When starting at Kyoto Station, there are three basic routes you can take:
(1) Take the #205 Kyoto City Bus and get off at Kinkakuji-michi (Kinkakuji Temple) Bus Stop.
(2) Take the Subway Karasuma Line to Kitaoji Station, then transfer to the #204 or #205 Kyoto City Bus and get off at Kinkakuji-michi (Kinkakuji Temple) Bus Stop.
(3) Take the JR Sagano Line to Emmachi Station , then transfer to the #204 or #205 Kyoto City Bus and get off at Kinkakuji-michi (Kinkakuji Temple) Bus Stop.


Kinkakuji Temple, a World Heritage Site, is incredibly popular, so buses going to and from there tend to be crowded, which can be a problem. In particular, buses from Kyoto Station are used by a lot of people and thus have a lot of departures, but they still tend to get crowded, and buses often get slowed down by traffic and arrive late, or arrive together with the buses that follow them.
Of the three routes, the recommended route we will introduce here is (2) Take the Subway Karasuma Line to Kitaoji Station, then transfer to the #204 or #205 Kyoto City Bus and get off at Kinkakuji-michi (Kinkakuji Temple) Bus Stop. If everyone tries to take the same route there, it will invariably be crowded, but if people are spread out among different routes, it can help reduce congestion in Kyoto.

Image by: Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau / Kyoto Traffic Bureau Cooperation Society

There are also convenient and economical tickets that give you unlimited rides on the subway and buses for one day!

Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass

Price: Adults 1,100 yen, Children 550 yen　　

Available at: City Bus & subway information counters, commuter pass sales counters, subway stations, Kyoto Tourist Information Center (Kyo-Navi), etc.

There are four ticket gates for getting into Subway Kyoto Station underneath the Kyoto Station building, so enter through the ticket gate nearest to you.
Take the Subway Karasuma Line bound for Kokusaikaikan and get off at the seventh stop, which is Kitaoji Station. It takes about 15 minutes, and the fare for adults is 260 yen. *As of November 2022

Related article: Go from Kyoto Station to Your Destination Smoothly! 6 Tips to Keep From Getting Lost Inside Kyoto Station

When you arrive at Kitaoji Station, exit the station from the manned south ticket gate. Follow the sign for Kitaoji Bus Terminal and proceed to the right.




Kitaoji Bus Terminal sign

As you proceed, you will see large signs for the bus terminal’s blue and red boarding points. Buses bound for Kinkakuji Temple depart from the Blue Boarding Point, so head left.


Kitaoji Bus Terminal


Blue Boarding Area Information

Then, take the small escalator to the Blue Boarding Point. Get on the #205 bus at Boarding Point E.
(You can also take the #204 bus from Boarding Point G, but please be aware that the #206, which does not go to Kinkakuji-michi, also stops there.)
It takes about 15 minutes, and the fare for adults is 230 yen. *As of November 2022

Kinkakuji-michi (Kinkakuji Temple) Bus Stop

Get off at Kinkakuji-michi (Kinkakuji Temple) Bus Stop B on Nishioji-dori, then cross the street at the crosswalk and head toward in the direction of the “Yojiya” sign.

In front of Yojiya is the intersection in front of Kinkakuji Temple. You will see a sign that reads “←Kinkakuji Temple”. Turn left there.
Go straight, and you will see a stone wall. There, you can go through the first gate and enter the grounds of Kinkakuji Temple. Proceed further, and you will see the main gate, from which you can make your way to the Shariden, also known as the iconic Golden Pavilion. There are also a lot of souvenir shops and restaurants in this area. Enjoy your visit to Kinkakuji Temple!

Here are a few interesting spots that are easy to pay a visit to on your way back from Kinkakuji Temple. There is a lot to see in the vicinity of Kinkakuji Temple, and going just a short distance away from Kinkakuji gives you more options for bus routes, as well as more buses, which is quite helpful.

Getting there: Approx. 10-min. walk from Kinkakuji Temple

This shrine is famous for its blessings for safe childbirth. It is also called “Wara Tenjingu Shrine” as the amulets for safe childbirth offered here are made of rice straw, which is called “wara” in Japanese. Legend has it that the presence or absence of knots in the straw you are given is an indicator of whether the baby will be a boy or a girl.

■Routes that can be taken from Waratenjin-mae Bus Stop
Kyoto City Bus timetable: Waratenjin-mae (Website available only in Japanese)

 

Getting there: Approx. 15-min. walk from Kinkakuji Temple

This shrine is famous for its cherry blossoms. It is said to have benefits for those seeking renewed energy, the generation of vitality, and peace of mind in their daily lives. There are a total of 400 cherry trees in roughly 60 varieties, such as Sakigake, Hiranomezame, and Gyoiku, that allow visitors to enjoy a long total blooming period of around a month and a half.

This shrine has also become a popular destination for fans of a certain boy band, with many of them dedicating votive tablets here. A diverse range of products with cherry blossom motifs are also available for purchase.

■Routes that can be taken from Kinugasako-mae Bus Stop (the stop nearest Hirano Shrine)
Kyoto City Bus timetable: Kinugasako-mae (Website available only in Japanese)

 

Getting there: Approx. 20-min. walk from Kinkakuji Temple

The deity enshrined here is Sugawara no Michizane, a scholar-turned-politician from the Heian Period (794-1185), who is famous today as a deity of learning. This is the head temple of all the Tenjin and Tenmangu shrines throughout Japan, which number approximately 12,000. The 25th day of each month is “Tenjin-san Day”, when stalls line up to sell goods. Also popular are the plum garden, where 1,500 plum trees of about 50 varieties bloom, and the famous maple grove of 350 trees with leaves that change to beautiful colors in autumn.

You can find more information on the Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine from the link down below:
https://kyoto.travel/en/shrine_temple/142.html

Exit Hirano Shrine from the torii gate on the east side (the gate opposite Nishioji-dori), and walk straight to the east for about 3 minutes. When you see the north gate of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine on your right, go inside and proceed straight toward the south. When you see the main shrine on your right, its east entrance will be just a short distance ahead. Entering from that side will make for a smooth visit to the main shrine.

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine grounds information (Website available only in Japanese)

■Routes that can be taken from Kitano Tenmangu-mae (Kitano-tenmangu Shrine) Bus Stop
Kyoto City Bus timetable: Kitano Tenmangu-mae (Kitano-tenmangu Shrine) (Website available only in Japanese)

When you leave the temple grounds, head to the right, and after about 5 minutes, you will reach Kitano Hakubaicho, where there is also a Randen station.
Kitano Hakubaicho has a wider selection of available routes.

■Routes that can be taken from Kitano Hakubaicho Bus Stop 
Kyoto City Bus timetable: Kitano Hakubaicho (Website available only in Japanese)

Article Author: Kyoto Love. Kyoto

Kyoto Love. Kyoto is an online magazine that has all you need to know to call yourself a Kyoto expert! Kyoto culture in both historical and modern contexts. Get to know Kyoto, get to love Kyoto.

Kyoto Love. Kyoto official website (Website available only in Japanese)

Comfortable access to major tourist destinations

Kinugasa＆Kitano＆Nishijin

Easy Access for Sightseeing in the Kiyomizu Temple and Higashiyama Areas: Use Subway Higashiyama Station to Avoid the Crowds


Getting from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu Temple: A Relaxing Route to the Temple that Avoids Heavy Traffic

Getting from Kyoto Station to Arashiyama & Sagano: Take a Fun Detour Via the Subway and Randen!


Go to Your Destination Smoothly from Kyoto Station! 6 Tips to Keep From Getting Lost Inside Kyoto Station