Life in Kyoto

Kyoto is a medium-sized city with a population of approximately 2.5 million, offering a rare combination of calm living and urban functionality. With over 1,000 years of history, the city is renowned for its well-preserved cultural heritage, while also serving as a center for advanced technology, research, and innovation. Historic temples and World Heritage Sites coexist with modern business districts, creating a city rich in opportunities for discovery and everyday exploration.
Kyoto’s public transportation system is highly reliable and easy to use. Two subway lines run north to south and east to west, with frequent service throughout the day, while an extensive bus network connects the city center with surrounding residential and mountainous areas. In addition, Japan Railways and private train lines provide convenient access to neighboring cities, prefectures, and major regions across Japan.
Kyoto is also a very walkable and bicycle-friendly city, with a relatively flat layout that supports a healthy and comfortable daily lifestyle. Within this environment, KUAS’ two campuses offer distinct surroundings and experiences.
KUAS Uzumasa Campus, located close to central Kyoto, allows students to enjoy vibrant city life, cultural landmarks, shopping areas, and urban conveniences just minutes from campus.
In contrast, KUAS Kameoka Campus is surrounded by mountains and nature, offering access to green spaces, rivers, and outdoor activities that highlight Kyoto’s natural beauty and relaxed pace of life.
Students can freely travel between the two campuses using the campus shuttle bus, making it easy to experience and benefit from both environments as part of daily student life.
By living and studying in Kyoto, students can experience both the dynamic energy of the city and the calm of nature—depending on where they are. Making Kyoto your new home opens the door to a wide range of cultural, academic, and personal experiences that extend well beyond the classroom.

Kyoto City Central Area

1. Kyoto Station

Kyoto Station, located in the southern area of Kyoto City, is a huge terminal where Shinkansen, highway buses, local buses, and various railroad systems converge. It is well-known for its modern open architectural design.
Oﬀering department stores, hotels, theaters, and many other attractions, the station sees over 600,000 visitors per day. In close proximity are an aquarium, a large shopping mall, and the Nidec Kyoto Tower, which oﬀers a panoramic view of Kyoto City.
If you are coming to Kyoto from the airports or another area of Japan, you will probably reach this station ﬁrst. From Kyoto Station, you can get anywhere in Kyoto by subway, JR line, or bus.
For directions from Kyoto Station to KUAS, please see the Location page.

2. Kiyomizu

The Kiyomizu area stretches along a mountainside to the east area Kyoto City. This old town is home to many temples and shrines, the most famous being Kiyomizu Temple, one of Kyotoʼs many World Heritage sites. From its high wooden hall, visitors can catch a panoramic view of Kyoto City. Nearby is Kodaiji Temple with its beautiful autumn foliage and Yasaka Pagoda (Hokanji Temple), a legendary photo spot. In addition, the pottery industry has long ﬂourished in Kiyomizu, and many stores sell traditional ceramics and other items created by craftsmen. Ceramic technology is used in modern electronics, and it is said that Kyoto’s high-tech industry developed from Kiyomizu’s pottery. Many traditional houses are located in this area, and visitors can enjoy the historical scenery that Kyoto has beautifully preserved over the years.

3. Gion

The Gion area is located on the east side of the Kamogawa River and is a staple sightseeing spot along with the Kiyomizu area. It is mainly known as an entertainment district where maiko and geiko perform, but the sublime historical heritage of Yasaka Shrine and Kenninji Temple are also notable aspects to experience. There is also a theater where you can watch classic kabuki performances and a museum where you can learn kanji, allowing you to experience Japanʼs multifaceted culture. The streets are lined with stores selling traditional Kyoto foods such as teas, sweets, and pickled vegetables. Gionʼs visitors can enjoy all of the cityʼs unique elements, making it one of the most stimulating areas in Kyoto.

4. Shijo-Kawaramachi

“Shijo-Kawaramachi” refers to the intersection where Shijo Street and Kawaramachi Street meet. This area is constantly bustling with foot traﬃc due to its lengthy shopping streets, vast selection of department stores, and electronics stores that have an expansive stock of computers, games, cameras, and other outlets for entertainment. This area also oﬀers karaoke, movie theaters, and stores selling anime and video game character merchandise, making it the perfect place to take a deep dive into Japanese pop culture. Walk a short distance oﬀ the main street, and you will ﬁnd various restaurants, cafes, and food markets, where you can indulge in one of Japan’s greatest attractions, its food culture.
The area is conveniently located near the Kamogawa River, a legendary leisure spot for Kyoto residents. This river is a place for everybody, and stopping here to take a breather and enjoy the scenery is highly recommended.

5. Karasuma-Oike

Karasuma-Oike is located in the center of Kyoto City. It is convenient for commuting, being the transfer point for the Karasuma and Tozai subway lines. This area is a business district with many oﬃce buildings, hotels, and public facilities such as Kyoto City Hall, banks, and a large-scale post oﬃce.
Aside from being a place to handle business matters, Karasuma Oike is also home to the International Manga Museum, Japan’s ﬁrst library dedicated to manga. Kyoto oﬀers access to many cultural centers, both old and new.
Go just a little further north from Karasuma-Oike and you will arrive at Kyoto Imperial Palace, the former residence of Japanʼs emperors. The gardens and structures remain the same as they were centuries ago, and visitors can engulf themselves in previous eras when Kyoto was the capital.

6. Okazaki

Okazaki is another area that puts Kyotoʼs rich tradition on display and is located at the foot of Higashiyama (Mt. Higashi) on the east side of Kyoto City. It is home to famous temples and shrines such as Heian Shrine, Nanzenji Temple, and Eikando Hall, as well as many museums, concert halls, and a zoo. It is also known for its beautiful cherry blossoms that add a vibrant tint to the spring scenery. Okazaki is also home to the Kyoto International Community House, which provides information and services for international students and foreign residents.

Uzumasa Campus Area

1. Ukyo Ward Oﬃce

The nearest station to Uzumasa Campus, Uzumasa Tenjingawa Station, is adjacent to the SANSA Ukyo building, which houses the Ukyo Ward Oﬃce, a library and a gymnasium.
Since Uzumasa Campus is located in Ukyo Ward, most students living in the area use the Ukyo Ward Oﬃce for resident registration, national health insurance and other administrative procedures. There is no need for concern, as the International Oﬃce staﬀ will assist you with these tasks. Additionally, there is a supermarket across the street from the ward oﬃce.

2. Shijo-Kadonooji

About a 10-minute walk south of Uzumasa Campus lies a large intersection where Shijo Street and Kadonooji Street meet. Surrounding this area are shopping malls, aﬀordable interior goods stores and a home improvement center. Numerous cafes and restaurants are also located nearby, making it a convenient location for shopping and dining.

3. Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (Kyoto Studio Park)

“Eiga” means movie in Japanese. In fact, Kyoto is also known as the birthplace of Japanese cinema, and there is a studio in Uzumasa where traditional Japanese period dramas are ﬁlmed. Part of the studio has been transformed into a theme park called Toei Uzumasa Eigamura, where visitors can enjoy Edo Period streets, ninja houses and samurai shows. The park is located not far from Uzumasa Dormitory B.

4. Matsuno-o Shrine

Located on the edge of the mountains southwest of Uzumasa, Matsuno-o Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, with a history spanning 1,300 years. The shrine is dedicated to the god of sake. Its extensive grounds include an ancient shrine pavilion, Japanese gardens and a sake museum. KUAS international students participate in a festival held at the shrine as part of a community exchange program.

5. Arashiyama

Arashiyama is a low mountain situated between Kyoto City, where Uzumasa Campus is located, and Kameoka City, where Kameoka Campus is located. Renowned as one of Kyoto’s most scenic spots, it draws many tourists during the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. The area is rich with numerous temples and shrines, World Heritage sites, hot springs and a park where visitors can interact with monkeys, oﬀering a distinct experience of Kyoto beyond the city center.

Kameoka Campus Area

1. Kameoka City Hall

Kameoka City Hall is situated between Kameoka Station and Kameoka Campus and can be reached by bicycle or bus from either location. If you live in Kameoka City, you will need to complete resident registration, national health insurance and other procedures here. The area around the city hall includes KUAS’ Kameoka Dorm, supermarkets, restaurants and more.

2. Shopping Malls and Streets

Kameoka City features several large shopping malls, all of which are easily accessible by bus or train. You will have no trouble shopping for groceries and daily necessities. Additionally, most of these Japanese shopping malls include 100-yen stores, where you can purchase many high-quality products at low prices̶an advantage when starting a new life.
Furthermore, there are shopping streets scattered around Kameoka Station, lined with small stores. Here, you can enjoy shopping while experiencing the local atmosphere of Japan.

3. Tamba-Kameyama Castle

A 10-minute walk from Kameoka Station lies the ruins of Tamba-Kameyama Castle, built by Mitsuhide Akechi, a general of the Warring States Period, to ﬁght in the western part of Kyoto. Like Kyoto City, the town of Kameoka served as a signiﬁcan’t historical stage where samurai warriors fought for glory. Many historical ﬁgures continued to reside in this castle until the Edo Period. Today, the stone walls and gates are preserved as ruins and are open to visitors.

4. Sanga Stadium

Near Kameoka Station is Sanga Stadium, a full-scale stadium where professional soccer and university football matches are held. The stadium also includes a cafeteria and a state-of-the-art facility where visitors can enjoy e-sports and drone soccer.

5. Kameoka Riverside Park

Kameoka Riverside Park oﬀers visitors the chance to experience the rich nature of Kameoka. Within the park, visitors can learn about sustainable environmental practices and enjoy waterfront activities such as ﬁshing, barbecuing and stand-up paddle boarding (SUP). Rafting from the park down the river will take you to Arashiyama.