If you are ever looking for a naturally cool and refreshing spot in Kyoto, then read on! Mt Kurama and Kibune, located in the northernmost part of Kyoto City, are where the locals head to when they want to escape the summer heat. Why? Because the best way to spend a summer day in Kyoto is to enjoy the Kawadoko cuisine (川床) at Kibune (also known as river dining in Kibune)!
What is Kawadoko? It is a dining style where dining tables are placed on a platform built above a river. With a fresh stream flowing below, the entire setting is just refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day!
Apart from being Kyoto’s summer resort, this part of Kyoto is stunning throughout the year, especially when the landscapes radiate vibrant autumn colors as well as white snow!
Other than the sceneries, the Kurama-dera Temple and Kyoto Kifune Shrine are the two spots where you can boost your luck and pray for a happy relationship (^_-)-☆.
What to Do in Kurama and Kibune
- How to Get to Kurama and Kibuna Area
- Transportation Deals that Cover the Kurama and Kibune Area
- Autumn Foliage Season at Kurama and Kibune
- The Big Tengu Statue at Kurama Station
- Kurama-dera Temple (鞍馬寺) and Hiking to Kifune Shrine
- Restaurant Yōshūji (雍州路)
- Kifune Shrine (貴船神社)
- Nagashi Sōmen and Kawadoko Cuisine at Hirobun (京都貴船 料理旅館 ひろ文)
Explore Kurama and Kibune With a Guide
If you prefer a guide to introduce you to the beauty of Kurama and Kibune, consider joining one of the following tours.
- Kyoto Hiking Tour: The Nature and Legends of Kurama and Kibune
- Kyoto Day Trip | Kifune Shrine & Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sanzen-in Temple (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
How to Get to Kurama and Kibuna from Kyoto
There are a few ways for you to choose from to get from Kyoto Station to Kifune Shrine and Kurama Temple.
By Bus From Kokusaikaikan Station to Kurama and Kibune: The Cheapest Way with the Fewest Transfers Required
From Kyoto Station, take the Kyoto Municipal Subway (京都市営地下鉄) or a bus to get to Kokusaikaikan Station (国際会館駅). Several routes can achieve this. From the bus stop no. 3 in front of the station, take bus route no. 52 and get off at either Kibuneguchi (貴船口) or Kurama (鞍馬), depending on which area you want to start your day first.
You can refer to the timetable HERE to plan, noting that the service marked with “貴” will terminate at Kibuneguchi and won’t be heading to Kurama.
Important: Especially on weekends and public holidays during the autumn foliage season, the bus is likely too crowded, and you might not even be able to get on the bus if there is a long queue.
From Kibuneguchi (貴船口), you can either walk to Kifune Shrine or take Bus Route 33 and get off at Kibune (貴船). From the Kibune stop to Kifune Shrine, it is around a 15-minute walk. If you are trekking from Kibuneguchi, the walk will be approximately 25 minutes.
Tip: It is easier to walk from Kifune Shrine to Kibuneguchi because the other way around is an uphill hike.
Important: The section between Kibuneguchi and Kibune is not covered by the Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass (バス一日券).
By Keihan Electric Railway and Eizan Electric Railway to Kurama and Kibune: The Most Recommended Access Method
From Kyoto Station, take the JR Nara Line (奈良線) to get to Tōfukuji Station (東福寺駅). From there, change to Keihan Electric Railway (京阪電気鉄道) and get off at Demachiyanagi Station (出町柳駅). Then, change to the Eizan Electric Railway (叡山電鉄) and either get off at Kibuneguchi Station (貴船口駅) or Kurama Station (鞍馬駅).
With so many transfers, why is it recommended? Because the train runs through a maple tree tunnel from Ichihara Station (市原駅) to Ninose Station (二ノ瀬駅), which is beautiful no matter the season!
You can also catch the Kyoto Bus (京都バス) route no. 17 from Kyoto Station to reach Demachiyanagi Station. HERE is the timetable that you can refer to for the service.
Tip: The scenery is at its most stunning when riding from Kyoto City to Kibune/Kurama. When the train approaches Ichihara Station, remember to head to the windows at the front of the train for a few minutes of a splendid view. If possible, catch the Panorama Train KIRARA (展望列車「きらら」), which features larger windows. Please refer HERE for more information about the train.
One thing to note about transferring at Tōfukuji Station is that you might need to wait up to 15 minutes for the next Keihan train.
HERE is the map of the Kurama and Kibune areas. Please use the Japanese characters specified below to read it, as it only comes in Japanese.
Transportation Deals that Cover the Kurama and Kibune Area
- Subway & Eizan Railway Kurama, Kibune 1-day Ticket (バス＆えいでん 鞍馬・貴船日帰りきっぷ).
- 2,100 yen from October 2021 covers buses and train lines from Kyoto to Kurama and Kibune and more.
- For all valid routes and more information, please refer to HERE.
- Ee Kippu (えぇきっぷ), also known as the Eizan Railway 1-day Ticket
- 1,200 yen gives you unlimited rides on Eizan Electric Railway.
- For more information, please refer to the end of Eizan Electric Railway’s website HERE.
Autumn Foliage Season at Kurama and Kibune
The fall foliage season at Kurama and Kibune typically begins in early November and reaches its peak in mid- to late November.
The Big Tengu Statue at Kurama Station
For this article, we will begin our journey at Mt Kurama. We recommend you arrive at Kurama Station in the morning, so when you reach Kibune, it is the right time to enjoy Kawadoko Dining for lunch (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
As soon as you get off the train at Kurama Station, you will notice many long-nosed, red-faced goblins known as Tengu (天狗) in Japanese. They are a type of legendary creature found in the Japanese folk religion, and Mt. Kurama is their base.
Outside of the station at Mt Kurama’s Daitengu (鞍馬山大天狗), an even bigger tengu is there greeting you!
The photo’s 4-meter-tall, black-haired Tengu has looked after the area for the past 25 years. It retired at the end of 2019. When you get there, you will meet a white-haired one instead (^_-)-☆.
Kurama-dera Temple (鞍馬寺)
Kurama-dera Temple is the representative temple in Mt Kurama, erected in 770. It is well-known among the Japanese because the famous military commander Minamoto no Yoshitsune was trained in the temple during his youth. As the temple has a vast precinct, it is the perfect spot to visit in Kyoto for those who enjoy light hiking.
Refer to our Kurama-dera Temple for more information, including the Kurama Kibune hike!
Yōshūji (雍州路)
Just in front of Niōmon Gate of Kurama-dera Temple, there is a restaurant called Yoshsji that serves vegan cuisine, Shōjin Ryōri (精進料理). Their Kurama-dera traditional sesame tofu, part of the set menu, is a must-try when visiting Mt Kurama.
Depending on your appetite, you can enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine, which typically includes seafood and meat, starting from 2,200 yen.
The restaurant also has traditional dessert menus for you to enjoy after lunch or for afternoon tea (*´ω｀).
Yoshuji is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm except on Tuesdays.
Tip: Make a reservation HERE to secure your seat on the day.
Kifune Shrine (貴船神社)
From Kurama-dera’s Kondō to Kifune Shrine, it is around a 60 – 90-minute trek. If that sounds too difficult, head back to Kurama Station and take bus route no. 33, and get off at Kifune. Exploring Kifune Shrine fully requires more walking. So if you aren’t confident with your physical stamina, taking a bus is the best choice.
Especially during the autumn foliage season, the shrine is extra stunning with the foliage’s vivid colors. During this part of the year, nighttime illumination prevails, creating a mysterious atmosphere. In winter, the shrine gives a different impression when covered by snow. The stone lanterns are also lit on specific dates announced on the official website, attracting many photographers to capture the unique scene.
Refer to our Kifune Shrine article for more information!
Nagashi Sōmen at Hirobun (京都貴船 料理旅館 ひろ文)
Kibune is famous for Kawadoko cuisine, served at a river terrace. Where can you catch chilled flowing noodles with chopsticks as they slide down a bamboo flume? Situated on a rustic riverside platform directly above the Kibune River, Hirobun perfectly blends delicious food with a stunning natural setting.
For more information about Hirobun and Nagashi Somen noodles, refer to our article on Nagashi Somen at Hirobun!
Discover Other Hidden Gems in Kyoto
Kyoto, a prefecture renowned for its Buddhist temples, palaces, and Shinto shrines, is Japan’s cultural capital and has become a major tourist destination worldwide. However, did you know that, in addition to the capital city of Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture boasts a plethora of hidden gems off the beaten path?
For more off-the-beaten-path attractions, refer to our article on The Top Hidden Gems in Kyoto That Are Worth Visiting!
Thank you very much for this article. It is very informative and interesting. Made me want to do this.
i am visiting in on 18 June and i have limited time for a lot of sightseeing because i have chosen to head to Amanohashidate on one of my travel days in Kyoto. I have another 1.5 days to cover the ‘must-sees’. So, I am debating to go to this place, then head to Nikishi market, then to Fushimi Inari and lastly to kiyomizu-dera.
What do u think? =(
Hi Joan,
Fushimi Inari is open 24/7. So if you don’t need to buy anything from the shrine office, you can head there in the early morning. This one, it is possible to squeeze in everything. Or, you can visit Fushimi Inari at night, which can be exciting or scary. It’s best to head to Kiyomizu-dera early to avoid more crowds during the day.
Kind Regards,
Lily