From Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-Dera Temple

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1. Overview

Kiyomizu-Dera Temple is one of the world heritages and one of the most popular attractions in Kyoto.

“Dera” means temple in Japanese. So also called just Kiyomizu Temple in English.

At the Temple, the main gate, the three-storied pagoda and the stage located on a high place are very spectacular. 

You can also enjoy very beautiful trees of cherry blossoms (late March to early April) or autumn leaves (late November to early December) in the Temple.

Because Kiyomizu-dera Temple is built on the side of a moutain, you may need physical strength to visit.

You can also visit the streets of Ninen-Zaka and Sannen-Zaka having many gift shops, Koudaiji Temple, Gion area (Yasaka Jinja Shrine, Hanamikoji Street, Gion Shirakawa or Gion Corner) on foot after visiting Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

So, let’s visit !

You can go to Kiyomizu-dera Temple by Bus or by Trains (JR + Keihan) & Walk from Kyoto station.

The chart below is the overview of the location, transportation, time and fare.

SUMMARY

Transportation & Time, Location & Distance

   It takes about…

  1.  Bus   : at least 13 minutes’ ride plus 12 minutes’ walk

  2.  Train (JR + Keihan Railway) & Walk   : 11 – 16 minutes including transfer time plus 20 minutes’ walk

  3.  Taxi   : about 25 minutes including walk

  4.  Bicycle   : about 30 minutes including walk (not recommended, because of not enough parking space near the temple)

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is located in the East of Kyoto city.

The distance from Kyoto Station is 1.9 mile (3.0 km).

∗You can not reach just the entrance of the Kiyomizu-dera temple even by Taxi or by Bicycle.
You need to walk at least 5 minutes, depending on parking places.

And, you need more time and taxi fare on peak season because of heavy traffic jam.

Near bus stop to the Temple

(1)  walk 12 minutes from Gojo-zaka bus stop

  

 Near station to the Temple  

(1)  walk 20 minutes from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station (Keihan Railway)

2. By Bus

From Kyoto station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto City Bus No. 206  and  86  are available. (Although exceptional, bus  No.86  are operated by Kyoto city bus and Kyoto bus in turn.)

It takes about 15 minutes. Please ride any early bus.

The followings are the details.

On schedule, how long each bus route takes and how often they operate are usually about…

 No.206   : 15 minutes &  8 times per hour (5:30a.m. to 11:00p.m.)

 No.86  15 minutes2 times per hour (mostly on weekends & holidays)

These two buses do not have much difference in time, so, please use any early bus you can ride.

Please note that…

it may takes more time on peak season because of heavy traffic jam.

Peak season : cherry blossam (late March to early April), autumn leaves (November) and consecutive holidays in Japan (late April to early May)

2-1 Bus Stops Information at Kyoto Station

There ara many bus stops in Kyoto Station.

When you ride, which bus stop in Kyoto Station can you ride those buses for Kiyomizu-dera Temple ?

Please find out the bus stops displayed…

 D2  for Bus No. 206  and  86 

Those bus stops are located in north side of Kyoto Station, between Kyoto Tower and Kyoto Station.

2-2 Bus Stop Information near Kiyomizu-dera Temple

The bus stop that you get off is Gojo-zaka bus stop.

Although Gojo-zaka bus sotp is the nearest to Kiyomizu-dera temple, you need to go uphill more than 10 minutes.
But a lot of souvenir shops graually come out on your both sides on the way. So you can enjoy walking.

The followings are the details.

1. After Getting off, Walk backward.

After getting off the bus, please walk to backward direction, so you can see the big intersection soon.
Then turn left and cross the crosswalk.

2. Cross the crosswalk, and Walk straight on uphill street.

After crossing the crosswalk,keep walking the uphill street in front of you.

Please be careful that the sidewalk is narrow and a lot of people or cars are coming and going.

Please keep walking straight.

3. At the intersection, Turn diagonally right.

In about 7 minutes, you come to the small intersection, so please go diagonally right.

Then, you can see the street paved with stones and a lot of interesting souvenir shops on your both sides.

4. Finally, Kiyomizu-dera Temple !

Going along the street in about 4 minutes, finally you come to Kiyomizu-dera temple !

It takes more than 1o minutes. But a lot of visitors walk to the same destination. So, you can’t miss it.

2-3 Bus Route Maps

If you want to know the route or ride time of the Bus No.  86  and  206 , please check the maps below.

3. By Trains (JR & Keihan Railway)  & Walk

If you do not mind walking especially on peak seoson (late March, early April, weekends in November or Japanese holidays), taking trains (JR Nara line & Keihan Railway) for Kiyomizu-dera temple will beat the traffic jam, so you can move relatively on schedule.

It’s about more than 20 minutes’ walk from the nearest station, Kiyomizu-Gojo, to Kiyomizu-dera temple, but even if you take a bus, it’s about more than 10 minutes’ walk from the nearest bus stop, Gojo-zaka, to the temple.

Consider this way if you do not like crowds or traffic jam.

It takes about 15 minutes from Kyoto station to Kiyomizu-Gojo, including transfer time from JR Nara line to Keihan Railway at Tofukuji station.

From Kiyomizu-Gojo station, it takes more than 20 minutes to Kiyomizu-dera temple on foot.

The fare is normaly ¥320. (But it is discounted to ¥300 if you ride by Connection Ticket or by any IC Cards, when you transfer from JR to Keihan Railway at Tofukuji station)

The followings are the detail.

3-1 From Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-Gojo Station via Tofukuji Station

1. Take JR Nara line to Tofukuji Station.

At Kyoto station, take JR Nara line trains (departing from track No.8, 9 or 10). All rapid and local trains stop next station, Tofukuji, where you will transfer.

The trains are usually operated about 6 times per hour.

In 2 or 3 minutes, trains arrive at Tofukuji Station.

2. Transfer to Keihan Railway at Tofukuji Station

At JR Tofukuji station, 2 ways to transfer to Keihan Railway.

One is the gate only for transfer to Keihan Railway, located the rear end of the platform you just get off. (Open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

The other is the main tickete gate, located on the 2nd floor near the front end of the platform.

By any ways, you need to go through ticket gates 2 times. (Firstly, get out of JR ticket gate, then go into Keihan Railway ticket gate)

In case of main gate, please head for the ticket gate of Keihan line for Sanjo, Demachiyanagi.

The map below is Transfer Map at Tofukuji Station, please check !

If you are at track No.1 of Keihan Tofukuji station, you are O.K.

Trains ara operated every 10 minute. All the trains take you to Kiyomizu-Gojo station.

3. Get off at Kiyomizu-Gojo Station.

In 3 minutes, the train arrives at Kiyomizu-Gojo station, the second station from Tofukuji.

Kiyomizu-Gojo station is located underground such as subway.

3-2 Kiyomizu-Gojo Station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple

The map below shows one of the way to Kiyomizu-dera temple from Kiyomizu-Gojo station, please check !

The followings are the details.

1. Get out of the ticket gate, Go up to the Exit 4.

After arriving at Kiyomizu-gojo station, please head for Exit 4 just in front of the ticket gate.

The Escalator to Exit 4 is available on your right after getting out of ticket gate.

2. After getting out of the Exit 4, Keep Walking Straight in 10 minutes.

This is the Exit 4 of Keihan Railway Kiyomizu-Gojo station.

Please keep walking straight on the wide sidewalk along Gojo street.

3. In 10 minutes, you come to Gojo-zaka Intersection.

In 10 minutes, you come to Gojo-zaka intersection, where the nearest bus stop is also located.

From there to Kiyomizu-dera temple, you can go by the same way that I show above (Section 2-2) to visitors by bus.

3-3 Route Map for Kiyomizu-dera Temple by JR & Keihan Railway

The map below is a route map from Kyoto station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple by JR & Keihan Railway.

Please check, if necessary.

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4. 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