Kyoto Sightseeing Spots by City Bus

Tokyo may be Japan’s main city, but Kyoto is the sightseeing capital. With sights like the gilded Kinkaku-ji and the geisha district of Gion being just the tip of the iceberg, Kyoto is simply unmissable. And thanks to the best bus network in Japan, Kyoto is easy to get around.

Kinkaku-ji
For many visitors to Kyoto, the sightseeing begins with a trip to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto’s undisputed main attraction. Originally built in 1397 as a villa for the third shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, ASHIKAGA Yoshimitsu (1358~1408), Kinkaku-ji was burnt to the ground in 1950 by a monk who then tried to commit suicide on the hill behind the burning temple.

The fully restored building is still a thing of beauty, especially when seen in the morning as the temple’s reflection stretches over the pond before it. At any time of day, however, it is easy to see why Kinkaku-ji was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Kinkaku-ji is open from 9 am to 5 pm everyday and costs 400 yen. The admission is worth every penny and also allows access to several smaller buildings and gardens.

Ginkaku-ji
About 30 minutes by bus from Kinkaku-ji is Ginkaku-ji, built between 1460 and 1482 by ASHIKAGA Yoshimitsu’s grandson (Yoshimasa) as a retirement villa. Known as the “Silver Pavilion,” you might expect Ginakaku-ji to be a silver version of Kinkaku-ji, but it’s not. Although Yoshimasa had planned to cover it in silver, he died before its completion and the building became a Buddhist temple instead.

Ginkaku-ji stands next to several other buildings that make up the temple’s compound, which also includes some beautiful gardens and a pond. Ginkaku-ji is open from 8.30 am to 5 pm (winter 9 am to 4:30 pm) and costs 500 yen. Like its Golden counterpart, Ginkaku-ji is also a World Heritage Site.

Gion
After visiting temple after temple, try a change of scene and head for Gion, the geisha district of Kyoto. Hanami-koji, the street that represents Gion more than any other, is lined with restaurants, teahouses and delightful old buildings. And a visit can be like stepping back in time, especially if you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a geisha or an apprentice geisha (maiko) dressed in kimono quickly walking through the streets.

One interesting fact about the geisha of Gion is that they refer to themselves as geiko. It is also worth noting that despite popular misconceptions that Gion was once a red-light district, the area was founded as an entertainment district and geisha have always been entertainers, not prostitutes.

Nishiki Market
To get away from the tourist crowds and experience a side of Kyoto many tourists never see, pay a visit to Nishiki Market near Shijo. The market runs several hundred meters along a single covered street, lined on either side with small stores.

Besides traditional sweet shops and fresh produce, the market is known for its yuba (bean curd skin) – a staple of Kyoto cuisine. There are plenty more interesting foods to try as well, and you can easily spend 30 minutes strolling around the market, stopping to taste the samples many of the stores keep on their counters for anyone to try.

Bus Services
To get from Kyoto Station to Kinkaku-ji, take the 101 or 205 bus and get off at the Kinkakuji-michi bus stop. From Kinakaku-ji to Ginkaku-ji, take the 102 bus and get off at the Ginkakuji-michi bus stop. From Ginkaku-ji to Gion, use the 100 or 203 bus. Getting from Gion to Nishiki is about a 20-minute walk, or you can take one of the many buses that run from Gion to Shijo Karasuma.

Each single journey is fixed at 220 yen, but with a 500-yen day pass you can ride the bus as many times as you like for the whole day within a fixed zone. The information center at Kyoto bus station sells the day passes and provides detailed free maps in English of all the bus routes in the area.

Public Transport in Kyoto
www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/transport.html

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