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. Down near the station, the Central Post Office also handles foreign exchange (Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm). In addition to the post office ATMs , ATM machines in the All Card Plaza (in the Teramachi arcade, just north of Shijo-dori) and the underground Zest Mall (under the Kawaramachi Oike junction, near Kyoto City Hall) accept a range of credit cards, including some cards registered on foreign accounts. Otherwise, you can get cash advances over the counter without a PIN number at the following: for Visa go to Sumitomo Bank's main branch on Karasuma just south of Sanjo-dori, or a handy sub-branch in Hankyu department store; for MasterCard, head for Nanto Bank, on the Karasuma Oike junction; and Sanwa Bank, at Shijo Karasuma, for American Express.

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. If you're staying at Tojian , Utano Youth Hostel or Tani House , you could rent their more reasonable bikes (?500-800 per day).

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. They have a general clinic (6.30-8.30pm), or take appointments between 9am and 12.30pm. Consultations cost around ?4000 for the first visit and ?2000 thereafter. For more information about medical facilities with English-speaking staff in Kyoto or throughout the region, call the AMDA International Medical Information Centre (tel 06/6636-2333).

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 Cafe Buttercups and at the Kyoto Prefectural Tourist office, on the ninth floor of Isetan department store in Kyoto Station. Alternatively, it's ?600 for one hour at Netsurf, 8F, Kawabata Building, Shijo Takakura nishi-iru (daily except Wed noon-6pm), opposite the Daimaru department store. Aspirin (daily 10am-9pm), in the Teramachi shopping arcade, charges ?500 for 1hr, and also has a nice cafe/bar with vegetarian meals available.

Language courses Some of the most prominent language schools are the Kyoto Japanese Language School, Ichijo-dori Muromachi-nishi, Kamigyo-ku (tel 075/414-0449), Kyoto Kokusai Gaikokugo Centre, 21 Kamihate-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku (tel 075/722-5066), Kyoto YMCA Japanese Language School, Sanjo Yanaginobanba (tel 075/255-3287), and Kyoto International Academy, Sanjo Hanamikoji (tel 075/752-2837). The Kyoto International Community House, 2-1 Torii-cho Awataguchi, Sakyo-ku (tel 075/752-3010), also runs basic courses in survival Japanese (?5000 per term), while Berlitz, 9F, Ishizumi Building, Shijo Tominokoji nishi-iru, Shimogyo-ku (tel 075/255-2311), is recommended for its intensive courses.

Post office The Central Post Office, 843-12 Higashi Shiokoji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, is located in front of Kyoto Station. They accept poste restante mail and there's a 24hr window for stamps and express mail.

Taxis If you phone in advance, MK Taxi (tel 075/721-2237) can provide English-speaking drivers. Otherwise, Kyoren (tel 075/661-2121) offers decent rates.

Ticket agencies Tickets to theatre, films, concerts and sports events are available at Pia (tel 075/252-7190), on the seventh floor of Takashimaya department store. There are also similar agencies in the Daimaru and Hankyu stores.

Travel agents For international tickets, A'cross Travellers Bureau, 2F Royal Plaza Building, Rokkaku-sagaru Higashinotoin (tel 075/255-3559), and No 1 Travel, 3F Shinkyogoku Shijo-agaru (tel 075/251-6970), have English-speaking staff. Or, try T.I.S (tel 075/361-3238), in the first basement of Kyoto Station. The main domestic agents are Japan Travel Bureau (JTB; tel 075/361-7241) and Kinki Nippon Tourist (tel 075/681-7211), with branches all over the city.