 from May 1, 2020.)
• ・If you change your address, get a used bicycle that someone else has registered, or you have bought a new bicycle through internet, you must change the registration or register your bicycle at a bicycle shop.
• ・When your bicycle is stolen, visit the nearest police box or police station to file a claim, taking your Bicycle Registry Receipt with you.

Kyoto Prefectural Council for Bicycle Registry Promotion　TEL：075-451-9111

International Driver’s License

If you obtained the international driver’s license before coming to Japan, you are able to use it in Japan without making any further applications. However, the license is valid only for one year after your arrival in Japan, regardless of the expiration date described on your license.

• ・The international driver’s licenses issued in countries that have not signed the “Convention on Road Traffic” (Geneva Convention) are not valid in Japan.
• ・If you have registered a residence in Japan and obtained an International Driver’s License in another country, you cannot use it in Japan unless you stay in the country for more than 3 months.
• ・In order to drive a scooter, you need “A” in the section of “the vehicle(s) you are able to drive” on the international driver’s license.

How to Convert a Driver’s License from Another Country into Japanese Driver’s License

If you have brought your national driver’s license to Japan, you may convert it to a Japanese one at the driver’s license examination center（Unten Menkyo Shikenjo）.
＊If you have a valid driver’s license issued either in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Taiwan, Monaco, Estonia and have a Japanese translation issued by your Consulate, Embassy or JAF, you may use it for one year after your arrival in Japan or until the indicated valid date.

For further information, inquire at:

Driver’s License Section of Kyoto Prefectural Police Headquarters (Kyoto-fu Keisatsu Honbu Unten Menkyo Shiken-ka) 　TEL：075-631-5181, Ext. 222 or 223, Mon. - Fri.　16:00 - 17:00　by appointment only

Conditions

• ① Your driver’s license must be valid (Your license has not expired).
• ② A document to prove that you have stayed more than 3 months in the country you obtained the driver’s license.
• ③ You live within Kyoto Prefecture.

Items Required to Obtain Japanese Driver’s License

• ① Your driver’s license (Your license has not expired)
• ② Japanese translation of your license
  　Please ask your embassy, consulates or JAF for translation.
  　JAF　TEL：682-6000
• ③ Your passport
• ④ Your Resident Card
• ⑤ 1 portrait photograph (3x2.4cm)
• ⑥ Your Certificate of Residence
• ⑦ Handling charge

If you have a Japanese Driver’s License?

• ・The validity date of Japanese driver’s license is written on the license card.
• ・Renewal of your license must be completed 1 month prior or 1 month after your birthday. Submit your driver’s license and a renewal fee of 3,000- 3,850 yen. (The fee varies according to your record of violations).

How to obtain a driver’s license (in the case of Kyoto Prefecture)

• In principle, the knowledge test and driving skills test are conducted in Japanese. However, English, Chinese, and Tagalog versions are available for the knowledge test. (Only English version is available for scooter driving skills test.)
• In order to pass the test, you must study the Japanese traffic rules and regulations.
• In Japan, driver’s licenses for automobiles are issued to those who are 18 years old and above. Driver’s licenses for motorcycle are issued to those who are 16 years old and above (For motorcycles 400cc and above, you must be 18 or older). If you are younger than the above ages, a driver’s license will not be issued.
• If you would like to take the knowledge test in English, Chinese, or Tagalog, please ask the person in charge.

Driver’s license Section of Kyoto Prefectural Police Headquarters (Kyoto-fu Keisatsu Honbu Unten Menkyo Shiken-ka)　TEL：075-631-5181
647 Hazukashi-Furukawa-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto
Registration for the test: Mon. - Fri.　8:30 - 9:15

Kyoto Prefectural Police Website

How to Get to Kansai International Airport

Type of transportation	Starting points	Required time
JR limited express “Haruka”	JR Kyoto Station	75 min.
JR Kanku Rapid Service	JR Osaka Station, JR Kyobashi Station	Approx. 2 hours
Kansai Airport Limousine Bus Reservation center TEL：075-682-4400	JR Kyoto Station Hachijo-guchi, JR Nijo station, Sanjo-Keihan, Shijo-Omiya, Demachiyamagi	Approx. 105 minutes
Limousine taxi	MK Skygate shuttle service　TEL：075-778-5489 Yasaka Airport shuttle service　TEL：075-803-4800

For Flight information

• Limousine Bus Center　TEL：072-461-1374　Open 7:00 - 21:00
• Kansai Airport Information Center　TEL：072-455-2500　Open 24 hours

Subway

The subway is managed by Kyoto City. There are two lines; Karasuma Line & Tozai Line. The Karasuma Line runs through the city from the north to the south, between Takeda Station and Kokusaikaikan Station, and the Tozai Line runs from the east to the west between Rokujizo Station to Uzumasa Tenjingawa Station. The fare varies between \220 and \360, depending on your travel distance. The subway connects with some private railway lines. If you travel beyond a station your ticket covers, you must pay the adjustment amount to your fare at the fare adjustment machine or pay station staff. Smoking is prohibited on trains and at stations.

JR (Japan Railways)

JR is the largest railway company in Japan, and covers the whole country. For using limited express service, Green Car, sleeping car or Shinkansen, you must pay extra fees.

JR West Telephone Reservation Service　TEL：0088-24-5489／8:00 - 22:00

JR Odekekake Net (JR West)＊Japanese

Other trains

Destination	Train companies	Telephone
Osaka	Hankyu Railway (Kyoto Line) 45 mins. from Kyoto Kawaramachi Sta. to Umeda Sta. by the Rapid Limited Express train (No extra charge for the limited express service)	Kyoto Kawaramachi Station 075-211-1052
	Keihan Electric Railway 56 mins. from Demachiyanagi Sta. to Yodoyabashi Sta. by the limited express train (No extra charge for the limited express service)	Sanjo Station 075-561-0033
Nara/Ise	Kintetsu Railway (Kinki Nihon Tetsudo) Kintetsu Kyoto Station is located in the south part of JR Kyoto Station premises. (Extra charge is necessary for using the limited express service)	Kyoto Station 075-691-2560
Arashiyama	Keifuku Electric Railroad	075-801-2511
	Hankyu Railways	0570-089-500
Kurama/Yase	Eizan Electric Raiway (Eizan Dentetsu)	075-781-5121

Buses

(1) City Buses

City bus service is managed by the City of Kyoto. The service allows access to most of the sightseeing spots in Kyoto and the color of the buses is green). Use the rear door to enter the bus. Press the nearest button to inform the driver that you will get off at the next stop. Exit at the front of the bus, and put the exact fare or a ticket into the fare box located next to the driver. When you use an IC card, touch on the card reader located at the entrance when you get on the bus and touch another reader placed by the fare box with your card. For other types of card, put your card through the card reader when you get off. (Some buses ask passengers to pay the fare when they get on board from the front door and get off from the rear door.)

Fares

• ・Within the flat fare zone, a flat fare of 230 yen is charged.
• ・Outside of the flat fare zone, bus fares vary according to the distance. In these areas, take a numbered ticket from the machine at the rear door when you get on the bus. Find your fare on the fare table located above the front windshield of the bus and then put the exact fare and the distance number ticket into the fare box. When you use an IC card, touch on the card reader near the fare box with your card at the start and the end of your journey.
• ・Bus fare for children over 6 under 12 years old is half of the adult fare. The fare for children under 6 years old who are accompanied by an adult (father, mother, guardian etc.) is free of charge.
• ・If you do not have any change, please obtain it in advance by using the changing machine located beside the driver.

Route Maps

City bus service is operated until around 10:00 p.m.
＊English, Chinese, and Korean Bus Maps are available at City Bus Information Centers, subway stations and kokoka.

Kyoto City Transportation Bureau

TEL：075-863-5200

　

(2) Other Bus Companies

　　　　 　　　　 　　　　 　　　　 　　　　

Bus companies	Telephone
Kyoto Bus (for northern Kyoto, Sagano/Arashiyama area)	075-871-7521
Keihan Bus (for eastern and southern Kyoto, Shiga Pref.)	075-682-2310
JR Bus (for northern Kyoto)	075-672-2851
Kintetsu Bus (for southern Kyoto)	075-612-2060
Hankyu Bus (for Muko City)	075-921-0160

Discount Tickets

Some discount tickets are available for trains and buses. For further information, ask the Kyoto City Transportation Bureau and other train companies.

Type	Contents of service
Coupon tickets (kaisuken)	Book of tickets for use within a fixed area, each ticket is cheaper than the normal price.
Commuter pass (teikiken)	Unlimited use within a fixed period and along a fixed route.
Student discount pass and tickets (gakusei waribiki)	You can buy a student discount pass by submitting a student discount certificate issued from your school. When you travel a distance of more than 100 km by JR, you can also use a student discount service by submitting the student discount certificate.
One day pass (ichinichi joshaken)	Unlimited rides for one day
Two day pass (futsuka joshaken)	Unlimited rides for two days
Traffica Kyo card	This card is accepted by at all City Subway Stations and on all City Busses. You can get the card at subway ticket vending machines and at bus ticket offices. Insert this card directly into subway ticket gates.

IC Cards for Convenient Travel

Instead of purchasing train or bus tickets, you can use IC cards, such as ICOCA and PiTaPa, for travelling with most railways and bus companies nationwide.

How to Catch a Taxi.

• ・Raise your hand to passing taxis to indicate that you would like a ride. Taxis have a display lamp indicating occupancy; an empty cab will stop for you.
• ・It is easier to catch a taxi at a taxi stand near stations and on main streets.
• ・You can call a taxi company to request one sent directly to your location.

Taxi Fare

• ・The fare is indicated on the meter located on the panel to the lower left of the driver. Check when you get into a taxi.
• ・Night fares, between 11:00pm and 5:00am, are higher than the normal fare, due to a late-night surcharge. The fare system varies from company to company.