Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
temple is reached by following the main road north from the Yamashiro Takao bus stop or,
more conveniently, by getting off the JR bus at the Toga-no-O bus stop, which is right out-
side the temple.
North & Northeast Kyoto
In the north of Kyoto lies Kamigamo-jinja, a fine Shintō shrine, and the imposing bulk of
Hiei-zan with its mountaintop temple complex of Enryaku-ji. Note that attractions further
to the north in the Kitayama mountains are covered earlier in this chapter.
TRANSPORT: HIEI-ZAN & ENRYAKU-JI
You can reach Hiei-zan and Enryaku-ji by train or bus. The most interesting way is the train/cable-car/funicular
route. If you're in a hurry or would like to save money, the best way is a direct bus from Sanjō Keihan or Kyoto
Stations. Note that the Japanese word for funicular is
ropeway
.
»
Train
Take the Keihan line north to the last stop, Demachiyanagi, and change to the Yase-Hieizanguchi-
bound Eizan Dentetsu Eizan-line train (be careful not to board the Kurama-bound train that sometimes leaves
from the same platform). Travel to the last stop, Yase-Hieizanguchi (¥260; about 15 minutes from Demachiy-
anagi Station), then board the cable car (¥530, nine minutes) followed by the funicular (¥310, three minutes) to
the peak, from which you can walk down to the temples.
»
Bus/Cable Car
Take Kyoto bus (not Kyoto City bus) 17 or 18, both of which run from Kyoto Station to the
Yase-ekimae stop (¥390, about 50 minutes). From there it's a short walk to the cable-car station from where you
can complete the journey.
»
Direct Bus
if you want to save money (by avoiding both the cable car and funicular), there are direct Kyoto
buses from Kyoto and Keihan Sanjō Stations to Enryaku-ji, which take about 70 and 50 minutes respectively
(both cost ¥800).
| SHRINE
KAMIGAMO-JINJA
( 781-0011; 339 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku; 8am-5pm; 5min walk from Kamigamo-misonobashi bus
stop, bus 9 from Kyoto Station.)
Kamigamo-jinja is one of Japan's oldest shrines and predates the
founding of Kyoto. Established in 679, it is dedicated to Raijin, the god of thunder, and is
one of Kyoto's 17 Unesco World Heritage sites. The present buildings (more than 40 in
