The recommended way is to use the subway. Although it is not possible to go by subway alone and you need to transfer to a bus, you can avoid the crowded Kyoto Station bus terminal.

There are many buses, and there is not much of a wait, with trains running every 5 minutes during the morning and evening rush hours, and every 7 to 9 minutes during the daytime. We will introduce two routes: getting off at Kujo Station and transferring at Gojo Station.

⚫︎ 1. Subway + Bus (Kyoto - Kujo - Kiyomizu Road)
Board a bus bound for Takeda and disembark at Kujo Station. Then transfer to the 202/207 city bus at the Oishibashi stop in front of the station and get off at the Kiyomizu-michi stop. From Kiyomizu-michi to the Niomon gate of Kiyomizu-dera Temple is about a 10-minute walk.

There are about 10 buses per hour, and transfers can be made smoothly. The bus goes south from Kyoto Station, giving the impression that it is a long way, but in fact it is not, and the trip takes about 40 to 50 minutes. The fare is 220 yen for the subway and 230 yen for the city bus, for a total of 450 yen.

⚫︎ 2. Subway + bus (Kyoto - Gojo - Gojozaka)
You can also take a bus bound for Kokusai Kaikan in the opposite direction of the previous route, get off at Gojo Station, and transfer to a bus to get to the destination. Although the number of buses will be reduced and the time will be less predictable, the bus ride will take less time than the Kujo route.

Of the several bus companies, Keihan Bus is the easiest to use. The buses heading to Kiyomizu-Dera Temple from "Karasuma Gojo" are routes 82 and 311. 5 stops away, get off at "Gojozaka" and it takes about 12 minutes to walk there. The total time required is 40 to 50 minutes. The fare is 220 yen for the subway and 230 yen for the Keihan bus, for a total of 450 yen.

If you use the subway and bus, you can save money by purchasing a "subway/bus one-day pass" instead of buying individual tickets. You can come and go almost anywhere in Kyoto City, so if you want to visit other places besides Kiyomizu-dera Temple, why not make use of this ticket?

If you want to avoid the crowded bus terminal and use the train, one option is to use the JR line. As with the subway, there is also a way to transfer to a bus as well as to take a train if you do not want to use the bus as much as possible.

From JR "Kyoto Station", take the Nara Line to "Tofukuji Station", one station next door. From there, there are two routes: by bus or by Keihan train.

⚫︎ 1. JR + Bus (Kyoto - Tofukuji Temple - Kiyomizu Road)
The JR line and the 202/207 buses are both very frequent, so you can easily find your way to the nearest bus stop, Kiyomizu-do (Kiyomizu Temple).

It takes about 10 minutes on foot from "Shimizu-michi", so the total time required is about 40 to 50 minutes. 150 yen for JR and 230 yen for city bus, for a total of 380 yen, which is slightly cheaper than taking the subway.

⚫︎ 2. JR + Keihan train + walking (Kyoto - Tofukuji - Kiyomizu Gojo)
At "Tofukuji" station, you can transfer to the Keihan Line. If you take the train bound for Demachiyanagi to "Kiyomizu Gojo Station" and walk from there, you can go there without taking a bus. This is a good option if you are visiting during the busy season, as you can avoid traffic jams.

The distance from "Kiyomizu Gojo Station" to [Kiyomizu-Dera Temple] is 1.4 km, a little more than 20-25 minutes on foot, but not so far that it is impossible to walk. The total fare is 300 yen. Even including the walking time, the time required is not so different from other routes, about 40 to 50 minutes.

If you feel that changing trains is a hassle, the one-stop bus service is attractive. The bus terminal is right in front of you as you exit the central ticket gate on the north side of Kyoto Station.

Cash, coupons, IC cards, and one-day passes are accepted as payment methods. Cash and coupon tickets are put into the fare box when you get off the bus; if you use an IC card, be sure to touch it when you get off the bus as well as when you board the bus.

Expect considerable crowding during the high season from March to April and October to November. Traffic jams can cause significant delays, so be sure to get there early.

⚫︎ Kyoto City Buses (Kyoto - Kiyomizu Road)
Among several bus companies, the most accessible is the city bus company, which has a large number of buses. Normally, buses arrive approximately every 5 to 10 minutes, but during peak season, extra buses are also available, arriving approximately every 3 to 5 minutes.

The bus stop is "D2" on the east side of the bus terminal. Take routes 206/86 to Kiyomizu-michi, which is close to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The fare is 230 yen, the cheapest route, and the time required is only about 30 minutes, including the time spent on foot.

Although there are many trains, it may take more than 10 minutes to board because of the large number of passengers. In addition, there are many passengers from other tourist attractions such as museums on the way, making the train quite crowded. This route should be avoided on rainy or midsummer days.

The cab takes about 10 to 20 minutes, which is shorter than other means of transportation. ［Taxis can take you as close as Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, so you will be glad to know that the walking distance is short. ［If you are heading toward Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, we recommend taking a taxi at the Karasuma Exit.

The fare, which costs about 1,500 yen, is not too expensive for a group of three or four people. However, during high season, there is a long queue of people waiting for cabs, so be sure to plan your sightseeing trip with the waiting time in mind.

⚫︎ Starting fares and additional amounts for each cab company
There are differences in starting fares and additional amounts among cab companies, which should be taken into consideration when there is room to choose. Major cab companies' starting fares/additional amounts are as follows.

It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, so if it is a pleasant season, walking to the temple while enjoying the cityscape of Kyoto is an option.

Turn right on Karasuma Street at Shichijo, cross the Shichijo Ohashi Bridge, and head first for Sanjusangendo. ［Near Sanjusangendo are other tourist attractions such as the Kyoto National Museum and Myohoin Temple, so you may want to take a side trip while heading there.

If you want to take a break along the way, we recommend spending some luxurious time at the lounge of the Hyatt Regency or the Four Seasons Hotel near Sanjusangendo. After taking a rest, if you go north to Gojo Street, Kiyomizu-dera Temple is already in front of you. Climb up Gojozaka and you will be greeted by Niomon Gate.

A new means of transportation is the use of LUUP, an electric kickboard and electric bicycle sharing service. Ports are set up in front of stations, near tourist spots, and other locations in Kyoto City, and users can travel from port to port on bicycles or kickboards.

There are also ports around "Kyoto Station" and near "Kiyomizu-dera Temple," and travel between ports takes about 20 minutes. The fee is only 200 yen per 30 minutes, which is very reasonable and has many advantages. However, be careful when traveling near Kiyomizu-dera Temple, as the streets become crowded.

*After the law was revised in July 2023, the speed limit is now 20 km/h, so be careful not to drive too fast. To use the app, you need to register your age verification document and pass the traffic rule test.

If you are planning to visit Kyoto City by subway or bus, the "Subway/Bus One-Day Pass" is a great deal: for 1100 yen (550 yen for children), you can ride all Kyoto City subway and bus lines for one day.

You can also take Kyoto Bus, Keihan Bus, and JR Bus except for some routes, so you can travel almost anywhere in Kyoto City. You can purchase tickets at information centers of city buses and subways, as well as on board buses.

Kyoto, with its many tourist attractions, offers various means of transportation. Depending on the weather and the season, you can enjoy the charms of the ancient capital.