me in the right direction, and was
surprised when he smiled and
personally led the way for a good
100
m. Upon arrival, he offered a small,
traditional bow before walking away.
This was not my only encounter with
helpful locals. Later on in Gion, Kyoto’s
most famous geisha district, I asked a
couple of young Kyotoites how to get to
the famous Hanami-Koji Street. One of
them excused himself from the other to
walk with me and showed the way.
Locals make up what is to me the
most compelling attraction in a city
with 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Geisha gather
in Gion; (inset)
meticulously
maintained
temples abound
in Japan’s former
imperial capital
Out and about
inKyoto
BY SUBWAY
Kyoto has two subway lines,
which run from 5.30am to
11.30
pm.
The older Karasuma Line runs
north and south, from Takeda
in the south to Kokusai Kaikan
in the north, with stops at Kyoto
Station and Imadegawa Station
(
convenient for visiting the
Imperial Palace).
The newer Tozai Line runs on
a curve from east to west and is
convenient for visiting Nijo Castle
and Higashiyama-ku. The two
lines intersect in central Kyoto at
Karasuma Oike Station.
Fares start at JPY210 (children
pay half fare in Kyoto).
BYBUS
Buses are the easiest way to get
to most of Kyoto’s attractions and
runs from 7am to 9pm.
Buses depart from Kyoto
Station’s Central (north/Karasuma)
exit, with platforms clearly marked
in English, listing destinations.
Both the Kyoto Tourist
Information office and the Bus
and Subway Information counter
give out excellent maps showing
major bus routes, detailed with
bus numbers.
Inner-city buses charge a flat
fare (JPY220), which you drop
into the clear plastic receptacle
on top of the machine next to the
driver. The machine gives change
for JPY100 and JPY500 coins or
JPY1,000 notes, or you can ask
the driver.
BYTAXI
Taxis in Kyoto come in two
different sizes with only slightly
different fares.
Small ones are JPY660 for the
first 2km (1 1/4 miles), and large
ones are JPY710.
Taxis can be waved down or, in
the city center, boarded at marked
taxi stands or at hotels.
InKyoto
On the night I arrived in the city, I asked
a young man in a business suit walking
down Shichijo Street for directions to
a deli — which my map identified as a
landmark to an interesting nearby alley.
I would have understood if he declined
to help a tourist at night, or just pointed
66
{
}
J A P A N F O R B E G I N N E R S
