Sky Hop Bus: Kyoto Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

About this experience

Book Sky Hop Bus Kyoto hop-on hop-off tickets and visit the city's temples, shrines and palaces from an open-top bus. Choose a 1 or 2 day pass and ride the Red, Purple and Green routes, with 14 stops between them, including Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. An audio guide in seven languages and free Wi-Fi are included, and a poncho is provided in the rainy season. What do the three Kyoto routes cover? All three routes start at Kyoto Station. The Red route runs every 40 minutes from 9am to 7pm and is the one to take for Nijo Castle, famous for its nightingale floors that chirp like birds as you walk, and the golden pavilion of Kinkaku-ji. The Purple route runs every 40 minutes from 9:20am, with the last bus at 5:09pm, and stops at Daitoku-ji Temple and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The Green route runs every 2 hours from 12:15pm, with the last bus at 6:01pm, and visits Ginkaku-ji Temple and the Kyoto National Museum. Along the way you can also see the torii gate of Heian Shrine and the Kamo River. What is included with your ticket? Your pass includes unlimited hop-on hop-off travel on all three routes. The 1 day pass is valid for one calendar day, and the 2 day pass for two consecutive calendar days. The audio guide is available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French and German, and there is free Wi-Fi on board. In the rainy season you also get a poncho. Entry to temples, shrines and other attractions is not included, so carry some cash for admission fees at each stop. Boarding and rules on board Your voucher is emailed to you shortly after booking. Show it on your phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point, and check the voucher for exact instructions. Food, drinks and alcohol are not allowed on the bus. Children under six travel free if they do not take a separate seat. Lockers are available, and there is air conditioning or heating depending on the season. Planning your Kyoto day Because the Green route runs only every 2 hours, plan your visit to Ginkaku-ji and the National Museum around its timetable first, then use the Red and Purple routes, which are more frequent, to fill the rest of your day. Many temples close in the late afternoon, so start early. A 2 day pass gives you time to see all three routes without rushing. This ticket cannot be cancelled, so check your dates before you book. Wear comfortable shoes, as many of Kyoto's temples and gardens involve a fair amount of walking once you leave the bus. Make more of your Kyoto visit Start or finish at Kyoto Station with Nidec Kyoto Tower tickets for the view from the observation deck. Rail fans can visit the Kyoto Railway Museum, and for a slower pace, try a private tea ceremony in a garden teahouse.

Highlights

• Hop on and off for 1 or 2 days on three routes with 14 stops
• Visit Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji and the Imperial Palace
• Audio guide in 7 languages and free Wi-Fi
• Poncho provided in the rainy season

What is included

• 1 or 2 day unlimited hop-on hop-off pass
• Access to the Red, Purple and Green routes
• Audio guide in 7 languages
• Free Wi-Fi
• Poncho (rainy season)

Not included

• Entry to attractions

Before you go

Show your voucher on your phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point listed on it. All routes start at Kyoto Station. Red: 9am to 7pm, every 40 minutes. Purple: 9:20am to 5:09pm, every 40 minutes. Green: 12:15pm to 6:01pm, every 2 hours. Food, drinks and alcohol are not allowed on board. Children under six travel free without their own seat. Attraction entry is not included.

Cancellation terms

This ticket cannot be cancelled.