Kyoto's public transport network is dense and includes a subway, several bus carriers, tourist buses and several rail carriers.

You will mostly use the buses to get to all the sights. However, expect long journey times and often very crowded cars.

The metro also provides fast connections, but unlike the buses, it serves more locals and doesn't go to many of the sights at all.

The fastest way to get to the Arashiyama area is by train.

The 10 best hotels in Kyoto

How best to get around Kyoto

If you're coming to Kyoto for the first time, you'll quickly discover one thing: the sights are scattered all over the city.

You'll rarely visit more places on foot without using transport.

In our experience, this combination works best:

• Metro - fast cross-town transfers (but usually you have to combine with buses)
• bus - they go everywhere, but they are quite slow and sometimes very crowded
• train - Arashiyama or Fushimi Inari
• taxi - in the evening, when there are a lot of tourists or to places far from the centre
• 🏨 Tip: to plan your transfers it is important to know the best places to stay in Kyoto

If you're planning multiple moves during the day, a full-day Subway & Bus Pass is often worth it.

Are day passes worth it?

The fare system varies from one transport company to another and, especially in the case of transfers or day passes, it is quite difficult to know which routes are valid and which are not.

In Kyoto, there are two basic types of day pass + one popular pass for the entire Kansai area.

	Price	Validity
Subway & Bus 1 Day	1 100 jpy	Kyoto Subway Kyoto City Bus Kyoto Bus * West JR Bus * Keihan Bus *
Subway 1 Day	800 jpy	Kyoto Subway
Kansai Railway Pass	5 600 jpy - 2 days 7 000 jpy - 3 days	Kyoto Subway Osaka Metro Private railways (Kansai region) ** Trams and some cable cars

* For these carriers, the all-day ticket is only valid on some lines:

• Kyoto Bus - valid on all routes except routes 10, 18, 32, 34, 51, 54, 90, 95
• West JR Bus - valid only on Kyoto Station - Toganoo (Tako-Keihoku Line)
• Keihan Bus - valid only on lines 29, 29C, 84, 901

** Kansai Railway Pass within Kyoto is not valid on all rail carriers:

• JR trains - cannot be used
• Keihan Railway - can be used
• Eizan Railway - can be used except for boarding at Demachyianagi Station (so if you are transferring from Keihan Railway, you must pay for a ticket at the nearest station "Mototanaka" or walk about 1 km)
• Eizan cable cars - cannot be used
• Hankyu Railway - can be used
• Kintetsu Railway - can be used
• Randen Trams (Keifuku Railway) - cannot be used

Subway & Bus 1 Day

A full day ticket on both subway lines and all bus lines in Kyoto is the best value for getting around the city.

• 1 100 jpy
• Valid for 1 calendar day, not 24 hours

✅ It is worth it if you take more than 4 subway or bus rides in 1 day, but you can easily do that if you visit 2-3 sights that are further apart.

Moreover, the single fare is never transferable, so you pay a separate ticket for each bus ride.

For detailed information, visit the official website at city.kyoto.lg.jp.

Where to buy?

• Vending machines at each subway station (cash or Japanese transport cards only)
• Information centre at the bus station via Kyoto Station (see map)
  • Daily 7:30am-7:30pm
• From the driver inside the bus when getting off

Subway 1 Day

A day pass for the subway only is not very convenient for tourists, as the subway only takes you to a limited number of sights.

• 800 jpy
• Valid for 1 calendar day, not 24 hours

A regular single metro ticket costs around 260 jpy for a city trip, so a day ticket is worth it for 3 or more metro rides and at most one bus ride (single costs 230 jpy).

Check the official website city.kyoto.lg.jp for details.

Where to buy?

• Vending machines at each subway station (cash or Japanese transport cards only)
• Information centre at the bus station via Kyoto Station (see map)
  • Daily 7:30am-7:30pm

Kansai Railway Pass

Valid for the whole of the wider Kansai area, including Osaka, Kyoto, Nara or Kobe, the Railway Pass is more suited to rail enthusiasts.

To make it worthwhile, you would need to make 2 round trips each day on the long route (for example, Osaka - Nara / Kobe / Kyoto) or 1 round trip on the long route and several shorter trips (at least 4-5).

5 600 jpy	7 000 jpy
2 days	3 days

The ticket is valid for the calendar days and not for 48 or 72 hours.

For Kyoto itself, it usually doesn't make sense.

How to search for connections?

The easiest way is to use Google Maps, which works very well in Kyoto.

They show:

• accurate timetables
• fares
• transfers

However, Google doesn't address ticket compatibility, so sometimes it will offer you a route where you have to buy new tickets every time you change.

Frequent misunderstandings arise especially when using the Subway Bus 1-Day Pass, which is not valid on rail lines (such as JR or Randen when going to Arashiyama, Hankyu, or Keihan).

A useful leaflet with examples of the most common connections can be found on the subway and city bus websites: city.kyoto.lg.jp/pdf.

💡 Tip from my own experience

You'll probably be using navigation all day. The easiest solution is an eSIM with mobile data.

Airalo eSIM for Japan

A card with no foreign payment fees is also handy when travelling - personally, I've been using Revolut for years, where I also pay for a premium membership to get unlimited access to airport lounges. Also sign up for a Revolut card with a bonus.

Most frequent routes in Kyoto

These routes are some of the most common movements for tourists. I tried them all on my own.

If you plan to use trains or shinkansen a lot, accommodation near the main station is very practical.

Hotels near Kyoto Station

Kyoto Station → Fushimi Inari

The first time we took the line 5 bus, the second time we took the train. Expect crowds, but you definitely have a better chance of fitting in on the train.

• JR Nara Linetrain
  • 5 minutes
  • 150 jpy
  • you can use the JR Pass
• bus number 5
  • 15 minutes
  • 230 jpy
  • the only advantage over the train - there is a 1 Day Subway + Bus Pass

Inari station is right at the entrance to the shrine, while the bus is about 10 minutes walk away.

• 👉 O ur experience of visiting Fushimi Inari
• APA Hotel Kyoto Ekihigashi ***

Kyoto Station → Arashiyama (bamboo forest)

The fastest train is the JR Sagano Line.

• About 15 minutes
• 240 jpy

Saga-Arashiyama Station is about a 10-minute walk from the bamboo forest.

I wouldn't recommend taking the bus here at all, even if you want to save money with a day pass. In fact, the bus ride time is usually 60 minutes.

• 👉 My route around Arashiyama
• 🏨 A tip for a luxury hotel in Arashiyama overlooking the river: Muni Kyoto *****

Kyoto Station → Kinkakuji

The easiest bus is the 205 or 206 line.

• About 40 minutes
• 230 jpy or a full day Bus + Metro ticket

Taking the Karasuma Kitaoji metro and then the bus is only about 5 minutes faster.

The downside is often very long queues.

Taxis can often be faster when travelling with more people.

• 👉 Worth visiting Kinkaku-ji: my opinion
• 📱 Stay online and plan your route via Google Maps: get Airalo eSIM

Kyoto Station → Gion

The fastest is the direct bus line 206 (205 in the opposite direction):

• approx. 25 minutes
• 230 jpy or a full-day Bus + Metro ticket

Alternatively metro bus with transfer or taxi.

• 👉 What to see in Gion

Gion → Arashiyama

Here are 2 basic variants:

• Hankyu Railway train with a change at Katsura Station
  • departure from Kyoto-Kawaramachi (from Gion you have to walk across the bridge)
  • 45 minutes
  • 240 jpy
• Tozai Line subway + JR train with a change at Nijo Station
  • 50 minutes
  • 220 jpy per subway + 200 jpy per train

Direct bus line 63 takes over 75 minutes.

Metro and rail

Kyoto's basic transport network is 2 metro lines, supplemented by many private and state-run (JR) suburban railways.

These railways can often be used to get around the city, however single tickets and some day tickets are not compatible with each other.

See the Kyoto Metro chapter for details.

City buses

Buses are the most important means of transport for tourists as they run to all the sights.

Travelling by bus is especially convenient with Subway & Bus 1 Day Pass.

However, take into account that:

• transport is usually slow
• buses are crowded
• queues form at bus stops

If you take a bus from the centre to the outskirts (for example, to the Arashiyama area or Kinkakuji Temple), the journey will take about 45 minutes.

On routes to tourist attractions (especially to/from the Gion and Higashiyama districts), there are often long queues of 40-60 minutes at bus stops.

How to avoid crowded buses in Kyoto

This is the most practical "don't write about it, but it will save the day" part.

• If you can, head to the biggest draws (Kinkakuji, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama) early in the morning
• At Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama, a train often makes more sense than a bus
• traffic tends to be quieter in the evening after dark, but some lines have longer intervals
• if you're queuing for a bus in Gion/Higashiyama and have to be on the other side of town, it's often better to take the metro + a short walk
• if you are 2-3 people, taxis work out surprisingly well and especially save time (e.g. moving between Kinkakuji and Gion)

Single fare

There is a flat fare for all bus carriers throughout Kyoto 230 jpy.

On the outlying parts of lines 16, 17, 18, 19, 32, 34, 52, 54, 90, 95 (Kyoto Bus), 33 (Kyoto City Bus) and all lines of Keihan Bus, the fare is based on distance travelled.

How does boarding and fare payment work?

The system is simple:

• you board through the back door
• you get off at the front door
• you pay the fare on exit

If you're on a line with a segment fare (the minimum number of lines that go beyond Kyoto), take a ticket at the door and then pay the appropriate amount at the driver's desk, or attach a transport card (Icoca, Suica, etc.) to the reader when boarding and alighting.

Payment:

• cash
• Transport cards (Suica, Icoca) - read our experience with Japanese IC cards

You can pay with the maximum banknote 1 000 jpy, which you can change in the driver's currency exchange.

On the Kyoto bus route map, you'll notice stops included in the flat fare are marked with a white circle and stops included in the section fare are marked with a black square.

Kyoto City Bus

Kyoto's largest carrier operates green buses on many routes throughout the city.

All of its routes operate only within the flat fare zone for 230 jpy except for route 33 in the direction of Katsura Station.

• The all-day bus + metro ticket is valid on all routes including the EX100 and EX200 tourist routes.

Official website: city.kyoto.lg.jp

Kyoto Bus

Cream buses with a red stripe run from Kyoto Station to areas such as Arashiyama or vice versa to the northeast towards Iwakura and Ohara.

Most routes heading to tourist areas are included in the 230 yen flat fare zone.

• All-day bus + subway tickets are valid only on lines 16, 17, 24, 26, 40, 52, 63, 65, 66, 73, 75, 76, 92, 94

Official website: kyotobus.jp

Keihan Bus

Red and white buses operate in the area on the southwestern edge of the city.

Fares on all routes are based on the number of stops travelled and range from 230 jpy to 390 jpy.

• The bus + metro day pass is only valid on lines 29, 29C, 84, 301

Official website: keihan.co.jp/buses

West JR Bus

The bus arm of the railway company JR-WEST operates two routes in Kyoto. Both have flat fares 230 jpy.

On both lines you can use the JR Pass or the regional variant of the JR-WEST Pass.

• Line 205 - runs from Kyoto Station to Ritsumeikan University and does not pass major tourist sites
  • Bus + subway day pass not valid here
• Takao-keihoku Line - runs from Kyoto Station to the Toganoo tourist area in the northwest.
  • All-day bus + subway ticket applies

Official website: nishinihonjrbus.j-server.com.

Taxi, Uber

Taxis are very common in Kyoto and surprisingly often reasonably expensive.

You can flag down a taxi on the street or at taxi stands, which are located at subway stations, tourist sights, or in front of large hotels.

Fares vary from taxi company to taxi company:

• 500 jpy up to 660 jpy - first 900 metres
• 80 jpy up to 100 jpy - every 296 m thereafter

A trip across the centre usually costs around 2 500 jpy.

Taxis can usually be paid for in cash and many taxis also accept regular Visa, Mastercad or American Express cards or Japanese transport cards (Icoca, Suica and others). However, card payment is not always the rule.

Taxis are good for example:

• Evening
• on crowded buses
• when travelling between more distant sights
• when travelling with 3 or more people

Always use the taximeter. Common fares are as follows:

• 660 jpy - first 2 km
• 80 jpy - every additional 296 metres or 1 minute wait (larger taxis have a slightly higher price)

Usually, you will pay around 2 000 jpy.

Tip

Tipping is not common in Kyoto when taking a taxi.

However, you can round the amount up to the nearest ten. If you have to pay 1,900 yen, it's okay to leave the taxi driver 2,000 yen.

Uber mobile app, DiDi

While there are mobile apps like Uber and DiDi in Kyoto, the prices are always the same as regular taxis and are only calculated based on the actual ride (according to the taximeter).

The advantage, however, is that you can always pay by card when using the apps.

• 💳 Get a Revolut card with bonus

Sightseeing buses

There are two companies operating tourist sightseeing buses in Kyoto, on which none of the above tickets apply.

These buses are expensive, but they don't have the queues that form on regular buses.

K'Loop

K'Loop operates on three different routes. However, the frequency is 80 minutes, so a bit of time planning is required to use these buses.

For example, buses run to the following sights: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji, Toji Temple, Ginkakuji, Gion.

Tickets are sold in the following variations:

• 1-day ticket - 1 500 jpy
• 1 ride - 500 jpy

For details, visit kloop.jp.

Sky Hop Bus

The company formally operates 3 lines, but in reality they all run on one route. The only difference is the number of stops.

All routes always depart from Kyoto Station.

Buses run to the following sights: Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Ginkakuji, Gion.

Due to the high prices and the limited number of attractions that the buses go to, we do not recommend this mode of transportation.

Tickets are only sold in full-day or 2-day options and you cannot buy a single ticket for just 1 ride.

• 1-day ticket - 4 000 jpy
• 2-day ticket - 6 000 jpy

Tickets can be purchased on the bus (cash and credit card payments are accepted) or online at skyhopbus.com/kyoto.

Are organized tours worthwhile?

If you only have 1 day in Kyoto, it may be practical to join an organised tour.

Many of them combine:

• Transportation
• Guide
• inputs

Best Kyoto Tours - GetYourGuide.com

Practical questions about transportation in Kyoto

Is the subway in Kyoto worth it?

The metro is fast, but it only gets you to a limited number of sights. Most tourists combine the metro with buses.

Are the buses in Kyoto crowded?

Yes, especially in tourist areas like Gion or Higashiyama.

In high season, there can also be long lines for the bus.

Is Kyoto walkable?

Yes, but the sights are quite far apart.

For example, there are good walking areas:

• Gion
• Higashiyama
• Arashiyama