It gets valuable if you use the subway more than three times a day.
The main transportation in Kyoto is bus or subway.
These cover almost everywhere in Kyoto city.
However it costs a bit higher than other cities and the budget gets high when you get on and off a few times.
Therefore we recommend you to purchase “Kyoto One Day Pass” if you plan to visit several spots in Kyoto.
It saves your budget more than that you purchase a ticket each time.
Kyoto 1 Day Pass to Buy
This page is about efficient transportation in Kyoto and how to use them.
In Kyoto with less dense of train networks, buses and subway are the main means of public transportation.
Visitors can get to almost entire area in Kyoto with using buses and subway.
However it comparely costs higher if visitors exchange them again and again.
If you are planning on traveling around Kyoto, we recommend you purchase convenient and money-saving day passes.
Because these tickets are sold by various companies that control different sections of the Kyoto train, subway, and bus network.
There is unfortunately no “universal pass” that covers everything, but using the following information you can choose the pass that best suits your needs.
2.”Bus One Day Pass”
2.1What’s “Bus One Day Pass”?
2.1-1 Valid Zone
2.1-2 Valid Period
2.1-3 Discounts and Benefits
2.2 Price of “Bus One Day Pass”
2.3 Where to buy
3 “Subway One Day Pass”
3.1What’s “Subway One Day Pass”?
3.1-1 Valid Zone
3.1-2 Valid Period
3.1-3 Discounts and Benefits
3.2 Price of “Subway One Day Pass”
3.3 Where to buy
4.”Kyoto City Subway & Bus Pass”
4.1What’s .”Kyoto City Subway & Bus Pass”?
4.1-1 Valid Zone
4.1-2 Valid Period
4.1-3 Discounts and Benefits
4.2 Price of “Kyoto City Subway & Bus Pass”
3.3 Where to buy
5. Other One Day pass
1.Choose “Day Pass Tickets” that the best suits your need.
There are various kinds of tickets that available unlimited rides for buses and subway in Kyoto.
This time, we share about some tickets sold through all seasons.
These are reasonable, so please choose the best one for your purpose.
| Name | Indicates |
| Bus One-Day Pass | The pass valid for unlimited travel on Kyoto City buses and Kyoto buses in the flat-fare area. (except for Kibune, Ohara, and Takao areas) |
| Subway One-Day Pass | The pass valid for unlimited access to Kyoto subway rail network. |
| Subway&Bus One-Day Pass | This pass can be used on all Kyoto Subway lines and City Bus lines, as well as on Kyoto Bus (with some exceptions) and Keihan Bus (with some exceptions). |
2.”Bus One Day Pass”
Kyoto has an intricate network of bus routes providing an efficient way of getting around at moderate cost.
You can get to almost landmarks and sightseeing spots with only using a bus.
2.1What’s “Bus One Day Pass”?
The pass can be used on Kyoto City buses and Kyoto buses in the flat-fare area. (except for Kibune, Ohara, and Takao areas)
It gives you an unlimited number of rides on these networks for one day.
The type of card is a magnetic one.
2.1-1 Valid Zone
The following picture shows the valid zone where Bus One Day Pass can be used.
The area covers almost Kyoto city though, the exception areas are Kurama, Kibune, Ohara, and Takao.
*CAUTION*
*Keihan bus and JR bus are not available.
*The extra charge is caused if you visit outside of flat-fare area.
It is counted from the bus stop located at the border.(It’s not a difference.)
*The valid zone has been expanded since March 16th in 2019.(Ichihara and North part of Iwakura area)
2.1-2 Valid Period
The date will be printed on the back of the card when you go through the ticket gate for the first time.
This date is the valid period.( From the first bus to the last bus.)
The period of validity for the ticket is an indefinite period unless you use.
2.1-3 Discounts and Benefits
You can receive a discount on the admission fee at the following spots.
・Yasaka-kaikan Gion corner (only for an adult)
・Kyoto Aquarium
・Kyoto Railway Museum
・Yoshimoto Gion Kagetsu Theater
・Saga Arashiyama Museum of Arts and Culture
・TOEI Kyoto Studio Park
You should show your ticket on the day and these discounts are available for only a ticket holder.
2.2 Price of “Bus One Day Pass”
| JP yen | |
| Adult | 600 yen |
| Child | 300 yen |
The flat-fare costs 230 yen for an adult and 120 yen for a child at one time.
It gets valuable if you use the bus more than three times a day.
Plus, it’s also efficient when you consider its wide valid zone and area.
However please note that the delay and crowd must be happened especially spring and fall.
Even ordinary days, it would be happen because the number of tourists nowadays get higher and higher.
“ Subway & Bus One Day Pass” would be better depends on destination and route.
2.3 Where to buy
“Bus One Day Pass” can be purchased at major bus terminals.
・In the bus
・City bus and subway information center (JR Kyoto St., Karasumaoike St., Uzumasatenjingawa At., Kitaoji Bus terminal)
・Every Subway Ticket Window
・Kyoto Bus information center (Arashiyama, Demachiyanagi)
Note:
You can purchase the pass from the driver in the bus but we don’t recommend it.
It would be difficult to talk to a driver because the bus is often crowded and the tickets the driver has are often sold out.
Therefore it is the best way to purchase the pass in advance.
3 “Subway One Day Pass”
Kyoto has two efficient subway lines, operating from 5:30am to 11:30pm.
They aren’t convenient enough, but it would be efficient depending on how it is used.
3.1What’s “Subway One Day Pass”?
The pass can be used on two subway lines in Kyoto.
It gives you an unlimited number of rides on these networks for one day.
The type of card is a magnetic one.
3.1-1 Valid Zone
The following picture shows the valid zone where Subway One Day Pass can be used.
The way to travel between north and south of the city is the Karasuma subway line.
It has 15 spots and runs from Takeda in far south, via Kyoto Station, to the Kyoto International Conference Hall(Kokusai-kaikan Station) in the north.
The east-west Tozai subway line traverses Kyoto from Uzumasa- Tenjingawa Station in the west, meeting the Karasuma-Oike Station, and connecting east to Sanjo-Keihan, Yamashina and Rokujizo in the east and southeast.
*It isn’t valid for following direct train on Keihan Otsu line and Kintetsu line.
3.1-2 Valid Period
The date will be printed on the back of the card when you go through the ticket gate for the first time.
This date is the valid period.( From the first train to the last train.)
The period of validity for the ticket is an indefinite period unless you use.
3.1-3 Discounts and Benefits
You can receive a discount on the admission fee at the following spots.
Please note that these discounts and benefits are different between an adult and a child.
| Facilities | |
| Adult | Nijo-jo Castle, Kyoto Cultural museum, Kyoto City Zoo, Kyoto City Museum, Murian temple, Kyoto International Comic museum, Yasaka-kaikan Gion corner ,Kyoto Aquarium,Yoshimoto Gion Kagetsu Theater, Kyoto Botanical Gardens,TOEI Kyoto Studio Park,Kyoto Railway Museum Child |
| Child | Kyoto Cultural museum,Kyoto International Comic museum,Kyoto Aquarium,Yoshimoto Gion Kagetsu Theater,TOEI Kyoto Studio Park,Kyoto Railway Museum |
You should show your ticket on the day and these discounts are available for only a ticket holder.
3.2 Price of “Subway One Day Pass”
| Fare | |
| Adult | 600 yen |
| Child | 300 yen |
Minimum adult fare is 210 yen(children are 110 yen)
It gets valuable if you use the subway more than three times a day.
For example, it costs 320 yen on the one way if you visit Daigo-ji temple, the world heritage, from the Kyoto Station. Pass is better choice if you only use it for round trip with this route.
3.3 Where to buy
“Subway One Day Pass” can be purchased at following place either in advance or on the day.
・Automatic ticket vending machine or ticket window at every subway station in Kyoto
・City bus and subway information center (JR Kyoto St., Karasumaoike St., Uzumasatenjingawa At., Kitaoji Bus terminal)
4.”Kyoto City Subway & Bus Pass”
”Subway & Bus One Day Pass” is the ticket combining the use of “Bus One Day Pass” and “Subway One Day Pass” ,and more the valid zone is included Takao, Ohara, Yamashina, and Daigo areas.
4.1What’s .”Kyoto City Subway & Bus Pass”?
If you want to explore all of Kyoto city in a short space of time, the Kyoto City Subway & Bus Pass is a good choice.
It is efficient to take a subway when you travel a long distance, and get on the bus when you travel a short distance to avoid the delay and crowd.
It gives you an unlimited number of rides on these networks for either one or two consecutive days, and may be the best choice if you are planning to spend most of your time in Kyoto city proper.
4.1-1 Valid Zone
Kyoto City Subway & Bus Pass can be used on the following lines.
The valid zone of bus is wider than Bus One Day Pass.
・All lines of Kyoto Subway
・All lines of Kyoto City Bus(included Takao)
・Almost lines of Kyoto Bus (included Ohara)
・Some part of Hankyu Bus (available for Yamashina, Daigo, and Rokujizo areas)
*It isn’t valid for following direct train on Keihan Otsu line and Kintetsu line.
4.1-2 Valid Period
The date will be printed on the back of the card when you go through the ticket gate for the first time.
This date is the valid period.( From the first train to the last train.)
For the Two Day pass, the valid period is the date printed on the back and the following day.
The period of validity for the ticket is an indefinite period unless you use.
4.1-3 Discounts and Benefits
You can receive a discount on the admission fee or get some benefits products at the following spots.
The main spots you can receive the benefits.
・Daikaku-ji temple
・Jishujinja shrine
・Heianjingu Shrine
・Chionin temple
・Sen’nyu-ji temple
・Kegon-ji temple(Suzumushi-dera temple)
・Kohdai-ji temple
・TOEI Kyoto Studio Park
・Nijo-jo Castle
・Kyoto Aquarium
・Kyoto Railway Museum
・Kyoto Tower
There are anout 60 spots you can receive the benefits.
4.2 Price of “Kyoto City Subway & Bus Pass”
| One Day Pass | Two Day Pass | |
| Adult | 900 yen | 1,700 yen |
| Child | 450 yen | 850 yen |
One Day Pass costs higher by just 300 yen than “Bus One Day Pass”
and “Subway One Day Pass”.
It is comparatively low-priced given the valid zone.
4.3 Where to buy
“Kyoto City Subway & Bus Pass” can be purchased at following place either in advance or on the day.
It isn’t sold on the bus.
・Ticket windows at every subway station in Kyoto
・City bus and subway information center (JR Kyoto St., Karasumaoike St., Uzumasatenjingawa At., Kitaoji Bus terminal)
・Kyoto bus teminal (Arashitama, Takao, Demachiyanagi)
・Keihan bus terminal (Yamashina, Kyotot station)
・Some hotels or ryokan
5. Other One Day pass
One Day Pass + Randen line
There is a pass can be used on Randen line accessed to Arashiyama and Uzumasa area.
It is attached “Bus One Day Pass” or “Subway One Day Pass” (Adult only)
| Bus + Randen One Day Pass |
1,100 yen | The pass valid for unlimited travel on Kyoto City buses and Kyoto buses in the flat-fare area, plus Randen line. |
| Subway + Randen One Day Pass |
1,000 yen | The pass valid for unlimited access to Kyoto subway rail network,plus Randen line. |
These passes can be purchased in advance or the date in use.
One Day Pass + Randen line can be purchased at following place either in advance or on the day. It isn’t sold on the bus.
・City bus and subway information center (JR Kyoto St., Karasumaoike St., Uzumasatenjingawa At., Kitaoji Bus terminal)
・Ticket window of Randen (Shijo-Omiya St., Katabira no tuji St., Arashiyama St., Kitanohakubai-cho St.)
For your information, you can purchase the Araden One Day pass only.
It costs 500 yen.
Again, if you use a bus or subway more than three times, getting these passes are the good choice to save your budget.
It is a good idea to make the plan given the fact that you use the pass.
