How do I pay for the train in Kyoto?

You can use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica for all trains, subways and buses in Kyoto. You can also use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica at many shops, especially convenience stores. Buy Icoca cards from vending machines at JR Kyoto Station.



Paying for trains in Kyoto in 2026 is most conveniently handled through IC Cards or Contactless Payments. The most popular method is using an integrated circuit (IC) card like ICOCA, Suica, or Pasmo. These "tap-and-go" cards can be purchased at any train station ticket machine and work on all local trains, subways, and even buses. In 2026, most travelers now simply add a digital Suica or ICOCA card to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay, allowing them to tap their smartphone at the ticket gates without needing a physical card. For those who prefer traditional methods, you can still buy individual paper tickets at vending machines using cash (Japanese Yen); you check the fare on the map above the machine, select the price, and insert your money. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you simply tap your pass at the dedicated readers on the JR lines. It is important to note that Kyoto's transportation is split between JR lines, the municipal subway, and several private railway companies (like Hankyu or Keihan), but an IC card or mobile wallet is universally accepted across all of them.

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Where to Buy
  1. Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Center.
  2. Commuter Pass Sales Booth.
  3. Subway Station Ticket Window.
  4. Subway Station Ticket Machines(Same-day Ticket only)


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For a limited time only, you can buy a Japan Rail Pass from certain train stations and airports in Japan. Travelers should be aware it is more expensive to buy a JR Pass in Japan than to purchase the pass online.

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The Suica is a prepaid e-money card for moving around and shopping. There is no more need to buy a ticket from a vending machine. Just touch your Suica to the ticket gate and the fare is automatically deducted from your Suica. The Suica can be used not only for JR East trains, but subways and buses as well.

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You can use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica for all trains, subways and buses in Kyoto. You can also use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica at many shops, especially convenience stores. Buy Icoca cards from vending machines at JR Kyoto Station.

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Suica is the prepaid IC card by JR East for JR trains in the Greater Tokyo, Niigata and Sendai regions. A special version of Suica, called Welcome Suica, is available to foreign tourists. The special cards are valid for only four weeks, come without a deposit fee, but do not allow for refunds.

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The JR pass is only worth it if you travel through different cities, if you are just travelling to Tokyo to Kyoto for example, I would just pay on the Suica. You can do the online calculator or just use google to calculate which trip is easier - paying individually on Suica or getting a JR Pass.

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But not on Eizan Railway Line or on Kyoto City Bus. You should be able to recharge your card with the machines accepting IC cards including ICOCA and SUICA/PASMO. The Suica is valid on everything in Kyoto except the City Bus and Eizan Railway. You can recharge it using the machines as you do in Tokyo.

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The subways and trains are the most convenient way to get around the city. Buses are less convenient, but cover almost the whole city. Taxis are plentiful and reasonably cheap. They're sometimes cheaper than buses for groups of three or four on short trips.

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Some places only accept cash Don't rely on credit cards when visiting local attractions or small shops in Kyoto. Of course, in hotels and shopping malls you will be able to use your credit card to pay for goods and services, but this is less certain at local places. In many instances, you will need to pay cash.

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Step 3: Buy Your Ticket Metrolink offers two main ways to purchase your ticket: on the fly and from the comfort of your home and at the station before you board, Metrolink also offers contactless ticketing through the Mobile App available for download here.

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We recommend that you book your JR Pass from Klook at least 2 weeks before your trip to Japan. This allows enough wiggle room in the validity period of your Exchange Order. You can't purchase your JR Pass more than 3 months before your trip, as it's past the validity period of your Exchange Order.

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If you calculate that your travel costs will be lower if you buy individual tickets for each journey, then it's not worth buying a JR Pass. However, if you take into account journeys on Shinkansen high-speed trains or other means of transport, the savings you make become substantial.

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We recommend that you book your JR Pass from Klook at least 2 weeks before your trip to Japan. This allows enough wiggle room in the validity period of your Exchange Order. You can't purchase your JR Pass more than 3 months before your trip, as it's past the validity period of your Exchange Order.

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