1. Arrival at the KIX airport
It is strongly recommended that you arrive at Kansai International Airport (KIX), as it is the closest and most convenient international airport to Kyoto.
- After leaving the aircraft, have your passport and disembarkation card ready.
- Have your “Visit Japan Web” ready by pre-registering the information required for quarantine procedures.
- Proceed to Immigration (入国(にゅうこく)審査(しんさ)/Nyuukoku shinsa) and Customs (税関(ぜいかん)/Zeikan).
- If an immigration officer asks you the purpose of your stay in Japan, answer: Short Term Study Abroad (短期(たんき)留学(りゅうがく)です/Tanki ryuugaku desu).
- Once you are finished, exit to the Arrival Lobby.
- We highly recommend you to exchange enough currency into Japanese Yen at the airport exchange bureau.
2. Transportation
KIX to Kyoto
Here’s the guide from KIX to Kyoto
関西国際空港から京都への移動を案内しています。
Please travel to Kyoto using one of the following options:
KIX to KYOTO | Taxi | Train | Bus |
Name | Yasaka Taxi ヤサカタクシー | Airport Express Train HARUKA はるか | Airport Limousine Bus リムジンバス |
Where to find | Shuttle counter At Terminal 1, At 1st floor | JR “Kansai Airport Station” Located on the 2nd floor of KIX, next to the airport ternimal | Terminal 1: Bus Stop No.8 Terminal 2: Bus Stop No.2 |
Time | 4,980 YEN | 3,110 YEN/non-reserved seat 3,640 YEN/reserved seat | 2,600 YEN/One-way To Kyoto Station |
Ticket Purchase | ※Available Only Reservation in advance. Reservation can be done online from their website here (you will need to reserve by 3pm on the day before your flight.) | Purchasable by cash at the ticket vending machine or at the JR ticket booth “MIDORI-NO-MADOGUCHI” (みどりの窓口). | Ticket Offices can be found in four locations near the limousine bus or taxi stops outside the northern and southern ends of the Passenger Terminal Building on the 1st floor. |
Move in Kyoto
There are various forms of public transportation such as trains, subways, and buses in Kyoto.
TRAIN
To ride the train (JR, Hankyu, Keifuku, Keihan) or subway you will need to buy tickets at ticket vending machines at the station or use an IC card.
1) West Japan Railway (JR)
West Japan Railway Company – Travel Information(HOME) (westjr.co.jp)
2) Hankyu Railway（阪急電鉄）
3) Keifuku Railway（京福電鉄）
4) Keihan Railway（京阪電鉄）
Keihan Electric Railway – Traveling between Osaka, Kyoto and Shiga
KYOTO CITY BUS
The Kyoto City Bus is also useful for getting around within Kyoto. A single ride in Kyoto City area costs JPY 230.
Get on the bus through the REAR door and get off the bus through the FRONT door.The fare is paid when Getting OFF the bus.
Information about the route the bus will take is indicated by the bus number and main destination displayed on the front, back, and the side of the bus near the door.
■Monthly Bus Pass
You can purchase a JPY 9,660 monthly bus pass if you are planning to use city buses for traveling and commuting to the university. By using this pass, you will be able to ride the bus as many times as you wish during the program period, including weekends.
You will be required to fill in a registration paper at one of the following 5 stations to purchase a pass. You cannot buy it at Ritsumeikan University campus.
*A monthly bus pass is only available for one month. If your pass’s starting date is the first day of the program, please be informed that it will be expired one day before the last day of the program.
1ヶ月間の定期券（9,660円）を購入することをお勧めします。定期券によって、プログラム期間中は何回もバスに乗ることができます。土日に京都を観光するときにもぜひ使ってください。
申込用紙を記入し、以下の4ヶ所で申請すれば購入できます。立命館大学では購入することができないので、ご注意ください。
*定期券の有効期限は1ヵ月です。プログラム初日を定期券の開始日に指定をしたら、プログラム修了の1日前に有効期限が切れます。
■Where To Buy?
You can purchase at “Commuter Pass Ticket Office” below.
定期券は、以下の定期券発売所（ていきけんはつばいしょ）5カ所で買うことができます。
Location | Business Hour | Phone Number |
Shijo Station 四条駅 (subway) | Monday ~ Saturday 7:30-19:30
Sunday/Holiday 9:00-17:00 | 075-343-3784 |
Kyoto Station 京都駅 | 075-371-6622 | |
Kitaooji Station 北大路駅 (subway) | 075-492-3208 | |
Sanjo Keihan Station 三条京阪駅 (subway) | 075-752-6071 | |
Nijo Station 二条駅 (subway) | Monday~Saturday Sunday/Holiday | 075-823-2265 |
■Book of Bus Coupon (回数券 )
There are 2 types of books of coupons. You can purchase them at the stations where monthly bus pass is available and also at Co-op Shop of Ritsumeikan University.
金額ごとに枚数が綴られています。立館大学の生協（Co-op）でも購入が可能です。
Price | Tickets |
JPY1,000 | JPY230×4 tickets + JPY180×1 ticket |
JPY5,000 | JPY230×24 tickets |
■バスの乗り方
1.Wait at the bus stop for the bus.
2.On arrival of the bus you want to ride, enter the bus.
3.When the name of your destination is announced, press the button to stop the bus.
4.As the bus arrives at your stop, show the driver your bus commuter pass or pay the exact fare while getting off the bus.
Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Guide:How to Take the Bus.
IC CARD
IC Card is convenient electronic card that can be used not only for riding trains but also as electronic money for shopping at various stores.
■ICOCA (IC Card by West Japan Railway)
These IC cards like Suica and ICOCA cards can be used all across Japan on railways and buses, and at stores displaying the 
mark.
Simply recharg the card by adding funds for continued convenience!
2.Clothing
Participants are advised to bring a raincoat or umbrella and
a practical footwear. There are Japan Studies (fieldwork
excursions) that may involve a lot of walking so we
recommend participants to bring walking shoes and
comfortable clothing. Kyoto is surrounded by three mountain
ranges which provide Kyoto with much of its scenic beauty
but also create extreme weather conditions.
In particular, summer is very hot and humid in
Kyoto.Temperature in Celcius is as follows (highest/lowest)
: May 25°/14°, June 28°/19°, July 32°/23°.
3.Tips for a daily life
Smoking
It is prohibited by the regulation not to smoke outside in Kyoto city. Please smoke at the designated public smoking area.Ritsumeikan University Kinugasa Campus is non-smoking!
Thank you for your cooperation.
Kyoto WIFI
In bus stops, subway stations, ‘Seven Eleven’ convenience stores and public facilities, there are many wireless LAN spots in which everyone can use the Internet free of charge.
STEP 1 Select SSID
Select SSID (wireless network): KYOTO Wi-Fi on your Wi-Fi setting screen.
Next, launch an Internet browser on your smartphone or PC.
STEP 2
On the terms of service screen, select your preferred login method, either “Log-in with SNS account authentication” or “Log-in with email address authentication”.
STEP 3
I. When SNS account authentication is selected,
(1) Enter your SNS account (ID, password).
(2) After authentication is completed, “KYOTO Wi-Fi” is available.
II. When email address authentication is selected,
(1) Enter your email address to temporarily register.
(2) An email with a URL link for main registration is sent to the registered email address. Click the link to complete main registration.
(3) “KYOTO Wi-Fi” is available.
* There is no communication cost because the Internet connection required for authentication uses the “KYOTO Wi-Fi” connection environment. However, after temporary registration (procedure (1)), if the main registration (3) is not completed within 5 minutes, the Internet will be cut off.
Once main registration is complete, “KYOTO Wi-Fi” is available for a month simply by sending your email address (procedure (1)) without needing to follow procedure (2).