How to get to Kinkakuji at a glance
The Kinkaku-ji location is 1 Kinkakuji-cho in Kyoto's Kita ward, in the northwest of the city. The stop for the temple is Kinkakuji-michi on the city bus network; from there you walk to the entrance. From Kyoto Station you have three options: the direct bus 205, the subway to Kitaoji plus a bus, or a taxi.
If you would rather skip the buses altogether, some Kinkaku-ji day tours start at Kyoto Station and include transport by coach to the temple and other sights.
Routes to Kinkaku-ji compared
Fares and times as of 2026. Times are planning values and grow in traffic and busy seasons.
| Route | From | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| City bus 205 | Kyoto Station | About 40 min plus 10 min walk | ¥230 |
| Karasuma subway, then bus 204 or 205 | Kyoto Station | Depends on connections | Subway fare plus ¥230 |
| Taxi | Kyoto Station Hachijo exit | Depends on traffic | About ¥3,350 per car |
| HARUKA, then bus | Kansai Airport (KIX) | About 80 to 100 min to Kyoto Station, then bus | Discount ticket ¥2,200 or ¥2,700, plus ¥230 |
| Airport bus, then city bus | Kansai Airport (KIX) | About 88 min to Kyoto Station, then bus | ¥2,800 plus ¥230 |
| Fixed-fare taxi | Kansai Airport (KIX) | Depends on traffic | About ¥28,000 per car, tolls extra |
| Airport bus, then city bus | Osaka Itami (ITM) | About 50 to 55 min to Kyoto Station, then bus | – |
For most visitors staying in central Kyoto, the subway to Kitaoji plus bus 204 or 205 is an alternative that avoids the slowest and fullest part of the direct bus. With heavy luggage or a group of three or four, a taxi from the station is worth considering.
By bus 205 from Kyoto Station
City bus 205 leaves from the bus terminal in front of Kyoto Station towards Kinkakuji and Kitaoji, running along Nishioji-dori. Get off at Kinkakuji-michi and walk to the entrance. The timetable differs between weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays or holidays, and not every direction of this loop route is equally useful, so check that your bus is heading towards Kinkakuji via Nishioji-dori.
Plan about 40 minutes on the bus and about 10 minutes on foot. This direct bus can be slow and crowded, so allow extra time, especially in spring and autumn.
How to pay on the city bus
Regular city buses charge a flat fare of ¥230 for adults and ¥120 for children as of 2026. IC cards including ICOCA and Suica work. Board at the back, get off at the front and pay as you leave. Special sightseeing buses have their own fares.
Our pick: a coach tour from Osaka or Kyoto Station
It leaves from near Osaka Station or from Kyoto Station, so you reach Kinkaku-ji without working out the city buses.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kinkaku-ji tours with transport
Day tours from Kyoto Station that include Kinkaku-ji, plus guided temple visits with entry, with live prices and availability.
By subway and bus via Kitaoji
Take the Karasuma subway line from Kyoto Station towards Kokusaikaikan and get off at Kitaoji. From Kitaoji, buses 204 and 205 run to Kinkakuji-michi. This combination eases the load on the long direct bus. The bus part costs the regular ¥230; check the subway fare at the ticket machine.
By taxi from Kyoto Station
A taxi from the Hachijo exit of Kyoto Station to Kinkaku-ji costs about ¥3,350 per car as of 2026. Traffic, a booked pickup or a larger vehicle can add to that, and a night surcharge applies from 22:00 to 05:00.
Taxi and transfer from Kansai Airport (KIX)
From Kansai International Airport (KIX) you either travel to Kyoto Station first and continue by bus, or take a fixed-fare taxi straight to the northwest.
Fixed-fare taxi from KIX
Fixed-fare airport taxis to Kyoto cost ¥24,100 to ¥28,500 per car one way for a standard vehicle as of 2026, depending on the Kyoto zone; the northwest zone that includes the area around Kinkaku-ji is about ¥28,000. Tolls are extra, and a set pickup time adds ¥500. Confirm the zone for your exact address when you book. For a family or small group with luggage this is a door-to-door option.
HARUKA train to Kyoto Station
The JR HARUKA runs direct from KIX to Kyoto Station in about 80 minutes, up to 100 minutes depending on the train. With a foreign passport and Temporary Visitor status, you can buy the discounted HARUKA one-way ticket: ¥2,200 for adults and ¥1,100 for children aged 6 to 11 when bought by 31 October 2026, and ¥2,700 for adults from age 12 and ¥1,350 for children when bought from 1 November 2026. The price depends on the purchase date, not the travel date. From Kyoto Station, continue by bus 205 or via Kitaoji.
Airport limousine bus
Airport buses run from KIX to the Hachijo exit of Kyoto Station for ¥2,800, children ¥1,400. From Terminal 1 allow about 88 minutes; from Terminal 2 it takes longer. Traffic can add more.
From Osaka Itami Airport (ITM)
There is no HARUKA from Itami; limousine buses run to Kyoto Station in about 50 to 55 minutes. Check the current fare and timetable before you travel, then continue by bus from the station.
From Kiyomizu-dera to Kinkaku-ji
To pair the two temples in a day, start from Kiyomizu-michi or Gojozaka, take city bus 206 northbound, change at Rakuhoku Koko-mae to bus 204 or 205 and ride to Kinkakuji-michi. Two regular bus rides cost ¥460 for adults and ¥240 for children as of 2026, before any IC card or pass discounts. Add the walk down from the temple to the stop and from Kinkakuji-michi to the gate, and allow plenty of time in traffic. For the temple on the hill itself, see our Kiyomizu-dera guide.
From Arashiyama
From Arashiyama, the Randen tram runs to Kitano-Hakubaicho with a change at Katabiranotsuji, and city buses link Kitano-Hakubaicho with Kinkakuji-michi. Our Kinkakuji and Arashiyama page explains the route in both directions.
By car, motorbike or bicycle
Parking at Kinkaku-ji
The temple car park is open from 08:40 to 17:10 and has 250 spaces. As of 2026, cars pay ¥400 for the first 60 minutes and ¥200 for every further 30 minutes. Minibuses and jumbo taxis pay ¥600 for the first hour, then ¥300 per half hour; coaches ¥1,300, then ¥650. Motorbikes pay ¥200 for the first hour, then ¥100.
Cycling to Kinkaku-ji
If you cycle, check on arrival where bicycles may be left near the temple. In busy seasons the subway plus bus is a calm alternative to driving. For the whole city network, see our guide to getting around Kyoto.
Compare rental car prices in Kyoto on Economybookings.com if you plan to drive on to places outside the city.
FAQ
Which bus goes to Kinkaku-ji from Kyoto Station?
City bus 205 towards Kinkakuji and Kitaoji via Nishioji-dori. Get off at Kinkakuji-michi. Plan about 40 minutes on the bus and about 10 minutes on foot.
How much is the bus to Kinkaku-ji?
Regular city buses cost a flat ¥230 for adults and ¥120 for children as of 2026. IC cards such as ICOCA and Suica work. You pay when you get off.
Can I get to Kinkaku-ji by train?
Partly. Take the subway to Kitaoji or the Randen to Kitano-Hakubaicho, then a city bus to Kinkakuji-michi. From Kitaoji, buses 204 and 205 run there.
How do I get from Kansai Airport to Kinkaku-ji?
Take the HARUKA or the airport bus to Kyoto Station, then city bus 205. For door to door, a fixed-fare taxi to the northwest zone costs about ¥28,000 per car as of 2026, tolls extra.
How much does the HARUKA discount ticket cost?
¥2,200 for adults when bought by 31 October 2026, ¥2,700 when bought from 1 November 2026. It requires a foreign passport and Temporary Visitor status.
Is there parking at Kinkaku-ji?
Yes, 250 spaces, open 08:40 to 17:10. Cars pay ¥400 for the first hour and ¥200 per further 30 minutes as of 2026.