From Arashiyama area to Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Advertisements

1. Overview

How to get to Kiyomizu Temple from Arashiyama area ?

Visitors Question

You can go 〈1〉 by Hankyu Railway + Keihan Railway, 〈2〉 by Keifuku Railway (Randen) + Kyoto City Bus, or 〈3〉 by JR line + Kyoto City Bus via Kyoto Station.

Locals Answer

The recommended way to Kiyomizu Temple from Arashiyama area is (1) by Hankyu Railway + Keihan Railway, (2) by Keifuku Railway (Randen) + Kyoto City Bus or (3) by JR line + Kyoto City Bus via Kyoto Station.

The map below is the overview of the routes, time and fare.

From Arashiyama to Kiyomizu Temple, firstly please head for stations (Hankyu RailwayKeifuku Railway (Randen) or JR line) in Arashiyama area.

The locations of those 3 stations are separated, and station names are also a little bit different (Arashiyama : Hankyu Railway & Keifuku Railway (Randen),  Saga-Arashiyama : JR line).

JR Saga-Arashiyama station is a little bit away from the center of Arashiyama area such as Togetsukyo Bridge.
For example, it takes about 12 minutes’ walk from the bridge.

Hankyu Railway & Randen Arashiyama station are near the Togetsukyo Bridge.

Randen Arashiyama station is 2 minutes’ walk from the bridge.
And, Hankyu Arashiyama station is 5 minutes’ walk from the bridge. (just 3 minutes’ walk from Arashiyama Park, the south river bank near the bridge)

From Arashiyama area to Kiyomizu Temple, each travel way has pros and cons.

So, please decide your travel way, considering also your last locaiton in Arashiyama, in addition to time and fare.

Check the location map below, showing time to each station from main attractions in Arashiyama.

From Hankyu Railway Arashiyama station to Keihan Railway Kiyomizu-Gojo station, the nearest station to Kiyomizu Temple, it takes in total about 33 – 40 minutes’ ride including transfer time (¥400).
Hankyu trains are operated every 15 minute. Keihan trains are operated every 10 minute.
From the arrival Kiyomizu-Gojo station to Kiyomizu Temple, it takes more than 20 minutes’ walk.
This route enables you to move without delay even if on peak season such as cherry blossom and autumn leaves.

From Kiefuku Railway (Randen) Arashiyama station to Kyoto City Bus Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, one of the nearest bus stops to the Kiyomizu Temple, it takes in total at least 52 minutes’ ride including transfer time (¥480).
The trains and the buses are operated almost every 10 minutes.
From the arrival Kiyomizu-michi bus stop to Kiyomizu Temple, it takes about 10 minutes’ walk.

From JR Saga-Arashiyama station to Kyoto City Bus Gojozaka bus stop, the other nearest,  it takes in total at least 38 minutes’ ride including transfer time (¥470).
JR trains are
 operated almost every 15 minutes. The buses are opetated a lot.
From the arrival Gojozaka bus stop to Kiyomizu Temple, it takes about 10 minutes’ walk
.

Please note that the buses are likeiy to take much more time on peak season becouse of heavy traffic jam.

The followings are the details of each travel way.

2. By Hankyu Railway + Keihan Railway for Kiyomizu Temple

Hankyu Railway Arashiyama station is located to the south of Togetsukyo Bridge, the symbol and the center of Arashiyama area.

It takes 5 minutes’ walk from the Bridge, and 3 minutes’ walk from Arashiyama Park near the bridge.

For Kiyomizu Temple by Hankyu Railway, please transfer at Hankyu Kyoto-Kawaramachi station to Keihan Railway (Gion-Shijo station). And get off at the next station, Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojo station.

The followings are the details.

1. Take any trains at Arashiyama Station (Hankyu Arashiyama Line).

Firstly, take any trains departing from Hankyu Arashiyama station.
Arashiyama station is the first station of Hankyu Arashiyama line, so it is easy to take.

Trains are operated evey 15 minute.

All trains are bound for Katusra, where you need to change trains for Kyoto-Kawaramachi station.

2. Change Trains at Hankyu Katsura Station.

In 8 minutes’ ride, trains arrive at Hankyu Katsura station, the fanal stop of the Hankyu Arashiyama line.
So, it is also easy to change trains.

After getting off the trains, move to next platform (Track No.2 or No.3) by the underpass or another overpass.

Hankyu trains bound for Kyoto-Kawaramachi depart from track No.2 or No.3.

There are many type of trains such as limited express, rapid express, semi express and local, but all trains take you to Kyoto-Kawaramachi. So please ride any early trains.

(The picture : Hankyu Katsura Station Track No.2 and No.3)

3. Get off at Hankyu Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station, and Transfer.

In about 10 minutes’ ride from Katsura station, trains arrive at Kyoto-Kawaramachi station, the final stop.
So, it is very easy when you get off.

After getting off, please head for East Gate.
(Hankyu Kyoto-Kawaramachi station is located underground like subway.)

After getting out of the East Gate, walk forward direction and head for Exit 1, following the sign and the underground passage. 

Both directions (Exit 1-A, Exit 1-B) are OK. 

After getting out of the Exit 1 (A or B), head for the direction toward the bridge.

At the end of the bridge, the entrance of Keihan Railway Gion-Shijo station are located.
(In downtown area, Keihan Railway line also runs underground like subway.)

(The Picture : The Entrance of Keihan Railway Gion-Shijo station) 

4. Take Local or Sub-Express Trains at Track No.2 (Keihan Gion-Shijo Station)

Take local or sub-express trains at Keihan Gion-shijo station track No. 2, bound for Osaka, Yodoyabashi.

All local and sub express trains at track No.2 are available even thghou whatever the destinations are.

Kiyomizu-Gojo station is the next stop.

5. Get off at Kiyomizu-Gojo Station, and Head for Exit 4.

In 2  minutes, trains arrive at Kiyomizu-Gojo station.

The ticket gate is only one place. 

After getting out of the ticket gate, please head for Exit 4.

The way from Kiyomizu-Gojo station to Kiyomizu Temple, please refer to Section 5.

3. By Keifuku Railway (Randen) + Kyoto City Bus for Kiyomizu Temple

Keifuku Railway (Randen) Arashiyama station is located between Togetsukyo Bridge and Bamboo Forest.

It takes 2 minutes from the Togetsukyo Bridge, 5 minutes from the Bamboo Forest.

For Kiyomizu temple by Randen, you need to transfer at Shijo-Omiya station to Kyoto City Bus.

All trains depart from Arashiyama station go to Shijo-Omiya station, the final stop of Randen line.
So, it is very easy to travel.

The followings are the details.

1. Take any trains at Arashiyama Station (Randen).

All trains take you to Shijo-Omiya, where you transfer to Kyoto City Bus.

So, take any early trains.

2. Get off at Shijo-Omiya Sta., and Transfer to Kyoto City Bus No.207.

In 24 minutes’ ride, trains arrive at Shijo-Omiya station.
Shijo-Omiya is the final stop, so it is easy when get off.

After getting out of the gate, head for Shijo-Omiya bus stop 1.

Shijo-Omiya bus stop 1 is located diagonally across from the Randen station.

From the Shijo-Omiya bus stop 1, take Kyoto City Bus  No.207 .

Bus  No.58  also take you to Kiyomizu-dera from Shijo-Omiya bus stop.
This bus will be operated every 30 minutes only on weekends and holidays mainly in the daytime.

(The Picture : Shijo-Omiya Bus Stop 1)

3. Get off at Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, and Walk forward direction.

In at least 21 minutes’ ride, buses arrive at Kiyomizu-michi bus stop.

The buses are likely to be delay due to heavy traffic jam on peak season such as cherry blossam and autumn leaves.

After getting off, walk toward Kiyomizu-michi intersection ahead.

At the Kiyomizu-michi intersection, turn left.

Keep walking along the uphill street.

You’ll see lots of souvenir shops on the way to the temple.

 In bout 10 minutes’ walk from Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, you finally get to Kiyomizu Temple.

The map from Kiyomizu-michi bus stop to Kiyomizu Temple, please refer to the map in Section 5.

4. By JR train + Kyoto City Bus for Kiyomizu Temple via Kyoto Sta.

JR Saga-Arashiyama station (JR Sagano line) is located about 10 minutes’ walk to the east from Bamboo Forest.
It takes about 12 minutes’ walk from Togetsukyo Bridge, the center and symbol of Arasiyama area.

By JR line for Kiyomizu Temple, it is recommended to transfer at Kyoto station to Kyoto City Bus.

Kyoto station is the final stop of the JR Sagano line, so it is easy when get off.

The followings are the details.

1. Take any Trains bound for Kyoto Station

Local and rapid type of trains are available at Saga-Arashiyama station.

Kyoto station is the final stop, so please take any type of trains bound for Kyoto Station.

Normaly, the trains depart at track No.1 or 2.
Only trains that start from Saga-Arashiyama station depart at track No.4.

So, check the track by an electric noticeboard before riding.

2. Get off at Kyoto Station, and Head for Bus Terminal.

In 17 minutes by local trains, trains arrive at Kyoto station.

(If rapid train, it takes just 11 minutes. But, operated every hour)

After getting off the trains, walk forward direction and head for central ticket gate.

Keep walking along the platform passege, then, central ticket gate is on your left

After getting out of the Central Gate, walk forward direction.

Then you can see the bus terminal in front of you.

3. Take Kyoto City Bus No.206 or 86.

When you get out of Kyoto station buinding (Central Gate), you can see bus terminal and Kyoto Tower.

Bus stops for Kiyomizu Temple are D2 located between the Central Gate and the Kyoto Tower.

This is the Bus Stop location map for Kiyomizu Temple.

Bus  No.206  and  No.86  depart from Bus Stop D2. (Although exceptional, bus  No.86  are operated by Kyoto City Bus and Kyoto Bus in turn! Of course you can take any bus  No.86 )

Normaly, pay bus fare when you get off such as bus No.206.

(The Picture : Kyoto City Bus No.206 at Bus Stop D2)

4. Get off at Gojozaka Bus Stop.

In at least 19 minutes’ ride, buses arrive at Gojozaka bus stop.

The way from Gojozaka bus stop to Kiyomizu Temple, please refer to the following Section 5.

5. The ways to Kiyomizu Temple from Nearest Bus Stop (Gojozaka) & Station (Kiyomizu-Gojo).

I’ll show you the way to the Kiyomizu Temple from the nearest station and one of the bus stops (Gojozaka).

As the map above shows, you need to walk at least 10 minutes even from nearest bus stops.

It takes much more time if the street to the temple is full of visitors.
So please give yourself enough time to visit.

1. (By Keihan Railway) From Kiyomizu-Gojo Sta., Walk Straight until Gojozaka Intersection near Bus Stop.

After getting out of Kiyomizu-Gojo station Exit 4, keep walking straight until Gojozaka intersection near Gojozaka bus stop.

(the picture : Keihan Railway Kiyomizu-Gojo station Exit 4)

In about 10 minutes’ walk along the road named Gojo street, you come to the Gojozaka intersection.

(the picture : sidewalk along the Gojo Street)

2. (By Kyoto City Bus) From Gojozaka Bus Stop, Walk toward the Overpass, where Gojozaka Intersection is located.

After getting off the buses at Gojozaka bus stop, walk taward the overpass (backward direction).
Gojozaka intersection is located just before the overpass.

The intersection is near to the bus stop.

3. At the Gojozaka Intersection, Go up the hill ahead.

When you come to the Gojozaka intersection, cross the crosswalk and go up the hill ahead.

 

At the end of the uphill street, turn diagonally right.

Then, you will see a lot of souvenir shops on your both sides.

In about 10 minutes walk from Gojozaka intersection, finally the gate of Kiyomizu-dera Temple !

It takes more time if the uphill street is full of visitors.

Advertisements

6. Kiyomizu-dera Temple Information

Opening Hours :

Jan. – Mar. / Weekdays on Apr. – Jun. / Sep. – Dec. 〉  6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Weekends on Apr. – Jun. / Jul. – Aug. 〉  6:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

*Some of the days in spring (March, early April) and fall (autumun leaves, late November), open until 9:00 p.m. and illuminated almost every year.

Admission Fee  :

¥400 (16 yars and over) / ¥200 (7 – 15 yars old)

Best Time to Visit  :

at anytime you want to visit