Getting Around Kyoto by Bus: The Practical Guide

Kyoto’s temple districts are spread across a city that has fewer subway lines than its tourist density would suggest — the Higashiyama hills, Arashiyama, Ohara, and Kurama are all accessible primarily by bus. Understanding the bus system removes most of the navigation friction from a Kyoto visit.

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The Network

Kyoto is served by several bus operators:

Kyoto City Bus (Kyoto Shiei Bus): The main network for tourists. Green-and-cream buses; the route numbers appear on the front of the bus and are the primary navigation reference.

Kyoto Bus: A private company with routes to destinations outside the city center — Ohara, Kibune/Kurama, Uji. White buses with red and green lettering. IC cards accepted.

Randen (Keifuku Electric Railroad): The two-line tram network useful for Arashiyama (Saga-Arashiyama) — not a bus, but part of the transit system.

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Key Routes for Tourists

Route	Covers
100	Kyoto Station → Higashiyama → Ginkaku-ji (Philosophy’s Path area). The main “tourist route” — hits all major eastern sites
101	Kyoto Station → Kitano Tenmangu → Daitokuji → Kinkaku-ji. Northern and northwest temples
205	Circular route: Kyoto Station → Higashiyama → Ginkaku-ji → Daitokuji → Kinkaku-ji → Kyoto Station. Full east-to-northwest arc
17	Kyoto Station → Ohara. Takes 50–60 minutes; connects to Sanzen-in
11	Sanjo-Keihan → Gion Shijo → Kiyomizudera approach. Higashiyama access from east side

The 100 series (100, 101, 102) are express routes that skip intermediate stops and cover the main tourist corridors faster than standard routes.

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Fares and Payment

Standard fare: ¥230 per ride anywhere within Kyoto city limits (flat fare on City Bus). Pay when exiting at the rear door — you board through the front in some areas, rear in others (check the signs at your stop).

IC card (Suica, ICOCA, Pasmo): The easiest payment method. Tap when boarding; tap when exiting. Flat ¥230 deducted automatically. IC cards work on all Kyoto City Bus, Kyoto Bus, and subway services.

¥1,100 one-day pass (一日乗車券): Available at the Kyoto Station Bus Terminal information center and some convenience stores. Valid for unlimited rides on Kyoto City Bus, Kyoto Bus, and the Kyoto subway for one day.

Is the one-day pass worth it? At ¥230 per ride, the pass breaks even at 5 rides. A day covering Kinkaku-ji, Higashiyama, and Fushimi can easily hit 6–8 rides. For heavy touring days, yes. For a slow day in one area, no.

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How to Find and Board

At Kyoto Station: The main bus terminal is outside the Karasuma (north) exit. Numbered bays correspond to route numbers — Bay A1–D1 on the left, numbered bays on the right. The large information board shows which routes depart from which bay and current wait times.

At other stops: Bus stops have route information posted; the destination on the front of the bus is in Japanese and romaji. When in doubt, the route number is the reliable reference — match the number you need to the number on the front of the bus.

Boarding: Board at the rear door (or front on some routes); take a numbered ticket from the machine if fare zones apply (on some longer Kyoto Bus routes outside the city center). Standard Kyoto City Bus routes are flat fare — no ticket needed.

Exits: Call your stop using the button on the vertical pole between seats. Exit through the front door and pay as you leave (IC card tap at the reader next to the driver; cash in the fare box).

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The Congestion Reality

Kyoto’s buses are crowded. On spring and autumn weekends (cherry blossom and foliage seasons), peak routes — particularly the 100 and routes to Arashiyama — can fill to standing capacity, with multiple buses passing before you can board.

Strategies:

• Arrive at your first destination early (9am opening) and finish the popular sites by midday
• Walk between Higashiyama sites rather than busing each individual stop — the distance from Kiyomizudera to Heian Jingu via the Higashiyama Path is walkable in 45–60 minutes
• Use the subway for north-south travel (Karasuma Line: Kyoto Station → Shijo → Karasuma Oike → Kitaoji) and switch to buses for east-west
• Arashiyama by train (Sagano Line from Kyoto Station, or Hankyu from Karasuma-Oike to Arashiyama) avoids the most congested bus routes

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Subway Integration

Kyoto has two subway lines:

Karasuma Line (north-south): Kyoto Station → Shijo → Karasuma Oike → Imadegawa → Kitaoji → Kokusaikaikan. Useful for Nijo-jo (Oike Station), Imperial Palace (Imadegawa), and Daitokuji (Kitaoji, then bus or 15-minute walk).

Tozai Line (east-west): Keage → Higashiyama → Shijo Karasuma → Nijo → Uzumasa Tenjingawa. Useful for Gion Shijo area (Higashiyama Station: 5-minute walk to Maruyama Park) and Fushimi Inari (not direct — transfer to JR Nara Line at Tofukuji).

Combined day pass (¥1,600): Covers unlimited subway rides plus buses for one day. Worth it on heavy sightseeing days crossing multiple areas.

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Practical Apps

Google Maps: Works well in Kyoto for bus routing — enter your destination and it gives the correct bus number and stop. The real-time bus tracking is accurate for City Bus routes.

Navitime Japan: More detailed Japanese transit routing, with better bus timing information.

Kyoto Bus official app: Shows real-time positions of Kyoto City Buses on your route. Useful when standing at a stop wondering if a bus is coming.

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Key Bus Stops to Know

Stop Name	What’s Nearby
Kyoto Eki-mae	Kyoto Station (departure point)
Gion	Yasaka Shrine, Hanamikoji-dori
Higashiyama Yasui	Yasui Konpira-gu, start of Higashiyama path
Kiyomizumichi	Kiyomizudera approach (10-minute walk up)
Nanzenji/Eikando-michi	Nanzen-ji, Eikan-do
Ginkakuji-michi	Ginkaku-ji, Philosophy’s Path
Kinkakuji-michi	Kinkaku-ji
Daitokujicho	Daitokuji
Arashiyama	Tenryu-ji, bamboo grove (separate bus route)