Kyoto has to be one of my favorite cities in the world. Tokyo gets all the recognition, but the true beauty of Japan rests in Kyoto. You could easily spend an entire week in this city and not regret it. Unfortunately, most visitors are on a time constraint so this is not possible. Here is the perfect 3 day Kyoto itinerary to maximize your time and see all that this wonderful city has to offer.
Where to Stay
Southern Higashiyama is the best area to stay at in Kyoto. The streets in the area have that authentic old-ish feel to them and many of the temples and attractions are within a short walking distance from the region’s center.
A good budget-friendly option with a great location is the Glanz kei Gion Shinmonzen. The rates are fairly reasonable and the rooms are pretty large.
Day 1:
Area: Southern Higashiyama
Highlights:
- Shore in Temple and garden
- Chio in Temple
- Maruyama-koen Park
- Gion shidare zakura (famous cherry blossom tree) Optional depending on season
- Yasaka Shrine
- Higashiotani Cemetery
- Isheibei Koji Alley
- Yasaka-no-to Pagoda (Yasaka No tou)
- Kiyamizu Temple
- Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka Preserved Districts
- Machiya Starbucks
Shore in Temple, Chio-In Temple, Maruyama-Koen Park and Yasaka Shrine
Day one will get you fully acquainted with the beauty of Kyoto. Try and arrive in the city as early as possible (assuming you are coming from another city). A lot of temples close at 5 pm or 6 pm so you want to make sure your first day is a full one.
The walking path between the Shore In Temple/Garden and the Chion-in Temple is a wonderful way to kick off your first day. There are a lot of temples in Kyoto and choosing among them can be tricky. The temples located between this walk provide a great introduction to Kyoto and its cultural and natural beauty.
From the Chion-In temple, it’s a short five-minute walk to the Maruyama-Koen Park. The park is a great place to sit and relax before continuing on to see the Yasak Shrine. The shrine consists of several structures and the entire complex has a beautiful orange color that stands out in the city.
Lunch Higashiotani Cemetery
Yasak Shrine is located near the main street so this would be an ideal time to stop and find a local restaurant for some lunch.
After eating, the next stop is the Higashiotani Cemetery. I know this sounds like a morbid stop after an enjoyable lunch, but the scene from the top of this cemetery is pretty amazing. Take a look!
Yasaka-no-to Pagoda
The cemetery is a convenient detour as it’s only a 10-minute walk away from one of Kyoto’s most famous pagodas, Yasaka-no-to Pagoda (or Yasak no-Tou on google maps). Upon arrival, you can see what makes this pagoda an attractive tourist spot. The structure stands 5 stories tall and is made out of intricately carved wood. You won’t need a lot of time here but it’s worth a visit as it looks beautiful situated in the old streets of Kyoto.
Kiyamizu Temple
If it is not 5:00 pm yet, you have time to make your way up to one last attraction, the Kiyamizu Temple. This Buddhist temple is one of the largest temple complexes in Kyoto. The temple is interestingly made without the use of one nail! You will have to pay an entrance fee of 400 yen ($3.75), but the small cost is worth it. From the inside, you will get scenic views from the temple’s terrace (stage) and have the opportunity to stroll around its small garden. The temple is said to look its best during autumn when the surrounding trees are beautifully colored
Evening Relaxation
Its been a long day up to this point. If you did decide to live in the Southern Higashiyama area, the good news is you are probably close to your hotel. On the walk back, you can make it a point to walk through the Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka streets. These two streets exemplify the old beauty of Kyoto. You will see tons of Japanese architecture and stores.
A cool bonus stop is the Machiya Starbucks. I know, I know, who wants Starbucks on an authentic Japanese trip. Well, the cool thing about this Starbucks is that it’s housed inside a 1000-year-old wooden building. When you go inside, the seating area has traditional tatami mats! Not your average Starbucks run!
Spend the remainder of the evening winding down, perhaps grabbing a drink and finding some food. If you have the energy, you can head to the downtown Kyoto area which is lively at night. If not, take it easy and get rested for day 2.
Day 2:
Area: Downtown Kyoto and Southern Kyoto
Highlights:
- Morning Run/Walk (Optional)
- Tea Ceremony
- Nishiki Market
- Fushimi Inari Shrine (Not Shown On Map)
Ponto-chō (Not Shown On Map)
Optional Morning Stroll To Philosophers Path
When traveling, I love building in time to aimlessly wander. Day one hit a lot of the must-see sights, so day two will have more downtime. You may have noticed on your first day just how crowded Kyoto’s streets are. Kyoto is a very popular tourist destination, and the only bad thing I have to say about it is its crowds.
The best time to see Kyoto is early in the morning. If you are up for it an early morning run/walk is a great way to explore more and start day two. A good destination to do so is by Philosopher’s Path. The area is famously known as the spot that many philosophers used to do their deep thinking.
Tea Ceremony
After the morning stroll, grab some breakfast, and head to the downtown Kyoto area. The first stop of the day was one of my favorite activities in Japan, A traditional Japanese Tea ceremony. I recommend doing the ceremony at the Kimono Tea Ceremony Maikoya Kyoto. You can book it online and there are several different packages to choose from. If you don’t get a morning time slot, you can switch this and the Nishiki Market (below) in your itinerary.
Tip: Pick a package that includes the kimono. It’s a good opportunity to wear a Kimono while also making the tea ceremony feel more authentic. Not to mention the pictures come out much nicer!
Nishiki Market
From the tea ceremony, you can make the short walk to the Nishiki Market. This food market is one of the more famous in Japan. You’ll see all sorts of interesting food items. We even saw cooked sparrow! If you eat meat, this is a great place to step out of your comfort zone and try some unique street food. If you don’t, it’s still worth a walk down just to see the array of food. Unless you come first thing in the morning, you can expect a crazy crowd over here.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
After the market, spend some free time grabbing lunch or shopping around the downtown area. You’ll want to plan to leave the area around 2.5 hours before the estimated sunset time for the day.
The next stop will be the Fushimi Inari Shrine. To get there you can take the Keihan line from the Gion-Shijo Station in the downtown area. One of the more famous sights in Kyoto and widely recognized in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha, the shrine is located at the bottom of Mount Inari. The base of the mountain is only the start of the journey. Winding around Mount Inari, are 10,000 bright orange Torri gates that have been donated by individuals and businesses. The result is a stunning hike up the mountains and a can’t miss activity in Kyoto.
Tips: Make sure to come here with comfortable walking shoes
You can visit the Fushimi-Inari Shrine at any point in the day as it is open 24/7. However, doing it before sunset is a great option as you will get to see the gates by day, see the sunset over Kyoto from the top, and then see the lit-up gates at night on your way back down. In my opinion, this option gives you the best of all worlds. The entire hike is approximately 12,000 steps and should take you about 1hr-1.5hr to make it to the top. Wait for the sunset and then make you way back down.
Evening Relaxation
After you return to the base of Mount Inari, head back home and enjoy some dinner. If you haven’t eaten in the Ponto-chō area, this may be a great day to do so. The area is filled with waterfront restaurants which are the perfect way to end a great second day! Head to bed early today as you will have an early start tomorrow.
Day 3
Area: Arashiyama and surrounding Temples
Highlights:
- Arashiyama Bamboo Groove
- Togetsu-kyō Bridge
- Japanese Snow Monkeys
- Onsen (Optional)
- Tenryu-ji Temple (Optional)
- Ryon Ji (Optional)
- Kinkauji Temple
Arashiyama Bamboo Groove
To maximize day three, you should start early. Try and be out the door by 7:00 am and grab a taxi (around 4000 yen or $35) to the Arashiyama Bamboo Groove. This is a spot you will want to make sure you see before other tourists arrive.
The bamboo forest is essentially just that. It’s a winding walking path surrounded by extremely large bamboo trees. The sight is amazing to look at, especially on a sunny day when you can see the sun peering through the large bamboo. The forest is large so you won’t need more than 30-45 minutes here. Coming during the peaceful morning is well worth the early start as you avoid the chaos of large crowds. Nature is always best seen in the morning!
Togetsu-kyō Bridge
After a walk through the forest, spend some time around the area. Arashiyama is stunning and even more during the peaceful morning. Mindlessly wander till your heart’s content and then head to the Togetsu-kyō Bridge. The bridge itself isn’t anything spectacular but the scenery of the mountains and river from here are nice.
Arashiyama Monkey Park
A short 5-minute walk from the bridge is the entrance to the Arashiyama Monkey Park. There was a 550 Yen ($5) fee to enter, which I was hesitant to pay at first. My concern was that this would be a classic animal tourist trap. I decided to do it anyway and it was so worth it! The park is up in the mountains and If nothing else, the entrance fee is worth it for the view. The Japanese Snow Monkeys are beautiful creatures and look different from other monkeys I have seen. If you are afraid of monkeys, don’t worry, these monkeys are known to be calmer than the ones you may have seen in the past.
Katsura River
Depending on how much you are enjoying your time with the monkeys, the whole experience can take around 1-1.5 hours. After you have descended back down to the entrance of the park, make a left and walk down the very peaceful trail along the Katsura River. If you are like me and love being by the water, you can even find a place to lay down for some time and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Arashiyama.
Optional Excursions
With Arashiyama being as stunning as it is, it’s really hard to leave the area. I wouldn’t blame anyone who just chose to stay there and enjoy the outdoors all day.
Once you are content, however, why not step out of your comfort zone and relax a bit in a Japanese Onsen? Tenzan no Yu Onsen ( An onsen is a traditional Japanese hot spring bath), is about a 30-minute walk from this area. If you haven’t done one before, these baths are incredibly relaxing and a great way to rejuvenate your body. If this does not interest you or you have done it in another city, you can spend some more time in the Arashiyama area, or check out some more temples such as the Tenryu-Ji and Ryon Ji Temple (famous for its rock garden).
Golden Temple
After your afternoon excursion of choice, it’s time for the last stop of the day, the famous Golden Temple (Kinkauji). This stop should not be optional! It’s a bit of logistical challenge to get here but the easiest way is to taxi it from wherever you are. I decided to make the hour walk from the onsen because I love to walk when traveling. Regardless of how you choose to get here, make sure to get here before the entrance closes at 5 pm. The temple speaks for itself. and you will repeatedly say wow as you get your first glance. It was one of, if not the most aesthetically pleasing temple I have ever seen. You will be speechless as you stare at the sun hitting the golden exterior of the temple as it beautifully reflects off the surrounding pond.
Evening Relaxation
If you have some time after this, you could check out the grounds of Kyoto Imperial Palace on your way back. If not, head back to Downtown Kyoto or the Geisha District for one last meal in Kyoto!
Overall Experience
As it stands, Kyoto is my favorite city in the world. It just had a bit of everything. Old buildings, beautiful temples, gorgeous mountains, history, and culture. I do hope everyone gets to visit Kyoto at least once in their life. It’s a truly spectacular place that pictures don’t do justice to. If you do end up visiting, hopefully, my 3 day Kyoto itinerary can help you maximize your time!
Pingback: Ichigo Ichie Meaning-Japan's powerful Phrase |Earth's Corner
Pingback: Ichigo Ichie -The Meaning Behind Japan's Powerful Phrase |Earth's Corner
Pingback: The Absolute Perfect 12 Day Japan Itinerary - Earth's Corner
Pingback: Why You Should Experience a Japanese Tea Ceremony - Earth's Corner
Pingback: Why You Must Experience a Japanese Tea Ceremony - Earth's Corner
Pingback: Vegetarian Food You Must Try in Japan - Earth's Corner