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Hop-on Hop-off Kyoto Bus Tours
- Buckle up for Kyoto's best ride! This 1 or 2 day hop-on hop-off tour will have you zigzagging through the city like a ninja on a sugar rush.
- Choose from 3 routes with 14 strategic stops across Kyoto. Buses arrive every 40 mins, allowing you to immerse yourself in each location at your own pace.
- Open-top buses? Check. Seven-language audio guide? You bet! Prepare for sensory overload as Kyoto's vibrant tapestry unravels before your eyes.
- Storm Nijo Castle, a UNESCO UNESCO World Heritage site, time-travel at the Imperial Palace, and get starry-eyed over Kamo River along your route.
- Buckle up for Kyoto's best ride! This 1 or 2 day hop-on hop-off tour will have you zigzagging through the city like a ninja on a sugar rush.
- Choose from 3 routes with 14 strategic stops across Kyoto. Buses arrive every 40 mins, allowing you to immerse yourself in each location at your own pace.
- Open-top buses? Check. Seven-language audio guide? You bet! Prepare for sensory overload as Kyoto's vibrant tapestry unravels before your eyes.
- Storm Nijo Castle, a UNESCO UNESCO World Heritage site, time-travel at the Imperial Palace, and get starry-eyed over Kamo River along your route.
Inclusions
- 1 or 2-day unlimited hop-on-hop-off pass
- Access to Red, Purple & Green routes
- Audio guide in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French & German
- Free Wi-Fi
- Poncho/raincoat (during rainy season)
Exclusions
- Entry to attractions
Please click here for a detailed route map and boarding points.
You can join the tour at any stop and hop on and off for the duration of your ticket.
Red route
- First bus: 9am from Kyoto Station
- Last bus: 7pm from Kyoto Station
- Frequency: Every 40 mins
- Popular stops: Nijo-Jo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple
Purple route
- First bus: 9:20am from Kyoto Station
- Last bus: 5:09pm from Kyoto Station
- Frequency: Every 40 mins
- Popular stops: Daitoku-ji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace
Green route
- First bus: 12:15pm from Kyoto Station
- Last bus: 6:01pm from Kyoto Station
- Frequency: Every 2 hours
- Popular stops: Ginkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto National Museum
- Children under six years of age can travel for free if they are not occupying a separate seat.
- Facilities: lockers, rooves, air conditioning/heating (depending on the season).
- These tickets can’t be cancelled. However, you can use them any time within the next 3 months.
- These tickets are valid for 3 months from the date of purchase.
Reviews
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Snapshots from our guests
4.2
230 ratings
102
102
11
9
6
Guests from Australia, United States, Germany and over 15 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Alexander
May 2025Verified booking
I'm regular user of the hop-on-hop-off buses all over the world. Usually it has: - the rout closer to more attractions than Kyouto one - a lot of details about history and places around (Kyoto one is mostly silent or describing shopping around - that is not why people using the bus) - number and stop information is in the recording. In Kyoto I had to listen two sources at thr same time - once an hour bus is too rare - no USB charging port
Carlos
Apr 2025Verified booking
It was easy to use the site, the QR Code ticket is convenient since I don't have to worry about losing it, the staff was very friendly and helpful and it was great that there were trash cans on the bus. The view from Ginkaku-ji was beautiful, the food on Nishiki-Ichiba Market was delicious! On the other hand, what I think could be improved is putting the business hours of the main attractions on the leaflet, it would make it easier to plan the route for the day. It would also be nice to synchronize better the times of the travel and the guide voiceover, since it would start after a long-ish period from setting off and frequently cut off before the end of the stories when we got to the stations. All things considered, great tour, we could go to many different spots very conveniently.
Leonisa
May 2025Verified booking
Enjoyed the ride and sightseeing along the way..
Kichung
Apr 2025Verified booking
🌺was hard find the us station at the Kyoto station. We had to wonder around and adj questions many times
Barbara
Apr 2025Verified booking
Love that the Hop on Hop off Bus experiences are so well laid out as I use them in many cities!
Hayley
Jul 2025Verified booking
Christiane
May 2025Verified booking
P
May 2025Verified booking
Rene
May 2025Verified booking
Mala
Jun 2025Verified booking
We found this service to be exceedingly slow, making it in advisable to hop off since it was a long wait to hop on again. We also got stranded both days because the service stops operating early in the evening, well before many of the various sights close.
Sassan
May 2025Verified booking
No air condition on one bus. On the other it was only a few seats and today was hot and muggy weather. Taxi is faster for these places if your one or two travelers. Not worth the headache
Carsten
Jun 2025Verified booking
Kyoto itself was great, location of bus stops was poor
Igor
May 2025Verified booking
Infomation about the meeting point was not correct. The message I received from Headout representative led me to the City Hall in Kyoto, where I could not find your hop-on-hop-off bus. So I could not enjoy sightseeing of Kyoto which I was hoping for. Please reimburse me with the amount I payed in advance for the Sky Hop Bus.
Jenny
May 2025Verified booking
This is the worst hop on hop off tour I have ever been on. Do not waste your money. The commentary. Hardly happened. Most of the time it was just music playing. The very brief spells of information were often cut off when approaching a stop so you didn't get to learn anything. Better to just arrange your own buses. It's easy to hop onto local busses and less than half the price. I chose this because I expected constant commentary to learn about Kyoto and the stops but sadly this didn't happen
ELIZABETH
Apr 2025Verified booking
Frustrating experience with no response from the management. Customer support was very poor on this issue we had. We were in another country and to get a support from the US was very hard. They couldn't provide a number we can call in Japan, kept saying the tour was from a third party company and they don't have a number to call.
Stephanie
Apr 2025Verified booking
Nothing
Burkhard
Feb 2025Verified booking
Ticketing was very good and also the tour was excellent with most of the people very friendly and helpful. One issue was on 6th 2.morning the first bus of yours: the people told us the lower deck of the bus was not available due to japanese law. So we should sit on the top roof - open and we had 4 degrees centigrade temp. Plus driving wind - we would have been frozen. So we had to refuse. Strange law (?) and driver.
Jankees
Jan 2025Verified booking
It was okay but not great.
Florencia
Apr 2025Verified booking
Michelle
Feb 2025Verified booking
Christelle
Jan 2025Verified booking
Amanda
Dec 2024Verified booking
Very easy with clear list of destinations. I have travelled to Kyoto numerous times, but I learnt so much new information from the audio. Will definitely be using on our next visit.
Catriona
Nov 2024Verified booking
The commentary is pretty informative but delivered in a rather robotic voice. Worth improving the delivery. Also, the on board staff member tended to speak over the commentary to say what the next stop was. Better timing of announcements needed.
Coral
Nov 2024Verified booking
We had great staff helping us with our stroller and wheelchair, everything was very well explained and Ilwe loved the tour and the city! Keep up with the great work!
Stephanie
Nov 2024Verified booking
We had a one day pass and managed to see the sites we wanted to (not all the sites in the tour). Visited Nijo-Jo Castle, The Golden Pavillion and SanjuSangendo on the red bus then caught the purple bus back to Kyoto Station and another purple bus to Gion for late pm early eve. Got the last bus back from Gion. All worked really well
Combo (Save 5%): Kyoto Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour + Nidec Kyoto Tower Tickets
from ¥5,200
¥4,940
5% off
- Kyoto's ultimate combo: 1 or 2-day hop-on hop-off tours plus Kyoto Tower access. It's like having the whole city in your pocket, with a birds-eye view to boot.
- Hop on and hop off, and conquer Kyoto! The open-top bus whisks you to 14 hotspots, from ancient castles to flowing rivers like Nijo Castle and the Kamo River.
- Cruise in style on the double-decker as a 7-language audio guide spills Kyoto's famous tale – it's like a history podcast come to life!
- Ascend Kyoto's crown jewel! Built atop a lighthouse-shaped building, Kyoto Tower offers sprawling cityscape views that'll leave you breathless.
- Elevate your experience at the observation deck and spot historic shrines and temples through telescopes. It's like time travel, but with better views.
- Kyoto's ultimate combo: 1 or 2-day hop-on hop-off tours plus Kyoto Tower access. It's like having the whole city in your pocket, with a birds-eye view to boot.
- Hop on and hop off, and conquer Kyoto! The open-top bus whisks you to 14 hotspots, from ancient castles to flowing rivers like Nijo Castle and the Kamo River.
- Cruise in style on the double-decker as a 7-language audio guide spills Kyoto's famous tale – it's like a history podcast come to life!
- Ascend Kyoto's crown jewel! Built atop a lighthouse-shaped building, Kyoto Tower offers sprawling cityscape views that'll leave you breathless.
- Elevate your experience at the observation deck and spot historic shrines and temples through telescopes. It's like time travel, but with better views.
Inclusions
Kyoto HOHO
- 1 or 2-day unlimited hop-on-hop-off pass by Sky Hop Bus
- Access to Red, Purple & Green routes
- Audio guide in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French & German
- Free Wi-Fi
- Poncho/raincoat (during rainy season)
Kyoto Tower
- Entry to Kyoto Tower (near stop 1, Red, Purple & Green routes)
Please click here for a detailed route map and boarding points.
You can join the tour at any stop and hop on and off for the duration of your ticket.
Red route
- First bus: 9am from Kyoto Station
- Last bus: 7pm from Kyoto Station
- Frequency: Every 40 mins
- Popular stops: Nijo-Jo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple
Purple route
- First bus: 9:20am from Kyoto Station
- Last bus: 5:09pm from Kyoto Station
- Frequency: Every 40 mins
- Popular stops: Daitoku-ji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace
Green route
- First bus: 12:15pm from Kyoto Station
- Last bus: 6:01pm from Kyoto Station
- Frequency: Every 2 hours
- Popular stops: Ginkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto National Museum
Kyoto HOHO
- Children under six years of age can travel for free if they are not occupying a separate seat.
- Facilities: lockers, rooves, air conditioning/heating (depending on the season).
Kyoto Tower
- Tip: On the 5th-floor observation deck of Kyoto Tower, you can find 8 touch-panel tourist information monitors for you to download onto your smartphone by scanning the QR codes.
- This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.
- You can use the telescopes installed on the observation deck of the 5th floor of Kyoto Tower for free.
- Children under 3 years of age can enter for free and for children aged 3-5 tickets must be purchased onsite.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Reviews
How do we collect reviews?
Snapshots from our guests
4.3
2,267 ratings
1.4K
619
71
72
148
Guests from United States, Australia, Germany and over 23 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Alexander
May 2025Verified booking
I'm regular user of the hop-on-hop-off buses all over the world. Usually it has: - the rout closer to more attractions than Kyouto one - a lot of details about history and places around (Kyoto one is mostly silent or describing shopping around - that is not why people using the bus) - number and stop information is in the recording. In Kyoto I had to listen two sources at thr same time - once an hour bus is too rare - no USB charging port
Carlos
Apr 2025Verified booking
It was easy to use the site, the QR Code ticket is convenient since I don't have to worry about losing it, the staff was very friendly and helpful and it was great that there were trash cans on the bus. The view from Ginkaku-ji was beautiful, the food on Nishiki-Ichiba Market was delicious! On the other hand, what I think could be improved is putting the business hours of the main attractions on the leaflet, it would make it easier to plan the route for the day. It would also be nice to synchronize better the times of the travel and the guide voiceover, since it would start after a long-ish period from setting off and frequently cut off before the end of the stories when we got to the stations. All things considered, great tour, we could go to many different spots very conveniently.
Leonisa
May 2025Verified booking
Enjoyed the ride and sightseeing along the way..
Kichung
Apr 2025Verified booking
🌺was hard find the us station at the Kyoto station. We had to wonder around and adj questions many times
Barbara
Apr 2025Verified booking
Love that the Hop on Hop off Bus experiences are so well laid out as I use them in many cities!
Hayley
Jul 2025Verified booking
Alexis
Jun 2025Verified booking
Karen
May 2025Verified booking
Jegarajan
May 2025Verified booking
Sascha
May 2025Verified booking
Kevin
May 2025Verified booking
Christiane
May 2025Verified booking
P
May 2025Verified booking
Rene
May 2025Verified booking
Raúl
Apr 2025Verified booking
Lilla
Apr 2025Verified booking
Zane
Apr 2025Verified booking
Mala
Jun 2025Verified booking
We found this service to be exceedingly slow, making it in advisable to hop off since it was a long wait to hop on again. We also got stranded both days because the service stops operating early in the evening, well before many of the various sights close.
Sassan
May 2025Verified booking
No air condition on one bus. On the other it was only a few seats and today was hot and muggy weather. Taxi is faster for these places if your one or two travelers. Not worth the headache
Carsten
Jun 2025Verified booking
Kyoto itself was great, location of bus stops was poor
Truongson
May 2025Verified booking
Can not change date, so bad, I lost my money.
Helmut
Apr 2025Verified booking
Valérie
Apr 2025Verified booking
Igor
May 2025Verified booking
Infomation about the meeting point was not correct. The message I received from Headout representative led me to the City Hall in Kyoto, where I could not find your hop-on-hop-off bus. So I could not enjoy sightseeing of Kyoto which I was hoping for. Please reimburse me with the amount I payed in advance for the Sky Hop Bus.
Jenny
May 2025Verified booking
This is the worst hop on hop off tour I have ever been on. Do not waste your money. The commentary. Hardly happened. Most of the time it was just music playing. The very brief spells of information were often cut off when approaching a stop so you didn't get to learn anything. Better to just arrange your own buses. It's easy to hop onto local busses and less than half the price. I chose this because I expected constant commentary to learn about Kyoto and the stops but sadly this didn't happen
Why choose Hop-on Hop-off Kyoto?
Seamless city exploration
Easily connect Kyoto’s major sites without worrying about directions or language barriers, leaving you free to focus on enjoying the journey.
See iconic and hidden gems
From famous landmarks like Kinkaku-ji to local favorites off the beaten path, the bus routes cover a broad range of Kyoto’s treasures.
Create your own itinerary
Decide where to linger and what to skip — the flexibility to hop off at your favorites or stay on board for a full city loop is all yours.
Comfort and convenience
Skip the crowded trains and long walks. Enjoy the comfort of a double-decker bus with panoramic views and helpful staff on board.
Hop-on Hop-off buses are a great choice for
History buffs
Discover Kyoto’s centuries-old temples and palaces while listening to audio commentary that brings the past to life.
Market enthusiasts
Convenient stops near Nishiki Market and other local gems let you hop off for some shopping and street food tasting.
Art and culture seekers
Easily access Kyoto’s renowned art museums and galleries without worrying about public transport schedules.
Relaxed travelers
Enjoy the leisurely pace of the buses and soak up the city’s beauty without rushing from place to place.
Sky Hop Bus Kyoto: at a glance
Explore Kyoto's enchanting sights with Sky Hop Bus's Hop-on Hop-off tour. With three routes and 14 stops, discover the city's rich history and culture at your leisure.
Red route
- Timings: First Bus: 9:00 AM from Kyoto Station, last Bus: 7:00 PM from Kyoto Station
- Frequency: Every 40 minutes
- Total duration: Morning loop: 70 minutes; afternoon loop: 90 minutes.
- Popular stops: Nijo-Jo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Temple
Purple route
- Timings: First Bus: 9:20 AM from Kyoto Station, last Bus: 5:09 PM from Kyoto Station
- Frequency: Every 40 minutes
- Total duration: Morning loop: 70 minutes; afternoon loop: 90 minutes.
- Popular stops: Daitoku-ji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace
Green route
- Timings: First Bus: 12:15 PM from Kyoto Station, last Bus: 6:01 PM from Kyoto Station
- Frequency: Every 2 hours
- Total duration: 90 minutes.
- Popular stops: Ginkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto National Museum
How to book Hop-on Hop-off tickets
Top sights covered
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
A Zen temple whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.
Frequently asked questions about Kyoto Hop-on Hop-off bus tour
Is it possible to bring a stroller on the bus?
Yes, folded strollers are generally permitted onboard.
Do I need to print my ticket, or is a digital ticket accepted?
Digital tickets shown on your phone are accepted by most operators.
Can I use my ticket on both routes if there are multiple lines?
Yes, tickets usually cover all available routes for the tour.
Do the buses have air conditioning?
Yes, buses are equipped with air conditioning for comfort.
Is commentary live or via audio guide?
Audio commentary in multiple languages is typically provided.