From Gion to Ginkakuji Temple (silver pavilion)
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1. Overview
How to get to Ginkakuji Temple from Gion (Hanamikoji, Shirakawa, Yasaka Jinja Shrine and so on) ?
You can go (1) by Kyoto City Bus No.100 (currently out of service), or (2) by Kyoto City Bus No.203.
The recommended ways to Ginkakuji Temple from Gion area are (1) by Kyoto City Bus No.100, or (2) by Kyoto City Bus No.203. (Attention! Currently, bus No.100 are out of service for an undetermined period, so please take bus No.203 instead.)
Please note that buses are likely to be delayed due to heavy traffic jam especially on peak season.
But, there is no train service available between them. You need to take buses.
The map below is the overview of the routes, stops, time and fare.
So, after all, how long does it take from Gion to Ginkakuji Temple ?
I’ll show you the examples of travel times from Gion-Shiwakawa to Ginkakuji Temple, comparing 2 ways below.
The time includes average walking and waiting time.
«Route 1» Kyoto City Bus ( No.100 ∗)(No.203) from Gion bus stop (5 minutes’ walk from Gion-Shiwakawa) ∗No.100 are out of service currently!
It takes in total at least 35 to 40 minutes (¥230).
These bus are operated almost every 7 or 8 to 10 minutes in the daytime.
From the arrival Ginkakuji-mae bus stop (No.100), 5 minutes’ walk to the Temple.
From the arrival Ginkakuji-michi bus stop (No.203), 8minutes’ walk to the Temple.
«Route 2» Kyoto City Bus ( No.203 ) from Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop (3 minutes’ walk from Gion-Shirakawa)
It takes in total at least 42 minutes (¥230).
This bus are operated almost every 12 minutes in the daytime.
From the arrival Ginkakuji-michi bus stop, 8 minutes’ walk to the Temple.
From Gion area to Ginkakuji Temple, firstly please head for Bus Stops (Kyoto City Bus, Gion or Shijo Keihan-mae).
From most attractions in Gion area (including Hanamikoji street, Gion Corner, Kenninji Temple), Gion bus stop are convenient, located east side of the area near Yasaka Jinja Shrine.
If your last location is near Gion-Shirakawa, located northwest side of Gion area, you can use both Shijo Keihan-mae and Gion bus stop.
Check the map below, showing time & route to each bus stop from attractions in Gion area.
The following sections are the details of each travel way.
2. By Bus for Ginkakuji Temple (Kyoto City Bus No.100)
(Attention! Bus No.100 are currently out of service, so please take No.203 instead.)
One of buses for Ginkakuji Temple from Gion area is Kyoto City Bus No.100 (every 7 or 8 minutes)
You can use Bus One-Day Pass.
This bus is also called “Raku Bus“, meanings going around Kyoto by bus easily especially for visitors from over the world.
From any attractions in Gion, please take the Bus from Gion bus stop.
It takes at least 19 minutes’ ride from Gion bus stop to the bus stop near Ginkakuji Temple (¥230).
It depends on the traffic condition, often buses are delayed or full of passengers on peak season such as cherry blossom or autumun leaves. But, extra bus services are available on such peak season, so sooner or later, you can ride.
If you can’t ride due to full of passengers, take bus No.203 from the same Gion bus stop.
Now that No.100 are out of service, please take bus No.203 for Ginkakuji temple.
The followings are the details.
1. Head for Gion bus stop C
Please head for Gion bus stop “C“, located near Yasaka Jinja Shrine.
After getting out of the gate of the shrine, cross the street (called Higashioji street), and walk to the right direction.
Soon, you can see the Gion bus stop C ahead.
(about the way to the bus stop, refer to the location map in previous section)
Bus stop “C“ means that there are three bus stops named Gion around there. “C” is one of them.
To the guests from Kiyomizu temple, buses from Kiyomizu temple such as No.202 , 206 and 86 are also stop this Gion bus stop C, so it is very convenient to change to bus No.203 for Ginkakuji temple.
2. Take Kyoto City Bus No.203 , instead of No.1oo (Raku Bus).
Take Kyoto City Bus No.203 instead of ∗No. 100 . ∗out of service currently.
(the picture : Bus No.100 at Gion bus stop C)
3. Get off at Ginkakuji-mae bus stop
In case of bus No.100, in at least 19 minutes’ ride, the buses arrive at Ginkakuji-mae bus stop.
(After getting off, walk straight to backwatd direction.)
But, this time, bus No.203 arrives other bus stop named Ginkakuji-michi bus stop, so, I will explaine about more detailed information related to bus No.203 in next section.
The map below shows the way.
4. Cross the Bridge, and Follow the Street.
In a few minutes, you come to the small bridge crossing the stream. Then cross the bridge, and go up the slightly uphill street in front of you.
From that bridge, the path along the stream is called “Philosopher’s Walk” or “the Path of Philosophy”. (“Tetsugaku-no-michi” in Japanese)
You can also visit Eikando Temple or Nanzenji Temple through the walk after visiting Ginkakuji Temple (1,2 mile, 2 km, about 25 minutes’ walk).
Keep walking the uphill street.
5. Finally, the Gate of Ginkakuji Temple !
In 3 minutes from the small bridge where the Philosopher’s Walk starts, you finally come to the gate of Ginkakuji Temple.
3. By Kyoto City Bus No.203 (from near Gion-Shirakawa area)
When your last locations is near Gion-Shirakawa, northwest area of Gion, you can also use Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop “A“ in addition to Gion bus stop. Shijo Keihan-mae means “in front of Keihan Railway Gion-Shijo station.
This bus stop is located across from Minamiza Theater near Shijo-Ohashi Bridge. (refer to the location map in previous section)
1. Head for Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop A
From around Gion-Shirakawa area, please head for Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop A.
It takes about 3minutes’ walk.
The way to Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop A, walk to the south direction from Gion-Shirakawa area until you come to Shijo street.
Before crossing the street, turn right, then you can see the bus stop ahead, located across from Minamiza Kabuki Theater.
2. Take Kyoto City Bus No.203
Take Kyoto City Bus No.203 at Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop A.
Of course, you can also ride the bus No.203 at Gion bus stop C as I told you previously.
On the way to Ginkakuji Temple, Bus No.203 may cancel bus service at Kinrin Shako-mae bus stop due to delay.
But, don’ t warry, you can ride next bus or any other bus (No.5, 17, 102, 204) without extra fare.
Kinrin Shako-mae bus stop is 2 stop before bus stop near Ginkakuji temple.
3. Get off at Ginkakuji-michi bus stop, and Head for the intersection behind
In at least 24 minutes’ ride, the buses arrive at Ginkakuji-michi bus stop.
(This bus stop is not the same bus stop where Bus No.100 arrives, explained in previous section.)
After getting off, walk backward direction, and head for the intersection.
(The access map available below)
4. Head for the path along a stream.
At the intersection, cross the crosswalk, and walk on the either sidewalk along a stream.
Please keep walking on the path along the stream.
In 5 minutes, you come to the small bridge where Philosopher’s Walk starts.
From there, the way to Ginkakuji Temple is the same as explained in the previous section.
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