Kyoto is one of the famous places to visit in Japan. I would say if you want to see the modern and advanced japan then go to Tokyo and for real cultural and historical Japan then visit KYOTO.
Kyoto doesn't have his own airport and its necessary to arrive at the OSAKA airport and then there are a lot of complicated options to reach Kyoto. Complicated in a way as your choice of transport is really dependent on how long you stay in Japan, what is your future travel plan and how much you can afford.
Arrival at the airport.
The airport is modern, before going to the immigration fill out completely the immigration form( most airlines give it during flight) or just take it form the counter before immigration control. I totally recommend to fill the form before landing and save time. As you walk towards the immigration one officer check if you have filled the immigration form and also the custom declaration form. After this there are counters which just scan your passport and finger print and then you stand in for the immigration counter. The process is quick and they just put a sticker on your passport showing the validity of your visa.
After immigration take your luggage and pass through the custom control and hand over the custom declaration form and they will check your passport again.
Exit the main door and on the right side you will find INFORMATION center, usually crowded with the tourist. Before going there its better to decide what ticket you actually want.Option are
1- Take JR pass for 7 days and travel unlimited on JR lines
2- Take single journey train HARUKA etc card for one time travel
3- Take bus
How to choose
If you plan to visit multiple cities in Japan and stay like a couple of days in each city, then its totally recommended to take the JR pass which cost nearly 217 Euro and travel hassle free to different cities using fast trains.
If you like to travel by train and use prepaid card and then HARUKA and IOCOA is good option, and cost nearly 3000yen for one way and takes 78 minutes to Kyoto station.
BUT
if you are going to stay longer in Kyoto and you don't have plan to visit another cities soon, so the bus is the cheapest option. One way cost 2300Yen and return ticket cost 4000 yen. Which is a cheap way to reach Kyoto station and takes 88 minutes.
The lines for the bus, First come First serve basis, buses depart every 20 min in day time so do not panic if you don't get a free space.
The time table and bus time is shown on the screen, remember PLATFORM 8 to get the bus.
There is ticket office just next to the bus station too, encase you just rushed out of airport with out buying ticket.
After reaching to Kyoto you can take a SUBWAY ticket for 290 yen for one way, 600yen for one day and 1000 yen for SUBWAY+ BUS for one day pass.
Change the currency at the airport, its similar rate as in the city. you can use CARD money in most of the places in Japan but cash is more welcomed, and small vendors you can just use cash.
Below find some useful links
1- For JR pass
https://www.jrpass.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw9afOBRDWARIsAJW4nvy31uaiIUC5b69qaJ9Rt-RHbDDMuePf9PvQpG8LrVW1NFKpguiaeJoaAjUZEALw_wcB
2-Kyoto subway
https://www.kyotostation.com/kyoto-subway-lines/
Kyoto doesn't have his own airport and its necessary to arrive at the OSAKA airport and then there are a lot of complicated options to reach Kyoto. Complicated in a way as your choice of transport is really dependent on how long you stay in Japan, what is your future travel plan and how much you can afford.
Arrival at the airport.
The airport is modern, before going to the immigration fill out completely the immigration form( most airlines give it during flight) or just take it form the counter before immigration control. I totally recommend to fill the form before landing and save time. As you walk towards the immigration one officer check if you have filled the immigration form and also the custom declaration form. After this there are counters which just scan your passport and finger print and then you stand in for the immigration counter. The process is quick and they just put a sticker on your passport showing the validity of your visa.
After immigration take your luggage and pass through the custom control and hand over the custom declaration form and they will check your passport again.
1- Take JR pass for 7 days and travel unlimited on JR lines
2- Take single journey train HARUKA etc card for one time travel
3- Take bus
How to choose
If you plan to visit multiple cities in Japan and stay like a couple of days in each city, then its totally recommended to take the JR pass which cost nearly 217 Euro and travel hassle free to different cities using fast trains.
If you like to travel by train and use prepaid card and then HARUKA and IOCOA is good option, and cost nearly 3000yen for one way and takes 78 minutes to Kyoto station.
BUT
if you are going to stay longer in Kyoto and you don't have plan to visit another cities soon, so the bus is the cheapest option. One way cost 2300Yen and return ticket cost 4000 yen. Which is a cheap way to reach Kyoto station and takes 88 minutes.
After reaching to Kyoto you can take a SUBWAY ticket for 290 yen for one way, 600yen for one day and 1000 yen for SUBWAY+ BUS for one day pass.
Change the currency at the airport, its similar rate as in the city. you can use CARD money in most of the places in Japan but cash is more welcomed, and small vendors you can just use cash.
Below find some useful links
1- For JR pass
https://www.jrpass.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw9afOBRDWARIsAJW4nvy31uaiIUC5b69qaJ9Rt-RHbDDMuePf9PvQpG8LrVW1NFKpguiaeJoaAjUZEALw_wcB
2-Kyoto subway
https://www.kyotostation.com/kyoto-subway-lines/
