Winter smooth sightseeing in Kyoto by train and on foot “Pedestrian-Friendly City Kyoto Rail Ticket”

Kyoto City will release the “Pedestrian-Friendly City Kyoto Rail Ticket” for Kyoto sightseeing in winter, which allows unlimited rides on routes within the valid area of 5 railway operators.

It is available for these transportation – Kyoto Municipal Subway, JR West, Keihan Electric Railway, Randen (Keifuku Electric Railroad) and Hankyu Railway (see railway map for detailed). JR West is limited to the use of non-reserved seats on local trains (including special rapid / rapid service). A separate fee is required to use the Keihan’s premium car. Any bus routes such as Kyoto City Bus cannot be used.

The price is 1,300 yen (adults) for the “Pedestrian-Friendly City Kyoto Rail Ticket (1-day version)” and 2,000 yen (adults) for the “Same (2-day version)”. There is no setting for children. The validity period is from December 1, 2020 (Tuesday) to March 31, 2021 (Wednesday), and the 2-day version is valid for 2 consecutive days.

The 1-day version can be purchased by anyone on the day of use. Sales offices are city bus / subway information centers and commuter pass sales offices, JR West Kyoto Station, Keihan Sanjo / Biwako-Hamaotsu Station, Randen major stations, Hankyu Kyoto-kawaramachi / Katsura Station, etc. From December 1, 2020 (Tuesday), JR West Kyoto Station offers advance sales up to one month in advance.

The 2-day version will be purchased only to those who use the JR Internet reservation (“Express Yoyaku”, “Smart EX” and “e5489”) or travel agency tours and take the Shinkansen or conventional limited express train to Kyoto Station.

Kyoto Tower seen from the roof of the Kyoto Station Building ©Katsumi

In addition, if you show it at some culture / tourist places on the day you use the “Pedestrian-Friendly City Kyoto Rail Ticket”, you can get benefits such as discounts on admission fees. For example, the admission fee will be discounted by 1 at the “Kyoto Railway Museum”, and original goods from the Water and Sewerage Bureau will be given for you at the “Lake Biwa Canal Museum”.

Each railway operator is implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as regular disinfection and ventilation of vehicles. When using public transportation, we call for cooperation such as wearing a mask and refraining from talking as much as possible.