Passes for Buses & Subway in Kyoto : Type, Price and Covered Area

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Note: on October, 2021, the price of  Bus One -day Pass  was changed into ¥700 for an adult, and ¥350 for a child. (Unfortunately, this Bus One-day Pass will be discontinued at the end of September 2023!)

Note 2: on October, 2021, the price of  Subway & Bus One -day Pass  was changed into ¥1,100 for an adult, and  Subway & Bus Two-day Pass  is no longer available

1. Pass Type  &  Price

For shightseeing, mainly 2 types of day passes are available in Kyoto.

 Bus One-Day Pass , and  Subway & Bus One-Day Pass .

 Bus One-Day Pass  is ¥700 for an adult.
Official english name is Kyoto City Bus, Kyoto Bus & west JR Bus One-Day Pass
.

This pass coveres most of the famous spots, such as Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari shrine, Kinkakuji temple (golden pavilion), Ginkakuji temple (silver pavilion), Kiyomizudera temple, Gion, Nijo Castle and even Jingoji temple or Kouzanji temple in Takao area.

Unfortunately, this bus one-day pass will be discontinued at the end of September 2023.

 Subway & Bus One-Day Pass  is ¥1100 for an adult.
Official english name is Kyoto City Subway, Kyoto City Bus, Kyoto Bus, Keihan Bus & west JR Bus One-Day Pass.

This pass is also very useful. Because if you take subwayyou can go to some spots on schdule and save time even on a peak season such as spring (around the end of March to the top of April) or Autumn (November).

 Subway & Bus Two-Day Pass  is no longer available. It was discontinued in March 2022.

2. Pass Type & Cost Effectiveness 

 Bus One-Day Pass  is worth using, if you ride a bus 4 times or more a day.

 Subway & Bus One-Day Pass  is worth, if you plan to take subway and bus 5 times or more in total.
For example, the fare will be about ¥1200 for “Bus ride × 3 + Subway ride × 2” or “Bus ride × 2 + Subway ride × 3” .

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3. Pass Type & Covered Area

 Bus One-Day Pass  covers most of the famous spots in Kyoto such as Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari shrine, Kiyomizudera temple, Kinkakuji temple (golden pavilion), Ginkakuji temple (silver pavilion), Gion or Nijo castle.

Takao area having Jingoji temple and Kouzanji temple turnds into the Flat Fare Zone from March, 2021.

But Ohara or Kurama area, in the upper north side of kyoto city, is outside of the zone.

You can ride Kyoto City Bus, Kyoto Bus and JR Bus within Flat-Fare Zone.

You can NOT ride Keihan Bus by this pass.

The map below shows the Flat-Fare Zone.

 Subway & Bus One-Day Pass  covers Ohara and Yamashina area in addition to Flat-Fare Zone.

By this pass,  you can ride all Kyoto City Bus and Subway.
You can also ride JR Bus line between Kyoto station and Takao area as well as  Bus One-Day Pass .
In addition, most of the Kyoto Bus and Keihan Bus services are available.

For example, you can go to Ohara (in the north of Kyoto) by Kyoto Bus, or Yamashina area (in the east of Kyoto) by Keihan Bus.

The map below shows the area covered by the Subway & Bus Pass.