Essential Kyoto Living Knowledge: Memorize All Major Bus Routes!

Text and photos / Urban Life Research Project, excerpted from *Don’t Be Silly, This Is the Real Kyoto*, published by Kankō Bunko
Translator / Xu Yuwen

Unwritten Rule 3[It’simportanttohave all the major bus systems memorized inside out.]

Assuming you’ve already embraced Kyoto’s cycling culture, the next step isto memorize the bus routes. Kyoto has many narrow alleyways and limited parking, so driving isn’t recommended.

Kyoto’s subway only has the Karasuma Line and the Tōzai Line. Aside from JR, Keihan, Hankyu, and the Randen (Rakuhoku and Kitano Lines), as well as the Eizan Electric Railway, if you rely solely on trains, you’ll likely have to transfer multiple times just to reach your destination. That’s why buses are a more convenient second option. Most households in Kyoto probably keep a bus route map at home, and even kids who aren’t great at schoolwork can recite the bus routes near their homes by heart.

Next, let’s go over some basic Kyoto bus knowledge!

The most commonly used buses in Kyoto fall into four categories: first are the city-operated buses that cover the entire urban area; second are the Kyoto buses that serve areas like northern Kyoto (including Ohara) and the Arashiyama direction; third are the Keihan buses (heading eastward, such as Yamashina); and last are the Kyoto Transportation buses (serving the Nishikyō Ward or Kameoka direction).

City-operated buses operate on a loop system with numbers above 200 (orange background with white text), along with buses in blue background with white text (which run back and forth on the same route) and buses in white background with black text that go to the suburbs.

When taking the bus, you first need to confirm your destination and the streets the bus passes through (stops along the way). But the basic premise is to memorize ① the names of major roads (such as Kawaramachi, Karasuma, Horikawa, and Nishidō, which run north-south, and Kitaoji, Imadegawa, Marutamachi, Shijō, and Kujō, which run east-west), and ② major intersections (like Hyakumanben, Shirakaba-chō, and others), and the stops closest to your destination.

Being able to combinethe information announced by the speakers at the bus stops with these clues, and then figure out which bus goes to your destination (or whether you need to transfer), is what makes someone a true Kyoto local!

Bus experts can instantly tell you crucial info like “this line goes in this direction.” For example, buses with route numbers ending in 6 mostly pass through Senbon-dōri, while those going toward Shinmarutamachi-dōri are the 90 series.

Beginners can start by matching the bus route maps and the stop lists at the bottom of the timetables to gradually understand the routes, and they’ll likely be able to board the correct bus.

If you’re sightseeing within the city, consider taking the scenic Ryōbus (city-operated bus) that goes past famous spots, or the loop bus that circles around the Shijō area (only runs on Saturdays and holidays). Additionally, between Exit 8 of Kyoto Station, Kawaramachi, and Kyoto Women’s University (commonly called Kyōjo) in Higashiyama, there’s also a charming red loop bus—affectionately called the “Princess Line”—that appeals to those with a girlish charm. The city-operated bus No. 206 going in the same direction is usually packed with tourists, so it’s a good idea to remember this Princess Line (though the bus is often full of youthful Kyōjo students, which might make some uncles feel a bit out of place……).

One key tip when taking the bus is to have your change ready before getting off—especially during peak tourist seasons when the bus is crowded with graduation trip students or tourists. If you’re fumbling to get change near the door, the outwardly calm but actually impatient Kyoto locals may get quietly annoyed……. It’s best to stay sharp whether boarding or alighting; being too careless could land you in hot water!