dollars. One interesting thing is that before I’m allowed to ride it, I have to take a bicycle safety class—yep, it’s that important here.
Buses are super common and usually very reliable. Since so many people use them, they have to be on time—and they usually are! When I first arrived in Kyoto, I took a big, fancy express bus with nice seats, free Wi-Fi and even snack trays. But after that, we had to get on a regular city bus—and we didn’t realize there was no luggage storage. With all of our bags, it got crowded fast! That said, buses here are comfortable and clean. The only downside is they can be slow since they stop often.
Trains are my favorite! They're fast, smooth and super easy to use—especially if you have something called an IC card. An IC card is kind of like a debit card. You just tap it when you get on and off the train, and it automatically pays your fare. You can even use it to buy snacks or drinks at stores! I have mine loaded onto my phone and Apple Watch, and it works great. Even though most of the signs are in Japanese, the train lines are color-coded, so it’s easy to figure out where you’re going.
Trying all of these different ways of getting around has been exciting and sometimes surprising.
Riding a bike in Kyoto feels very freeing. Even though I haven’t started yet (I’m still waiting for my safety class!), I can already tell that biking will be a fast and fun way to explore the city.
