Visiting Kyoto from Tofukuji Machiya
Thanks to its location, the Tofukuji Machiya is a great starting point to visit Kyoto.
As mentioned elsewhere, we think that Kyoto is a great city for moving around on bicycle. But this is certainly not for everyone. We often take a cab for a short ride — indeed, as you pay the same price for one, or up to four passagers, taxis can at time be cheaper than the bus (yen 230 per person) or the train. You’ll have no problem finding a taxi on HigashiOji Street. When it comes to public transportation, we’re fortunate to have one bus stop within 3 minutes walk from the house . Sennyujimichi bus stops (1) are where buses #202, #207 and #208 stop. These will enable you to go to the Kyoto main train station, Kiyomizu Temple, Gion Area, but also to Toji Temple, Nishi Honganji Temple, along Shijo street, etc.
Then, if you walk about 5 minutes (or take one of the northbound buses) you can another bus stop right in front of the Sanjusangendo temple and Kyoto National Museum (2). This is where you can board the popular tourist Raku Bus #100, and bus #206. They will enable you to go to the Kyoto main train station, Nishi Honganji Temple, Nijo Castle, Shimogamo Shrine, Gion Area, Kiyomizu Temple, and all the way to Ginkakuji Temple and the Path of Philosophy.
And a third bus stop, Higashiyama Nanajo (3), is simply at the crossroad between the previous two, “Nanajoshiokoji crossing” — you can catch buses from the above two bus stops. Please, refer to the Kyoto City Bus Travel Map “ Bus Navi” (available at the house) — there should be one in the house with the other touristic documentation.
Bus
Using the bus to visit Kyoto is probably the least expensive way to move around. You can just buy a Day Pass Card (you get it as you pay when exiting the first bus you ride). It costs a mere yen 500 and will enable you to take any city bus as many times as you want during one day.
Bus stops near the house (Tofukuji Samurai Machiya)
Sennyujimichi (1): Buses #202, #207, #208
Higashiyama Nanajo (3): Buses #100, #202, #206, #207, #208,
Museum (Hakubutsukan), Sanjusangendo-mae (2): Buses #100, #206, #208
Train
There is also one train station near the house, served by two lines: Tofukuji Train Station, with JR Nara line and Keihan Line. This station is a few minutes from he house and is one stop away from Kyoto main station (JR Nara line). Please, refer to the document you received or a Kyoto City Transportation Map, or check out our web site. Tofukuji station (Keihan line and JR Nara line JR (8 min) Take the JR Nara line to go to Kyoto Station. Take the Keihan line to go to Fushimi, or all the way to Nara (southbound) or to Gion-Shijo station (northbound).
<<GOING TO>>
Kyoto Station（京都駅）
Simply take the JR train – it’s one stop away and it takes 3 min. Or you can take bus #208 (every 10 min or so. It takes about 10 min).
Kiyomizu Temple（清水寺）
take bus #207 to Gojozaka 五条坂 (every 10 min. It takes about 5 min)
Gion（祇園）– Yasaka shrine（八坂神社）
take bus #207 to Gion (every 10 min. It takes about 10 min) or take the Keihan train to Gion-Shijo station (3 stops).
Heian Shrine（平安神宮）
take bus #100 to Kyoto Kaikan Bijutukan-mae 京都会 館美術館前) (every 10 min. It takes about 20 min) Or take bus #202, #206 to Higashiyama Nijo 東山二 条・Okazakikoen Iriguchi(岡崎公園入口) 5 min. walking)
Nanzenji, Eikando（南禅寺、永観堂）
take bus #100 to Higashi Tenno-cho 東天皇町 (every 10 min. It takes about 25 min)
Ginkakuji（銀閣寺）- The Silver Pavilion
take bus #100 to Ginkakuji-mae 銀閣寺前 (every 10 min. It takes about 30 min)
Kinkakuji（金閣寺）- The Golden Pavilion
take the train (3 min) or bus #208 to Kyoto Station (every 10 min. It takes about 10 min) Then take bus #101 or #205 to Kinkakuji-michi 金閣寺道 (every 30 min. It takes about 50 min to 1h)
Ryoanji（龍安寺）
walk from Kinkakuji
Ninnaji（仁和寺）
(from Kinkakuji) take bus #59 to Omuro Ninnaji
Kitano Tenmangu（北野天満宮）
take the train or bus #208 to Kyoto Station, then take bus #101 to Kitanotenmangumae 北野天満宮前 (it takes about 30 min)
Arashiyama（嵐山）– Tenryuji（天龍寺）
take the train or bus #208 to Kyoto Station, then 1. Take the train JR Sagano line(嵯峨野線) to Saga Arashiyama station(嵯峨嵐山) (takes about 37 min), or 2. Take bus #28 (get off at Arashiyamakoen 嵐山公園) You can also take the Randem train from Shijo Omiya station.
Nishiki Food Market – Shijo Kawaramachi（四条河原町）Hankyu line （阪急電鉄）
Take bus #207
Kyoto Imperial Palace（京都御所）
Take bus #202 to Saibanshomae 裁判所前
Nijo Castle（二条城）
1. Take the train or bus #208 to Kyoto Station, then take bus #9, #50, #101 to nijojo-mae (二条城前) 2. Take the train (Keihan line) to Sanjo station (5 min), then take the Tozai line to Nijojomae (6 min). 3. Take bus #202 and get off at Horikawa Marutamachi, then walk.
Tofukuji（東福寺）
You’re already there — you can simply walk to the Temple!
Fushimi Inari Shrine（伏見稲荷）
You can actually walk to this site in about 20 minutes. By train, take the Keihan line train to Fushimi Inari Shrine (1 stop)
Toji （東寺）
take bus #207 to Toji Higashimonmae 東寺東門前