Sightseeing Bus in Kyoto

The sightseeing bus in Kyoto, unlike Kyoto's local buses stopping frequently, stops at major tourist attractions and helps visitors save a lot of time. In addition, the routes of sightseeing buses in Kyoto cover most attractions, such as Kinkakuji Temple, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and Fushimi Inari Taisha, making the journey in Kyoto more efficient.

Sky Hop Bus Kyoto 

Sky Hop Bus Kyoto is distinctive for its red color and the huge blue “SKY” sign on its side. The bus has 2 decks and visitors sit on the upper one. In addition, the top of the bus is open, which is convenient for visitors to appreciate the tourist attractions passing while sitting on the bus. It has 3 routes covering different numbers of spots. Also, the bus provides voice guidance about the history or highlights of the attractions. 

Red Sky Hop Bus

Red Route

Frequency: 12 buses every day; 45 minutes on average
Running hours: 8:40 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Kyoto Station
Departure station: Kyoto Station
Terminal station: Kyoto National Museum 
Advantages: Higher frequency from morning to afternoon; 13 tourist attractions
Stops: 
Kyoto Station, Nishihogan-ji Temple, Shijo Karasuma, Nijo-jo Castle, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kinkakji Temple, Daitokuji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Ginkakuji Temple, Heian-jingu Shrine, Gion, Gojozaka, and Kyoto National Museum

Green Route

Frequency: twice a day (depart at 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. from Kyoto Station)
Departure station: Kyoto Station
Terminal station: Nishiki Market
Advantage: visit tourist attractions most worth seeing with a morning
Stops: Kyoto Station, Nishihogan-ji Temple, Shijo Karasuma, Nijo Castle, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kinkakji Temple, Daitokuji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Nishiki Market

Purple Route

Frequency: twice a day (depart at 1:30 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. from Kyoto Station)
Departure station: Kyoto Station
Terminal station: Kyoto National Museum
Advantage: visit tourist attractions most worth seeing with only an afternoon
Stops: Kyoto Station, Shijo Krasuamaru, Ginkaki-ji Temple, Heian-jingu Shrine, Gion, Gojozaka, and Kyoto National Museum

Tips

1. The running time between 2 stops is no more than 10 minutes, and a few no more than 15 minutes.
2. The ticket has 1-day and 2-day version, and the 2-day version is valid only for continuous 2 days. 1-day version ticket costs 4,000 yen and 2-day version 6,000 yen.
3. The ticket can be bought from the bus directly.
4. Visitors can take the non-reserved seats on the bus timelessly during the valid period. Transferring among different routes is also supported.
5. The 3 routes are all one-way. After arriving at the terminal station, these buses would return to Kyoto Station within 15 minutes directly, without passing by the tourist attractions again. You can take the bus at the terminal station to go back to Kyoto Station.

Rakuraku Line of Kyoto City Bus

City Bus Stop

Rakuraku Line Bus is another sightseeing bus in Kyoto. Compared with Sky Hop Bus, it outweighs for its economical ticket price: mostly 230 yen per ride. In addition, the running area of Rakuraku Line covers more tourist attractions and the bus runs in two directions, but note that they only operates on holidays and weekends. 

1. Bus 101 – Quick Sightseeing of Kyoto Scenery

Bus 101 Bus runs between Kyoto Station and Gojo-zaka, from which you can get off to walk to the famous Kiyomizu-dera Temple within minutes.
Operation hours: 
9:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. at Kyoto Station
10:30 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. at Gojo-zaka
Note that there is no bus running in the afternoon.
Frequency: 15 minutes
Price: 500 yen per ride
Bus platform at Kyoto Station: D1
Stops: Kyoto Station and Gojo-zaka
Who may like:
For visitors who just want to see the general landscape in downtown Kyoto, taking Bus 101 is suitable for numerous shrines and temples along the route. 

Attractions within minutes’ walking after getting off at Gojo-zaka
Kiyomizu Temple	10 minutes
Hokan-ji Temple	9 minutes
Kodaiji Temple	13 minutes

Note that the fare for taking Bus101 should be paid when you get on.

2. Bus 100 and Bus 105 – Depart from Kyoto Station

Bus 100 and Bus 105 cover a larger area than 101. They run between Kyoto Station and Ginkakuji Temple and their routes overlay a lot, but the ticket price for Bus 100 is higher. Also, there are only 5 stops for Bus 100, but 27 stops for 105, which means you would spend more time to your destination by 105.

Bus 100:

Ticket price: 500 yen per ride
Departure station: Kyoto Station
Terminal station: Ginkakuji Temple
Stops: Kiyomizu Temple, Gion, Heian Jingu Shrine, and Ginkakuji Temple
Frequency: 15 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon
Operation hours: 
9:00 a.m. – 16:40 p.m. at Kyoto Station; 
9:30 a.m. – 17:00 p.m. at Ginkakuji Temple
Bus platform at Kyoto Station: D1
Passing-by tourist attractions: Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Heian Shrine, Okazaki Park, Ginkakuji Temple, and Philosopher’s Walk
Note that these tourist attractions can be reached within 10 minutes’ walking after you get off Bus 100. The situation of 105 is the same.

Bus 105:

Ticket price: 230 yen per ride
Departure station: Kyoto Station
Terminal station: Ginkakuji Temple
Stops: Bus 105 would pass by 27 stops, and the major stops are Karasuma Gojo, Shijo Kawaramachi, Higashiyama Sanjo, Okazakikoen Bjutsukan Heian Jingu-mae, Miyanomaecho, Ginkakuji-mae, and Kinrinshako-maeo
Frequency: 30 minutes
Operation hours: 9:00 a.m. – 16:40 p.m. at Kyoto Station; 9:30 a.m. – 17:00 p.m. at Ginkakuji Temple
Bus platform at Kyoto Station: A1
Passing-by tourist attractions: Nanzenji Temple, Heian Shrine, Philosopher’s Walk, Eikando Temple, Ginkakuji Temple

Waiting passengers

Bright bus carriage

3. Bus 102 – from Ginkakuji Temple to Kinkakuji Temple

Bus 102 runs in an area which buses 100, 101, and 105 don’t cover. Its route is like a straight line from west to east. The westernmost corner of the line is Kinkakuji Temple and the easternmost Ginkakuji Temple. 
Ticket price: 230 yen per ride
Departure station: Kinrishako-mae bus stop
Terminal station: Kitaoji Bus Terminal
Frequency: 30 minutes 
Running hours: 
9:45 a.m. - 15:45 p.m.at Ginkakuji-michi bus stop for bus running towards Kinkakuji Temple
9:00 a.m. – 16:30 p.m. at Kinkakuji-michi bus stop for bus running towards Ginkakuji Temple

Stops: There are 23 stops and the major stops are Ginkakuji-michi, Demachiyanagi-ekimae, Karasuma Imadegawa, Kitano Tenmangu-mae, Kinkakuji-michi, Daitokuji-mae.

Passing-by Attractions: Daitokuji Temple, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kinkakuji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Ginkakuji Temple. 

After getting off the bus, you can walk to these tourist attractions within 10 minutes.