Kyoto Transport Guide with Route map: Getting around with city bus subways and trains.

Routes crowded

From Kyoto sta. to Gion and Kiyomizu dera at D1 and D2 bus stop at Kyoto sta.

D1 and D2 is for Kiyomizudera. It is the most popular site in Kyoto and many tourists take these buses to go there. So, they are always crowded.

In addition to it, they head for Kiyomizu dera by way of Sanjusangen do mae bus stop (Sanjusangen-do and Kyoto National museum) and people may get on them at the bus stop because Sanjusangen do and Kyoto National museum is also a popular destinantion for tourists.

Take a look at the photo above. This is the D1 and D2 bus stop at Kyoto sta. for Kiyomizu-dera and Gion. If you foud more people than indicated in the photo, it would be better to take train to get there istead of taking bus.

From Kiyomizu-dera to other places

In spring and fall, tourists visit Kiyomizu dera for cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. They take bus at Kiyomizu-michi and Gojo zaka bus stop. Usually, they wait there in line. Sometimes it take 20~30 minutes to get on bus. If you found many people at these bus stops, it would be better to take train (Kiyomizu-gojo station, Gion Shijo station, and Kawaramachi station) or taxi.

For Arashiyama

It is not a good idea to go there by bus because trains bring you there faster. In addtion to it, the bus stops around Arashiyama station are located don’t work as usual because the bus routes are changed.

Bus No. 5 from Kyoto station

No.5 is always crowded because it stops at popular destination like Heian Jigu, Eikando, and Ginkakuji.

Raku bus 洛バス（No. 100、101、102）

Not available these days

No. 100, 101, and 102 are routes for sight seeing. Lots of tourists take them. They ara crowded with many tourists usually.

Bus No. 200s

The 200s are crowded because they are roop lines and not only tourists but Kyotoites take them.

At some bus stops like Kitaoji bus terminal, driver changes bus and vice versa. Take advice of driver.

Bus No.59

No.59 is an only route for Ryoanji temple. Lots of people take it.

Bus stops crowded

Kinkakuji michi/Kinkakuji mae bus stops

We take these bus stops to get Kinakuji temple though they always crowded. If you took buses there in the evening, you might be in tough and rough situations. To avoid them, visit Kinkakuji (It opens at 9:00) in the morning and go Ryoanji, Ninnaji, or Arashiyama.

Kiyomizu zaka and Gojyo zaka bus stop

As I indicated before.

Arashiyama Tenryuji mae/ Arashiyama bus stop

These bus stops always crowded becayse there are no bus stops except them around Arashiyama.

Train crowded

Randen (Keifuku Railways)

Randen trains run in small two cars and cannot hold many passengers at one time.

Eiden

Eiden is only route for Kibune and Yase actually.

To avoid inconvenience

Take trains

On week-ends and in spring and fall, some routes are jam-packed and it sometimes take lots of time to get destinations. To avoid that, take trains as possible.

For example, we can go to Kinkakuji on bus no. 205 from Kyoto station. It may take one hour to get there on week-ends. We take subway and bus instead: we take subway at Kyoto station and change to bus at Imadegawa.

Take taxi

It is the easiest way to get desitination.