See & Do
The Limited Express Bus from Kyoto Station to Gion, Heian-jingu Shrine, and Ginkaku-ji Temple
Image courtesy of the Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau
See & Do
The Limited Express Bus from Kyoto Station to Gion, Heian-jingu Shrine, and Ginkaku-ji 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 the world around. 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 this situation.
The Limited Express Bus is a special bus that stops only at bus stops that are closest to tourist destinations, allowing travelers 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-jingu Shrine, Ginkaku-ji Temple, and Kiyomizu-dera Temple areas and the EX101 that goes only to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple area.
Limited Express Bus routes
The Limited Express Bus is a special bus that stops only at bus stops that are closest to tourist destinations, allowing travelers 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-jingu Shrine, Ginkaku-ji Temple, and Kiyomizu-dera Temple areas and the EX101 that goes only to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple area.
Limited Express Bus routes
If you are planning to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple, we recommended viewing the following article, which includes a video guide on how to get there.
Another article recommending the use of the Limited Express Bus for sightseeing in Kyoto may also be useful.
How to get to Gion, Heian-jingu Shrine, and Ginkaku-ji Temple using the Limited Express Bus
We took a trip on the Limited Express Bus in order to provide a first-hand report on details such as how to get on, its fare, and where it stops. Below is an introduction of the Kyoto Station bus stop and the Gion, Heian-jingu Shrine, and Ginkaku-ji Temple route of the Limited Express Bus.
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.
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 places such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Gion, Heian-jingu Shrine, and Ginkaku-ji Temple. Meanwhile, the EX101 only goes to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple area, so make sure you get on the right bus according to your destination.
Limited Express Bus EX100's route
EX101's route
Limited Express Bus EX100's route
EX101's route
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 card to the driver).
The bus stop area can be very crowded especially in the morning, so line up following the staff’s guidance.
Now, let’s try going to Gion, Okazaki Park (Okazaki-koen), and Ginkaku-ji Temple.
How to get to the Gion area
Map of the area surrounding the Gion bus stop
When departing from Kyoto Station, the ride to the Gion area using the Limited Express Bus EX100 takes about 15 minutes, and you will get off at the Gion “C” bus stop, which is in front of a theater called Yoshimoto Gion Kagetsu.
From here, it is about a two-minute walk to Yasaka-jinja Shrine, and about a five-minute walk to Hanami-koji Street.
The Gion “C” bus stop
When going back from the Gion area to Kyoto Station, get on the Limited Express Bus EX100 bound for Kyoto Station from the Gion “A” bus stop.
The Gion “A” bus stop
In case the Limited Express Bus is too crowded, or if you are traveling on a normal business day when the Limited Express Bus is not running, we recommend taking one of the following alternative routes.
The Gion “C” bus stop
When going back from the Gion area to Kyoto Station, get on the Limited Express Bus EX100 bound for Kyoto Station from the Gion “A” bus stop.
The Gion “A” bus stop
In case the Limited Express Bus is too crowded, or if you are traveling on a normal business day when the Limited Express Bus is not running, we recommend taking one of the following alternative routes.
- Cross Kamo River (Kamogawa) and walk to Kawaramachi-dori Street, and get on a southbound bus from there to Kyoto station.
- Take the Keihan train line from Gion Shijo Station to Shichijo Station and walk or take the Station Loop Bus from Shichijo Station to Kyoto Station.
- Get on the subway from the Subway Tozai Line’s Higashiyama Station and ride to Kyoto Station, changing trains at Karasuma Oike Station on the way.
How to get to Heian-jingu Shrine
Map of the area surrounding the Okazaki Koen/Bijutsukan, Heian Jingu-mae bus stop
It is about a 20-minute ride from Kyoto Station on the Limited Express Bus EX100 to the Okazaki Koen/Bijutsukan, Heian Jingu-mae “B” bus stop, which is about a five-minute walk to Heian Shrine.
The Okazaki Koen/Bijutsukan, Heian Jingu-mae “B” bus stop
When heading back from Heian-jingu Shrine to Kyoto Station, get on the Limited Express Bus EX100 bound for Kyoto Station from the Okazaki Koen/Bijutsukan, Heian Jingu-mae “A” bus stop.
The Okazaki Koen/Bijutsukan, Heian Jingu-mae “A” bus stop
In case the Limited Express Bus is too crowded, or if you are traveling on a normal business day when the Limited Express Bus is not running, a good way to get to Kyoto Station is to take the subway from the Subway Tozai Line’s Higashiyama Station, which is about a seven-minute walk along Shirakawa-suji Street from this bus stop. Once you get on the train at the station, change trains at Karasuma Oike Station to get to Kyoto Station.
How to get to Ginkaku-ji Temple
Map of the area around the Ginkakuji area bus stops
It is about a 30-minute ride from Kyoto Station to the Ginkakuji area on the Limited Express Bus EX100. You will get off at the Ginkakuji-mae bus stop, and it is about a five-minute walk from there to Ginkaku-ji Temple.
Ginkakuji-mae bus stop
Direction to Ginkaku-ji Temple
When heading back from Ginkaku-ji Temple to Kyoto Station, you can take the Limited Express Bus bound for Kyoto Station from the same Ginkakuji-mae bus stop.
However, since the Limited Express Bus is often crowded and may take long to get to Kyoto Station, a faster way to get to Kyoto Station can be to take an ordinary Kyoto City Bus from the Ginkakuji-michi “C” bus stop to the Karasuma Imadegawa bus stop and, from there, to take the subway from the Subway Karasuma Line’s Imadegawa Station!
There are four Ginkakuji-michi bus stops: “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D.” Make sure you go to the right one according to your destination.
Location of the Ginkakuji-michi “C” bus stop
The Ginkakuji-michi “C” bus stop
From the Ginkakuji-michi “C” bus stop, take the Kyoto City Bus No. 203 and get off at the Karasuma Imadegawa “B” bus stop.
The Karasuma Imadegawa “B” bus stop
Once you get off at the bus stop, head west to the Karasuma Imadegawa intersection and cross to the northeast corner. This is about a three-minute walk.
Subway Imadegawa Station
There are four Ginkakuji-michi bus stops: “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D.” Make sure you go to the right one according to your destination.
Location of the Ginkakuji-michi “C” bus stop
The Ginkakuji-michi “C” bus stop
From the Ginkakuji-michi “C” bus stop, take the Kyoto City Bus No. 203 and get off at the Karasuma Imadegawa “B” bus stop.
The Karasuma Imadegawa “B” bus stop
Once you get off at the bus stop, head west to the Karasuma Imadegawa intersection and cross to the northeast corner. This is about a three-minute walk.
The Karasuma Imadegawa intersection
As soon as you cross, you will see the No.3 Entrance to the Subway Karasuma Line’s Imadegawa Station. It is about a 10-minute ride from here on the subway to Kyoto Station.
Subway Imadegawa Station
Impressions of riding the bus, and measurements of ride duration
In order to check if the Limited Express Bus is actually useful in getting to destinations quickly, we measured the time it took while also observing levels of crowdedness.
The EX100 ride duration from Kyoto Station (an example)
9:27 AM Departure from Kyoto Station
↓
9:38 AM Gojozaka (approx. 10 minutes)
↓
9:42 AM Gion (approx. 14 minutes)
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9:46 AM Okazaki Koen (approx. 19 minutes)
↓
9:55 AM Ginkakuji (approx. 28 minutes)
The weather was fair on the day of this measurement, with many people walking about and the streets crowded. The bus left Kyoto Station full, and about two thirds of the passengers got off at Gojozaka while two or three got on. From there on, the bus had enough seats for everyone as it went to Gion, Okazaki Park, and Ginkaku-ji Temple.
The speed of transportation in comparison to an ordinary City Bus was greater the farther the destination from Kyoto Station, arriving significantly faster to the Ginkaku-ji Temple area compared with an ordinary bus. That being said, delays can occur on the route returning to Kyoto Station depending on traffic situation, so there may be cases where taking a different bus would allow a quicker return to Kyoto Station. In order to ensure hassle-free travel, it is best to make plans that allow plenty of extra time, and also consider using trains such as the subway that, unlike buses, typically run on schedule.
Conclusion: A smart option to consider when available
The Limited Express Bus EX100 and EX101 now operate on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays as an addition to the pre-existing bus lines, resulting to a degree in less crowding at tourist-spot bus stops 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.