Kyoto scrapped its beloved ¥700 city-bus one-day pass to fight overcrowding — buses were so jammed with pass-holders that locals couldn't get on. The problem: half the Kyoto guides online still tell you to buy it. Here's what actually exists now, and the honest math on whether any pass beats just tapping a card.
| Option | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|
| City-bus one-day pass | ¥700 | Abolished (sales ended Sept 2023) |
| Single bus ride (flat, central) | ¥230 | Tap an IC card |
| Subway & Bus one-day pass | ¥1,100 | Still sold |
The ¥1,100 pass covers Kyoto subway + City Bus + Kyoto Bus + Keihan Bus (some exceptions). It's a real deal if you ride a lot and use the subway — but it replaced a ¥700 pass, so the break-even jumped.
At ¥230 a ride, the ¥1,100 pass breaks even at ¥1,100 ÷ ¥230 ≈ 4.8 rides — so you need about 5 bus/subway trips in one day for it to beat paying as you go. Most sightseeing days are 2–4 rides (you spend hours at temples, not on buses), which comes to ¥460–920 — under the pass. Unless you're temple-hopping hard or leaning on the subway, an IC card is cheaper and simpler.
Ignore any guide that tells you to buy the ¥700 bus pass — it no longer exists. For a normal Kyoto day of 2–4 rides, tap an IC card at ¥230 a ride and skip passes entirely. Only buy the ¥1,100 subway-and-bus pass if you know you'll do 5+ rides or use the subway across the city. And because the buses are famously packed, plan some legs on the subway, on foot, or by bike — often faster than crawling through traffic anyway.
Mio