Kyoto is the former capital of Japan and contains 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
1000-year-old temples, traditional ryokans, geisha culture… If you want to experience the real Japan, Kyoto is the place.
Kyoto 3 days and 2 nights: Finding the soul of Japan in a thousand-year-old ancient city
Daily Itinerary
Day 1
East Kyoto - Gion & Higashiyama Kiyomizu-dera, Gion Street, Geisha Culture Experience If you go to Kiyomizu-dera early in the morning (opens at 6 o'clock), you can take pictures without the crowds. In the evening, the probability of sighting a geisha is high in Gion.
Kiyomizu-dera, Gion Street, Geisha culture experience
1
Kiyomizu-dera (Cheongsui Temple) is famous for its main hall (清水の舞台) supported by wooden pillars on the cliff. Panoramic view of Kyoto city. Legend has it that your wish will come true if you drink water from Otowa Falls. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entrance fee 400 yen. Opens at 6am. It's quiet if you arrive before 8am. Special opening at night during cherry blossom/autumn foliage season.
08:00 1시간 30분The main hall, supported by wooden pillars on a cliff, is famous. Panoramic view of Kyoto city. Legend has it that your wish will come true if you drink water from Otowa Falls. UNESCO World Heritage.
Admission fee is 400 yen. Opens at 6 am. It's quiet if you arrive before 8am. Special opening at night during cherry blossom/autumn foliage season.
2
A traditional stone stairway alley leading to Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka Kiyomizu-dera. There are many wooden shops, tea houses, and souvenir shops. A traditional Japanese atmosphere. Starbucks is also in a traditional house style! Rickshaw experience available (from 3000 yen for 2 people). A good section for taking pictures.
10:00 1시간An alley with traditional stone steps leading to Kiyomizu-dera. There are many wooden shops, tea houses, and souvenir shops. A traditional Japanese atmosphere. Starbucks is also in a traditional house style!
Rickshaw experience available (3,000 yen or more for 2 people). A good section for taking pictures.
3
Omen Gion Branch A Kyoto-style udon specialty restaurant. A style of eating thick noodles dipped in sesame sauce. Served with seasonal vegetables. Michelin Bib Gourmand selected restaurant. Omen Udon 1,100 yen, 20 minute wait during lunch peak.
12:00 UdonKyoto-style udon specialty restaurant. A style of eating thick noodles dipped in sesame sauce. Served with seasonal vegetables. A Michelin Bib Gourmand selected restaurant.
4
Yasaka Shrine A shrine dedicated to the guardian deity of Gion. The scarlet door is the photo zone. The center of the Gion Festival (July). Beautiful garden all year round. Free admission. Right next to Gion Street.
14:00 30분A shrine dedicated to the guardian deity of Gion. The scarlet door is the photo zone. The center of the Gion Festival (July). A beautiful garden in all four seasons.
Free admission. Right next to Gion Street.
5
Gion Street (Hanamikoji)A traditional entertainment district where you can meet geisha (geiko). There are rows of wooden teahouses (ochaya). You can see the geisha going to work during the evening hours. Be mindful of manners when taking photos! The probability of sighting a geisha is high between 5 and 7 p.m. Don't chase and take pictures.
15:00 1시간A traditional entertainment district where you can meet geisha (geiko). There are rows of wooden teahouses (ochaya). You can see the geisha going to work during the evening hours. Be mindful of manners when taking photos!
Chances of sighting a geisha are high between 5 and 7 p.m. Don't chase and take pictures.
6
Gion Kawamura Kyoto traditional kaiseki cuisine. Art-like multi-course meal made with seasonal ingredients. A refined meal in a ryokan atmosphere. Dinner course 8,000 yen ~ Reservation required.
18:00 kaisekiKyoto traditional kaiseki cuisine. Art-like multi-course meal made with seasonal ingredients. A simple meal in a ryokan atmosphere.
Today's Key Tips
If you go to Kiyomizu-dera early in the morning (opens at 6 o'clock), you can take pictures without the crowds. In the evening, the probability of sighting a geisha is high in Gion.
Day 2
Golden Pavilion & Northwest Golden Pavilion, Ryoan-ji, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest It is best to go to Arashiyama in the morning to take pictures in the bamboo forest. Crowds of tourists in the afternoon.
Kinkakuji Temple, Ryoanji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
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Arashiyama Bamboo Forest A green tunnel made of bamboo that covers the sky. Filming location for the movie “Memoirs of a Geisha.” The sound of bamboo rustling in the wind is healing. Kyoto's best photo spot. It's completely quiet at 6-7 in the morning. There are a lot of people after 9 o'clock. Start from the north gate of Tenryuji Temple.
08:00 1시간A green tunnel made of bamboo that covered the sky. Filming location for the movie “Memoirs of a Geisha.” The sound of bamboo rustling in the wind is healing. Kyoto's best photo opportunity.
6-7 in the morning is completely quiet. There are a lot of people after 9 o'clock. Start from the north gate of Tenryuji Temple.
2
Tenryuji Arashiyama representative Zen temple. UNESCO World Heritage. Sogenchi Garden is Japan's first historic scenic spot. The scenery reflected in the pond is like a painting. Admission fee is 500 yen (garden only), 800 yen including the main hall.
09:30 1시간Arashiyama's representative Zen temple. UNESCO World Heritage. Sogenchi Garden is Japan's first historic scenic spot. The scenery reflected in the pond is like a painting.
Admission fee is 500 yen (garden only), 800 yen including the main temple.
3
A soba restaurant in front of Arashiyama Yoshimuradogetsukyo. Dine while enjoying the river view from a window seat. The handmade soba and tempura set is popular. Soba set 1,500 yen. If you want a window seat, arrive before opening (11:00).
11:30 sobaA soba restaurant in front of Togetsukyo Bridge. Dine while enjoying the river view from a window seat. Handmade soba and tempura sets are popular.
4
Kinkakuji Temple's three-story pavilion covered in gold leaf is symbolically reflected in the pond. Built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as a villa. It's beautiful all year round, but it's best on snowy days. Admission is 400 yen. The admission ticket becomes a souvenir in the form of an amulet.
14:00 1시간The scene where the three-story pavilion covered in gold leaf is reflected in the pond is symbolic. Built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as a villa. It's beautiful all year round, but it's best on snowy days.
Admission fee is 400 yen. The admission ticket becomes a souvenir in the form of an amulet.
5
Ryoanji The world's most famous Zen garden (karesansui). The stone pavilion with 15 stones is designed so that no one is visible no matter where you look. A good place to meditate. Entrance fee 500 yen. 10 minutes by bus from Kinkakuji Temple.
15:30 45분The world's most famous Zen garden (Karesansui). The stone pavilion with 15 stones is designed so that no one is visible no matter where you look. A good place to meditate.
Admission fee is 500 yen. 10 minutes by bus from Kinkakuji Temple.
6
Kitchen at Nishiki Market Kyoto. A food market with 400 years of history. A food paradise with yuba (tofu skin), kyo vegetable pickles, takoyaki, and grilled fish. Shopping while tasting. Tasting + snacks from 1,000 yen. Many stores close after 6 p.m. Visit before 5 o'clock.
18:30 market foodKyoto kitchen. A food market with 400 years of history. A food paradise with yuba (tofu skin), kyo vegetable pickles, takoyaki, and grilled fish. Tasting and shopping.
Today's Key Tips
It is best to go to Arashiyama in the morning to take pictures in the bamboo forest. Crowds of tourists in the afternoon.
Day 3
Fushimi Inari & Return to Japan Torii, Kyoto Station ShoppingFushimi Inari is open 24 hours a day. If you go early in the morning, there will be no crowds and a mysterious atmosphere.
A Thousand Torii Gates, Kyoto Station Shopping
1
Fushimi Inari Taisha is a spectacular sight with a thousand vermilion torii gates covering the mountain. A shrine dedicated to Inari, the god of business. It's a 2-3 hour round trip to the top, but it's still beautiful enough to get to the halfway point. Free admission. Open 24 hours. If you visit early in the morning, you can take your own torii photo. You don't have to go to the top.
07:00 2시간A spectacular sight with a thousand vermilion torii gates covering the mountain. A shrine dedicated to Inari, the god of business. It's a 2-3 hour round trip to the top, but it's still beautiful enough to get to the halfway point.
Free admission. Open 24 hours. If you visit early in the morning, you can take your own torii photo. You don't have to go to the top.
2
Inari sushi shops along the Fushimi Inari approach. The origin of tofu sushi. It's the fox god's favorite food, so it's a specialty here. You can take out the Inari sushi set for 500 yen and eat it in front of the shrine.
10:00 Inari SushiInari sushi shops along the Fushimi Inari approach. The origin of tofu sushi. It is a specialty here because it is the fox god’s favorite food.
3
Kyoto Station ShoppingKyoto Station is a shopping mall itself. Isetan Department Store, Porta Underground Shopping Mall, Kyoto Tower, etc. You can shop for Kyoto-exclusive sweets, matcha sweets. Yatsuhashi (Kyoto traditional sweets) are popular as souvenirs.
12:00 2시간Kyoto Station is a shopping mall itself. Isetan Department Store, Porta Underground Shopping Mall, Kyoto Tower, etc. You can shop Kyoto-exclusive sweets, matcha sweets.
Yatsuhashi (Kyoto traditional sweets) are popular as souvenirs.
Today's Key Tips
Fushimi Inari is open 24 hours a day. If you go early in the morning, there will be no crowds and a mysterious atmosphere.