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. sharmaine says:

    Hello, pls help me im travelling with my family .i have 3 kids and we plan to stay in Osaka for 5 days and tokyo another 5, while in Osaka we will be staying in Namba and plan to go universal on the 20th but the other days we havent really planned anything what do you recommend and what train pass should we get? thank you so much

  2. Amelda says:

    HI Takeshi

    Thanks for this very useful information. I was just wondering why the Kansai WIDE Area Pass validity details (https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/pass-regional/kansai/jr-kansai-wide-area-pass/order) don’t include the JR Sagano Line, only the JR Sagano Scenic Line. Does this mean that the scenic route is covered, but not the Kyoto-Sagaarashiyama and the Umahori-Kyoto parts of the journey, which take place on the JR Sagano line?

    Also, could I check whether the WIDE Area Pass covers the JR Sanyo Line (not the Sanyo Shinkansen, which it does). I am thinking to getting from Okayama to Kasaoka.

    Thanks in advance, Amelda

    • Hi Amelda,

      I think this info is wrong. Sagano Scenic Railway is not a part of JR trains. Any JR deals do not cover this and this pass covers JR Sagano line. In my understanding, you can get Saga-Arashiyama from Kyoto and can take Sagano line train from Umahori. But you cannot take “Torokko train” on Sagano Scenic railway.

      Kasaoka is not located in the coverage area. You have to add the fare for Kurashiki-Kasaoka.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Gordon says:

    What is the best way to travel from Yokohama to Yamanakako please?

  4. Gladys says:

    Hi Takeshi!

    I will be taking the jr train from tokyo to kyoto but where do you think it’s more worth it to explore first? the south or east of kyoto? and if i take the jr train over to kyoto where should i alight?

    hope to hear from you soon and thanks!

    • Hi Gladys,

      In my opinion, eastern Kyoto, such as Gion, Kiyomizudera is most recommended. But in these days, Fushimi Inari is most popular spot among foreign tourist. If you go to eastern Kyoto, you need to take a bus or subway from JR Kyoto station as you see the map above.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Dinhae says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Can you advise me on what is the suitable pass that I should get for my trip in Kyoto. I am staying near Kyoto Station. My detail itinerary is as below:

    1st day: Nijo Castle > Kyoto Imperial Palace > [Ginkakuji Temple > Philosopher’s Path > Nanzenji Temple > Heian Shrine > Yasaka Shrine (via Maruyama Park) > Higashiyama Street > Kiyomizu Dera]* > Fushimi Inari Taisha > Gion Geisha Street (night)

    *Places inside the [] – By walking

    2nd day (Half day): Monkey Park > Tenryuji Temple > Bamboo Groves

    I don’t know whether I’ll be able to visit all the places as I still don’t factor in the walking and travelling time. Is it possible to walk from Ginkakuji to Kiyomizu Dera temple or would it be time consuming and causes my planned itinerary to be not viable?

    Thanks for taking your time to read this.

    Have a nice day,
    Dinhae

    • Hi Dinhae,

      It takes one hour by walk from Ginkakuji to Kiyomizudera. Many travelers visit many places by walk in this area.
      So far, single ticket is okay. There is no deals to cover all places. But you may purchase all day bus pass at 500 yen for one day. If you take a bus 4 time or more, it’s paid off. You don’t need to but if you change your mind and get tired, you can hop on the bus by this pass. Keihan railway is the best to get Fushimi but single ticket is only your choice.

      You may use single fare for day 2 too. You can walk to visit these 3 places. But it’s same as day 1. Bus pass may be suitable.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Dinhae says:

        Thanks for the recommendation. I guess it’s better for me to purchase ICOCA card as I need to purchase single ticket a few times and by having ICOCA will save me some times. Does ICOCA covers Kyoto bus now?

        Thanks a lot Takeshi.

        Have a nice day,
        Dinhae

  6. arthur says:

    Dear Takeshi,

    nevermind about my earlier question, Tozai and Karasuma IS the subway line hahaha. Sorry, was overwhelmed with so much information.

    thank you!

  7. Arthur says:

    Dear Takeshi,

    Regarding Kyoto Sightseeing Pass, does it also include Tozai Line, Karasuma Line? and Randen?

    I cant find information on web whether Private Subway Operator is considered to be subway lines that are included in this Pass.

    Thanks!

  8. CyCy says:

    Hi Takeshi!

    I’ve stumbled across this amazing site, and I was wondering if you could help me. My friends and I will be travelling down to Osaka next month and planning to move around Kobe, Nara, Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya during our vacation. We’ll be staying very near Ebisucho station in Osaka and we’re planning on getting the HARUKA-ICOCA pass for now.

    Which pass would be most suitable if we were to plan to go to several places like Fushimi Inari, Kinkakuji, Nijo Castle in Kyoto for a day trip?

    Thanks in advance!

  9. dee says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I have a plan to visit Kyoto for 2 days:
    day 1: Arashiyama, Fushimi inari, half day trip to Nara
    day 2: Gion, Kiyomizudera, Kinkakuji
    Do you think is it ok to split it like that? I have JR pass so I can use it in day 1, right? and for day 2 which one will you recommend for me Kyoto city bus one day pass or Kyoto sightseeing one day pass? about Kyoto city bus day pass, can I use it for Raku bus as well?

    Thanks in advance.

  10. Khrissy says:

    Hi Takeshi!

    I have been reading your posts on transportation around Kansai region. I wish you could help me. My parents and I are going on a day trip to Kyoto then go back to Osaka at night or in the afternoon. We’re planning on going to Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari. Plus if we have additional time to the Golden Pavilion. We’ll be coming from Namba Station. Do you suggest we just use the ICOCA (its like the octopus card of HongKong right?) or buy ourselves the Kansai Area Pass for a day?

    Plus, when I buy the Nankai Railway from the airport, I can choose whether I want to ride the Airport Express or the Ltd. Express Rapi:t right?

    Thank you so much for your help!

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