Kyoto City Buses (2026): How to Ride and How to Avoid the Crowds
You are in Kyoto and the bus you wanted is too full to board. The fix is not a better bus: Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Gion all have train stations, and trains don't get stuck in road traffic.
City buses cost a flat ¥230 and take Suica or ICOCA. On busy days, take the EX100 sightseeing express from Kyoto Station, or go by train to Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Gion. We read the fares and rules on Kyoto City Transportation Bureau's official pages on 6 November 2026.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. Bus fares and passes are not sold through partners; you pay on the bus or at the station.
How do I ride a Kyoto city bus?
- Find the stop and the route number. At the Kyoto Station bus terminal, each stop serves different routes, so check the stop code before you queue (EX100 leaves from D1).
- Board through the rear door. Don't pay yet. Hold on while the bus is moving.
- Press the stop button before your stop. Follow your route on a map app so you know when your stop is coming up.
- Pay at the front when you get off. Tap your IC card on the reader, or put ¥230 in the fare box. Credit and debit cards are not accepted, so carry coins or an IC card.With the 1-day pass, insert it into the machine the first time you get off; after that, just show it to the driver.
Kyoto City Bus "How to ride" page: ¥230 adult, ¥120 child; board at the rear and pay at the front; ICOCA, Suica, PASMO and PiTaPa accepted; JR Pass not valid.
Sightseeing Limited Express Bus page: EX100 and EX101 cost ¥500 (child ¥250), board at the front and pay first; Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass valid with no extra fare; about 10 minutes from Kyoto Station to Gojozaka; every 7–8 minutes in the morning on operating days.
Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass page: ¥1,100 adult, ¥550 child, valid on the day of first use (not 24 hours).
IC card or day pass?
The day pass is valid until the end of the day you first use it, not for 24 hours. It sells on city buses too, but they can run out, so buy it at a subway station.
How do I avoid the crowded buses?
Take the EX100 to Kiyomizu-dera
It stops at Gojozaka, Gion, Heian Shrine and Ginkaku-ji. It runs on set operation days only, so check the city's EX100 page for days and times.
Use trains where they exist
Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Gion all have stations. Trains don't get stuck in traffic.
Walk between neighbours
Kiyomizu-dera → Ninenzaka → Yasaka Shrine → Gion is one walk downhill, no bus needed.
Bus or train: which is better for each sight?
Are Kyoto bus fares going up for visitors?
Kyoto City plans "resident-priority" fares on its buses during fiscal 2027 (April 2027 to March 2028). Its March 2026 plan puts the new flat fare at about ¥350–¥400, with residents paying ¥200; the day pass and other tickets are still under review. The plan still needs national approval, so check the fare before you go.
What if…?
…the bus is too full to get on?
Wait for the next one or switch to a train. Or take the subway, JR or Keihan for part of the way.
…I tapped my IC card at the back door?
On regular city buses you pay at the front when you get off. If you think you were charged by mistake, tell the driver.
…I have a JR Pass?
Use JR for Inari and Arashiyama. For buses, pay with an IC card or buy the day pass.
…I'm arriving from Tokyo today?
Kyoto Station is the hub for both buses and trains. Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen →
Tokyo–Kyoto Shinkansen on Klook ↗Planning your Kyoto days?
Group sights by area, and use the bus only where no train goes.
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