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. Sheila says:

    Hi Takeshi san! I really need your advice 🙂
    I’m going to travel to Japan with my family on Spring next year. Here is what we will do:

    06/04 : Arrive Osaka, and stay for 4 nights.
    07/04 : Universal World
    08/04 : Osaka Castle, Sakura no miya
    09/04 : Kyoto (back again to Osaka).
    10/04-11/04 : Hakone.
    11/04-15/04: Tokyo (Going to Fuji San as well). Going home from Haneda Airport.

    my question is,
    1. is it necessary and useful if I buy the 7 days JR Pass (start from 08/04-14/04)?
    2. should I use any pass for 06-07 of april, like Osaka pass/Icoca card? or Going to universal world or Sakura no miya doesn’t really use those pass?
    3. how can I know which transportations that I can use with JR Pass?

    Please give me your thoughts 🙂

    Best Regards,

    Sheila

  2. leann says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    May I ask after visiting Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryuji Temple, how to I go back to Kyoto station?
    If I were to go to Randen Arashiyama station.

    Thank you!

    Regards,
    leann

    • Hi Leann,

      The easiest way is walking to JR Saga-Arashiyama station from Randen Arashiyama station. And take JR train to get Kyoto station.
      If you want to take Randen, you have to change Hankyu railway at Omiya and then transfer to Kyoto subway at Karasuma (Shijo).

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Catherine says:

    Hello Takeshi,

    I am travelling to Japan from 7-15 January 2016. I am unsure if I should be buying the 7 days Nationwide JR pass for my planned itinerary.

    My brief itinerary is as follows:-

    7 Jan: Kansai Airport- Gifu (Gifu-Hashima Station)
    9 Jan: Depart Gifu – Kyoto (Omiya Station)
    12 Jan: Depart Kyoto- Osaka (Yotsubashi Station)
    15 Jan: Travel to Kansai Airport

    From the information I’ve gathered online, I realise that the 7-day JR pass does not cover the majority of my planned itinerary. Hence, I am reconsidering and seeking advice. Part of my planned itinerary include the use of private railways, other than JR, which I will need to purchase separate tickets. For instance, my transportation needs within Gifu, from Gifu to Kyoto, within Kyoto, from Kyoto to Osaka and within Osaka itself.

    If it is recommended that I should purchase the 7-day pass, will I need to obtain the prepaid IC cards for easier travel within Kyoto and Osaka itself? What are the recommended cards and how should I obtain them?

    I greatly appreciate your advice and assistance in my travels in Japan.

  4. Elton says:

    Question:
    1. If I were to take a taxi to any of the tourist site below, is there a taxi stand for me to take a return trip or must I arrange for the taxi to come in to pick me up ?

    2.Can we cover all the below places of interest using train & buses in 2 full days (Day time ) ?
    1 Gion
    2 Kiyomizudera
    3 Arashiyama
    4 Kinkakji (Golden Pavilion)
    5 Nijo castle
    6 Fushimi Inari
    7 Uji
    8 Nishiki Market

  5. Zul says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    if you have specific article on Kansai Area Pass, can you share with me its link. I try to look in your webs but i didnt saw. thank you so much for your kind help.

  6. Zul says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    Thank you for explaining info of the pass. I need your advice. I email JR Service Center, but they mentioned Saga-Arashiyama not covered. they just show the area. I am really confuse of this.

    the reason I ask, I plan to go to Nijo from Kyoto. After Nijo proceed to Saga-Arashiyama for Bamboo Forest and Sagano Romantic Train.

    So, Kansai Area Pass cover Nijo Station and Saga-Arashiyama or not?

    Thank you so much for your reply.

  7. Jeenie says:

    Hello Takeshi!

    I will be traveling in December to Japan. Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Here is what I’d like to do.

    12/6: Arrive Tokyo (taking the Access Narita Bus)
    12/11: Departing Tokyo and staying in Hakone
    12/12: Departing Hakone to Kyoto (and staying in Kyoto: Gion area)
    (would like to do day trips to Osaka and Kobe)
    12/15: Departing Kyoto to Kansai Airport

    Would it be feasible to purchase JR pass or just do one-way trips and purchase a Kansai Area Pass?

    Again, I appreciate any assistance you can give.

    Kind regards,
    Jeenie

  8. Hannah says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Just wanted to find out the best way from Shin-Osaka Station, with the JR Rail pass to Arashiyama Station?

    How long would the trip take?

    Cheers,
    Hannah

  9. We will visit Osaka this coming October and our hotel is located near Sen-nichimae, Chuo-ku. We would like to travel to Kyoto via Shinkanasen. Any ideas on how to go about it?

    Thanks.

  10. DJ says:

    Hi Takeshi/ JP

    What is the best way to go to Kyoto from Osaka? We are staying near Nishi Umeda Station then our hotel in Kyoto is at the MyStays Kyoto-Shijo? I think that’s near Omiya, but I am not sure though.

    Furthermore, in going back to Osaka from Kyoto, we would like to experience the shinkansen. What trains/subways will we take heading to Sakaisuji-Honmichi line from Shin Osaka Station? Thank you.

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