How to Get to Pontocho: Kyoto Station, Osaka and the Airports
By the Pontocho Park Guide team · Last reviewed · 7 min read
Pontocho is about as central as Kyoto gets: between the Kawaramachi shopping streets and the Kamo River, with four railway stations within ten minutes' walk. Below are the simplest routes from where most visitors start, and what to know about the last few hundred metres, which you will be doing on foot.
The nearest stations
| Station | Line | Walk to the park | Enter Pontocho from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanjo | Keihan Main Line | about 6–9 min | North end (Sanjo) |
| Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae | Subway Tozai Line | about 6–8 min | North end (Sanjo) |
| Kyoto-Kawaramachi | Hankyu Kyoto Line | about 5–8 min | South end (Shijo) |
| Gion-Shijo | Keihan Main Line | about 6–9 min | South end, across Shijo Bridge |
Pontocho is one lane, so it is hard to get lost. Go in at either end and keep walking until the buildings open out into the park.
From Kyoto Station
Kyoto Station is about three kilometres south of Pontocho and there is no direct train, so it comes down to bus, subway or taxi.
City bus: about 15 minutes, plus a short walk
From the bus terminal outside the north (Karasuma) exit, take bus 4, 17 or 205 to Shijo-Kawaramachi. They run up Kawaramachi-dori and take roughly 12 to 15 minutes when traffic is normal. Bus 5 also stops at Shijo-Kawaramachi, but it goes the long way round via Shijo-Karasuma. From the stop, walk east along Shijo-dori towards the river and turn left into Pontocho just before Shijo Bridge.
Fares are flat within the central area, and you pay as you get off, by IC card or cash. These routes get very crowded in peak season and there is not much room for suitcases.
Subway: about 20 minutes, plus a short walk
Take the Karasuma Line north three stops to Karasuma Oike. Change to the Tozai Line heading east (towards Rokujizo) and ride one stop to Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae. Walk east to the river along Oike or Sanjo and enter Pontocho from the Sanjo end. It involves a change, but it is not affected by traffic, which matters on busy days.
Taxi: about 15 minutes
There are taxi ranks at both exits of the station. Cars cannot drive into Pontocho, so ask for Sanjo Ohashi, nishi-zume (the west end of Sanjo Bridge) or Shijo Ohashi, nishi-zume (the west end of Shijo Bridge). Showing the driver a map pin works just as well.
From Osaka
Two private railways run from central Osaka to stations right next to Pontocho, with no need to go through Kyoto Station.
The Hankyu Kyoto Line runs from Osaka-umeda to Kyoto-Kawaramachi, about 45 minutes by limited express. If you are staying around Umeda, this is the easy one.
The Keihan Main Line runs from Yodoyabashi or Kyobashi to Gion-Shijo and Sanjo, about 50 minutes by limited express. It suits you if you are near Keihan stations, or near Namba and happy to take the subway up to Yodoyabashi first.
JR Special Rapid trains from Osaka Station reach Kyoto Station in about 30 minutes, but then you still need a bus, subway or taxi, so door to door it is rarely quicker.
From Kansai International Airport (KIX)
The JR Haruka limited express goes straight to Kyoto Station in about 75 to 80 minutes; carry on from there as above. Airport limousine buses also run to Kyoto Station and take around 90 minutes, depending on traffic. All in, allow roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes from the arrivals hall to Pontocho.
From Osaka Itami Airport (ITM)
Itami handles domestic flights. Limousine buses run to Kyoto Station in about 50 to 60 minutes, traffic permitting, and you continue from there.
From Tokyo
The Tokaido Shinkansen takes about 2 hours 15 minutes from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Kyoto on the fastest trains. From Kyoto Station, use one of the routes above.
IC cards
Rechargeable cards such as ICOCA, Suica and PASMO work on the Kyoto subway, city buses, Hankyu, Keihan and JR, so you do not need separate tickets for each line. Many phones can carry a mobile version.
Luggage
Pontocho is narrow, crowded in the evening and lined with small restaurants that have no space for bags. Rolling a large suitcase through it is not fun for you or anyone else. Leave it in a coin locker at Kyoto Station, Sanjo or Kawaramachi, use the luggage storage and delivery counters at Kyoto Station, or ask your hotel to hold it.
By car
Pontocho is a pedestrian lane and the park has no car park. Use hourly coin parking around Kawaramachi, Sanjo or Shijo and walk the rest. In busy seasons those car parks fill up and central traffic crawls, so trains are usually the better choice.
Accessibility
The nearby stations have lifts, but the step-free route to street level can be a long one, so allow extra time. Pontocho itself is stone-paved, uneven in places and crowded at night; wheelchair users may find it easier to reach the park from the Sanjo end during the day. For the riverside part of a visit, the Kamo River paths are flat and wide.
Journey times are approximate and based on typical daytime services. Check current timetables and fares with the operators before you travel.
