Airlines JAL, JR Kyoto Station (international tel 0120-25-5931; domestic 0120-25-5971); Korean Airlines, Toho Seimei Blg, Aidano-cho higashi-iru, Nakagyo-ku (tel 0088-212001).
Airport information Itami tel 06/6856-6781; Kansai International tel 0724/55-2500.
Banks and exchange Kyoto's main banking district is around the Karasuma Shijo junction, extending east towards the river and north to Oike-dori, where Sumitomo, Sanwa and Tokyo Mitsubishi banks all have foreign exchange facilities. However, note that most banks in Kyoto don't open their exchange desks until 10.30/11am.
Bike rental Renta-cycle Yasumoto (tel 075/751-0595; daily 9am-5pm), on the riverbank just north of Sanjo-Keihan Station, charges ¥1000 per day and asks for a deposit of ¥10,000 or ID of some sort. Ordinary town bikes at Taki Renta Bike (daily 8am-8pm; tel 075/341-7586), near Hiraiwa Ryokan , cost ¥1000 for 24hr, or ¥1300 for three-speed machines.
British Council The Council's library, at 77 Kitashirakawa Nishimachi (Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; tel 075/791-7151), stocks English-language newspapers and magazines. They also have occasional screenings of British films (¥500; free to members) and a varied lecture programme. Membership costs ¥2000 per year.
Car rental Nippon Rent-a-car (tel 075/671-0919), Nissan Rent-a-car (tel 075/351-4123) and Eki Rent-a-car (tel 075/371-3020) all have offices near Kyoto Station.
Emergencies The main police station is at 85-3 Yabunouchi-cho, Shimodachiuri-dori, Kamaza Higashi-iru, Kamigyo-ku (tel 075/451-9111). In an absolute emergency, contact the Foreign Advisory Service on tel 075/752-3010.
Hospitals and clinics The main Kyoto hospital with English-speaking doctors is the Japan Baptist Hospital, 47 Yamanomoto-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku (tel 075/781-5191). Otherwise, Sakabe Clinic, 435 Yamamoto-cho, Gokomachi Nijo-sagaru (closed Thurs pm, Sat pm & Sun; tel 075/231-1624), is run by the English-speaking Dr Sakabe.
Immigration To renew your tourist or student visa, apply to the Immigration Bureau, 4F, 34-12 Higashi Marutamachi, Kawabata Higashi-iru, near Keihan Marutamachi Station (tel 075-752-5997).
Internet access A number of places offer access to the Web, but it's probably best to check with the Tourist Information Centre first as they have an up-to-date list of places and rates. At the time of writing it costs ¥250 for 30min at Café Buttercups and at the Kyoto Prefectural Tourist office, on the ninth floor of Isetan department store in Kyoto Station.