Raku Bus Kyoto
Raku Bus: the three Raku buses in Kyoto are loop buses passing the major sightseeing stops and especially designed for foreign tourists.
Kyoto Travel Guide: Kyoto Raku Buses 洛バス
In addition to Kyoto's regular city bus services, Kyoto city also operates three loop buses specifically for tourists. These are the Raku 100, Raku 101 and Raku 102.
The Japanese character for the raku in Raku Bus refers to "Kyoto," but is the same pronunciation as the more commonly encountered raku that means "easy" or "comfortable". Raku Buses are brightly painted in seasonal colors, have onboard announcements in English and other languages, and stop only at the major sightseeing places in Kyoto.
The Raku 100 and Raku 101 have bus stops at Kyoto Station, to your right as you exit the central exit. Raku 100 and Raku 101 operate in roughly north-south loops. The Raku 102 runs east-west, connecting the northern ends of Raku 100's and Raku 101's respective loops.
Raku 100 meets Raku 102 at Horigawa-Imadegawa bus stop, a little over 5 km north of Kyoto Station. Raku 101 meets Raku 102 at Ginkakuji-michi bus stop (near Shirokawadori-Imadegawa intersection) about 7.5km north-east of Kyoto Station. A section of Raku 102's route runs between these two bus stops.
The Raku Bus fare is a flat 230 yen per ride for adults (120 yen for children).
The Kyoto City Bus & Kyoto Bus One-day Pass (600 yen) can be used on Raku buses.
Raku buses can be crowded, like all Kyoto buses, so be prepared to stand for a while. Enter from the rear door and pay the driver as you exit the front door.
A Raku Bus at Kyoto Station
The Raku 100 travels in a loop from Kyoto Station to Ginkakuji Temple
Raku 100
The Raku 100 bus goes to the Higashiyama and Okazaki areas of Kyoto: Heian Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Ginkakuji Temple in the east of the city.
From Kyoto Station the bus stops at Sanjusangendo Temple, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka-jinja Shrine, Heian-jingu Shrine, Eikan-do Temple, Nanzen-ji Temple terminating at Ginkaku-ji Temple before returning to Kyoto Station.
Raku 101
The Raku 101 bus goes to Nijo Castle, Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine and Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) in the central and western parts of the city.
From Kyoto Station the bus stops at Nijo Castle, Nishijin Textile Center at Horikawa Imadegawa, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kinkaku-ji Temple and Daitoku-ji Temple. It terminates at Kitaoji Bus Terminal and then returns to Kyoto Station. At Kitano Hakubaicho, the Raku 101 connects to the Keifuku Railway for Arashiyama.
Raku Bus - Kyoto Easy Sightseeing
The Raku 100 Bus takes the East Route to Higashiyama
Raku 102
The Raku 102 bus goes to and from Ginkaku-ji Temple via Kinkaku-ji Temple and Daitoku-ji Temple in a loop of the northern part of the city from east to west and back again.
From Ginkakuji-michi bus stop the Raku 102 stops at Kyoto Imperial Palace on Imadegawa Street, Nishijin Textile Center, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, Kinkaku-ji Temple and Daitoku-ji Temple before returning to Ginkaku-ji. At Kitano Hakubaicho, the Raku 102 connects with the Keifuku Railway for Arashiyama and at Demachiyanagi Station, the bus connects to the Eizan Railway for Kurama.
Sightseers queue to board a Raku Bus at the Kyoto Station terminus
Related Japan Bus Resources
Raku Bus stop, Kyoto Station
