Getting there
How do I get to Kiyomizu-dera?
From Kyoto Station, City Bus 206 or 86 to Gojozaka is the most direct, but the queue can be long. To skip it, take the train to Kiyomizu-Gojo and walk 20–25 minutes uphill.
| Address | 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862 |
|---|
The temple has only two entrances: the Nio-mon gate at the top of Kiyomizu-zaka, and the emergency road entrance at the top of Chawan-zaka. Map apps sometimes show a route that doesn't reach the grounds, so head for the Nio-mon gate.
Directions to the Nio-mon gate (Google Maps)From Kyoto Station
Which way is best from Kyoto Station?
01
City Bus 206 or 86
On bus 206, get off at Gojozaka and walk about 10 minutes.
Good The most direct ride. Watch out The stop at Kyoto Station often has a long queue, and full buses may pass you by. 02
EX100 / EX101 tourist limited express (500 yen)
Runs only on weekends, public holidays, 14–16 Aug and 29 Dec – 3 Jan.
Good Skips the regular bus queue on the days it runs. Watch out Check today on the top page before you go. 03
JR Nara Line to Tofukuji, then Keihan Line to Kiyomizu-Gojo
From Kiyomizu-Gojo Station it is a 20–25 minute walk, uphill at the end.
Good No bus queue at all. Watch out The longest walk of the direct routes. 04
Subway to Kujo, then City Bus (202, 207 and others) to Gojozaka
If the traffic is heavy, get off one stop earlier at Umamachi and walk.
Good Avoids the bus queue at Kyoto Station. Watch out Slow when the traffic is heavy.
Walking from central Kyoto
Can I walk there from Gion?
Yes. These routes avoid the bus queue at Kyoto Station and pass other sights on the way:
Subway to Shijo, then walk
Through Nishiki Market and Gion.
City Bus 205 to Shijo Kawaramachi, then walk
Through Gion.
Subway to Higashiyama, then about 30 minutes on foot
Past Shoren-in, Chion-in and Yasaka Shrine.
Avoiding the bus crowd is not the same as avoiding the crowd: all of these walks finish on Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, two of the busiest streets near the temple.
The last slope
Which slope is the least crowded?
| Slope | Crowds |
|---|---|
| Kiyomizu-zaka and Gojo-zakaThe main shopping slopes up to the Nio-mon gate. | Very crowded |
| Ninenzaka and SannenzakaBusiest from late morning to late afternoon. | Very crowded |
| Chawan-zakaLeads to the temple's second entrance, the emergency road entrance at the top of the hill. | A little less crowded |
| Otani-michiA quiet local path, about 650 m (10 minutes), beside the Toribeno cemetery. Not a sightseeing street. | Almost no tourists |
On Otani-michi, please walk quietly past the cemetery, and don't photograph the graves or people visiting them.
Getting back
In the busy tourist seasons, the southbound bus stop on Gojo-zaka is closed. Catch the bus from the Kiyomizu-michi stop instead.
Check bus times and crowding (opens Pokeloke)Can I drive there?
The temple has no car park. There are city car parks near the temple and at the foot of the slope, but in busy seasons they all fill up, and the temple recommends public transport or a taxi. On Saturdays the city car park on Kiyomizu-zaka gets busy from early morning. The street in front of the Nio-mon gate is closed to traffic from 8:00 to 19:00.
Cycling? Bicycles are only allowed in a small bicycle area by the emergency road entrance at the top of Chawan-zaka.
Address, entrances, parking, traffic and bicycles last checked: on the official Kiyomizu-dera website.
Questions
- How do I get to Kiyomizu-dera from Kyoto Station?
- City Bus 206 or 86 to Gojozaka, then about 10 minutes on foot. To avoid the bus queue, take the JR Nara Line to Tofukuji and the Keihan Line to Kiyomizu-Gojo, then walk 20–25 minutes uphill.
- Is there parking at Kiyomizu-dera?
- The temple has no car park. There are city car parks near the temple and at the foot of the slope, but they fill up in busy seasons, so public transport or a taxi is better.
- What is the address of Kiyomizu-dera?
- 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0862, Japan.