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Kyoto Bus Summary! Convenient and economical way to explore Kyoto!

Kyoto Bus Summary! Convenient and economical way to explore Kyoto!
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2022-08-18 Management office

With 1,300 years of history, the city of Kyoto has attracted many people from the past to the present. The key to touring the city of Kyoto is to take advantage of the buses that run in all directions from the center of the city to the suburbs.

However, many people often shy away from using buses when visiting a city for sightseeing because of the hurdle involved. This article introduces the bus situation in Kyoto by bus company and area so that such people can make good use of the buses in Kyoto.

First, we will explain the characteristics of each company. There are four major bus companies that serve the central area of Kyoto City. The other companies are excluded from this article because they operate routes that are rarely used for sightseeing.
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Author of this article

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Table of Contents

  1. 1.
    Kyoto City Transportation Bureau (City Bus)
  3. 2.
    Kyoto Bus
  5. 3.
    Nishinippon JR Bus (JR Bus)
  7. 4.
    Keihan Bus
  9. 5.
    Convenient buses in each area
    1. 5-1.
      Kawaramachi/Karasuma Area
    3. 5-2.
      Kiyomizu Temple/Gion Area
    5. 5-3.
      Ginkaku/Okazaki Area
    7. 5-4.
      Iwakura/Ohara Area
    9. 5-5.
      Kinkakuji/Kitano Area
    11. 5-6.
      Arashiyama/Sagano Area
    13. 5-7.
      Fushimi Area
    15. 5-8.
      Yamashina Area
  11. 6.
    summary

Kyoto City Transportation Bureau (City Bus)



This public bus service, characterized by its green vehicles, has a wide route network from central Kyoto to the suburbs based on bus terminals in front of JR Kyoto Station and other major stations in the city, and covers most of the major tourist facilities.

The key to using city buses is to use the various free-ride tickets.
The city center is served by uniform fare systems with a flat fare of 230 yen for adults, and these systems offer unlimited one-day rides with the "bus one-day pass ".

In suburban areas such as Katsura and Rakusai New Town, multi-sectional fare systems are in operation, where fares change for each section of the journey.
These systems require an additional fare when using the "bus one-day pass ", but the "subway/bus one-day pass ", which allows unlimited rides on all city buses and subways, is available at no extra charge.

In addition, there are a number of free tickets that allow unlimited rides on private railways and city buses that serve Kyoto.
Save money on city buses by choosing the best ticket for you depending on the train you will use to Kyoto and the areas you will mainly visit in Kyoto.

Kyoto Bus



A bus company in the Keihan Electric Railway group, its vehicles are characterized by their cream-colored livery with a rouge-colored band wrapped around it.
It has many lines extending from the city center to the suburban Ukyo and Sakyo wards, and is often used when visiting the Arashiyama area and the Rakuhoku and Ohara areas.

The routes operated by Kyoto Bus have the same flat fares in the city center as city buses, and many routes are operated jointly with city buses, so "bus one-day pass ""subway/bus one-day pass "is available in common with city buses.

The "subway/bus day pass "is also available for suburban systems that are multi-segment fare systems.
There are also a number of free tickets for Kyoto buses and various free tickets with Hankyu and Kintetsu trains, Randen (Keifuku Tramway) streetcars running in Kyoto City, and Eizan Tramway to Kurama.
When visiting the Arashiyama area or the Rakuhoku/Ohara area, be sure to check the Kyoto Bus Free Ride ticket.

Nishinippon JR Bus (JR Bus)



A bus company of the JR West Japan Group, it operates routes in the Kyoto area from Kyoto Station to Ritsumeikan University and from Kyoto Station to Takao, Shuyama, and Keihoku areas.
It is often used when visiting Kaohsiung, Jingoji Temple, Shoushan, etc.
Many sections of these routes are operated jointly with city buses, so "bus day passes ""subway/bus day passes "are available.

Keihan Bus



A bus company in the Keihan Electric Railway group, its vehicles feature a red border pattern on a white background.
Routes are set up from the city center to the Fushimi and Yamashina districts.

In addition to Keihan Bus, the group has a company called Keihan Kyoto Kotsu for Kameoka area and Kyoto Keihan Bus with routes to Fushimi and Uji.

One thing to keep in mind when using Keihan buses is that they are not covered by the city bus "bus day pass ", even if the route operates within Kyoto City, and an additional fare is required.
If you plan to mainly use Keihan buses for sightseeing, be sure to prepare free tickets for Keihan bus routes, including the "subway/bus one-day ticket "and Keihan Bus's own "Keihan Bus IC 1-day ticket ".

Convenient buses in each area

Next, here are some pointers on how to use the bass in different areas.

Kawaramachi/Karasuma Area





For access to the Kawaramachi/Karasuma area in the center of the city, lined with downtown and department stores, and for transportation within the area, city buses and Kyoto buses, which have numerous routes in the center of the city, are convenient.

"Prepare a one-day bus pass ""One-day subway/bus pass "
However, especially during the spring and fall tourist seasons, buses may become overcrowded and difficult to board, or buses may be delayed significantly due to crowding or traffic congestion, which may affect your plans.

Make a good combination of bus as well as rail and walking travel.
It is more advantageous to use the Karasuma subway line, especially when accessing from JR Kyoto Station.

Also, if you use the Hankyu train that runs under Shijo Dori, you may save more money with a free ticket such as "good old ticket "that combines the Hankyu train, subway and bus instead of "bus one-day ticket ""subway and bus one-day ticket ".

Kiyomizu Temple/Gion Area





The Kiyomizu-Dera and Gion areas in the eastern part of the city, where Yasaka Shrine, Hanamikoji, Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, and Sanneizaka Slope, where you can enjoy the atmosphere of the ancient capital, are conveniently located by city bus.
"Prepare a one-day bus pass ""One-day subway/bus pass "

Even in this area, during the spring and fall tourist seasons, buses may be overcrowded and difficult to get through, or buses may be delayed significantly due to crowding and traffic congestion, which can affect plans.
Access from Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line is by foot, while from JR Kyoto Station it is more convenient to take a combination of the subway Karasuma Line and the Hankyu Line, or the Keihan Line from Shichijo Station, a short walk away.
Also, make good use of walking and Keihan trains to get around the area.

Ginkaku/Okazaki Area





In the Ginkaku/Okazaki area in the eastern part of the city, where Heian Shrine and Ginkakuji Temple are located, it is convenient to use city buses.
"Prepare a one-day bus pass ""One-day subway/bus pass "

This area is a bit far from the train station and is mainly traveled by bus.
There are city buses that go directly to Ginkakuji from JR Kyoto Station, such as routes 5 and 17, but we do not recommend using these buses, especially during the tourist season.
In the city center, take the bus from bus stops such as "Sanjo Keihan-mae "in front of Yamagami Station on the Keihan Line or "Kitaoji Bus Terminal "in front of Kitaoji Station on the Karasuma Subway Line to shorten the bus ride by taking the train.

Iwakura/Ohara Area





In the Iwakura/Ohara area in the northeast, where Ohara Sanzenin Temple and Iwakura Jissoin Temple are located, the Kyoto Bus is convenient.
Kyoto buses can also be used jointly "bus one-day pass ""subway/bus one-day pass "

This area is a bit far from the train station and is mainly traveled by bus.
The Kyoto Bus Line 3 runs directly from JR Kyoto Station to Ohara, but it is not recommended during the tourist season.
Take a bus from bus stops such as "Sanjo Keihan-mae "in front of Sanjo Station on the Keihan Line or "Demachiyanagi Station "in front of Demachiyanagi Station.
Also, if limited to the Iwakura area, the Karasuma Subway Line and the Eizan Line can be used to move around efficiently by combining walking with buses.

Kinkakuji/Kitano Area





City buses and JR buses are convenient in the Kinkakuji/Kitano area in the northwest, where Kinkakuji and Kitano Tenmangu, the god of learning, are located.
Prepare "bus day pass for city buses and JR buses ""subway/bus day pass "

This area is also inconveniently served by rail lines, and buses are the main means of transportation.
From JR Kyoto Station, there is a line 205 that goes directly to Kinkakuji Temple, but it is very crowded during the tourist season and you may have to wait for a long time at Kyoto Station.

It is also not uncommon for the bus to be delayed significantly and take a long time to arrive even when it is finally able to board.
We recommend that you travel centrally by subway or JR and take a bus from bus stops such as "Kitaoji Bus Terminal "in front of Kitaoji Station on the Subway Karasuma Line or "Nishinokyo Enmachi "in front of Enmachi Station on the JR Sagano Line.
Also, a combination of Randen (Keifuku Train) and buses that run within the area can be used to get around efficiently.

Arashiyama/Sagano Area





City buses and Kyoto buses are conveniently available in the Arashiyama/Sagano area in the northwestern part of the city, where you can enjoy the Wataratsuki Bridge, Tenryuji Temple, and the Arashiyama townscape.
Prepare "bus day pass for city buses and Kyoto buses ""subway/bus day pass "

Kyoto Bus also offers free-ride tickets such as "Arashiden/Sagano Free Ticket "which is combined with Randen, "Kyoto/Arashiyama 1 Day Pass "which is combined with Hankyu Train, and "Arashiyama/Sagano Free Ticket "which allows unlimited rides only on Kyoto Bus in Arashiyama area.
There are city buses and Kyoto bus routes that go directly from JR Kyoto Station to Arashiyama, but they too are extremely crowded during the tourist season, and it is not uncommon for passengers to miss their ride or be delayed considerably even if they are able to board.
Use a combination of walking and buses from Hankyu Railway Arashiyama Station or JR Sagano Line Saga-Arashiyama Station to get around the crowded city center by rail, which is as punctual as possible.

Fushimi Area





City buses are convenient in the southern Fushimi area, where the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine with its beautiful sake brewery streets and vermilion-lacquered torii gate is located.
"Prepare a one-day bus pass ""One-day subway/bus pass "

However, not many buses are convenient for visiting tourist facilities in the Fushimi area.
The Keihan Railway and JR Nara Line cover most of the tourist facilities in the area. Make good use of the special train tickets that cover both lines.

Yamashina Area



In the eastern Yamashina area, where Daigoji Temple is located, the Keihan bus is convenient.
"Prepare a one-day subway/bus ticket "or Keihan Bus's own "Keihan Bus IC 1-day ticket ".

Also combine this with the Tozai Subway Line, which runs north-south through the area.
Incidentally, "Keihan Bus IC 1-day Ticket "is a convenient ticket that turns your IC ticket into a free ticket, allowing unlimited rides on Keihan buses not only in Kyoto but also in Osaka and Shiga areas for one day.
When using the bus, please notify the bus driver and purchase a ticket before touching the bus at the time of disembarkation.

summary

We have introduced the bus situation in Kyoto city by bus company and area. The available tickets and points to consider when using the buses differ slightly from area to area, but the general advice is to make good use of free tickets and to avoid congestion and delays by combining buses with trains and walking, especially during the tourist season. By keeping these points in mind, you can enjoy Kyoto by bus at a reasonable price without wasting time.

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