Kyoto autumn 2026: two temples need bookings, extra buses run and Arashiyama limits traffic

Are you heading to Kyoto in November to see the leaves? This year the planning goes beyond picking a week. Two well-known foliage temples only admit people with reservations during their busiest weeks. Kyoto City has also announced extra buses, a seasonal bus line and changes to some stops, and Arashiyama's main street will limit traffic on several days.

This guide pulls together what official pages and recent travel reports say as of October 31, 2026. It is meant for readers in Canada who are planning a trip or helping family plan one.

Enko-ji: timed tickets from November 10

Travel And Tour World reports that from November 10 to December 10, 2026, you need a reservation for a specific date and time. Visiting hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bookings opened on October 20 at 9 a.m.

The same report gives admission as ¥1,500 for adults and ¥800 for elementary, junior high and senior high school students. To change your date, time or group size, you have to cancel and book again. The temple asks visitors to keep their stay to about an hour.

The temple's own car park closes during the special viewing. Groups of ten or more must phone the temple ahead of time. According to the report, regular visits outside the seasonal window don't need a booking.

Ruriko-in: peak weeks are mostly decided already

Its autumn opening runs from October 1 to December 13, but reservations apply only from November 13 to December 6. On the other open days you can walk in. General admission is ¥2,000. Secondary-school students pay ¥1,000 if they show student ID.

Overseas visitors should note one detail. GLOS Travel and Nipponstays both report that the peak-week places were given out by lottery, not first come, first served. The lottery closed on August 20. Nipponstays adds that entries were sent by Japanese return postcard.

In practice, if you haven't already won a spot, your realistic options are walk-in days. Those are November 12 or earlier, or December 7 to 13. GLOS Travel lists longer hours during the reservation weeks (9:00 to 18:00). On the other days, hours are 10:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:30.

Travel And Tour World also reports that Ruriko-in does not accept group tours or tours arranged by travel companies. It has no visitor parking, and its many stairs make it unsuitable for wheelchairs.

Extra buses, Route 109 and changed stops

The Kyoto City Transportation Bureau has published its autumn crowding measures (in Japanese). They run on Saturdays and holidays from October 31 to November 29, which adds up to 12 days. The "priority" days are November 21–23 and 28–29.

Key points from the bureau's announcement:

The tourist express buses cost ¥500 for adults. The ¥1,100 Subway & Bus One-Day Pass is accepted on them.

The free transfer comes with conditions. Coming from Higashiyama, it applies to certain Kyoto Station-bound routes at Higashiyama-Sanjo. Coming from the Kinkaku-ji area, it applies at Kitaoji Bus Terminal. You pay the bus fare and then trade a slip for a free subway ticket. It is not free travel for everyone.

Arashiyama's Nagatsuji Street

Kyoto City published its Arashiyama traffic plan on September 17, according to Hidden Japan Gems. The main days are November 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29. On those days Nagatsuji-dori runs one-way northbound and part of it becomes pedestrian-only. The one-way rule also applies on the weekdays of November 16–20 and 24–27.

The Japan Pro reports times for 2026. On the five main days, the street is one-way from 11:00 to 13:00 and pedestrian-only from 13:00 to 17:00. On the weekdays, it is one-way from 11:00 to 17:00. Check Kyoto City's notice before you go.

The Japan Pro also says buses take a detour on the pedestrian-only days. It suggests arriving by Randen, JR or Hankyu rather than by car or taxi.

Our take

The following is DOJI's opinion, not official advice. Book Enko-ji before you plan anything else, because it is the only one of the two temples where open time slots may still be available. For Ruriko-in, visiting early or late in the season is likely more realistic than the peak weeks.

On the five priority days, buses are likely to be crowded. Using rail for most of the trip, with Route 109 or a short bus ride at the end, seems like the calmer choice. Rules and times can change, so check each temple's and Kyoto City's pages again before you travel.

Have you visited Kyoto in autumn, or do you have tips on getting around? Share them with Japanese speakers across Canada on the DOJI community board. If you're new, you can sign up for DOJI to join the conversation.