Useful Bus for Visitors : Raku Bus / All Routes & Guide (Attention! currently out of service, as of 2023)

Raku Bus is produced for tourists to go sightseeing easily in Kyoto.

Raku Bus is express service, and have special 3 routes operated by Kyoto City Bus.

English, Chinese and Korean announcement and sightseeing information ara available while you ara on the bus. ( Unfortunately, these Raku Bus are currently out of service for an undetermined period of time. )

The map above is all Raku Bus routes. (update March 2020)

Raku Bus have 3 routes, bus No.  100 ,  101  and  102 . (Please note: these buses are currently out of service!)

No. 100  connects Kyoto station and Ginkakuji temple (silver pavilion) by way of Kiyomizu temple.

No. 101  connects Kyoto station and Kinkakuji temple (golden pavilion) by way of Nijo castle.

No. 102  connects Ginkakuji temple and Kinkakuji temple.

The each bus operating hours is …

♦ No. 100  :

  7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (weekdays), 6:00 p.m. (weekends & holidays)
  almost every 10 min

♦ No. 101  :

  8:00 a.m. – 4:20 p.m.
  almost every 20 min

♦ No. 102  :

  8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (to Kinkakuji, golden pavilion), 5:20 p.m. (to Ginkakuji, silver pavilion)
  every 30 min

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What attractions can you visit by Raku Bus ?

You can go to most of major attractions such as…

Kiyomizu temple, Ginkakuji temple, Nijo castle, Kinkakuji temple, Gion area, Yasaka jinja shrine, Sanjusangendo temple, Heian-jingu Shrine, Nanzenji temple, Eikando temple, Kyoto City Zoo, Philosopher’s walk, Shimogamo jinja shrine, Kyoto Imperial, Kitano tenmangu shrine, Nishiki market and so on.

But, Arashiyama area and Fushimi-inari shrine are not covered by Raku Bus.

How long dose it take to attractions by Raku Bus ?

The followings are the main sections.

♦Kyoto station — Kiyomizu temple :

at least 23  min
(bus ride 13 min, get off at Gojozaka bus stop, walk 10 min)

♦Kyoto station — Ginkakuji (silver pavilion) temple :

at least 42 min
(bus ride 37 min, get off at Ginkakuji-mae bus stop, walk 5 min)

♦Kyoto station — Kinkakuji (golden pavilion) temple :

at least 42 min
(bus ride 37 min, get off at Kinkakuji-michi bus stop, walk 5 min)

♦Kyoto station — Nijo castle :

at least 20 min
(bus ride 19 min, near Nijojo-mae bus stop, walk 1 min)

♦Kyoto station — Gion area / Yasaka jinja shrine :

at least 19 min
(bus ride 18 min, near Gion bus stop, walk 1 min)

♦Ginkakuji temple — Kinkakuji temple :

at least 38 min
(bus ride 26 min between Ginkakuji-michi and Kinkakuji-michi bus stop, walk 12 min in total)

Please note that…

on peak season such as cherry blossoms (from the end of March to the beginning of April) or autumun leaves (November), it takes more time to get to each attractions becouse of heavy traffic jam.

The fare is ¥230 for an adult / ¥120 for a child (6 – 11 yares old) per ride.

No matter where you get off, the fare is the same.

If you ride a bus 4 times a day, you should get Bus One-Day Pass.
(¥700 for an adult / ¥350 for a child)

Any IC cards including Kansai One Pass are accepted.

You can use Bus One-Day Pass, Subway & Bus One-day pass and Kansai Thru Pass for Raku Bus.

But JR Pass cannot be used, the same as Kyoto City Bus.

More detailed information on each Raku Bus route & attractions, please refer to posts below.

Raku Bus  No.100 

Raku Bus  No.101 

Raku Bus  No.102