Kyoto Station Building
Kyoto Station, Kyoto
- Daily
- 6:00 to 23:00
Hours are for the grand staircase and rooftop garden. The Skyway opens 10:00 to 22:00.
Source: kyoto-station-building.co.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Kyoto's station is a sight in its own right. Hiroshi Hara won the 1991 design competition, and the building opened in 1997. A 171-step staircase climbs 35 m to a rooftop garden 59.8 m up, and the Skyway, a 185 m corridor on the 10th floor, looks north over the city.
More photos of Kyoto Station Building
Insider tip
Come after dark, when 15,000 LEDs play seasonal designs across the staircase. The Skyway's open 10:00 to 22:00 and lit from 17:00. The rooftop garden closes for building work from around late November 2026. Luggage storage (Crosta Kyoto) is in the basement.
What's on near Kyoto Station Building
Upcoming events within a ten-minute walk of Kyoto Station Building, from the weekly Kyoto events calendar.
Kyoto Modern Architecture Festival
京都モダン建築祭
Time Passport days 31 Oct and 1 Nov 10:00 to 19:00, 7 and 8 Nov 10:00 to 17:00 (hours vary by building) Station Kyoto (JR, Karasuma Line)
In its fifth year about 150 modern buildings take part, and on 31 Oct and 1 Nov and on 7 and 8 Nov a passport lets you walk into 61 that are usually closed or hard to visit, from houses, banks, schools and churches to a National Treasure. From 26 Oct a half pass is ¥3,000 and a full pass ¥5,000, sold online or for cash at the Kyoto General Tourist Information Center in Kyoto Station.
NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS at Higashi Honganji and Shosei-en
NAKED GARDEN NIGHTS 東本願寺・渉成園
Time 18:00 to 22:00 (Higashi Honganji last entry 21:00) Station Gojo (Karasuma Line), 5 min walk
NAKED lights Higashi Honganji and its detached garden Shosei-en for an evening walk through five scenes. Adult tickets are ¥2,100 Monday to Thursday and ¥2,300 Friday to Sunday and on holidays (¥200 less in advance), and from 6 to 8 Nov and on 25 Nov only Shosei-en is open.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 Year-end Dust Cleaning at Higashi Honganji
お煤払い（東本願寺）
Time From 9:00 Station Kyoto (JR, Karasuma Line), 7 min walk
Followers from all over Japan line up across the tatami of the Founder's and Amida halls, beat it with split bamboo and fan the dust out with paper fans about 2 m across. Then the head of the temple traces the character for 'long life' on a paper screen with a bamboo pole.
Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 Nearby
Around Kyoto Station
Free temples and late ramen a few minutes from the platforms
Most visitors only see Kyoto Station on the way in or out, which is a shame. Higashi Hongan-ji is 7 minutes north on foot and free, To-ji's pagoda is 15 minutes south, and at the railway museum to the west a working steam engine will pull you along. After dark, 15,000 LEDs light the station's 171-step staircase.
Kyoto Station has 23 places on the Roam Kyoto map: 4 shrines and temples, 4 museums, 3 restaurants, 2 shops, 2 cafes, 2 parks and gardens, 2 bathhouses, 1 bar, 1 landmark, 1 viewpoint and 1 market. Read the Kyoto Station guide.
Good to know
- What is the address of Kyoto Station Building?
- Karasuma-dori Shiokoji-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto (in Japanese: 京都市下京区烏丸通塩小路下ル).
- What are the opening hours of Kyoto Station Building?
- Daily 6:00 to 23:00. Hours are for the grand staircase and rooftop garden. The Skyway opens 10:00 to 22:00.
- How do I get to Kyoto Station Building?
- The nearest station is Kyoto (JR, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu). Kyoto Station Building is in Kyoto Station, Kyoto.
- How much does Kyoto Station Building cost?
- Nothing. Kyoto Station Building is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Kyoto Station Building?
- Plan for 45 min.
- When is the best time to visit Kyoto Station Building?
- After dark.
Stay near Kyoto Station Building
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