Kyoto Limits Tourist Bus Routes Starting Summer 2026
Kyoto's two main tourist bus routes will see boarding restrictions starting June 2026 to ease overcrowding in Gion and Kiyomizu-dera.
May 1, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 1 min read
Kyoto's two main tourist bus routes will see boarding restrictions starting June 2026 to ease overcrowding in Gion and Kiyomizu-dera.
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Boarding Caps Coming to Routes 100 and 206
Kyoto City announced that tourist bus routes 100 (Kiyomizu–Ginkakuji) and 206 (Kyoto Station–Higashiyama loop) will introduce boarding caps starting June 1, 2026. During peak hours (10:00-15:00), drivers will close doors when the bus reaches 80% capacity instead of the previous 100%.
The change responds to local complaints about residents being unable to use the same routes for daily commuting. Travelers heading to Kiyomizu-dera or Yasaka Shrine should plan for the Keihan Line (Gion-Shijo or Kiyomizu-Gojo stations) as the alternative — both stations are walkable to the same temples and bypass bus crowds entirely.
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