Kyoto Bus Passes

Apart from the City Subway, the bus is another important tool in Kyoto to visit most attractions in central Kyoto, such as Nijo Castle, Kitano Temmangu, and Kinkaku-ji. Some remote areas of Kyoto or its border like Arashiyama and Mount Hiei are also worth going by its numerous temples or shrines, which can also be reached by bus. This article introduces some bus passes in Kyoto, by which you can have a Kyoto journey by bus economically.

The Most Popular & Most Common Bus Pass in Kyoto

Traveling across the whole Kyoto – Subway and Bus 1-Day Pass

Valid time: 1 day
Valid vehicles: 
Note that the below vehicles are only supported within Kyoto City. 

1. Buses: 

Kyoto City Bus (all lines)

Kyoto Bus (Kyoto Station – Hieizan, Hankyu Arashiyama Station – Nishiyama Takao, Ohara – Kurama)

JR West Bus (Kyoto Station – Toganoo)

Keihan Bus (routes running in Daigo, Yamashina, central Kyoto)

2. Kyoto Subway: 

All lines (Rokujizo – Uzumasa Tenjingawa, Kokusaikaikan – Takeda)

Passing-by tourist attractions:
Nijo Castle, Kitano Temmangu, Kinkaku-ji, Ryōan-ji, Iwakura Muramatsu, Iwakura Jissoin Temple, Ichihara, Kiyotaki, Kokedera, Sanzen-in Temple, Ryoanji Temple, Daigoji Temple, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, Nishiki Market, Heian-jingu Shrine, Yasaka-jinja Shrine, and Nanzen-ji Temple
Prices: 1,100 yen for adult and 550 yen for each child aging between 6 and 11
Where to buy:
At all Kyoto Subway stations and from drivers in Kyoto City Bus
Benefits: You can take Kyoto Subway and designated buses timelessly in 1 day and get discounts on tickets of some tourist attractions.

Passes for Traveling in Arashiyama and nearby Areas

1. Kyoto and Arashiyama 1-Day Pass 

Valid time: 1 day
Valid vehicles: 
The below vehicles are only supported within Kyoto City
1. Kyoto Bus: Saihoji Temple – Kiyootaki
2. Hankyu Railway: Arashiyama Station – Kyoto Kawaramachi Station
3. Keifuku Railway: Shijo-Omiya Station – Arashiyama Station, Katabiranotsuji Station – Kitano Hakubai-Cho Station
Passing-by attractions:
Ryoanji Temple, Ninnaji Temple, Tenryuji Temple, Kitano Temmangu, Daikakuji Temple, Saihoji Temple, and Matsunoo Taisha Shrine
Price: 1,400 yen
Where to buy: 
Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, Omiya Station, Katsura Station, Arashiyama Station, Shijo-Omiya Station, and other stations of the supported railways.
Benefit: You can take designated vehicles timelessly in one day. 

2. Arashiyama and Takao Grutto Pass 

Valid time: 1 day
Valid vehicles: 
The supported vehicles are only supported within Kyoto City
1. JR West Bus: Kyoto Station – Toganoo
2. Keifuku Railway: Shijo-Omiya Station – Arashiyama Station, Katabiranotsuji Station – Kitano Hakubai-Cho Station
Passing-by tourist attractions: 
Tenryuji Temple, Ryoanji Temple, Kitano Temmangu, Nijo Castle, Ninnaji Temple, and Hirano Shrine
Prices: 900 yen for each adult and 450 yen for each child
Where to buy:
Shijo-Omiya Station, Katabiranotsuji Station, Arashiyama Station, Kitano-Hakubaicho Station, and Kyoto Bus Ticket Center

3. Toei Kyoto Studio, Arashiyama, and Sagano Excursion Ticket 

Valid time: 1 day
Valid vehicle:
Kyoto Bus: Kyoto Station – Kiyotaki, Saihoji Temple – Kyoto Kawaramachi Station, Kyoto Station – Saihoji Temple, Kyoto Kawaramachi Station – Kiyotaki (within Kyoto City)
Passing-by tourist attractions: Toei Kyoto Studio Park, Tenryuji Temple, and Daikakuji Temple
Price: 2,600 yen
Where to buy: You can buy the Pass at the Kyoto Bus Arashiyama Office and Kyoto Station Bus Ticket Center
Extra discount: You can visit Toei Kyoto Studio Park for free once in a day

4. Arashiyama and Sagano Free Ticket

Valid time: 1 day
Valid vehicle: Kyoto Bus: Saihoji Temple – Kiyotaki (within Kyoto City)
Passing-by tourist attractions: Daikakuji Temple, Saihoji Temple, and Matsunoo Taisha Shrine
Price: 400 yen
Where to buy: Arashiyama Station of Kankyu Railway

Passes for Traveling around Mount. Hiei

Mount. Hiei on the border of Kyoto City, is famous for its numerous temples and shrines. By the below passes, you can travel around Mount. Hiei and feel the religious atmosphere.

1. 1-Day Bus Ticket within Mount. Hiei

Valid time: 1 day
Valid vehicle: 
Shuttle buses running by Kyoto Bus, Kojak Bus, and Keihan Bus: Hiei Sancho: Enryakuji Bus Center – Yokawa (within Kyoto City)
Passing-by tourist attractions: Enryaku-ji Temple and nearby temples or shrines around Mount. Hiei
Prices: 1,000 yen for each adult and 500 yen for each child
Where to buy:
Cable Sakamoto Station and Eizan Railway Demachiyanagi Station
Benefits: The Pass supports taking designated buses above timelessly in a day and you can get discounts when shopping at restaurants or shops around Enryaku-ji Temple.

2. Mount. Hiei Free Pass 

Valid time: a day
Valid vehicles: 
The below vehicles are only supported within Kyoto City
1. Kojak Bus: Cable Sakamoto Station – Hieizan Sakamoto Station 
2. Mount. Hiei Shuttle Bus: Hiei Sancho – Yokawa
3. Eizan Railway: Demachiyanagi Station – Yase-Hieizanguchi Station
4. Eizan Cable Car, Eizan Ropeway, and Sakamoto Cable: all lines
Passing-by tourist attractions: Mount. Hiei and nearby temples and shrines like Enryaku-ji Temple, Rurikoin Temple
Prices: 3,800 yen for each adult and 1,800 yen for each child
Where to buy:
Eizan Railway Demachiyanagi Station and Sakamoto Tourist Information Center
Extra discount:You can visit Enryaku-ji Temple for free and get ticket discounts while visiting Garden Museum Hiei or shopping around Mount. Hiei.

3. Mt. Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji Temple Pilgrimage Eizan Railway Ticket 

Valid time: a day
Valid vehicles: 
The below vehicles are only supported within Kyoto City
1. Mount. Hiei Shuttle Bus: Mount. Hiei – Yokawa
2. Eizan Railway: Demachiyanagi Station – Yase-Hieizanguchi Station
3. Eizan Cable Car: all lines
Passing-by tourist attractions: Enryaku-ji Temple and the nearby shrines and temples
Prices: 3,400 yen for each adult and 1,600 yen for each child
Where to buy: 
Demachiyanagi Station
Benefits: You can take designated vehicles timelessly in 1 day and the Pass shares the same extra discounts with Mount. Hiei Free Pass

Other Bus Passes

1. Travelling between Kyoto Station and Shuzan – Shuzan Free Ticket

Valid time: a day
Valid vehicle: 
JR West Bus: Kyoto Station – Shuzan (within Kyoto City)
Passing-by tourist attractions: 
Nijo Castle, Kitano Temmangu, Kinkakuji Temple, Ryoanji Temple, Ninnaji Temple, and temples in the north of Arashiyama Takao Parkway
Prices: 1,850 yen for each adult and 930 yen for each child
Where to Buy: Kyoto Bus Ticket Center

2. Travelling in the north of Imadegawa-dori – Kyoto Rakuhoku & Mori to Mizu Ticket

Valid time: a day
Valid vehicles: 
The below vehicles are only supported within Kyoto City
1. Kyoto Bus: running in the north of Imadegawa-dori
2. Eizan Railway: Demachiyanagi Station – Yase-Hieizanguchi Station, Takagaike Station – Karuma Station
Passing-by tourist attractions: Sanzenin Temple and Kifune Shrine
Price: 1,800 yen
Where to buy: Kurama Station and Demachiyanagi Station of Eizan Railway