By Plane

The nearest international airport to Kyoto is the Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Kyoto doesn`t have anyone, so you'll have to get first into Osaka and then take the express train to get to Kyoto, there are these options of transportation from Kansai Airport:
Train: 73 minutes by JR "Haruka" Kansai Airport Limited Express
Airport Limousine Bus: About 95 - 135 minutes. Tel. 075/682-4400
Taxi: About 120 minutes

By Train

The Shinkansen bullet train pass through Kyoto, actually it's one of the major stops in the route, it takes up to 2 1/2 hours from Kyoto to Tokyo or viceversa, Kyoto is just 20 minutes away from Shin-Osaka Station, if you are in Kobe you can travel to Kyoto taking a train from Sannomiya and Motomachi stations. Many facilites such as restaurants, shoppings, department stores, internet connection and many others can be found in the Kyoto Station.

By Bus

You can take a bus to Kyoto from the Tokyo Station at 10:00pm and 10:50pm and arrive to Kyoto the next day in the morning at 5:55 am and 6:32 am, also from Shinjuku Station and the trip time is similar, you can take the bus at 10:45 pm, 11:10pm, and 11:50pm.

Tourist Information

There are big discounts if you acquire bus tickets 21 days before, or if you want to visit many places in two days you can buy the a transit pass, a day pass for buses only costs $4.15, a day pass for subway and buses costs $10, a 2 day pass also for subway and buses costs $17.

More tourist information as maps and anything else can be found in Kyoto Station and also in the terminus of Shinkansen bullet train you'll find the Volunteer's Service Tourist Office, Tel. 075/691-1000, and the Kyoto City Tourist Information Office, Tel. 075/343-6656, situated on the station at Karasuma's Central Exit.