For large families in Kyoto,
send bags ahead and travel by subway + taxi.
Watching packed city bus after packed city bus go by with your suitcases and stroller, the kids getting fussy, everyone weighed down by heavy bags. The bottom line: in Kyoto a large family should ① send the big bags ahead to the hotel by "luggage delivery", and ② skip the city buses and get around by subway + taxi.
Go hands-free the moment you land and getting around Kyoto becomes far easier. This article walks through how to use luggage delivery, plus a subway + taxi route that skips the city buses — all from a large-family point of view.
*This article contains promotion (PR). We include Klook affiliate links for booking airport transfers, transit tickets, and luggage delivery. If you book through a link, we may receive a commission to help run the site (at no extra cost to you). For non-partner options such as JR and public transit, we compare neutrally.
3 reasons3 reasons "send bags ahead + subway" works for large families
Hands-free from the moment you arrive
Send your big bags to your hotel from the airport and you arrive in Kyoto without hauling large suitcases onto the limited express. You can handle sudden bathroom trips and fussy kids while traveling light. Just keep one night's change of clothes for everyone in your carry-on.
Two subway lines, on time Officially confirmed
Kyoto's subway is just two lines — Karasuma (north–south) and Tozai. With no road traffic, times are predictable, and you're spared the exhaustion of watching packed city bus after packed city bus pass you by.
Taxi is the "last resort"
Take a taxi only for station→hotel, rain, or when the kids hit their limit. For five or more, use a jumbo taxi or split into two. Narrowing down when you use it keeps both cost and wait times down.
Send your bags ahead and you'll have zero bags in hand the moment you reach Kyoto.
Forget about packed buses and move at your kids' pace.
City bus vs subway vs taxi — compared by large-family standards
The large-family trick is to choose not just on "cheapness", but on whether you can board with luggage and kids, whether times are predictable, and whether it works for a group of 5–6.
Subway (Karasuma & Tozai) Officially confirmed
No traffic, on time, predictable
- Karasuma (north–south) and Tozai — two lines with no traffic, on time
- Tozai Line "Keage" offers great access to machiya in the Nanzen-ji area
- More elevators and ramps for strollers, too
- Even more comfortable outside the morning and evening rush
Taxi
For station→hotel, rain, and breaking points
- A standard taxi (including the JPN TAXI) seats up to 4
- Five or more need a jumbo taxi
- In Kyoto they're hard to hail on the street or via apps
- Advance booking, major-station stands, or splitting into two is the sure bet
| Large-family criteria | City bus | Subway | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boarding with luggage + kids | △ (may be too full to board) | ○ (comfortable if hands-free) | ◎ (just load up and sit) |
| Predictable timing | △ (traffic, delays) | ◎ (on time) | △ (depends on the roads) |
| Works for 5–6 people | △ (hard to split up) | ○ (board normally) | △ (jumbo or two cars) |
| Rain or kids at their limit | × | ○ | ◎ |
| Cost | Cheap | Cheap to moderate | Expensive (OK split among the group) |
| Role for a large family | Backup once hands-free | Backbone (the star) | Last resort |
*General guide as of 2026-07-02. ○△◎ are our editorial assessment of large-family usability, not user reviews or ratings. Once you send your bags to your hotel and go hands-free, even city buses work fine on quieter lines and times.
See the routeThe luggage & people route (send ahead + subway)
Bags go straight from the airport to your hotel; people ride the subway hands-free. At night, you reunite with your bags at the hotel — splitting into these two lanes is the single best pattern for an easy large-family trip in Kyoto.
Bags are delivered from the airport to your hotel (same-day generally needs a morning drop-off; afternoon arrivals tend to arrive next day). The family travels hands-free by train → the two subway lines to sightsee, then reunites with the bags at the hotel at night. For unstaffed lodgings, confirm the pickup method in advance.
Book airport luggage delivery on your phone before you land
Same-day delivery generally needs a morning drop-off. Arranging it in advance so you can start right after arrival gives peace of mind. Multilingual, secure payment.
Airport→hotel luggage delivery on Klook. Fares and same-day cut-offs vary by area and date, so check the latest with each provider's official info.
Honest caveats: the weak points up front
This approach is ideal for large families, but here honestly are the points where cut-offs, pickup, and taxis can trip you up.
Worries worth clearing up before you book
Should I avoid Kyoto city buses entirely?
No — they're just poor for moving luggage. Once you send your bags to your hotel and go hands-free, both buses and taxis become easy options. The trick is to send your bags ahead first.
What are the luggage-delivery fares and same-day cut-off?
They vary by area, date, and same-/next-day (rough guide; confirm with each provider's official info). Same-day delivery generally needs a morning drop-off, and if your flight lands in the afternoon your bags tend to arrive the next day. Keep one night's change of clothes in your carry-on.
Can a family of 5–6 catch a taxi?
A standard taxi (including the JPN TAXI) seats up to 4. Five or more need a jumbo taxi, but they're hard to hail on the street or via apps in Kyoto, so advance booking, a major-station taxi stand, or splitting into two is the sure bet.
Is the subway OK with a stroller?
Yes. Kyoto's subway has more and more elevators and ramps and is far easier than a packed bus. Avoid the morning and evening rush for extra comfort.
Read these too for an even easier Kyoto
📍 This article is part of the Kyoto trip plan ・ See all getting-around articles