KYOTO
Traffic Control
Kyoto is an aging society, so the users of cars have increased, and this is the reason for traffic congestion. Kyoto increased public transportation and helped this problem. It will build the expressway, which will be completed in 2016, and the new expressway will bring new tourists to Kyoto. The transportation network of Kyoto provides rapidity, comfort, and convenient services and will develop more and more from now on. Nowadays, Kyoto has a world-class public transportation system. The public transportation system is convenient because it is so extensive including:
- Trains and Subways:
Kyoto is served by six train lines. If tourists want to go to nearby cities like Osaka , Otsu, Kobe or Nara, trains are the way to go. The Shinkanse (Bullet Train) in particular, is the transportation that is good for foreign tourists, because it is one of the fastest trains in the world. Though Kyoto is 459km away from Tokyo, you can still arrive by Shinkansen in approximately two hours. In addition, Kyoto has two subway lines that are the best ways to move anywhere in the city.
- Buses:
Kyoto's buses are a useful way of getting around the city. The tourist offices provide English maps for the Kyoto City Buses, so it is easy for foreign visitors to access tourist attractions by buses.
- Taxis:
Taxis are plentiful and reasonably priced in Kyoto. Tourists who visited Kyoto for the first time can easily go to sightseeing spots without losing their ways by taxi.
Landscape Policy
After the high economic growth period of the 20th century, the landscape of Kyoto was urbanized and this changed the historic scenery. The Landscape Policy was established in September 2007 to protect historic landscape of Kyoto in the future.
There are 3 basic concepts of landscape development in the historical city of Kyoto:
(1) Landscape should be developed consistent with the outlook of the city in the coming 50 years and 100 years.
(2) Although buildings belong to private owners, the landscapes they form belong to public.
(3) Everyone is responsible for and has the mission to preserve the landscape of Kyoto and pass it down to the future generations.
Based on these concepts , comprehensive support system including financial support was established to implement the following five major projects:
(1) Review of building height limitation.
(2) Review of design standards for buildings and designation of the regulated areas.
(3) Measures for the preservation of perspective and borrowed landscape.
(4) Imposing more stringent regulations on outdoor advertisements.
(5) Conservation and revitalization of historical buildings including Kyo-machiya houses (traditional wooden townhouses). These policies maintain scenery of Kyoto and offer historic scenery to tourists.
Wi-Fi Spots
Kyoto provides free Wi-Fi for tourists. Wi-Fi spots were installed in 630 places in 2012. Nowadays, Wi-Fi is established in Kyoto more than 1500 places, such as public accommodations, stations, bus stops, convenience stores, etc. This service provided convenience to tourists, but it had a security problem. Kyoto improved this problem by performing the authentication procedure once every 30 minutes. For the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in 2020, Kyoto strengthens security more and enlarges the Wi-Fi spots.
Designated Smoking Areas
Tourists can buy cigarettes basically anywhere in Kyoto because there are convenience stores in every corners. However, tourists smoking on the streets is a serious issue in Kyoto because cigarette butts cause a fire and jeopardize a historic building. Smoking in the city's public was banned by an ordinance of Kyoto City in 2008, particularly central city area is designed as prohibited area. Violators must pay an administrative fine of 1,000 Yen. Purpose of this bylaw is to avoid historical buildings getting burned and to keep Kyoto city healthy and safe. Kyoto expanded non-smoking areas in 2012 and guaranteed the safety of the tourists. City installed smoking areas in remote places of the historical buildings, such as riverside.
Information for Persons with Disabilities
Kyoto Universal Tourism Concierges are universal tourism professionals appointed by the City of Kyoto. Kyoto promotes universal tourism everyone can enjoy, includes disabled and elderly. They have useful barrier free information on the homepage about sightseeing tours, cultural facilities, toilets, accommodations, transportaions, dining, etc. Tourists select what kind of information they want to know and concierges give answers by e-mail or phone, which is contributed free. They also provide services in English, so it helps international tourists. This information broadens the sightseeing tours for tourists. Because of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics coming up in 2020 world’s attention to Japan is growing. Kyoto plans to increase the number of tourism amnesties by 700 in the near future.