The long-awaited dates for Kyomaf 2026 have finally been announced!

This year’s event will take place over two days, from Saturday, September 19th to Sunday, September 20th. The main venues will be Miyako Messe and ROHM Theatre Kyoto, with the Kyoto International Manga Museum serving as the second venue. In fact, Miyako Messe is a major hub for various pop culture and content-related events in Kyoto. It’s a venue many of us visit often, hosting events like BitSummit—the famous indie game festival held every summer.

In this article, we’ll provide a detailed guide with photos on how to get to the main venues, Miyako Messe and ROHM Theatre Kyoto, using public transportation. We hope this helps you plan your trip!

Note: The information in this article is as of May 2026. Fares and bus routes are subject to change, so please be sure to check the latest updates.

No Traffic Jams! If in Doubt, the Subway is Highly Recommended

To get to Miyako Messe, your main options are the Kyoto City Subway or the city bus. Depending on where you are starting from, taking the subway is overwhelmingly faster, as it is completely free from traffic jams and delays. Additionally, subway cars are spacious, which is a huge relief if you are carrying large suitcases with cosplay gear or bags full of event loot. City buses, on the other hand, can be quite cramped, and bulky luggage might cause inconvenience to other passengers.

How to get Miyako Messe by Kyoto City Subway

Those who come from Shinkansen / JR Lines / Kintetsu Lines (from Kyoto Station)

Your transfer point is Kyoto Station on the Subway Karasuma Line. From Kyoto Station, head to Platform 2 and take the train bound for Kokusaikaikan. Get off at Karasuma-Oike Station (3 stops away), where you will transfer to the Tozai Line.

For a smooth transfer, ride in the front car (Car No.1). The Subway Tozai Line platform is located one floor below the Karasuma Line. Follow the signs down the stairs and board the train from Platform 2 bound for Rokujizo or Biwako-Hamaotsu. Your destination is Higashiyama Station, which is 3 stops away.

Route	Kyoto Station → Karasuma-Oike Station (Transfer) → Higashiyama Station → Walk
Fare	260 yen
Estimated time	25 min.

Those who come from Hankyu Lines (from Karasuma Station)

Hankyu Kyoto Line’s Karasuma Station and Subway Karasuma Line’s Shijo Station are directly connected underground. Please note that while the station names are different, they are the same transfer point. From Shijo Station, take the train from Platform 2 bound for Kokusaikaikan and get off at Karasuma Oike Station (1 stop away). Here, you will transfer to the Tozai Line.

For an easy transfer, ride in the front car (Car No.1). The Subway Tozai Line platform is one floor below the Karasuma Line. Follow the signs down the stairs and board the train from Platform 2 bound for Rokujizo or Biwako-Hamaotsu. Your destination is Higashiyama Station (3 stops away).

Route	Shijo Station → Karasuma-Oike Station (Transfer) → Higashiyama Station → Walk
Fare	220 yen
Estimated time	20 min.

Those who come from Keihan Lines (from Sanjo Station)

Keihan Line’s Sanjo Station and Subway Tozai Line’s Sanjo-Keihan Station are the connecting transfer stations. It can be a bit confusing, but “Sanjo-Keihan” is the name of the subway station, not the Keihan Line station. From Sanjo-Keihan Station, take the train from Platform 2 bound for Rokujizo or Biwako-Hamaotsu. Your destination is Higashiyama Station (1 stop away).

Route	Sanjo-Keihan Station → Higashiyama Station → Walk
Fare	220 yen
Estimated time	13 min.

Walking from Subway Higashiyama Station to Miyako Messe

It takes about 8 minutes to walk from Subway Higashiyama Station to Miyako Messe. Fast walkers can get there even quicker; it took the author only about 6 and a half minutes.

After passing through the ticket gates, turn right and head out from Exit 1. Once above ground, turn left and take the first narrow street on your left. Following this route allows you to walk along the scenic Lake Biwa Canal (Biwako Sosui) and pass under the massive Grand Torii Gate of Heian Jingu Shrine. It’s a beautiful route that truly makes you feel like you’ve arrived in Kyoto, making the walk highly enjoyable. Google Maps might suggest alternative routes, so you can check those as well.

This area is known as the Okazaki district. Besides Miyako Messe, it is a prominent cultural hub featuring famous temples and shrines like Heian Jingu and Nanzen-ji, as well as the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art and the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto. If you have time, we highly recommend exploring the neighborhood!

How to get Miyako Messe by Kyoto City Bus

While city buses are convenient for short distances, the routes heading to Miyako Messe and ROHM Theatre are among the most popular tourist lines in Kyoto (passing through famous areas like Kiyomizu-dera and Gion). As a result, severe crowding is expected. In my experience, buses can be so packed during peak event seasons that some passengers are left behind at the stops.

Bus schedules are also highly vulnerable to traffic conditions, and you might end up wishing you had taken the subway instead. In fact, the Kyoto City Transportation Bureau strongly recommends using the subway over the bus for these events. However, traveling by city bus is completely viable, so feel free to use this information when planning your trip. You can search for city bus timetables here!

Coming from Shinkansen / JR Lines / Kintetsu Lines (from Kyoto Station)

Fare	230 yen (500 yen for the Express bus)
Estimated time	30-40 min.

• Bus Stop A1: Routes 5, 105* — Get off at “Okazaki Koen Bijutsukan / Heian Jingu-mae”

• Bus Stop D1: Route EX100* — Get off at “Okazaki Koen Bijutsukan / Heian Jingu-mae”

• Bus Stop D2: Route 206 — Get off at “Higashiyama Nijo / Okazaki Koen-guchi”

• *Routes 105 and EX100 operate only on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays.

You can check the bus stops at Kyoto Station using the information boards. There are also many staff members on-site, so you can easily ask for help if you get lost. The buses marked with “EX” are Sightseeing Express buses that operate only on weekends and holidays. They are extremely convenient because they only stop at major tourist destinations. The fare is 500 yen, but the 1-Day Pass (mentioned below) can be used. Click here for details.

By the way, the entire area around Miyako Messe and ROHM Theatre is known as “Okazaki.” You might feel anxious if you don’t see the specific name of the building listed as the destination on the bus, but rest assured, this is the right stop.

Coming from Hankyu Lines (from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station)

Fare	230 yen
Estimated time	15-20 min.

Transfer at Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station.

• Bus Stop H: Routes 5, 105* — Get off at “Okazaki Koen Bijutsukan / Heian Jingu-mae”

• Bus Stop H: Route 32 — Get off at “Okazaki Koen ROHM Theatre Kyoto / Miyako Messe-mae”

• Bus Stop E: Route 46 — Get off at “Okazaki Koen ROHM Theatre Kyoto / Miyako Messe-mae”

• Bus Stop E: Routes 31, 201, 203 — Get off at “Higashiyama Nijo / Okazaki Koen-guchi”

• *Route 105 operates only on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays.

Coming from Keihan Lines (from Sanjo Station)

Fare	230 yen
Estimated time	10-15 min.

Transfer at Sanjo Station.

• Bus Stop D: Routes 5, 105* — Get off at “Okazaki Koen Bijutsukan / Heian Jingu-mae”

• *Route 105 operates only on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays.

Map / Locations of Bus Stops and Miyako Messe

Please refer to the guide to understand the locations of each bus stop relative to Miyako Messe.

From “Okazaki Koen Bijutsukan / Heian Jingu-mae” Bus Stop

Walk towards the massive Torii Gate (heading north), and turn west at the first corner (where there is a police box / koban). It takes about 5 minutes on foot from the bus stop. You will see the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art on your right, and the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, along with the Kyoto Prefectural Library on your left.

From “Higashiyama Nijo / Okazaki Koen-guchi” Bus Stop

If you are coming from Kyoto Station or Shijo-Kawaramachi, you will arrive at the northbound stop. Walk east at the Higashiyama Nijo intersection (the corner with the temple featuring a stone statue). From there, just walk straight for a short distance, and you will arrive in less than 5 minutes.

From “Okazaki Koen ROHM Theatre Kyoto / Miyako Messe-mae” Bus Stop

Miyako Messe and ROHM Theatre are right in front of the bus stop.

Take Advantage of Discount Passes

If you plan to use public transportation 4 to 5 times or more in a single day, these money-saving tickets are highly recommended. They are perfect for those who want to sightsee around Kyoto outside of Kyomaf or use trains to get back to their hotels. There are two types of 1-Day Passes available:

• Subway & Bus One-Day Pass: 1,100 yen

  • Note: The base fare for the subway is 220 yen, and the flat fare for buses is 230 yen. This pass can also be used on Express buses routes (which normally cost 500 yen).

• Subway One-Day Pass: 800 yen

*Please note that there is no longer a bus-only 1-Day Pass available.

Summary: Avoid Traffic Jams and Enjoy the Event to the Fullest!

In this article, we introduced how to get to Miyako Messe and ROHM Theatre Kyoto from major stations with photos!

Large-scale events like “Kyomaf” usually take place on weekends and holidays, meaning severe congestion on surrounding roads and city buses is almost inevitable. To avoid wasting your precious event time on travel stress and traffic delays, a combination of the subway (which runs on time) and walking is the most reliable way to get there.

Make sure to double-check your route in advance, ensure your IC card is topped up, and get ready to enjoy the event to the absolute fullest!

Useful Links

Miyako Messe
Kyoto International Manga Museum
Kyoto City Subway & Bus