Photo= A route map of Kyoto City Bus and Subway issued by Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau, which leads some foreign visitors to believe that Misasagi Station is the nearest station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple (left) A posted notice explaining this station is not the nearest one to Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Misasagi Station, Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City)

"Not in the nearest station of this station is Kiyomizu-dera Temple." Papers with this wording, meaning it isn't the closest station to the temple, written in both Japanese and English have been posted on the premises of Misasagi Station on the Tozai Line of the Kyoto City Subway Line, in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City.
The reason is that many foreign people have mistakenly visited Misasagi Station as it appears to be the closest to Kiyomizu-dera Temple at first glance when relying upon the route map of Kyoto City Bus and Subway. Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau said, "It is not easy to modify the map so we resorted to desperate measures."

According to Misasagi Station, the number of foreign people visiting it in error has been increasing since last fall's tourist season. There have been many cases where the station staff has been asked directions by foreign visitors, who were going to Kiyomizu-dera Temple to view the autumn leaves. On a busy day, as many as approximately 10 foreign people mistakenly stopped at the station.

Upon investigation, the route map showing tourists the connections between buses and subways, which was published by Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau, seems to lead to this misunderstanding. On the map, Misasagi Station certainly looks to be the nearest station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Upon close examination, it becomes apparent that illustrations of mountains and a scenic highway are drawn between Misasagi Station and Kiyomizu-dera Temple on the map, but it can be misinterpreted by many foreign visitors.

The rapid transit railway section in the Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau said, "We haven't changed the route map. Why has the number of mistaken visitors suddenly been increasing? It is too late after they have passed through the ticket barrier. The only way is to make them aware through the notices as early as possible."