How to get to Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu-dera stands on the slope of Mount Otowa in Higashiyama, at 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. No train station is at the gate. Every route ends with a walk uphill, so the question is which walk you prefer: about 10 minutes from a bus stop or about 20 to 25 minutes from a Keihan station.
If you add Nara to your Kyoto days, see our separate Todai-ji guide for the Great Buddha.
The temple has no car park of its own and recommends public transport or a taxi. The grounds open at 6 a.m. every day.
Getting to Kiyomizu-dera by public transport
The main routes at a glance.
| From | Route | Last stretch |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto Station | City bus 206 to Gojozaka | About 10 minutes uphill |
| Kyoto Station | JR Nara Line to Tofukuji, Keihan to Kiyomizu-Gojo | 20 to 25 minutes on foot |
| Shijo-Kawaramachi | City bus 207 toward Tofukuji and Kujo to Kiyomizu-michi | About 10 minutes on foot |
| Shijo-Kawaramachi | On foot via Hanamikoji and Yasaka Shrine | Walk all the way |
| Higashiyama subway station | On foot via Nene-no-michi, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka | About 35 minutes without long stops |
Do not mix up the two buses. The 206 serves Kyoto Station and the 207 serves Shijo-Kawaramachi. Direct buses can be full and the roads around Higashiyama can be slow, so allow extra time.
Kyoto tours that start from the city
Walking tours and day trips in Kyoto with meeting points in the centre, with live prices and availability.
Bus fares, express buses and day passes
Prices and timetables for 2026.
City buses
The normal fare inside the flat-fare area is JPY 230 for adults and JPY 120 for children. Adults start at 12 years. Children are 6 to 11, plus 12-year-olds who are still in elementary school. Tourist express buses have a different fare.
Autumn express buses EX100 and EX101
In autumn 2026 they run on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, at JPY 500 for adults and JPY 250 for children. The EX101 runs between Kyoto Station and Gojozaka. The EX100 continues through Gion and Okazaki to Ginkaku-ji and stops at Kiyomizu-michi only toward Kyoto Station. They take cash, transport IC cards and the combined day pass. Board at the front, pay on boarding and leave at the back.
Weekday Keihan Bus line
The Kiyomizu-dera Line runs on weekdays from 1 July 2026 to 29 January 2027, except 13 and 14 August, 29 to 31 December and 4 January. It links Kyoto Station and Keihan Shichijo with Gojozaka and loops past Nishi-Honganji. A single fare is JPY 500 for adults and JPY 250 for children, and a seat can be reserved for the outward trip. Check whether your pass is valid on this line before you board.
Day pass
The current pass combines subway and bus and costs JPY 1,100 for adults and JPY 550 for children. It covers the express buses, with exceptions on some lines of other operators, and it does not cover every Keihan train. The old bus-only day pass is no longer sold.
Kiyomizu-dera by train: the Keihan walk
A longer walk, a calmer start.
From Kyoto Station, take the JR Nara Line to Tofukuji and change to the Keihan line for Kiyomizu-Gojo. From the station the walk to the temple takes about 20 to 25 minutes, mostly uphill. It is a good choice if you want to see the area on foot.
This route is a fair choice when the 206 is full. The fare for the combined JR and Keihan trip depends on where you start, so check it at the ticket machine.
The lanes below the temple →
Driving, parking and access on the day
What to know if you arrive by car, taxi or bike.
Parking
There is no temple car park. The nearby city and private car parks are not part of the grounds. From 7 October to 10 December 2026 the city's Kiyomizuzaka tourist car park takes no private cars at all. Tour buses need a reservation in blocks of 2 or 3 hours, paid in advance. This is a rule for one car park, not a ban on private cars in Higashiyama.
Entrances
You can enter only via Kiyomizuzaka and the Niomon gate or via Chawanzaka and the emergency road. A map app may route you along an entrance that you cannot walk through.
Road, bikes and pets
The road in front of the main gate is closed to traffic from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bikes do not go into the grounds, apart from a small parking area at the Chawanzaka emergency entrance. Pets are not allowed, with the exception of assistance dogs.
Wheelchairs and strollers
The temple describes step-free routes through the public areas, with a map at the Todoroki-mon and online. It has no wheelchair rental. Do not assume the same for Sannenzaka and the lanes outside, which have stone steps.
Plan your day around the arrival
Where to go once you have arrived.
Entrance fee and opening hours
JPY 500 for adults in 2026, with the opening calendar.
Gion on the walk from Shijo
The route passes Hanamikoji and Yasaka Shrine.
Where to stay in Higashiyama
Hotels within walking distance of the temple.
Arriving from Osaka or visiting Fushimi Inari the same day? That shrine is in Fushimi, outside this temple's grounds, and has its own page on how to get there.
Getting to Kiyomizu-dera: frequently asked questions
Which bus goes to Kiyomizu-dera from Kyoto Station?
City bus 206. Get off at Gojozaka and walk about 10 minutes uphill. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays in autumn 2026, the EX101 also runs from Kyoto Station to Gojozaka.
How do I get to Kiyomizu-dera from Shijo-Kawaramachi?
Take city bus 207 toward Tofukuji and Kujo and get off at Kiyomizu-michi, then walk about 10 minutes. You can also walk via Hanamikoji and Yasaka Shrine.
How far is Kiyomizu-dera from the train station?
The Keihan station Kiyomizu-Gojo is a 20 to 25 minute walk from the temple, mostly uphill. There is no station at the gate.
How much is the bus to Kiyomizu-dera?
A normal city bus costs JPY 230 for adults and JPY 120 for children in 2026. The autumn express buses and the weekday Keihan line cost JPY 500 for adults and JPY 250 for children.
Can I drive to Kiyomizu-dera?
The temple has no car park and recommends public transport or a taxi. From 7 October to 10 December 2026 the Kiyomizuzaka tourist car park takes no private cars.
Is Kiyomizu-dera accessible for wheelchairs?
The temple describes step-free routes through its public areas. There is no wheelchair rental on site, and the lanes below the temple have stone steps.