Do I need to print my ticket, or is a mobile ticket accepted?

A mobile ticket is accepted — simply show the booking confirmation on your phone when boarding. Printing is not required.

Where does the bus start and how often does it run?

The route begins at Kyoto Station (Karasuma Exit) and operates daily from 9am to 6pm. For exact departure times at each stop, refer to the official timetable at skyhopbus.com/kyoto/timetable.

Can I board at any stop, or only at Kyoto Station?

You can board and alight at any of the 14 designated stops along the route — you are not required to start at Kyoto Station.

Are seats reserved, or is it first-come, first-served?

All seats are non-reserved. At busy times, particularly during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons, it is worth arriving at a stop a few minutes early.

My child is under 6 — do I need to buy them a ticket?

Children under 6 travel free of charge. Please note that no seat is provided for them, so they will need to sit on a parent or guardian's lap.

Is the 2-day pass valid on consecutive days only?

Please check the terms on your voucher or the operator's website (skyhopbus.com) for day-validity rules, as this can vary by pass type.

Kyoto Sky Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus

4.1Popular choice · in high demand

Duration

9 hours

Cancellation

Non-refundable

Ticket type

Mobile ticket

Confirmation

Instant

What's included

Open-top hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus (1 or 2-day pass)

Onboard multilingual audio guide

Not included

Admission fees to temples, shrines and attractions at each stop

Food and drink

Hotel pick-up or drop-off

What to expect

1
Stop 1 — Kyoto Station (Karasuma Exit)
The main boarding point; start here to pick up your pass and join the route at the city's central transport hub.
2
Stop 2 — Nishihonganji Temple
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the head temple of the Jodo Shinshu sect, known for its vast wooden halls.
3
Stop 3 — Shijo Karasuma / Nishiki Market
Kyoto's covered food market, nicknamed 'Kyoto's Kitchen', lined with vendors selling pickles, tofu, sweets and street snacks.
4
Stop 4 — Nijo-jo Castle
A 17th-century shogun's castle famous for its 'nightingale floors' — boards engineered to squeak as a security measure.
5
Stop 6 — Kitano Tenmangu Shrine / Kamishichiken
A shrine dedicated to the god of learning, set beside Kyoto's oldest geisha district and its traditional teahouses.
6
Stop 7 — Kinkaku-ji Temple
The Gold Pavilion, Kyoto's most photographed landmark, its upper floors clad in gold leaf and reflected in the surrounding pond.
7
Stop 8 — Daitoku-ji Temple
A sprawling Zen complex of sub-temples, dry rock gardens and moss-covered courtyards away from the main tourist crowds.
8
Stop 9 — Kyoto Imperial Palace
The former residence of Japan's Imperial family, set within spacious public gardens in the heart of the city.
9
Stop 10 — Ginkaku-ji Temple
The Silver Pavilion, paired with a celebrated sand garden and the start of the Philosopher's Path canal walk.
10
Stop 11 — Heian-jingu Shrine / Okazaki Park
A vivid vermilion shrine built in 1895, surrounded by one of Kyoto's finest strolling gardens.
11
Stop 12 — Gion
Kyoto's most storied geisha district, with preserved machiya townhouses, lantern-lit lanes and the Yasaka Shrine.
12
Stop 13 — Gojo-zaka (Kiyomizu-dera Temple)
The hilltop approach to Kiyomizu-dera, a wooden stage temple offering sweeping views over the city below.
13
Stop 14 — Sanjusangendo / Kyoto National Museum
Home to 1,001 gilded warrior statues and adjacent to one of Japan's foremost collections of cultural artefacts.

Hop on and off at any stop along the route.

Kyoto Sky Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus

Kyoto Sky Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus

What's included

What to expect

Highlights

Full description

Meeting point

Know before you go

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

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