Karasuma Oike Station Kyoto

• Station Facilities
• Connections
• Hotels
• Buses
• Kyoto Subway Fares & Passes
• Kyoto Subway Map
• Kyoto Subway Video

Kyoto Subway: Karasuma Oike Station (烏丸御池駅)

Karasuma Oike Station is the intersecting station on the Kyoto Subway

Karasuma Oike Station is the intersecting station of the two lines of Kyoto's subway network: the north-south Karasuma Line (green) and the east-west Tozai Line (red).

Located in the center of Kyoto, the area around the station is an excellent place to base. Visitors can head out north, south, east or west to make the most of Kyoto's many attractions.

From here it is a short journey south to Kyoto Station and the shinkansen to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya (for Takayama and Magome) and Hiroshima.

The first train north from the station on the Karasuma Line to Kokusaikaikan is at 5.32 am. The last train south to Takeda is at 11.25 pm (12.25 am on Fridays).

On the Tozai Line the first train east is at 6.23 am (earlier trains leave from Shiyakusho-mae) with the last train at 11.55 pm (12.25 am on Fridays). Heading west the first train is at 5.39 am with the last train at 11.55 (12.25 am on Fridays.

Passengers change here from a Karasuma Line train to the Tozai Line

Karasuma Line sign of the Kyoto subway

Station Facilities

Karasuma Oike is the largest subway-only station on the network.

There are several shops in the concourse beteen the two lines. These include a convenience store, a Starbucks cafe and other shops.

The station has coin lockers and is barrier free with elevators to street level and the platforms.

Buses

The following Kyoto buses stop near the station: #15 to Ritsumeikan University, Sanjo Keihan and Shijo Kawaramachi: #51 to Sanjo Keihan and Shijo Kawaramachi; 京大 快速 to Kyoto University Hospital and Kyoto Station; #65 to Iwakura, Shijo Karasuma and Shijo Kawaramachi.

Art showing the Gion Festival

Karasuma Line train on the Kyoto Subway

Connections

One stop north of Karasuma Oike is Marutamachi Station convenient for the Imperial Palace (Gosho) and the hotels located on its western side.

Hotels here include the Kyoto Heian Hotel, Kyoto Garden Palace Hotel and The Palace Side Hotel. Just round the corner on Marutamachi from the station is the new Bird Hostel for budget travelers and back-packers in Kyoto.

Heading further north on the Karasuma Line are Daitokuji Temple (at Kitaoji Station)

One stop south on the Karasuma Line is Shijo Station on Shijo Street. This is the major shopping and financial district of the city with banks, department stores and hotels. You are also close to the Nishiki covered market.

Heading west on the Tozai Line it is one stop to Nijo-mae Station for Nijo Castle. As addition, it is two stops to Nijo Station for onward trains to Arashiyama (10 minutes to Saga-Arashiyama Station), Kameoka (20 minutes on the JR Sagano Line) and Fukuchiyama (about 90 minutes on a Limited Express).

Traveling east the stations on the Tozai Line are Shiyakusho-mae for Teramachi and Sanjo Keihan Station for connections on the Keihan Line north to Demachiyanagi and south west to Osaka. The next stop is Higashiyama Station for the Okazaki museum district, Heian Shrine and Kyoto Zoo.

Ride the Tozai Line further east for Daigoji Temple (Daigo Station).

Starbucks cafe at Karasuma Oike Station in Kyoto

Daily Yamazaki convenience store in the station concourse

Hotels Near Karasuma Oike

The area around the station is in the heart of traditional Kyoto. Head west for narrow, tranquil streets with traditional craft makers, restaurants, cafes and bars.

South of the station are two Starbucks cafes. The one on the east side of Karasuma must be Kyoto's most picturesque overlooking Rokkakudo Temple through its large windows.

The Ikebana Museum is a few meters south of the station on the east of Karasuma.

Places to stay here include the Kyoto Garden Hotel, the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Sanjo, the Hotel Mystays Kyoto Shijo, and the Hotel Monterey Kyoto.

Starbucks cafe overlooking Rokkakudo Temple

Starbucks cafe on Karasuma Dori, Kyoto

Kyoto Subway Fares & Passes

Single fares for adults on the system range from 210-350 yen and 110-170 yen for minors. There are a number of travel cards available.

The Kyoto Sightseeing Pass Card (one day card and two-day card) has been replaced by the Subway, Bus One-Day Pass and the Subway, Bus Two-Day Pass. The passes are valid for the Kyoto subway, Kyoto city buses, Kyoto buses and certain Keihan buses (namely to Yamashina and Daigo). Unlike the Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass (see below), the One- and Two-Day Subway, Bus Passes include Saihoji (Kokedera), Ohara and Iwakura.

The Subway, Bus One-Day Pass is valid only for the day it is issued (not 24 hours) and costs 900 yen for adults and 450 yen for children.

The Subway, Bus Two-Day Pass is valid two consecutive days and costs 1,700 yen for adults and 850 yen for children.

The Kyoto City Subway One-Day Pass allows unlimited travel on Kyoto's metro and costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. The Kyoto City Subway One-Day Pass includes discounts on admission to Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Zoo, The Museum of Kyoto and Kyoto International Manga Museum. *See the official website for a full list of discounts and welcome gifts available at oneday-pass.kyoto

Where to Buy

The above passes are all available at the Kyoto Tourist Information Center (KYO Navi) on the second floor of the Kyoto Station building, Kyoto subway stations, the Bus Information Office outside the main entrance of Kyoto Station, and Kitaoji Bus Terminal.

The Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass allows for unlimited travel on all Kyoto city buses and Kyoto buses within the downtown fixed rate zone (including Arashiyama and Shugakuin, but excluding Kibune, Kurama, Takao, Ohara and Iwakura) and costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. It makes sense to buy this pass if you are making three or more bus journeys in a day. The date of use will be imprinted on the back of the ticket when you use it the first time. On subsequent journeys show the date to the driver.

The Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass is available from the Kyoto Station Tourist Information Center, subway station ticket windows, any Kyoto bus and Kyoto City Bus Offices (the Bus Information Office outside the main entrance of Kyoto Station, and Kitaoji Bus Terminal).

The pre-paid Surutto Kansai Miyako Card was available in denominations of 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 3,000 yen and 5,000 yen and was valid for travel on the Kyoto subway, Kyoto city buses, and the Hankyu and Keihan urban rail networks.

Although not valid on Kansai's subways, the JR-West Kansai Area Pass can be used on JR trains connecting Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Nishi-Akashi and Himeji as well as the Haruka Express from Kansai International Airport (KIX).

The pass can be bought for 1-day (2300 yen), two successive days (4500 yen), three successive days (5500 yen) and four successive days (6500 yen) - with half price for children (age 12 or under). The JR-West Kansai Area Pass is available from major stations in the Kansai area and overseas branches of JTB, JAL, ANA and major travel agencies. There are slight reductions for booking in advance online.

The pass is not valid on Shinkansen trains.

Full information and online booking form available here: www.westjr.co.jp

If you book online you can pick up your pass at the following stations in the Kansai area from 5.30 am - 11 pm: Kyoto Station, Shin-Osaka Station, Osaka Station and Kansai International Airport (KIX).

Station sign, Kyoto Subway

Karasuma Oike Station, Tozai Line platform, Kyoto Subway

The Traffica Kyo Prepaid Card is a pre-paid travel card available in 1,000 yen and 3,000 yen denominations giving a free bonus of 10% on each card and is valid on Kyoto city subways and buses. The card can be purchased from ticket machines at subway stations as can the Kansai area IC card the ICOCA.

Find more information on Kyoto bus and subway passes.

Kyoto's subway runs from around 5.30 am until 11.55 pm, 7 days a week with reduced services at the weekends and public holidays.

Tunneling was slow during the construction of the two lines to allow time for archeological research on Kyoto's long history. Items of interest found during the construction are displayed at Karasuma Oike Station.

South West Exit of Karasuma Oike Station

Map of the Kyoto Subway

Kyoto Subway Map; Map courtesy of Kyoto City Web

Kyoto Subway Video

Hotel Accommodation in Kyoto

Books on Kyoto Japan