See & Do
Taking the Limited Express Bus from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple
See & Do
Taking the Limited Express Bus from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple
What is the Limited Express Bus?
Kyoto is a major sightseeing destination with many tourist spots such as temples and shrines attracting people not only from Japan but around the world. This popularity, however, has come hand in hand with an issue: some of the public buses becoming full depending on the season or time of the day. On June 1, 2024, the Limited Express Bus was introduced to address the situation.
The Limited Express Bus is a special bus that stops only at bus stops that are closest to tourist destinations, allowing travellers to get around faster than by ordinary buses. The Limited Express Bus operates on Saturdays and Sundays as well as the summer holidays (Obon) and the New Year’s period, departing frequently from Kyoto Station (every seven or eight minutes in the morning), so that it can carry many travelers to their destinations, and no reservation is necessary to ride.
The fare per ride is ¥500. However, those who plan to use the subway or bus more than several times a day can take advantage of the Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass (¥1100 per adult). The Limited Express Bus has two lines: the EX100 that goes to the Gion, Heian Shrine (Heian-jingu), Ginkaku Temple (Ginkaku-ji), and Kiyomizu Temple (Kiyomizu-dera) areas and the EX101 that goes only to the Kiyomizu Temple area.
Limited Express Bus routes
If you are planning to visit Gion, Heian-jingu Shrine or Ginkaku-ji Temple, we recommended viewing the following article.
The Limited Express Bus is a special bus that stops only at bus stops that are closest to tourist destinations, allowing travellers to get around faster than by ordinary buses. The Limited Express Bus operates on Saturdays and Sundays as well as the summer holidays (Obon) and the New Year’s period, departing frequently from Kyoto Station (every seven or eight minutes in the morning), so that it can carry many travelers to their destinations, and no reservation is necessary to ride.
The fare per ride is ¥500. However, those who plan to use the subway or bus more than several times a day can take advantage of the Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass (¥1100 per adult). The Limited Express Bus has two lines: the EX100 that goes to the Gion, Heian Shrine (Heian-jingu), Ginkaku Temple (Ginkaku-ji), and Kiyomizu Temple (Kiyomizu-dera) areas and the EX101 that goes only to the Kiyomizu Temple area.
Limited Express Bus routes
If you are planning to visit Gion, Heian-jingu Shrine or Ginkaku-ji Temple, we recommended viewing the following article.
For sightseeing in Kyoto, another article recommends taking the Limited Express Bus, which could be a helpful option for travelers.
How to get to Kiyomizu Temple (Kiyomizu-dera) using the Limited Express Bus
Now, where and how can you get on the Limited Express Bus? We took a trip on the bus in order to give a report in detail. The following will introduce the bus stops of the Limited Express Bus and its routes to Kiyomizu Temple.
You will see the Nidec Kyoto Tower, with the Kyoto Station bus stops located before it.
The red line on the pavement indicates that this is the Limited Express bus stop “D1.”
From Kyoto Station’s Central Gate (Chuo-guchi) to the bus stop
Once you are at Kyoto Station’s Central Gate, head straight outside.
You will see the Nidec Kyoto Tower, with the Kyoto Station bus stops located before it.
The red line on the pavement indicates that this is the Limited Express bus stop “D1.”
The Kyoto Station bus stop
Beside the Limited Express Bus stop are machines where you can buy the Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass. If you plan to take more than a couple rides in one day, we recommend purchasing this pass here before taking the bus because it will allow unlimited rides throughout the day for only ¥1100.
If you are uncertain as to which bus to take from Kyoto Station, seek the assistance of one of the Kyoto City Bus Omotenashi Concierges wearing a purple top at the Kyoto Station bus stop. They speak English and can offer helpful information on the bus routes.
The Limited Express Bus EX101 goes only to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple area. When taking the EX101, get off at the Gojozaka “B” bus stop to go to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Use the same bus stop when heading back to Kyoto Station.
If you are uncertain as to which bus to take from Kyoto Station, seek the assistance of one of the Kyoto City Bus Omotenashi Concierges wearing a purple top at the Kyoto Station bus stop. They speak English and can offer helpful information on the bus routes.
The Limited Express Bus routes
The Limited Express Bus EX100 stops near tourist spots such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Gion, Heian-jingu Shrine, and Ginkaku-ji Temple. When taking this bus, get off at the Gojozaka “C” bus stop to go to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Alternatively, if you are on your way back to Kyoto Station after visiting places such as Ginkaku-ji Temple, you can get off at the Kiyomizu-michi bus stop or the Gojozaka “B” bus stop to go to Kiyomizu Temple.
Limited Express Bus EX100
The Limited Express Bus EX101 goes only to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple area. When taking the EX101, get off at the Gojozaka “B” bus stop to go to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Use the same bus stop when heading back to Kyoto Station.
Limited Express Bus EX101
Getting on the Limited Express Bus
To get on the Limited Express Bus, line up at the “D1” bus stop and board the bus through its front door, paying the fare at the machine next to the driver. Alternatively, if you bought a Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass, insert it into the machine next to the driver (you only have to do this on the first ride; for the second ride and onward, simply show the date printed on the back of the pass-card to the driver).
The bus stop area can be very crowded especially in the morning, so line up following the staff’s guidance.
The following will describe a total of three ways to get to Kiyomizu-dera Temple using the Limited Express Buses EX100 and EX101.
Route no. 1 : Taking the EX100 bus and walking up the Chawanzaka slope
If you got on the Limited Express Bus EX100 from Kyoto Station and are going to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, get off at the Gojozaka “C” bus stop. It is about a 10-minute ride.
The Gojozaka “C” bus stop
Once you get off at the Gojozaka “C” bus stop, walk towards the Gojozaka intersection.
When you cross the crosswalk, there will be the Gojozaka intersection. From here, walk up the Gojozaka slope.
As you head up Gojozaka, you will see a stone monument, which indicates that the street forking to the right from here is Chawanzaka. Chawanzaka is a relatively less-crowded and pleasant way to go up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. At its end, you will see the three-story pagoda of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
The stairs at the top of the slope lead right on to the grounds of Kiyomizu Temple. It is about a 12-minute walk to here from the Gojozaka “C” bus stop.
Route no. 2: Taking the EX101 bus and walking up the Chawanzaka slope
If you got on the Limited Express Bus EX101 from Kyoto Station and are going to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, you will get off at the Gojozaka “B” bus stop (note that the location of this bus stop is different from the Gojozaka “C” bus stop mentioned above).
The Gojozaka slope leading up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple will be on the other side of an overpass from the viewpoint of the “B” bus stop.
The Gojozaka “B” bus stop is by the Gojo Bypass, a little ways west of Higashioji-dori. From here, the overpass is obstructing the view of the direction you are heading, but don’t worry, just start walking east from the bus stop towards the hills.
Cross Higashioji-dori Street to its east side, then cross northward to the northeast corner of the intersection. Head straight north, and you will come to the Gojozaka intersection. From here, just follow the directions from the Gojozaka intersection as shown in “route 1 of 3” above.
Video guide #2: Getting to Kiyomizu-dera Temple from the Gojozaka “B” bus stop
Route no. 3: Taking the EX100 bus and walking up the Kiyomizu-zaka slope
When taking the (southbound) EX100 bound for Kyoto Station from Ginkakuji or Heian-jingu Shrine, get off at the Kiyomizu-michi bus stop to go to Kiyomizu Temple.
Once you get off at the Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, go straight north to the Kiyomizu-michi intersection. Turn right here, heading east.
Walk up Kiyomizu-michi towards the hills while being cautious of cars, etc., as this street tends to have a lot of traffic. Further up, you will pass Sannenzaka, and come to a part of the slope that is especially crowded with many souvenir shops.
And you will arrive at Kiyomizu-dera Temple! It is about a 15-minute walk in total from the Kiyomizu-michi bus stop to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
Video guide #3: Getting to Kiyomizu-dera Temple from the Kiyomizu-michi bus stop
Comparison with non-express buses
We compared the time it took to get from Kyoto Station to the Gojozaka bus stop taking the Limited Express Bus with that of taking the City Bus 206.
• Limited Express Bus (approximately 10 minutes)
Kyoto Station → Gojozaka (no stops along the way)
• Kyoto City Bus No. 206 (approximately 16 minutes)
Kyoto Station → Karasuma Nanajo → Nanajo Kawaramachi → Nanajo Keihan-mae → Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae → Higashiyama Nanajo → Umamachi →Gojozaka
When taking the Kyoto City Bus No.206, there were six stops along the way where people got on and off. The Limited Express Bus was faster, as it went directly to Gojozaka.
Getting back to Kyoto Station from Kiyomizu-dera Temple from the Gojozaka “B” bus stop (EX100 and EX101)
To get back to Kyoto Station from Kiyomizu Temple, descend the Chawanzaka slope to Higashioji-dori Street, then go to the other side of the overpass and to the Gojozaka “B” bus stop, which is on Gojo-dori Street. The EX100 and EX101 both go to Kyoto Station from here.
Gojozaka “B” bus stop
Supplementary information:
A non-express bus & subway combination can be a smart alternative to taking the Limited Express Bus to Kyoto Station!
Gojozaka “A” bus stop
The Gojozaka “A” bus stop, where you can get on non-express buses, can be very crowded with people getting on the No.206 bus bound for Kyoto Station. (During the spring and fall high season, the bus stop is relocated two hundred meters north from its usual place, in front of a Family Mart convenience store.) In order to avoid getting on a crowded bus, instead of taking No.206, we recommend taking No.202 or No.207 to the City Subway’s Kujo Station and then taking the subway from there to Kyoto Station. The time it will take from Gojozaka to Kyoto Station this way is approximately 20 minutes.
• Taking a bus from the Gojozaka “A” bus stop to City Subway Kujo Station and then taking the subway from there to Kyoto Station (example)
Gojozaka “A” bus stop → Subway Kujo Station (Oishibashi) (12 min)
→ Walk to Subway Kujo Station (5 min) → Take the subway from Subway Kujo Station to Kyoto Station (2 min)
• Taking a bus from the Gojozaka “A” bus stop to City Subway Kujo Station and then taking the subway from there to Kyoto Station (example)
Gojozaka “A” bus stop → Subway Kujo Station (Oishibashi) (12 min)
→ Walk to Subway Kujo Station (5 min) → Take the subway from Subway Kujo Station to Kyoto Station (2 min)
Conclusion: A smart option to consider when available
The Limited Express Bus EX100 and EX101 now run to the Kiyomizu area on Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays as an addition to the pre-existing No.206, resulting in less crowding at the bus stops to go to Kiyomizu Temple and within the buses.
The Limited Express Bus does not necessarily reach destinations faster than other means of public transportation. This depends on the traffic situation. However it can be useful and cost-effective especially if you happen to have purchased a Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass.
The Limited Express Bus does not necessarily reach destinations faster than other means of public transportation. This depends on the traffic situation. However it can be useful and cost-effective especially if you happen to have purchased a Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass.
Additional information: Going to Kiyomizu Temple (Kiyomizu-dera) on a weekday
The Limited Express Bus runs only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. To avoid getting on crowded buses on ordinary business days, there are alternative routes using a combination of the City Subway and City Bus to go to Kiyomizu Temple. See the article below.
For those who are able to take time exploring by foot, we also recommend a route from Kyoto Station riding the City Subway first to the Tozai Line’s Higashiyama Station and then going to Kiyomizu Temple by foot on a route that has several interesting spots along the way. (It is also a pleasant route to take from Kiyomizu Temple when going to Kyoto station, of course, in reverse direction.) See the article below.