Overview
Both of Kyoto's subway lines meet here. Karasuma Oike Station is the only transfer point between the north-south Karasuma Line and the east-west Tozai Line. From the surrounding Karasuma Oike Station Area, one route leads to Shijo and Kyoto Station, while the other heads toward Nijo Castle and Higashiyama.
Long-distance trains don't stop at Karasuma Oike. Kyoto Station is three stops south on the Karasuma Line, about six minutes away. Staying here keeps cross-city subway trips simple, with the Shinkansen one extra ride away.
Lines and connections
Karasuma Oike is K08 on the Karasuma Line and T13 on the Tozai Line. Southbound Karasuma Line trains stop at Shijo and Kyoto Station before continuing toward Takeda. Northbound services run through Marutamachi and Kitaoji to Kokusaikaikan.
Eastbound Tozai Line trains reach Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae, Sanjo Keihan, and Higashiyama. Heading west, Nijojo-mae is the next stop, followed by Nijo and services toward Uzumasa Tenjingawa.
Transfers remain inside the station. The Karasuma Line platforms are on B2 and the Tozai Line platforms are on B3, with colored floor arrows marking the correct path for each direction.
Station area
Entrances open around the Karasuma and Oike intersection, and the nearest hotels sit by different exits. Ace Hotel Kyoto connects directly to the station's south side. The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Kyoto is about two minutes from Exit 1, while Hotel Monterey Kyoto is about three minutes from Exit 6.
Check the exit number before arriving, particularly if you're carrying luggage. Exit 5 has an elevator to street level.
What's nearby
Kyoto International Manga Museum is the nearest major visitor attraction, about two minutes from Exit 2. Its collection and exhibitions occupy a former elementary school building just north of the Karasuma-Oike intersection.
Nijo Castle is one stop west on the Tozai Line at Nijojo-mae. In the opposite direction, direct trains serve Sanjo Keihan and Higashiyama, which is helpful for itineraries divided between central and eastern Kyoto.
Good to know
The Japan Rail Pass doesn't cover the Kyoto City Subway. Travelers arriving by JR or Shinkansen need a separate subway ticket or an accepted IC card for the ride from Kyoto Station.
For an early Shinkansen departure, a Kyoto Station hotel avoids that extra ride. Once you've arrived, Karasuma Oike gives you both subway directions from the same stop.
