Kyoto’s 2026 Bus Changes: The Tourist Express Bus, New Fares, and the Fastest Route to Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji
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Kyoto’s fastest routes to Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji depend on the day of the week. The table below breaks down every option: fare, schedule and whether the city’s day pass covers it.
| Service | Days it runs | Adult fare | Covered by the 1-Day Pass? |
|---|---|---|---|
| City bus, flat-fare zone | Every day | ¥230[2] | Yes |
| Tourist Express Bus EX100/EX101 | Sat, Sun, holidays[7] | ¥500[1] | Yes[1] |
| Keihan Kiyomizu-dera Line | Weekdays, Jul 1, 2026 – Jan 29, 2027[9] | ¥500 (¥1,500 with guide)[9] | No[3] |
| Rakuraku Kinkaku-ji/Ginkaku-ji Bus 102 | Weekends, holidays[10] | ¥230[2] | Yes |
Load your IC card before boarding, not on the bus
You can load an ICOCA, Suica or Pasmo balance at a subway station, another railway station, or a convenience store[5]. City buses are not listed among those loading points, so if your card is low, top it up before you board rather than on the bus.
Regular city buses are pay-on-exit: board at the front, then pay or tap when you get off[2].
The Tourist Express Bus: route, fare, and operating days
The Sightseeing Limited Express Bus, marked EX100 and EX101, started running on June 1, 2024, to ease crowding on regular routes[1]. EX100 runs Kyoto Station to Gojozaka for Kiyomizu-dera, then Gion, Heian Jingu and Ginkaku-ji; EX101 runs Kyoto Station to Gojozaka only[1].
Both cost ¥500 for adults and ¥250 for children per ride[1], and both operate Saturdays, Sundays and holidays only[7].
The bus leaves Kyoto Station’s D1 stop roughly every 7 to 8 minutes on operating mornings[1], and reaches the Gojozaka stop for Kiyomizu-dera in about 10 minutes[1].
A Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass covers unlimited EX100/EX101 rides at no additional fare[1].
The Keihan Kiyomizu-dera Line covers the weekday gap
From Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Keihan Bus’s Okoshi Bus service added a weekday-only Kiyomizu-dera Line linking Kyoto Station, Keihan Shichijo Station, Kiyomizu-dera and Nishi Hongwan-ji[9]. It runs through Friday, January 29, 2027, and does not operate on weekends, public holidays, August 13 to 14, December 29 to 31, or January 4[9].
The standard fare is ¥500 for adults and ¥250 for children; a version with onboard commentary and a guided walk costs ¥1,500 for adults and ¥1,000 for children[9].
It is a separate paid service, and the 1-Day Pass excludes Keihan’s sightseeing routes, so check your ticket before boarding[3].
Fastest way to Kiyomizu-dera: weekend vs. weekday
On a Saturday or Sunday, take EX101 to Gojozaka, about a 12-minute ride, then walk roughly 12 minutes uphill to the temple gate[8].
Regular city bus 206 covers the same Kyoto Station to Gojozaka run in about 16 minutes[8].
On a weekday, the Keihan Kiyomizu-dera Line is the direct option[9]; bus 206 works on any day of the week as the fallback.
Fastest way to Kinkaku-ji: subway plus bus, or Rakuraku 102
The reliable year-round route is the Karasuma Line subway from Kyoto Station to Kitaoji, then bus 204 or 205 toward Kinkaku-ji[10].
Riding bus 205 straight from Kyoto Station is possible but slow, since it makes many stops and can get crowded in the tourist season[10].
On weekends and holidays, the Rakuraku Kinkaku-ji/Ginkaku-ji Line, bus 102, runs as a more direct alternative, and bus 109 adds seasonal service in late April to early May and in autumn[10].
What the Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass covers, and skips
The pass costs ¥1,100 for adults and ¥550 for children, covering unlimited rides on the subway, city buses, Kyoto Bus, most Keihan Bus routes, West Japan JR Bus, and EX100/EX101[3].
It excludes Keihan’s Sightseeing Bus, Highway Bus and Airport Shuttle Bus routes, and the new Kiyomizu-dera Line falls in that excluded category[3].
JR-WEST RAIL PASS holders can buy the adult pass for ¥800 at a ticket office, ¥100 off the standard price[3].
Buy it at the machines beside the Limited Express Bus stop before boarding, since it can sell out on the bus itself[3].
The proposed resident fare isn’t charging tourists more yet
Kyoto’s transportation bureau is designing a citizen-priority pricing plan that would charge residents ¥200 and non-residents roughly ¥350 to ¥400 in the flat-fare zone[6].
The plan targets fiscal year 2027 and still needs national government authorization plus a city council ordinance revision[6].
It would use My Number Card identification linked to an IC card, and fares for the 1-Day Pass are still under separate review[6].
As of early September 2026, the standard adult city bus fare is still ¥230, unchanged for residents and visitors alike[2].
What it actually costs, in yen and minutes
A pass covers unlimited same-day rides on included services for one flat price; single fares add up per ride.
| Scenario | Single fares | Pass option | Cheaper choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo traveler, Saturday: EX101 to Kiyomizu-dera, Rakuraku 102 to Kinkaku-ji, both round trip | ¥500×2 + ¥230×2 = ¥1,460[1][2] | 1-Day Pass ¥1,100[3] | Pass |
| Couple, weekday: Kiyomizu-dera via the Keihan line, round trip, 2 people | ¥500×2×2 = ¥2,000[9] | Not covered[3]; regular bus 206 costs ¥230×2×2 = ¥920[2] instead | Bus 206 |
| Family of 4, one day, both temples via bus 206 and subway+bus 204/205, round trip | ¥4,360 total[2][4] | 2 adult + 2 child Passes = ¥3,300[3] | Passes |
One adult’s day adds up to ¥230×2 for bus 206, ¥260×2 for the subway, and ¥230×2 for bus 204/205, or ¥1,440[2][4].
Two adults and two children total ¥4,360 in single fares, more than two adult and two child 1-Day Passes at ¥1,100×2 plus ¥550×2, or ¥3,300[3].
Kinkaku-ji admission adds ¥500 per adult and ¥300 per student on top of transport[11].
For one round trip on a weekday, paying single fares beats the pass; for a full day of temple-hopping with a family, the pass wins.
What it means for your trip
A solo Saturday sightseer hitting both temples comes out ahead buying the 1-Day Pass, which also covers EX100/EX101 and Rakuraku 102[1][3].
A weekday couple doing one round trip to Kiyomizu-dera should compare the Keihan line’s comfort against the cheaper regular bus 206. The pass does not apply to the Keihan service[3].
A family riding subway plus bus to both temples usually saves money with passes rather than single fares, once the day includes several rides. For airport transport into Kyoto, see our Haruka vs Bus vs Shared Shuttle comparison. For a fuller rundown of Kyoto’s day-ticket options, see our Kyoto bus and subway pass guide.
FAQ
What is the fastest way from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-dera?
On weekends and holidays, EX101 to Gojozaka in about 12 minutes, then a 12-minute walk[1][8]. On weekdays, use the Keihan Kiyomizu-dera Line or regular bus 206[9].
Does the Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass cover the express bus?
Yes for EX100/EX101, at no extra fare beyond the pass[1]. No for the new Keihan Kiyomizu-dera Line, which sits outside the pass’s Keihan Bus coverage[3].
Is Kyoto raising bus fares for tourists in 2026?
Not yet. A two-tier resident and non-resident fare is still pending national approval and targeted for fiscal year 2027; the standard adult fare remains ¥230 as of early September 2026[2][6].
Sources
- Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Guide, Sightseeing Limited Express Bus EX100, EX101
- Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Guide, Kyoto City Bus Fare
- Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Guide, Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass
- Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Guide, Kyoto City Subway Fare
- Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Guide, IC Card
- Kyoto City Transportation Bureau, citizen-priority fare proposal overview
- Kyoto Travel, Limited express buses and increased frequency of city buses useful for sightseeing
- Kyoto Travel, Taking the Limited Express Bus from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Kyoto Travel, A New Sightseeing Route Joins Okoshi Bus: Kiyomizu-dera Line
- Kyoto Travel, Access to Kinkaku-ji and Kinugasa Area
- Shokoku-ji Religious Corporation, Kinkaku-ji Access