Do I like this train station? I could happily live in it
The station
Kyoto Station … make sure you arrive early to enjoy all of its delights.Credit: iStock
Kyoto Station, Kyoto, Japan
The journey
Kyoto to Kinosaki aboard the JR Hashidate service, a limited express train.
The departure
You could conceivably arrive at Kyoto Station about 10 minutes before your train is due to depart, whizz through the gates and power-walk to your platform and you would be fine – it’s that predictable and efficient. However, don’t do that. There’s too much to check out.
Kyoto Station is centrally located in the south of the city, and getting here is easy, whether by subway (the station is on Kyoto’s Karasuma line), local train (it’s also serviced by Japan Rail and Kintetsu), taxi, bus, or walking. There are plenty of hotels nearby, including the excellent The Thousand, a two-minute walk away.
I’m travelling on a JR Pass, which I collect at the ticket counter without too much trouble (having ordered it in Australia first). There are plenty of secure, affordable coin lockers throughout the station if you want to leave any luggage.
Safety + security
This is Japan, so you’re in a very safe environment. The area around Kyoto Station is clean and orderly, with no personal security issues.
Food + drink
Friends: arrive hungry. Because there is so, so much to eat and drink in and around Kyoto Station. You want ramen? Of course you do. Go check out Kyoto Ramen Street, a noodle “theme park” on the 10th floor of the station building, where eight shops are each dedicated to a regional variation of ramen. Or, go to the 11th floor, and choose from nine restaurants of varying specialty. Or, skip across to the connected Granvia Hotel building, which has 11 cafes and restaurants. Or go to the connected Isetan department store where the entire 11th floor is dedicated to dining. Or try Asty Square on the south side of the station, which again has many options. Past the gates at Kyoto Station you will also find plenty of “eki-ben” stands, selling bento boxes to take on the train.
Retail therapy
Once again, you could spend days perusing the shops at Kyoto Station. The Cube is an entire shopping mall, Isetan is a 13-floor department store, Asty Square has all sorts of goodies, Porta is an underground shopping mall, and there are several other malls and department stores within walking distance.
Passing time
Hot tip for ramen freaks: just a few minutes’ walk from Kyoto Station there’s Honke Daiichi-Asahi, a legendary ramen shop that has been around since 1947, and serves porky, soy-based soup and excellent gyoza. Just leave time to queue before eating – it usually takes half an hour or so to get in.
Boarding
This is a simple process: find the right platform, then take note of your car number, and queue up in the marked spot for that particular car. When your train pulls up (on time, of course), file on and find your seat.
The verdict
If this was like that movie The Terminal, and I was stuck living my entire life at Kyoto Station – honestly, I’d be pretty happy. You have everything you could ever want here in terms of facilities, plus the incredible efficiency of the Japanese rail system.
Our rating out of five
★★★★★
The writer travelled as a guest of Kyoto City Tourism Association
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