Navigating Kyoto by bus offers one of the most efficient and accessible ways to explore the city’s historic districts, cultural landmarks, and quieter neighbourhoods. With an extensive network reaching well beyond the major temples and shrines, Kyoto’s buses provide reliable connections where trains and subways may not. Between the city buses, and hop-on-hop-off style tourist buses, using public transport in Kyoto is really a breeze. With the 1-day Kyoto City Bus & Subway Pass, getting around Kyoto has never been easier.
In this article, we’ll cover the basics to help you learn how to use buses in Kyoto, making it easier and quicker for exploring the cities top attractions.
Finding the right bus
Kyoto has dozens of different bus routes. Many locals for their commuting needs, and routes are better suited to tourists, stopping at key destinations throughout the City. All buses in Kyoto are numbered and feature both English and Japanese text to describe their destinations. Rather than trying to figure out complex bus maps, we recommend using Google Maps to plan your trip and figure out which bus you need to take. All you need is a Wi-Fi Connection or Mobile Data, and you can navigate the busy streets of Kyoto with ease. Alternatively, we’ve put together a short list of the best bus routes to take from Kyoto Station to some of Kyoto’s top tourist destinations.
| Attraction | Bus Route | Travel Time (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Kinkaku-ji | 205 | 45 Minutes |
| Ginkaku-ji | 5 or 7 | 45 Minutes |
| Kiyomizu-dera Temple | 86 or 206 | 30 Minutes |
| Arashiyama | 28 | 30 Minutes |
Boarding the bus
Try to get to the bus stop within about 2-5 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. This gives you enough time in case of any early arrivals of the buses. When the bus arrives, ensure you are standing near the sign and curb to make it clear that you are waiting for the bus. Most city buses board the bus from the rear door, so don’t be surprised if the bus drives slightly ahead of where you are standing. Get on board, grab a seat (or grab a stanchion and stand if there are no seats), and enjoy the drive.
Riding the bus
Sit back and enjoy the ride. You’ll hear announcements on the onboard displays about the next stop and any nearby attractions. These announcements are typically in both Japanese and English. When you want to get off the bus, press the ‘stop’ button when your stop is next. At your stop, walk to the front door and pay your fare to the driver; the cost will be displayed on the on-board screen.
Bus etiquette is just as important as train etiquette. Here are some simple things you can do to make your journey smooth.
- Avoid travelling during rush hour where possible;Locals who rely on the bus for everyday travel come first. If you can, avoid travelling on the buses from 7:30am-9:30am, and from 5:00pm – 6:30pm. This will help to ensure that local residents don’t have their travel plans interrupted by tourists.
- Don’t carry bulky luggage: This is particularly important rush hour, but if you can avoid it, we strongly recommend doing so. Luckily, Kyoto Station has coin lockers that fit most bags, as well as several places to store luggage throughout the city, such as luggage storage shops, allowing you to travel unencumbered by your suitcases.
- Keep your voices low: Much like trains in Japan, buses are typically quiet environments. It’s important to keep conversations to a minimum on buses to avoid disruption as buses are public shared spaces. Similarily, ensure that any music is played through headphones kept to a reasonable volume to ensure any noise doesn’t bleed out.
- Offer seats to those who need it: If you see a young family come on, an elderly person, or just someone who might need the seat more than you, stand up and off your seat.
Paying for your bus trip
Most city buses follow a pay-after-ride model: you board through the rear door, take a seat, and pay your fare when you exit through the front door.
Fares on standard Kyoto City Buses are usually a flat rate within the central zone, while routes that extend into outer districts may use distance-based pricing. The standard fare is 230JPY for an adult, and is paid upon exiting the bus through the front door. It’s recommended that you pay your fare in exact change as the ticketing machine may not be able to give change.
There’s also a 1-day Kyoto City Bus & Subway Pass, which can be pre-purchased online and picked up at Kansai International Airport. This Pass enables you to hop-on any Kyoto bus and Subway for a day. For your first use of the pass, simply hand the pass to the driver, and they will instruct you to insert the pass into their ticketing machine. The console will print a date on your pass, activating your pass. You have until the end of the service day to use this pass. For future trips, simply show the pass to the driver or subway station staff.
The pass makes catching the bus extremely simple and opens up the Kyoto Subway as a means of transportation, as the JR Pass doesn’t cover the Kyoto Subway or buses.
Stepping off the bus
Try not to hold up the bus, it has a schedule to keep. After you pay your fare, don’t sit around and talk, thank the driver with a polite bow, and disembark the bus.
Explore Kyoto City
Top Attractions
Iwatayama Monkey Park
See Japanese Macaque Monkey's in Kyoto City
Katsura River – Kyoto
Scenic river area in Kyoto
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Instagram Famous Bamboo Grove
Tenryu-ji Temple
Zen temple with stunning gardens
Kimono Forest
Scenic art installation in Arashiyama
General Ticketing Information
- Adult Fare: 230JPY
- Child Fare: 120JPY
- 1 Day Pass: 1,100JPY
- Kyoto Bus Timetables
Where to Stay
Kyoto Tower Hotel
The Kyoto Tower Hotel is a centrally located hotel in the heart of Kyoto. With spacious rooms, the Kyoto Tower Hotel is ideal for travelling with families.
Book Now (Booking.com)Book Now (Agoda)
Hotel Granvia Kyoto
Located within Kyoto Station, the Hotel Granvia Kyoto is a stylish and modern hotel, with super convenient access to the train lines for easy exploring in Kyoto.
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Gion Elite Terrace
The Gion Elite Terrace is located in the cultural heart of Kyoto, being on a short walk from the Famous Yasaka shrine, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Hokan-ji, and some of the historic architecture of Kyoto.
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