From Ginkakuji (silver pavilion) to Kiyomizu Temple

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1. Overview

How to get to Kiyomizu-dera Temple from Ginkakuji Temple ?

Visitors Question

You can firstly take Bus No.203, and change at Chioninmae bus stop to No.202, 206 or 86 for Kiyomizu temple.

Locals Answer

Currently, there is no direct bus service to Kiyomizu Temple from Ginkakuji Temple. So, a recommended way to Kiyomizu Temple is by Kyoto City Bus No203, and transfer to No.206, 202 or 86. 

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

From Ginkakuji Temple, there are 2 near bus stops, Ginkakuji-mae (meanings “in front of”) and Ginkakuji-michi (meanings “lead to”).

Although Ginkakuji-mae bus stop is the nearest, No bus service is available for Kiyomizu temple. So, please head for Ginkakuji-michi bus stop, and take bus  No.203  for Kiyomizu temple.

Bus fare is ¥230 per ride. Of course Bus One-day Pass or Subway & Bus One-day Pass are available for this route. (Unfortunately, only Bus One-day Pass is discontinued at the end of September 2023.)

Actually, how long does it take from Ginkakuji Temple to Kiyomizu Temple after all ?

« Examples »

 By Bus No.203  No.202, 206  or  No.86 

It takes at least 58 minutes including walking & wating time (¥460).
Firstly, you need 8 minutes’ walk to Ginkakuji-michi bus stop.
Bus No.203 is operated almost every 12 minutes.
About in 20 minutes’ ride, change bus at Chionin-mae bus stop to  No.202 ,  206  or  86 .
From the arrival Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, it takes about 10 minutes’ walk to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
(If you take a bus two more time or over, Bus One-day Pass is useful, during September 2023.)

 By Bus No.203  + Walk from Gion

Another option is to take bus  No.203  to Gion bus stop (next to Chionin-mae bus stop),
and walk to Kiyomizu temple from there (20 minutes’ walk).
The fare is ¥230, the entire trip from temple to temple takes at least 56 minutes.

Please note that buses are likeiy to take more time on peak season because of traffic jam and a lot of passengers.

From Ginkakuji Temple to Kiyomizu Temple, firstly please head for Ginkakuji-michi bus stop as the map below shows.

The following sections are the details of the route.

2. By Kyoto City Bus No.203 + No.202, 206 or 86

From Ginkakuji Temple to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, please take Bus  No.203  from Ginkakuji-michi bus stop, and change buses on the way. (Chionin-mae bus stop is recommended because you don’t need to search for the bus stop to transfer buses, right the same bus stop) By Changing buses, it takes in total at least about 55 minutes including average waiting and walking time from Ginkakuji to Kiyomizu-dera.

The bus  No.203  is operated almost every 12 minutes.

The followings are the detalis.

1. Head for Ginkakuji-michi Bus Stop, and Take Kyoto City Bus No.203

From Ginkakuji Templewalk downhill street in 8 minutes. Right after crossing a small bridge, you can see Ginkakuji-mae bus stop located on your left side ahead.  This is the bus stop where bus No.100 (Raku Bus) used to depart.
Now that the bus are out of service, pass the bus stop and keep going straight until the big intersection.
At the intersection, turn left, soon you come to Ginkakuji-michi bus stop A.
(Please refer to the map in the previous section)

Please take bus  No.203 .

2. Change buses at Chionin-mae Bus Stop (Transfer to Kyoto City Bus No.202, 206 and 86), or get off at Gion Bus Stop and Walk

In about 20 minutes’ ride, buses arrive at Chionin-mae bus stop.

Change buses here (right the same bus stop) to bus  No.202 206  or  86 . (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

If you don’t mind walking over 20 minutes, please get off the bus  No.203  at Gion bus stop, right next to Chionin-mae bus stop.

2-1. Gion Bus Stop to Yasaka Jinja Shrine (in case of walking from Gion)

After getting off at Gion bus stop, please head for Yasaka Jinja Shrine located behind you. Then, turn right, and keep walking along the street in front of Yasaka Jinja Shrine until Kiyomizu-michi bus stop. Of course, there are many ways to get Kiyomizu temple, so you can see the three-story pagoda on the way, or do whatever you want!

3. Get off at Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, and Turn left at the intersection ahead

In at least 8 minutes’ ride after changing, buses arrive at Kiyomizu-michi bus stop.

After getting off, walk forward direction, and turn left at the Kiyomizu-michi intersection ahead.

(The access map available below)

Keep walking along the uphill street.

On the way, you will see a lot of souvenir shops on your both side.

4. Finally, the Gate of Kiyomizu Temple !

In about 10 minutes’ walk from Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, you come to Kiyomizu Temple !

But please note that it takes much more time if the uphill to the temple is full of visitors.
So please give yourself enough time to visit.

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3. 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