The Karasuma Line is one of two subway lines operated by Kyoto Municipal Subway. The line runs north to south between Kokusaikaikan Station and Takeda Station, and some trains continue beyond Takeda onto the Kintetsu Line, including services toward Shin-Tanabe and Kintetsu-Nara. It is called the Karasuma Line because for much of the way it runs beneath Karasuma Street. At Karasuma Oike Station it connects with the other subway line, the Tozai Line, which runs east to west.
A train bound for Takeda on Karasuma Subway Line
The Karasuma Line is very useful for getting from Kyoto Station into the center of the city. At Shijo Station you can transfer to the Hankyu Line which will get you to the shopping district around Kawaramachi. Alternatively, transferring to the Tozai Line at Karasuma Oike allows you to access the Higashiyama sightseeing district.
Ticket machines for the Kyoto Municipal Subway at Kyoto Station
Key Destinations
There are 15 stations on the Karasuma Subway Line. They are all numbered with the letter K. The following are the stations you are most likely to visit running north to south.
K01 Kokusaikaikan Station
This is the northernmost station on the Karasuma Line. Exit here for The Prince Kyoto Takaragaike, Autograph Collection, Kyoto International Conference Center and the northern entrance to Takaragaike Park.
K02 Matsugasaki Station
Exit here for the southern entrance to Takaragaike Park. The Eizan Line’s Shugakuin Station is a ten minute walk east of this station.
K03 Kitayama Station
Exit here for Kyoto Botanical Garden, Kyoto Concert Hall and Notre Dame University.
K04 Kitaoji Station
Exit here for Kitaoji Bus Terminal, AEON MALL Kitaoji, Otani University and the Daitokuji Temple complex. Daitokuji is a major Rinzai Zen temple complex with many subtemples, several of which are known for their contemplative dry landscape gardens.
K06 Imadegawa Station
Exit here for the northern entrance to Gosho Imperial Palace Park, Doshisha University, and Shokokuji Temple, the second of the Kyoto Gozan, the five leading Rinzai Zen temples in medieval Kyoto.
K07 Marutamachi Station
Exit here for the southern entrance to Gosho Imperial Palace Park.
K08 Karasuma Oike Station
This station lies under the intersection of Karasuma Street and Oike Street. Exit here for The Museum of Kyoto, and Kyoto International Manga Museum. Transfer here to the Tozai Subway Line.
K09 Shijo Station
This station is convenient for the financial district around Shijo and Karasuma. Daimaru department store is within easy walking distance. It also has direct underground access to the Hankyu Kyoto Main Line at Karasuma Station.
K11 Kyoto Station
Kyoto’s gateway, this is the major transportation hub in Kyoto. Exit here for Kyoto Bus Station, Kyoto Tower, Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, and the Hotel Granvia. The area around Kyoto Station is also a thriving shopping district with Isetan Department Store, Kyoto Yodobashi and other large retail stores in the vicinity.
Passengers here can transfer to JR West for lines to Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Arashiyama, to the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for Nara and to the Tokaido Shinkansen for Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo.
K15 Takeda Station
This is the southernmost station on the Karasuma Line. Passengers here can transfer to the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for access to Nara, and some subway trains continue onto the Kintetsu Line without a transfer.
Information on the subway and buses is available by Kyoto Station’s subway entrance
Discount Tickets
The Japan Rail Pass does not cover the Kyoto Municipal Subway, however discount passes are available. These are as follows:
The Kyoto Municipal Subway One-day Pass gives unlimited travel on the Karasuma and Tozai subway lines. It is priced at 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children.
The Subway & Bus One-Day Pass covers all Kyoto Municipal Subway lines, all Kyoto City Bus routes, and specified Kyoto Bus, Keihan Bus, and West Japan JR Bus routes. It is priced at 1,100 yen for adults and 550 yen for children.
IC cards such as ICOCA, Suica, PASMO, PiTaPa and other compatible nationwide cards can be used on the Kyoto Municipal Subway and Kyoto City Buses. Overseas visitors may also be able to buy a KANSAI ONE PASS at Kyoto City Bus & Subway Information Centers.
Surutto Kansai’s KANSAI RAILWAY PASS is offered during set sales periods for overseas visitors. It covers metro and private railway travel across Kansai, but does not cover JR trains or buses, so check the official KANSAI RAILWAY PASS website before planning around it.
Useful Links
To get the big picture, use the official Kyoto City Bus & Subway route map page, which links to subway, bus and sightseeing route maps.
Subway line information, station maps, timetables and fares are available from the official Kyoto City Bus & Subway subway guide. To find train and transfer times quickly and easily, use the KYOTO Transit Planner, Jorudan or Navitime.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 16-Jun-2026.
