How to Ride a Bus
How to Ride a Bus
For the majority of buses in service in Kyoto, passengers board at the doors in the "Centre" or "Back" of the bus, however on some buses passengers board at the "Front".
Buses that board from the Centre or Back
 Kyoto City Bus |
 Kyoto Bus |
 Keihan Bus |
 Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus |
 Hankyu Bus |
 West JR Bus |
 Yasaka Bus |
 Daigo Community Bus |
 Kyoto Night Cruise (Yoru) Bus |
Buses that board from the Front
 Kyoto Rakunan Express |
About Fares
There are two types of buses in Kyoto, One type only serves within the Central area as "Flat Rate Zone", the other serves both in and out of the "Flat Rate Zone".
Buses only serving the "Flat Rate Zone"
Flat rate charge. The Fare will be displayed like this at the front of the bus, so please pay accordingly.
Buses serving areas both in and out of the central "Flat Rate Zone"
Fares Fares depend on destinations. Take a seiri-ken (numbered ticket) when boarding the bus and, on leaving, pay the fare displayed at the front like this that corresponds to your ticket number.
Fares and Zones for each Bus Service
| Flat Rate Zone | Fares for Variable Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto City Bus Kyoto Bus Keihan Bus Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus Hankyu Bus West JR Bus |
Adults: 230yen Children: 120yen | Please check the fares displayed at the front of the bus |
| Yasaka Bus | - | Please check the fares displayed at the front of the bus |
| Daigo Community Bus | Adults: 210yen, Children: 110yen | - |
| Kyoto Rakunan Express | Adults: 310yen, Children: 100yen | - |
| Kyoto Night Cruise (Yoru) Bus (excluding Kyoto Sightseeing Night Cruise (Yoru) Bus) | Adults: 230yen, Children: 120yen | - |
※ If a bus does not display ”Variable Fare Zones”, then all routes are charged at a flat rate.
About Payment
Available payment methods on Kyoto bus services are: "Cash & Coupons", "Magnetic Card Rail Pass" and "IC Card".
For Passengers using Cash, Coupons
- On leaving the bus, check the fare displayed on the electronic board at the front and drop equivalent cash or coupons into the clear plastic receptacle next to the driver.
For buses where boarding is at the front, pay when boarding. - On buses serving areas both in and out of the central "Flat Rate Zone", be sure to take a 'seiri-ken' (numbered ticket), issued by a machine to the side of the entry door, when boarding the bus. When leaving the bus, drop the 'seiri-ken,' along with the correct cash or coupons, into the clear plastic receptacle next to the driver.
※On occassions where there is no 'seiri-ken' (numbered ticket) issued, the fare will be charged as calculated from the starting terminal.
For Passengers using Magnetic Card Rail Pass
- On buses only serving the "Flat Rate Zone", when leaving the bus check the fare displayed on the electronic board at the front and insert card into the card reader next to the driver.
- On buses serving areas both in and out of the "Flat Rate Zone", insert card into the card reader to the side of the entry door on boarding the bus and insert card into card reader next to the driver when leaving the bus.
- Please pay cash or insert a new card if the outstanding balance does not cover the fare (two cards cannot be inserted into the card reader at the same time).
For Passengers using IC Card
- On boarding the bus, swipe card across card reader beside the entry door until a beep signals recognition.
- On leaving the bus, swipe card across card reader next to the driver until a beep signals recognition. Fares will be automatically calculated and deducted.
- Please pay cash if the outstanding balance on the IC card does not cover the fare.
IC Cards may be used on each bus
| Kyoto City Bus | Kitaca PASMO Suica manaca TOICA PiTaPa ICOCA HAYAKAKEN nimoca SUGOCA |
|---|---|
| Keihan Bus; Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus | ICOCAPiTaPa |
| Hankyu Bus | hanicaICOCAPiTaPa |
About Money-Changing
Many Buses in Kyoto have money-changing machines attached next to the fare collection box by the driver. Please be sure to change money in advance. However, please complete your exchange for large bills before riding.
Bus with money-changing machine
| Kyoto City Bus |
Kyoto Bus |
Keihan Bus |
Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus |
| Hankyu Bus |
West JR Bus |
Yasaka Bus |
Daigo Community Bus |
| Kyoto Rakunan Express |
Kyoto Night Cruise (Yoru) Bus |
Notes on Money-Changing
- Coins and 1,000yen notes can be changed
- 2,000yen, 5,000yen and 10,000yen notes cannot be changed
