Kyoto flights and travel guide

Once Japan's Imperial capital, today Kyoto is a bustling modern Japanese city with a population of nearly two million. But underneath this industrialised façade Kyoto’s past is reflected in every corner of the city. The preserved Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples and Meiji-era buildings are a stark reminder of the fires and wars it survived. The Onin War in 1467 that lasted ten years destroyed most of the city, taking it more than 50 years to recover. Today travellers booking flights to Kyoto can look forward to exploring the surviving structures from the Heian Period including the Byodoin Temple in Uji and Shimo Daigo-ji Temple and the immaculate pebble Zen gardens that are dotted throughout the city.

Some of the best events in Japan take place in Kyoto, 500 of them to be precise. Nearly every month an elaborate matsuri (festival) is held on the streets of the city.  And while most visitors are guaranteed a festival while they’re there, the best time to book a Kyoto flight is in July when Gion Matsuri, the most famous of festivals, takes place.

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Kyoto Climate

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When to Fly to Kyoto

Peak Season:
The New Year, Golden Week (end of April through beginning of May), and O-Bon festival (August) are very busy in Japan—both the Japanese and visitors flock to the popular attractions and destinations, making everything crowded. Other highlights include the Aoi Matsui in May, the Gion Festival throughout July, and the Jidai Festival in October.

The high season is May through October, and it is a good idea to make reservations ahead of time, even for attractions that require permits.

Off Season:
Fall into November is a good time to book flights to Kyoto. The changing foliage is beautiful and the weather is pleasant. December to February can be cold, but the major attractions are less crowded.

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Getting Downtown Kyoto

Taxis are available from the airport, but the journey takes around an hour and the fare is likely to be very high, so most passengers take the bus, train or high-speed ferry to Osaka. Minibuses go to the major hotels, departing from International Arrivals. The airport shuttle bus service connects to the ferry terminal for the ferry to Osaka.

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Getting Around Kyoto

A mostly flat city, Kyoto is excellent for cycling, and many of the sights and attractions are within walking distance of each other.

Bus routes cover the city and provide service from early morning to late evening. Most bus signs are not in English so you need to know the route number. For tourists there are also old-fashioned Chin-Chin buses. They run from approximately 8am to 4pm with stops that are convenient to the major attractions. Kyoto also has a subway system, which some consider easier than the bus system although not as convenient. Day cards, prepaid cards, and other discounted passes are available for buses and subways.

Taxis can be hailed or picked up at a taxi stand or hotel. Many taxi companies also provide tours of the city. Rates for tours are priced by the route or hour, and can run from 4 to 7 1/2 hours. Fares for the smaller taxis are slightly lower than for the larger vehicles.

Regardless of your mode of transport, it is a good idea to have your destination written in Japanese in case you need help along the way.

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Kyoto Insider Information

• If just spotting a geisha in the Gion district isn’t enough, then it is also possible to be dressed and made up as one and have your photograph taken. There are many studios in the district that specialise in photographing foreigners in traditional geisha clothes. Prices, unsurprisingly, are not cheap.
• Before entering a temple you should follow the Buddhist practice of washing your hands. The area where you wash is called chozuya, and will be at the entrance of every temple you see. Traditionally a well, nowadays it could be anything to hold water, including a cement bucket. Take the ladle in your right hand to pour water over your left, swap hands and repeat. Then pour water over your right hand again, and wipe your hand and lips with a clean tissue. Never drink the water from the well.
• The season of cherry blossoms is roughly from March to April, and it normally takes place in Kyoto in the last week of March or the first of April. The Japanese word for the blooming is hanami and visitors arrive to watch the blossoms from all parts of Japan. Particularly popular is a blooming alongside a temple or shrine. In Kyoto Maruyama Park is one of the best places to go and see the blooms – a large weeping cherry tree in its center is lit up in the evenings.
• If you’re not in town for the cherry blossom though, don’t despair. There are more than 500 festivals hosted in the city during the year. Gion Matsuri (matsuri means festival in Japanese) is one of the biggest. The celebration takes place every July, with festivities starting on July 1 and the culmination on July 17, with a parade of floats in procession through the city.
• The Kyoto Handicraft Center is a great place to shop. You can pick up arts and crafts and souvenirs to take home, watch demonstrations of doll making, woodblock carving and damascene making, or even take part in a class at the handicraft school.

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Kyoto Airports

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