Visitor Information

One of Kyoto's best resources, the Tourist Information Center, is on the second floor of Kyoto Station. Heading away from of the tracks, take the escalator up one flight; the information desk is next to the entrance of Isetan Department Store. The office publishes pamphlets with descriptions of five self-guided walking tours, including maps. The tours range in length from about 40 to 80 minutes. The office is open daily 8:30 to 7, but closes the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. To get the lay of the land, newcomers should obtain an up-to-date bus map, a tourist map, and a copy of the free monthly Kyoto Visitor's Guide here.

Visitors require special permission from the Imperial Household Agency to visit three sights in Kyoto: Kyoto Imperial Palace, Katsura Rikyu, and Shugaku-in Imperial Villa. It's best to obtain permission at least a few days in advance, but the permission to visit the Imperial Palace can often be obtained for a same-day visit by stopping in at the agency's office, which is in the northwest corner of the Imperial Palace's park; you can also apply for permission on the agency's Web site.

Contacts

Imperial Household Agency. 3 Kyoto Gyoen-nai, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8611. 075/211-1215. sankan.kunaicho.go.jp.

Kyoto Tourist Information Center. 2F JR Kyoto Station, Karasuma-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, 600-8555. 075/343-0548.

Kyoto Visitor's Guide. www.kyotoguide.com.