Kyoto train route guide. How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots?

kyoto stationKansai Area
Click to enlarge. (C) JP Rail
Click to enlarge. (C) JP Rail

Train system in Kyoto may be complicated for you. There are three types of railway, JR, Kyoto City Subway and Private company’s railways. Actually it’s a key to travel in Kyoto smoothly and avoid wasting your valuable time. Of course city of Kyoto has city wide bus service. But during peak season, bus service runs behind the schedule sometimes due to traffic congestion.

And also, there are many types of deals, such as ICOCA, Kansai Thru Pass, JR Pass, Kansai Area Pass, Kyoto city pass. Each pass has different conditions. You have to understand which train system is covered by your pass.

In this post, I tell you about using these deals and explain all train systems in Kyoto.

Which train services that are covered by ICOCA, Kansai Thru Pass and other JR deals

Many deals are available in Kansai area. But each pass have different coverage. I tell you about major passes and deals.

For the travellers who use ICOCA, Kansai one pass, Suica, Pasmo or other IC cards

You can take all trains on the map above except Shinkansen and Sagano Scenic Railway. When you travel in Kansai area, don’t try to take Shinkansen for such a short transfer. Please see the post below to find more information:

Regarding Sagano Scenic Railway, it is not a public transportation but an attraction. This is the reason why it is not covered by any rail pass.

By the way, ICOCA does not cover Kyoto city bus service either. In sometimes 2014, Kyoto city bus will accept ICOCA.

For the travellers who use Kansai Thru Pass

Please see the map below:

Click to enlarge. (C) JP Rail
Click to enlarge. (C) JP Rail

You can go anywhere in city of Kyoto. Most of places can be accessed by train. And this pass covers Kyoto City Bus too. Bus services cover all part of city of Kyoto. If you access from Osaka (Umeda) to Kyoto station, you cannot get a direct transfer by this pass. This is only things that you may care.

JR Pass, Kansai Area Pass, Kansai WIDE Area Pass, Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass, Sanyo Sanin Area Pass, Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass, Hokuriku Arch Pass

Please see the map below:

Click to enlarge. (C) JP Rail
Click to enlarge. (C) JP Rail

I wrote another post which focus on JR Pass and JR regional deals in the link below. You may find how much you can use JR Pass and JR regional deals in Kyoto. You can learn how to maximize using these passes:

Kyoto Sightseeing One and Two-day Pass Card and Kyoto subway pass

Please see the map below:

Click to enlarge. (C) JP Rail
Click to enlarge. (C) JP Rail

These deals cover Kyoto city subway lines. Kyoto city bus and Kyoto Bus (private bus company) are also covered by Kyoto Sightseeing one day and two day cards. If you will take bus, you can go almost anywhere in city of Kyoto. Only place where is not covered by this pass is Uji.

How to access to major spots in Kyoto by train

As I mentioned above, sometimes bus services are affected by heavy traffic. And there are too many lines of bus in city of Kyoto. You may be confused by too many choices. Therefore I recommend you to use train service as much as you can.

If you need more info about bus, you may be able to find it at Japan-Guide.com

Gion

If you see Maiko in Gion, you are very lucky.  © Y.Shimizu/© JNTO
If you see Maiko in Gion, you are very lucky. © Y.Shimizu/© JNTO

You can get there by both Hankyu Railway and Keihan Railway. Hankyu’s Kawaramachi station is located 5 minutes away from Keihan’s Gion-Shijo staiton. There is Kamo river between these two stations. One of most popular market, Nishiki market is located bear Kawaramachi station. This area is one of the busiest area in Kyoto.

If you access from Osaka, take Hankyu if you stay in Umeda (JR Osaka station) and take Keihan if you stay in Namba or Shinsaibashi area. Yodoyabashi is connected by Osaka subway Midousuji line.

Kiyomizudera

It is Must-See spot in Kyoto. ©Sue Ann Simon/©JNTO
It is Must-See spot in Kyoto. ©Sue Ann Simon/©JNTO

Actually it’s a bit away from the station. But you can get there from Keihan’s Kiyomizu-Gojo station. The distance is 1.7 km and takes about 20 minutes.

Arashiyama

Togetsukyo is the icon of Arashiyama. ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO
Togetsukyo is the icon of Arashiyama. ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO

There are three stations, Hankyu, Randen and JR. Randen’s Arashiyama station is located in the heart of Arashiyama. But you will be okay with other two stations. JR’s Saga-Arashiyama station is about 15 minutes away from Randen’s Arashiyama station. Hankyu’s Arashiyama station is located at other side of Katsura river. Togetsu bridge connects these two stations.

If you get Arashiyama from Umeda, obviously Hankyu Railway is the best choice. But there is no direct train service from Umeda to Arashiyama. You have to transfer at Katsura.

If you get Arashiyama from Kyoto station or using JR deals, JR Sagano line is the best choice.

If you get Arashiyama from Gion and Kawaramachi area, I recommend you to take Hankyu to Omiya and transfer to Randen. Randen is not very well known. This rail service is like street car and it runs on the street at some part of this line. This 20 minutes ride will be nice experience in your Kyoto visit. Hankyu’s Omiya station is located underground and Randen’s Shijo-Omiya station is on the ground. But it’s just cross the road and only 3 minutes away.

If you stay in Sanjo area and get Arashiyama, take subway to Uzumasa-Tenjingawa station and transfer to Randen. Randen-Tenjingawa station is located on the ground and subway’s station is underground. But it’s same place.

Kinkakji (Golden Pavilion)

I recommend you to drop by Ryoanji temple before visit Kinkakuji.  	©JNTO
I recommend you to drop by Ryoanji temple before visit Kinkakuji. ©JNTO

It can be accessed from randen’s Kitano-Hakubaicho station on foot. It takes about 20 nminutes. Of course you can catch the bus at Kitano-Hakubaicho station. It is three bus stops away from Kinkakuji and takes about 5 minutes.

If you access there from Arashiyama, Randen is a good choice. But if you get there from Gion, Kyoto station and other places, Randen is considerable. You have to change the train at Katabiranotsuji. It takes about 30 minutes from both Shijo-Omiya and Arashiyama. But Kinakakuji can be accessed by direct bus from many places in Kyoto. Even though I consider traffic, bus service may be faster than Randen. And also Kinkakuji can be accessed from subway’s Kitaoji staion by bus. If you get there from Kyoto station and Gion, this route is the fastest.

Nijo castle

Nijo castle is located in the heart of Kyoto. It is very easy to access there.  ©JNTO
Nijo castle is located in the heart of Kyoto. It is very easy to access there. ©JNTO

The nearest station is subway’s Nijojo staton. But you can access there from JR Nijo station too. So you can choose the trains by you pass/deal.

Fushimi Inari

Fushimi Inari Shrine is very famous as thousands of torii gates. ©Kyoto Convention Bureau /©JNTO
Fushimi Inari Shrine is very famous as thousands of torii gates. ©Kyoto Convention Bureau /©JNTO

It can be accessed by both JR and Keihan. JR’s Inari station is the nearest station. But Keihan’s station is only 5 minutes away from the shrine. You can choose it by your pass/deals.

If you combine this place with Nara, JR’s Inari station is on the way to Nara.

Uji

Byodoin Hououdou is the highlight in Uji. © JNTO
Byodoin Hououdou is the highlight in Uji. © JNTO

It is not located in city of Kyoto. So you cannot get there by city bus.

Both JR and Keihan can take you there. The biggest spot, Byodoin is located between JR Uji and Keihan’s Uji stations. It take about 10 minutes from both stations.

If you get there from Osaka, Keihan Railway is the best choice. But there is no direct train to Uji from Yodoyambashi. You have to change the trains at Chushojima.

Kyoto subway line goes to Rokujizo station. This is located at same place as JR’s Rokujizo station. You can change the trains very easily there. But Keihan’s Rokujizo station is a bit away from subway/JR stations. So if you access there from the heart of Kyoto, subway and JR combination is a good choice too.

Comments

  1. Wai Leng says:

    Hi Takeshi San,
    Can you recommend the most economy pass that I should purchase for following itinerary:
    03/05/17 : 9.30am Landed at Kansai > Kyoto Shijo station. JR one way? Get ICOCA card for busses & train?
    Nishiki Market > Ginkakuji > Nijo Castle
    04/05/17 : Shiko > Fushimi Inari > Kiyomizudera > Yasaka Shrine > Gion Street.
    05/05/17 : Shijo > Bamboo Forest > Kinkaku-ji.
    04 & 05 Any particular bus or train pass?
    06/05/17 : shijo > Osaka Nagahoribashi station. JR & subway?
    07/05/17 : Nagahoribashi > Nara. Kintetsu Nara Line?
    08/05/17 : Nagahoribashi > Kaiyukan Aquarium > Tempozen Ferris Wheel > Santa Maria Ship > Umeda Sky building > HEP Five
    09/05/17 : Nagahoribashi > Osaka Castle > Shitennoji Temple > Tsutenkaku Tower > Tenjibashi-suji
    08 & 09 use Osaka Amazing 2 days Pass?
    10/05/17 : Nagahoribashi > USJ. JR?
    11/05/17 : Free & Easy at Osaka.
    12/05/17 : Nagahoribashi > Kansai. JR one way?

  2. Lindsay Boyd says:

    Hi Takeshi San:
    We are visiting a friend who is stationed in japan with the US Navy. He is travelling with us and we have rented a house in Osaka. April 20-23. Yokohama to Osaka on April 20, 2017. We would visit Hiroshima (one day) , Kyoto (one day), Osaka (one day) then return to Yokohama on April 23, 2017. We have JR pass but our friend does not. What can we do for passes and travel in those cities? Thank you

  3. Loo See says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    Good day to you.
    I need your advise on pass that I should purchase for following itinerary: ( Touch down on 11th May, 5.30am at Kansai Airport )
    Day 1 – Kansai Airport – Kyoto Station – Kinosaki Onsen .
    Day 2 – Kinosaki Onsen – Kyoto Station (Stay near Shijo Station)
    Day 3 – Arashiyama – Fushimi Inari – Kinkakuji – Kiyomizudera – Gion
    Day 4 – Kyoto Station – Okayama
    Day 5 – Kyoto to Osaka ( stay near kyobashi station )
    Day 6 – Osaka Castle – Dotombori – Shinsaibashi – Kuromon Market
    Day 7 – Kyoto – Kansai Airport.

    Thank you very much .

  4. Abigail says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I would be in Japan for 8D7N and planning to hit Kyoto, Hakone and Tokyo. Would you mind suggesting to me which passes should we buy and how to improve out itinerary? Please and thank you!

    19June:
    KIX > GION-SHIJO
    – Kiyomozu-Dera
    – Higashiyama District
    – back to Gion-Shijo

    20June:
    – Nara Park
    – Kasua
    – Fushimi-IKaykay

    21June:
    – Tenryu-ji
    – Bamboo Forest

    22June:
    – Kurama-dera

    23June:
    Gion-Shijo > Hakone-Yumoto (early train)

    24June:
    Hakone-Yumoto > Tokyo

    25th June:
    Tokyo

    26th June:
    Tokyo > Narita Airport (early train)

    Also, I understand that there is a Hakone Day Trip pass, but where should we go to make the pass worth buying? And should we get any JR Passes for the travel between Kyoto to Hakone and Hakone to Tokyo? Please help thank you!

  5. Miyeko says:

    Dear Takeshi san,

    I already have the JR pass and I’ll be staying in Shin-Osaka. For general sight seeing in Kyoto and Osaka, what should I get to pair with JR pass to facilitate my travels? What would you recommend? If it helps, my itinerary is

    D1-4 exploring Kyoto and side trip to Nara
    D5-8 Tokyo + Hakone for the next
    D9-11 Takayama
    D12-14 then finally Osaka + Himeji side trip

    If you’d like to recommend on other tourist passes for Tokyo, I’d take it into consideration as well.

    Thank you in advance for your response.

  6. Liv Imset says:

    Hello Takeshi,

    Thank you for the service you provide here. I am trying to determine best combination of passes (or maybe one JR rail pass?) for the following travels in Japan. I hope that you can help. Here is our itinerary:

    Staying in Uji for 3 days to sight see in Kyoto for 2 days (we will go in and out of Kyoto each day)
    Then we will go to Shikuko for 7 days (Uji to Takushima to Oboke to Matsuyama). We will go the long way to Matsuyama.
    Then we go to Hiroshima (hydrofoil) for 2 days and plan to take the bullet train to Osaka.

    I am not sure if a JR rail pass is worth it and whether or not it will work for us sightseeing in Kyoto and Hiroshima.

    Thank you,

    Liv

  7. Ling says:

    Dear Takeshi,

    Thank you for all the information is very helpful. But I’m still a little unsure…

    Just want to ask would u still recommend buying 3 days kansai thru pass if it was all used in Kyoto? Because I would like to explore Kyoto at a slower pace, like one area a day and it seems like it involves more walking? …

    Day 1: Osaka(Namba) to Kyoto (Arashimaya)
    Tenryuji Temple-Bamboo Grove-Maybe
    Jojakko-ji Temple&Gio-ji Temple-Sagano Scenic Railway-Togetsukyo Bridge
    Back to Osaka(Namba)

    Day 2: Osaka(Namba) to Kyoto (Gion-shijo station)
    Yasaka Pagoda-Yasaka Shrine-Maruyama-koen Park-Kodaiji-Higashiyama streets-Gion-
    Overnight 1 night in Kyoto(nearest landmark Fushimi Inari)

    Day 3: Fushimi Inari-Kiyomizudera-Higashiyama streets-Heian shrine-philosophers path-Kinkakuji-Nijo castle-Nishiki market
    Back to Osaka(Namba)

    Qn1) I wanted to do a half day Nara/ half day Kyoto on day 1 to make the kansai thru pass more worth but thought that I did not want to rush through Arashimaya. Do you think I should still get the 3 days kansai thru pass in this case?

    Qn 2)For day 3, do you think I have enough time to go to all these places? Should I slot some places to day 1 and day 2? Or should I just go to Kyoto for one more day means 4 days in Kyoto? But there no kansai thru pass for 4 days though.

    Qn 3) I would still like to go to Nara as well. Should I just buy 3 days kansai thru pass 2 times for 6 days?

    Hope you can help me on my dilemma. Thank you!

    • Hi Ling,

      1. You can use 3 days Kansai thru pass. It works.

      2. It’s fesible but it depends on your pace. If I were you, I can do all places in 3 days easily.

      3. 3 days is enough for me to visit all places in Kyoto and Nara. But if you want to have more time, you can add one more day and use 2 X 2 days pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. Mon Erfe Singian says:

    Hello Takeshi.

    We will be arriving in Narita Airport on April 2, 2017. We will be staying in Tokyo at Hamamatsucho, Kyoto at New Hankyu Hotel in front of Kyoto Station, Osaka at the Namba area for 4 days each. We will have a side trip to Mt. Fuji. Nara and Kobe.

    Would you please recommend what type of passes should we get to help us get around locally in each city and intercities economically? Would you recommend a JR Pass. Suica? Etc…

    We will depart from Kansai Airport in Osaka after a 10 day leisure trip in Japan. Thanks

    Arigatou

    Mon Erfe Singian

  9. Jaime says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    Appreciate your reply. I have few clarification.
    Q1 – Kansai One Pass is equivalent to ICOCA Card, therefore I do not have to purchase ICOCA Card and it is used for transport that is not covered by Kansai Area Pass, Kansai Thru Pass, Osaka Amazing Pass?

    Q2 – Based on your suggestion above, I’ve come up with 2 alternatives, do let me know if my understanding is correct.

    * If travel from Higashi-Yodogawa
    Day 1 – Haruka discount ticket (2600 Yen, Return Trip) + Kansai one pass 3000 Yen
    Day 2 – Kansai Area Pass 4 days (6500 Yen) + Kyoto Sightseeing 2 day Pass (2000 Yen)
    Day 3 – Kansai Area Pass + Kyoto Sightseeing
    Day 4 – Kansai Area Pass
    Day 5 – Kansai Area Pass
    Day 6 – Kansai one pass
    Day 7 – Osaka Amazing 2 days (3000 Yen)
    Day 8 – Osaka Amazing + Kansai one pass
    Day 9 – Haruka discount ticket

    Is this correct?
    1) Pass to purchase – 2600 + 3000 + 6500 + 2000 + 3000 = 17,100
    2) Kansai Area Pass (Train from/to Higashi-Yodogawa)

    * Alternative if travel from Shin-Osaka
    Day 1 – Haruka discount ticket (2600 Yen, Return Trip) + Kansai one pass 3000
    Day 2 – Kansai Thru Pass 3 Days (5200 Yen)
    Day 3 – Kansai Thru Pass 3 Days
    Day 4 – Kansai Area Pass 3 Days
    Day 5 – Kansai Area Pass 1 Day (2200 Yen)
    Day 6 – Kansai one pass
    Day 7 – Osaka Amazing 2 days (3000)
    Day 8 – Osaka Amazing + Kansai one pass
    Day 9 – Haruka discount ticket

    Is this correct?
    3) Pass to purchase – 2600 + 3000 + 5200 + 2200 + 3000 = 16000
    4) Kansai Thru Pass (Train from/to Shin-Osaka Station)
    5) Do I still need to purchase Kyoto Sightseeing Pass if I purchase Kansai Thru Pass?

    Regards,
    Jaime

  10. Jaime says:

    Hi Takeshi san,
    Can you recommend the most economy pass that I should purchase for following itinerary:
    Whole duration stay – Osaka (Staying near Higashi-Yodogawa Station) – 9 days 8 nights trip.

    Day 1: Kansai Airport – Osaka: Evening will go around Namba
    Day 2: Osaka – Kyoto (Ginkakuji – Philosopher’s Path – Keage Incline – Yasaka Shrine – Gion District – Kodaiji – Higashiyama District) – Osaka
    Day 3: Osaka – Kyoto (Tenryu-Ji Temple – Arashimaya Bamboo Grove – Arashimaya Togetsukyo Bridge – Nijo Castle – Fushimi Inari Taisha – Nishiki Market – Shinkyogoku Shopping District) – Osaka
    Day 4: Osaka – Nara (Isui-en Garden – Todai-ji Temple – Nara Koen Park – Kasuga Taisha Shrine – Kofuku-ji Temple – Higashimuki Shopping Street) – Osaka
    Day 5: Osaka – Himeji (Himeji Castle) – Kobe (Nankinmachi – Kobe Port Tower – Sannomiya Center-gai Shopping Street) – Osaka
    Day 6: Osaka (Full day at Universal Studio Japan)
    Day 7: Osaka (Osaka Castle – Osaka Aquarium – Tennoji Area [Shitennoji Temple, Zoo, Park, Tennoji shopping)
    Day 8: Osaka (Ikeda Instand Ramen Museum – Umeda Sky Building – Umeda Station shopping area – Tenjinbashi-Suji Shopping Street – Namba Area (Dotonburi/Shinsaibashisuji)
    Day 9: Osaka – Kansai Airport

    Arigatou Gozaimasu.

    Regards,
    Jaime

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