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Getting there

How do I get to Kinkakuji from Kyoto Station?

Take the subway (Karasuma Line) to Kitaoji, then bus 204 or 205 from the blue stops at Kitaoji Bus Terminal to Kinkakuji-michi: about 11 minutes, then a 5–8 minute walk. ¥490 for an adult.

Kyoto's tourism association recommends this over the direct bus 205, which has many stops and gets crowded.

What about bus 101?

Many guides still say to take bus 101 from Kyoto Station. Bus 101 has not run since March 2022. Use the routes below instead.

Kyoto City Bus suspended its express routes, including 101, from 19 March 2022. Source (Japanese)

Which route should I take?

A subway and bus one-day pass costs ¥1,100 (adult) and covers routes A and B. Children's fares: subway ¥130, bus ¥120.

Step by step

A. Subway to Kitaoji, then bus 204 or 205

  1. 01 At Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Line subway northbound to Kitaoji (K04). ¥260.
  2. 02 Go up to Kitaoji Bus Terminal, next to the station. Buses toward Kinkakuji leave from the blue stops (E–G): bus 205 from Blue E, bus 204 from Blue G.
  3. 03 Ride about 11 minutes to Kinkakuji-michi. Board at the back door; pay ¥230 at the front when you get off, with cash or an IC card (ICOCA etc.).
  4. 04 Walk 5–8 minutes to the entrance.

B. Bus 205 from Kyoto Station

  1. 01 At Kyoto Station Bus Terminal, go to stop B3 and take bus 205 bound for Kinkakuji / Kitaoji Bus Terminal.
  2. 02 Get off at Kinkakuji-michi and walk 5–8 minutes. ¥230, paid when you get off. Expect a long, crowded ride.

C. JR to Emmachi, then bus 204 or 205

  1. 01 Take JR from Kyoto Station to Emmachi.
  2. 02 Take bus 204 or 205 to Kinkakuji-michi (¥230). In the tourist season buses can be too full to board.

Which buses run only on weekends or in busy seasons?

Bus 102Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only. Links Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji.
Bus 109Only in Golden Week and the busy autumn season. Links Kinkakuji and Arashiyama.

Autumn extra buses

During peak autumn weekends, Kyoto City Bus has added extra buses on routes 25 and 205 between JR Emmachi Station, Kinkakuji-michi and Kitaoji Bus Terminal. No upcoming dates had been announced when we last checked (16 October 2026). We list dates here only once the city announces them.

How do I get back to Kyoto Station?

From Kinkakuji-michi, take bus 204 or 205 (also 25, M1, and 102 at weekends) bound for Kitaoji Bus Terminal, then the subway south to Kyoto Station (¥260).

Bus 205 bound for Kyoto Station also stops at Kinkakuji-michi; it's the slow direct route. Kinkakuji-michi has separate stops for different directions, so check the destination on the front of the bus.

Questions

Does bus 101 still go from Kyoto Station to Kinkakuji?
No. Bus 101 has not run since March 2022, when Kyoto City Bus suspended its express routes. Use the subway to Kitaoji and bus 204 or 205, or bus 205 from Kyoto Station.
How much does it cost to get from Kyoto Station to Kinkakuji?
By subway and bus, ¥490 for an adult: ¥260 for the subway to Kitaoji and ¥230 for the bus. Bus 205 all the way is ¥230. A subway and bus one-day pass costs ¥1,100.
How do I pay on Kyoto city buses?
Board at the back door and pay ¥230 when you get off at the front, with cash or an IC card such as ICOCA. One-day passes are accepted too.
Which stop do I get off at for Kinkakuji?
Kinkakuji-michi. From there it's a 5–8 minute walk to the temple entrance.

Last checked

Routes, fares and stops last checked on 16 October 2026 against:

Temple address: 1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8361.

Last updated: