In principle, ride bicycles on the left side of the roadway. When you go out on a bicycle, use bicycle parking lots in the correct manner.

Learn about cycling rules and tips, and search bicycle parking lots in Kyoto City on this website:

Cycling in Kyoto

Removal of bicycles

Bicycles parked on the streets and parks can be removed by Kyoto City under the ordinances (regulation of the city). Bicycles parked in the areas other than the ones marked with “Bicycle, etc. Removal Enforcement Area” sign (see below) are also subject to be removed (moved to other places).

When your bicycle is removed

The 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, do not immediately think it was stolen, but first check to see if there are any signs nearby or notifications placed on a signboard. There is a sticker that indicates your bicycle has been removed.

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, your ID, and money for the handling fee (¥3,500 for storage).

Bicycle Theft Prevention Registration (Jitensha Bouhan Touroku)

• Bicycle theft prevention registration is helpful to identify the owner of a stolen bicycle. Bicycle registration is compulsory by law.
• When you buy a bicycle, register your ownership at the bicycle shop. Registration fee is ¥600. It is valid for 10 years.
• If your address has changed, you have a used bicycle that someone else has registered, or bought a new bicycle through mail order/online, you must change the registration or register your bicycle at a nearby bicycle shop.
• When your bicycle is stolen, visit the nearest police box or police station to file a claim. Bring your bicycle registration paper with you.

• Cars and motorcycles run on the left side of the road. You must fasten your seatbelt while driving in a car and wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.
• Children under 6 years old must use a child seat in the car.
• The law prohibits drunk driving as well as talking or texting on mobile devices while driving. (Those who violate this rule are subject to punishment)
• The law requires privately owned cars to be inspected once every 1 to 3 years and car owners to enroll in insurance for accidents. The owners must pay the cost.

International Driver’s License

If you obtained the international driver’s license before coming to Japan, you can use it in Japan without making any further applications. However, the license is valid only for one year from the day of your landing in Japan, regardless of the expiration date listed 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 are a registered resident of Japan and obtained an International Driver’s License overseas, you cannot drive with the license in Japan unless you have stayed in the country you obtained the driver’s license for more than 3 months.
• In order to drive a small size motorcycle (displacement of 50cc or smaller), 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 only have your country’s driver’s license in Japan, you can 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 in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Taiwan, Monaco, and Estonia, you can drive with the license with the Japanese translation of the license issued by your Consulate, Embassy or JAF. In such cases, you can drive with the license for one year after you land in Japan or until the indicated valid date, whichever comes first. For further information, inquire at:

<Requirements>

• Your driver’s license must be valid (Your license has not expired).
• A document to prove that you had stayed more than 3 months in the country where you obtained the driver’s license.

<Items required to obtain Japanese driver’s license>

• Your driver’s license (not expired)
• Japanese translation of your license: Please ask the embassy or consulates of your country, or JAF for translation.
• Your passport
• Your Resident Card
• 1 portrait photograph (3cm x 2.4cm)
• Your Certificate of Residence
• Handling fee

You have a Japanese driver’s license

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

Obtaining a driver’s license in Japan (in the case of Kyoto Prefecture)

• In principle, the written knowledge test and driving skills test are conducted in Japanese. However, English, Chinese, and Tagalog versions are available for the written test. (Only an English version is available for small size motorcycle (50cc or less displacement) 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 motorcycles are issued to those who are 16 years old and above (For motorcycles of 400cc or higher displacement, one must be 18 or older).
• If you would like to take the written knowledge test in English, Chinese, or Tagalog, ask the attendants at the site.

Driver’s license Section of Kyoto Prefectural Police Headquarters

TEL: 075-631-5181
647 Hazukashi-Furukawa-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto

Kyoto Prefectural Police Website (English)

Subway

In Kyoto, there are two subway lines, Karasuma Line and Tozai Line, and both are operated by the City of Kyoto. The Karasuma Line runs through the city from north to south, between Takeda Station and Kokusaikaikan Station, and the Tozai Line runs from east to west between Rokujizo Station to Uzumasa Tenjingawa Station. Fares vary from ¥220 to ¥360, depending on your travel distance. The subway connects with some private railway lines. If you travel beyond the station your ticket covers, you must pay the adjustment amount of your fare at the fare adjustment machine or pay it to a station staff member.
* Smoking is prohibited on trains and at stations.

JR (Japan Railways)

JR is the largest railway company groups in Japan and covers most of the country. Riding a limited express service, Green Car (first class carriage), sleeping coach or the Shinkansen bullet train requires extra fees.

JR Odekekake Net (JR West) (Japanese)

Other Railways

Buses

(1) City Buses

The city bus service is operated by the City of Kyoto. The service allows access to most of the sightseeing spots in Kyoto, featuring green colored buses. When a bus comes, enter the bus from the rear door. When arriving at the bus stop you wish to get off at, press the nearest button to inform the driver. Get off the bus using the front door, paying the exact fare by putting cash or a ticket into the fare box located next to the driver. When you use an IC card, touch the card on the reader located by the fare box. For other types of cards, put your card through the card reader when you get off. (Some buses request passengers to pay the fare first when getting on board through the front door and leaving from the rear door) The destination sign on the last city bus of the day is framed by red lines.

Fares

• Within the flat fare zone, ¥230 is charged.
• Outside of the flat fare zone, bus fares vary according to distance. In these areas, take a numbered ticket from the machine at the rear door when you get on the bus. Find your fare corresponding to the number on the ticket with the fare table located above the front windshield of the bus and 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 ride.
• Bus fare for children over 6 under 12 years old is half of the adult fare. Children under 6 years old who are accompanied by an adult (father, mother, guardian etc.) can ride free of charge.

*For the Sightseeing Limited Express Bus (EX100, EX200), how to ride, its fare and ticket you can use are different from regularly operating buses. Please check following website:
https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kotsu/webguide/en/bus/limited_express.html

Route Maps

＊Bus maps in English, Chinese, and Korean languages are available at several places including City Bus Information Centers, subway stations, and kokoka.

(2) Other Bus Companies

Discount Tickets

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

Traffic IC Cards for Convenient Travel

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

How to Catch a Taxi.

• Raise your hand to passing taxis to show you want a ride. You can ride taxis with display lamps indicating “not occupied”.
• 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 11:00 pm and 5:00 am are higher than the regular fare due to a late-night surcharge. The fare system varies from company to company.