Photo= A "finger-point conversation board" (right) and a tablet terminal with translation functions, which have been installed as quick guides for foreign tourists (Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto)

As of November 17, Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau has equipped all city buses with a quadrilingual "finger-point conversation board," and installed tablet terminals that facilitate translation of 45 languages at three subway stations: Kyoto, Shijo, Karasuma Oike Stations.

Although bus drivers and station attendants previously provided assistance, due to the increasing number of foreign passengers, "communication via gestures can no longer cover the needs," according to the bureau. The boards and the tablets have been introduced as a panacea to enable passengers to alight smoothly and alleviate congestion.

The conversation boards show routes to sightseeing spots and how to pay fares in four languages, and drivers can point their fingers at them to guide foreign visitors. The tablets have applications for transfer guides and maps, which station attendants can translate according to the language of the tourists.