From Kinkakuji (golden pavilion) to Gion area
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1. Overview
How to get to Gion area (Shirakawa, Hanamikoji street, Yasaka Jinja Shrine, Gion-Corner and so on) from Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) ?
You can go “by Kyoto City Bus No.12, 59“, in addition, No.205 is also fine.
The recommended way to Gion area from Kinkakuji temple (golden pavilion) is “by Bus”.
There is no train services available between them.
The map below is the overview of the bus stops, routes, time and fare.
From Kinkakuji Temple to Gion area, Kyoto City Bus No. 12 , 59 and 205 are available.
No. 12 and No. 59 take you to Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop, located in Gion area directly.
But, sometimes, those two buses may be full of university students in the afternoon on weekdays because these buses are coming from Ritsumeikan Univ. near Kinkakuji Temple.
In that case, take No. 205 to Shijo Kawaramachi bus stop located next to Gion area, and walk to each attraction in Gion.
Bus fare is ¥230 for any route.
Of course you can use Bus One-Day Pass or Subway & Bus One-Day Pass. (Unfortunately, only Bus One-day Pass is discontinued at the end of September 2023!)
All the buses (No.12, 59 and No.205) depart from Kinkakuji-michi bus stop C.
(No.12 and N0.59 used to stop at another near bus stop Kinkakuji-mae before, but the route is changed from the date of Mar. 20th, 2020)
Actually, how long does it take from Kinkakuji Temple to Gion after all ?
I’ll show you the specific examples (from Kinkakuji Temple to Hanamikoji Street in Gion), so let’s check.
« Examples »
By bus (No.12, 59, 205) , it takes at least 50 – 55 minutes including walking & average wating time (¥230).
Firstly, head for Kinkakuji-michi bus stop (2 minutes walk).
Each bus service is operated at least every 15 minutes. So, operated a lot in total.
The ride time is about at least 35 to 40 minutes.
(No.12 & 59) From the arrival Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop (meaning “in front of Keihan Railway Gion-Shijo station”), it takes about 4 minutes’ walk to Hanamikoji Street.
(No.205) From the arrival Shijo Kawaramachi bus stop, it takes about 7 minutes’ walk to Hanamikoji street.
Please note that those buses are likeiy to take more time on peak season because of traffic jam.
The followings are the detail.
2. By Bus for Gion area
After getting out of Kinkakuji Temple, head for Kinkakuji-michi bus stop.
Bus No.12 , No.59 and No.205 depart from Kinkakuji-michi bus stop C.
The bus stop C is located on your left side before crossing the road (called Nishioji street), when you come from the gate of Kinkakuji temple. (refer to the map below)
1. Head for Kinkakuji-michi Bus Stop C.
After getting out of Kinkakuji Temple, please walk straight in 2 minutes along the street lined with trees.
Then you come to the road called Nishioji street.
Before crossing the Nishioji street, turn left, then, bus stop C is ahead.
2. Take Kyoto City Bus No.12, No.59 or No.205.
At Kinkakuji-michi bus stop C, please take bus No.12 or No.59 .
If the buses are full of passengers, you can take bus No.205 to Shijo Kawaramachi, and walk to Gion area.
(Picture : Kinkakuji-mchi bus stop C)
3. (If No.12 & No.59) Get off at Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop, and Go backward direction for any attractions
In about 35 to 40 minutes’ ride, bus No.59 & No. 12 arrive at Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop. please get off.
If you want to go Yasaka Jinja Shrine at first, only bus No.12 take you to the nearest bus stop, Gion.
But, you need to ride more 10 minutes, so please be careful.
After getting off, head for the intersection beside the bridge, called Shijo-Ohashi intersection .
Cross the intersection to the east, now, you finally come to the west side of Gion area.
4. (If only No.12) Get off at Gion bus stop for Yasaka Jinja Shrine
In 10 more minutes’ ride, bus No.12 arrives at Gion bus stop. Please get off for Yasaka Jinja Shrine.
But, actually, the time is almost the same, or sometimes faster if you walk from Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop.
After getting off, now, you can see Yasaka Jinja shrine behind.
5. (If No.205) Get off at Shijo Kawaramachi bus stop, and walk.
In about 38 minutes’ ride, bus arrives at Shijo Kawaramachi bus stop. Please get off.
After getting off, head for the intersection behind the bus, called Shijo Kawaramachi intersection.
(Shijo Kawaramachi is one of the biggest downtown area in Kyoto.)
At the intersection, turn right.
Walk along the street, soon, you can see the Bridge, called Shijo Ohashi Bridge.
After crossing the bridge, now, you come to the west side of Gion area (this is the same place where Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop is located).
I’ll show you the location (access) map in Gion in the following section 3.
3. Location (access) Map in Gion area from near Bus stops
The map below is the access to each attraction in Gion from bus stops (Shijo Keihan-mae, Gion & Shijo Kawaramachi).
Most attractions are within 10 minutes’ walk.
Please check !
♦ Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop (No.12 & 59) : Gion Shirakawa (4 minutes’ walk), Hanamikoji street (4 minutes’ walk), Yasaka Jinja Shrine (7 minutes’ walk)
♦ Gion bus stop (only No.12) : Yasaka Jinja Shrine ( 10 more minutes’ bus ride + 1 minutes’ walk)
♦ Shijo Kawaramachi bus stop : Gion Shirakawa (7 minutes’ walk), Hanamikoji street (7 minutes’ walk), Yasaka Jinja Shrine (10 minutes’ walk)
Many shops are available on the both side of the Shijo street in Gion area (between Shijo Keihan-mae and Gion bus stop), so I recommend you get off at Shijo Keihan-mae bus stop and walk, in that case if you firstly visit Yasaka Jinja Shrine by bus.
In addition, from the Yasaka Jinja Shrine, you can also walk to Kiyomizu-dera Temple ! (about 20 minutes)
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