Kyoto City, as well as Kyoto City Tourism Association are working with local organizations to create a sustainable approach to tourism during the current spring season. Our goal is to welcome the incoming visitors while ensuring that tourism remains in harmony with the daily life of citizens.
The list of helpful information for your spring visit to Kyoto is available below.
*This webpage is regularly updated.
In this article
- Transportation and avoiding the crowds
- New Bus Tracker System for Kyoto City: "Live Bus Location"
- Temporary increase in number of buses and subways
- Changes in bus operation at bus stops near Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Free transfer from city buses to the subway
- Live camera broadcast of the crowding in tourist destinations
- Traveling without burden
- Hands-free travel
- "Pikuraku PORTER"
- Temporary information counters and luggage delivery/storage point at Kyoto Station
- Sightseeing information
- Campaigns promoting sustainable tourism in Kyoto
- About the accommodation tax
- Enjoying the season to its fullest
- Kyoto Cherry Blossom Calendar
- Spring illuminations and special opening events
- "Haru no Odori" - Spring Dance performances by maiko and geiko
Transportation and avoiding the crowds
New Bus Tracker System for Kyoto City: "Live Bus Location"
Starting March 20, Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau has introduced a new bus location system that allows passengers to view bus arrival information and on-board crowding levels, as well as live bus locations on a map, via a smartphone. Users can also locate the nearby bus stops.
This service is available in both Japanese and English, and does not require any app downloads. You can access it through the page linked below, as well as by clicking on the “Live Bus Location” banner displayed on top of Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau’s homepage, or by scanning the 2D code displayed on bus stop timetables.
Temporary increase in number of buses and subways
Increase of buses
In order to make travelling from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Gion more convenient for tourists, the number of Buses No. 106 (Rakuraku Higashiyama Line) will be temporarily increased, departing every 3 to 4 minutes. The frequency of Buses No. 206 running from the Higashiyama area to Kyoto Station will be temporarily increased as well.
Dates: Saturdays and holidays from March 20 (Fri) to April 5 (Sun).
Increase of subways
Additional trains will be added to the Karasuma Line from approx. 10 AM to 7:00 PM.
Dates: Saturdays and holidays from March 20 (Fri) to April 5 (Sun).
*Due to the increase in the number of trains, the regular timetable will be partially changed.
Changes in bus operation at bus stops near Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Boarding areas of the following bus stops will be separated by destination in order to alleviate crowding and improve convenience. Additionally, the Gojozaka (southbound) boarding area “A” will be temporarily closed.
Period of operation: March 20 (Sat), from the date of the timetable revision
Affected bus stops:
・Kiyomizu-michi (southbound) “A” bus stop
Buses that stop here, and are headed towards Kyoto Station: 58, 86, 106, 206, EX100, Hachijoguchi 202, Hachijoguchi 207
・Kiyomizu-michi (southbound) “D” bus stop
Buses that stop here, and are headed towards Kujo-dori: 58, 202, 207, Hachijoguchi 202, Hachijoguchi 207
・Gojozaka (southbound) “A” bus stop
*Suspended from March 20 to April 5. Please use the Umamachi or Kiyomizu-michi bus stop instead.
Free transfer from city buses to the subway
Traveling by different modes of transportation, particularly the subway and trains, is a good way to avoid the crowds. Passengers heading to Kyoto Station from the designated bus stops will be able to transfer to the subway free of charge.
From Higashiyama to Kyoto Station
Available period: March 28 (Sat) and 29 (Sun), from 3:30 PM to 6:50 PM each day.
Bus stop: Higashiyama-Sanjo (Higashiyama Subway Station)
Live camera broadcast of the crowding in tourist destinations
A portable live camera has been installed at popular tourist destinations in order to provide real-time coverage of the crowding levels. Check its footage before or during your visit to Kyoto to enjoy a pleasant sightseeing experience!
Broadcast period: March 24 (Tue) – April 8 (Wed)
Broadcast location: Maruyama Park (filmed from Chourakukan)
*The video will be broadcast at a reduced resolution and will not be recorded in order to protect the privacy of anyone who might appear on it.
*The video cannot be viewed outside of the scheduled broadcast time.
Traveling without burden
Hands-free travel
There are many ways of dealing with large pieces of luggage when you come to visit Kyoto. You can keep them at coin lockers or storage facilities, or have them delivered directly to your lodgings.
Check the following website to plan your trip without having to worry about carrying around your luggage!
"Pikuraku PORTER"
Smart luggage lockers called “Pikuraku PORTER” have been installed at the Karasuma and Hachijo Exits of Kyoto Station. “Pikuraku PORTER” is a JR West service that delivers luggage stored in smart lockers at train stations to a hotel by the evening of the same day.
It can be used by simply inputting the delivery destination into the locker’s touch panel, allowing you to begin sightseeing without worrying about your luggage soon after arriving in Kyoto.
A luggage storage service is also available. Both of these services have been started to help alleviate the crowding that occurs in public transportation during this time.
Kyoto Station Smart Locker Service Overview
Available period: January 14 (Wed) – Until further notice
Available hours: Same-day delivery until 2 PM / Temporary storage from 4:35 AM until the last train
Payment methods: Transportation IC card, credit card
Supported languages: Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese
Service fee (temporary storage is free for the first 60 minutes of usage):
| Service | Large locker | Medium locker | Small locker |
| Same-day delivery (Kyoto Station to Kyoto City center) | 2,800 yen | 2,300 yen | 1,900 yen |
| Same-day delivery (Osaka to Kyoto) | 3,300 yen | 2,800 yen | 2,400 yen |
| Temporary storage (fee charged every 3 hours) | 600 yen | 400 yen | 300 yen |
| Temporary storage (maximum fee charged for 4 hours) | 1,800 yen | 1,200 yen | 900 yen |
*Delivery from Kyoto Station to the Osaka area is not available at this point in time.
*Height of each size: Large – 80.7 cm / Medium – 52.4 cm / Small – 24.1 cm (all lockers share the following dimensions: width 33 cm x depth 64.5 cm)
Temporary information counters and luggage delivery/storage point at Kyoto Station
A luggage storage and delivery point, as well as a multilingual service counter providing information on public transportation will be set up in Kyoto Station. Reservations for luggage storage or delivery can be made in advance through the “Kyoto Station Smart Navi” digital map.
Location: Kyoto Station Building, Station Square (in front of Hotel Granvia Kyoto)
Dates and hours: March 20 – 22, March 27 – 30, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (same-day luggage delivery service is available until 2:00 PM)
Sightseeing information
Campaigns promoting sustainable tourism in Kyoto
Kyoto City is conducting the following awareness-promoting campaigns and educational activities aimed at visitors. We ask for your cooperation in ensuring that tourism in Kyoto goes hand-in-hand with respecting the local communities and adhering to guidelines.
Public information boards in Kyoto City
From March 1 to March 15, posters featuring the guidelines for tourists have been displayed at approximately 7,300 public information boards throughout Kyoto City, aiming to educate visitors on the correct code of conduct.
Collection of helpful phrases in English and Simplified Chinese
We have created a pamphlet that compiles a number of useful phrases that businesses can use when interacting with foreign tourists and explaining the local rules. They are available in English and Simplified Chinese.
English download (site available in Japanese only)
Simplified Chinese download (site available in Japanese only)
Regional initiatives
・Higashiyama Area (near Kiyomizu-dera Temple)
As part of campaign led by Masuya-cho Friendship Association, awareness-spreading officers will be stationed at the intersection of Ishin-no-michi and Ninenzaka roads to inform tourists about sightseeing etiquette.
Additionally, the Koto ni Moeru-kai (“The Society Burning With Passion for the Ancient Capital”) will print and distribute posters promoting sightseeing guidelines to tourists.
・Gion Area
Awareness-spreading officers will be stationed on Hanamikoji Street to inform tourists about sightseeing etiquette.
Additionally, multilingual awareness activites led by Kyoto City-certified interpreter guides (Kyoto City Visitors Hosts) will be conducted on a trial basis by the Gion-machi Minamigawa District Council.
・Arashiyama Area
The Arashiyama Preservation Association will renew the comprehensive sightseeing information and trash can map of Arashiyama.
・Fushimi Area
Cleaning activities that simultaneously raise awareness of sightseeing guidelines such as correct ways of garbage disposal will be conducted by the Fushimi Inari Area Community Development Promotion Council.
The Yodo Tourism Association will create handheld POP displays that promote sightseeing guidelines, coinciding with the cherry blossom season.
About the accommodation tax
Since October 1, 2018, Kyoto City has imposed an accommodation tax on all overnight guests in order to support not only tourism promotion, but also sustainable urban development that benefits both residents and visitors. The accommodation tax additionally helps fund important initiatives such as tackling the issue of crowding on public transportation and enhancing the appeal of local culture and scenery.
Enjoying the season to its fullest
Kyoto Cherry Blossom Calendar
Each year, we release an up-to-date calendar of the current state of cherry blossoms. This year’s information was released on March 19 and will keep updating until April 10. Please make use of it while visiting during the spring season to see which area is worth visiting.
Spring illuminations and special opening events
In order to make the most of the beautiful cherry blossoms, many temples, shrines and gardens organize special illumination and opening events between March and May. Thanks to their efforts, tourists in Kyoto can enjoy its nature regardless of the time of day.
Spring illuminations and special opening events in Kyoto (PDF)
"Haru no Odori" - Spring Dance performances by maiko and geiko
Every year, 4 out of 5 of Kyoto’s maiko and geiko districts hold “Haru no Odori” performances. They include live music, theater plays and dances, all presented by the local maiko and geiko. They are events that have been organized for over a hundred years and are a representation of the quintessential traditional culture of Kyoto.
