How to Ride a Bus in Kyoto Area

In this article, I will cover how to ride a bus in central Kyoto and nearby areas (e.g., Ohara and Arashiyama).  First, you may want to download this route map (in Japanese) provided by www.kyotobus.jp.

From 岩倉実相院 to 大原

Here is a case study—how to ride a bus from 岩倉実相院 to 大原 by route map.  Click below map to enlarge. 

There is no direct bus route from 岩倉実相院 (at left center of the map) to 大原 (at top right of the map).  In this case, you need to take bus 21 or 23 (green line) to 花園橋 (at bottom center of the map) and then transfer to bus 16-19 (red lines) or bus 96 (green line) to 大原. 

Notice that from 岩倉実相院 to 花園橋, there is another bus stop named 花園町 which differs from 花園橋 only by the third character of name.  Don't get off at 花園町 as the mistake that I have made.  Finally, to take bus 16-19, you also need to walk across the street.  So, if you cannot find the connecting bus stop after you get off the first bus, check it the stop is located across the street. 

How to ride a bus

Normally, there are no English displays or announcements on the local bus and there are different ticketing systems depending on bus companies.  However, most bus systems in Kyoto area operate similarly in the following ways:

If the bus run in the central Kyoto (the flat fare zone is marked on the map with a red line), a flat fare (230 yen in 2016) applies. In other words, you will pay the same price no matter how far you travel with the bus.  Some bus terminals have ticket booth, it's recommended to buy your paper ticket in advance especially when you carry luggage(s).  At 大原 (Ohara) bus terminal, it also has coin lockers to store away your luggage(s).  But, not sure if all bus terminals have coin lockers or not.

Please read the following article for more details:

Taking a Bus in Kyoto

References