Last Updated on 11th May 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
Here’s our itinerary on how to spend the perfect 3 days in Kyoto so that you can make the most out of your travels to the ancient capital of Japan!
Kyoto is a historic city, rich with wonderful attractions to discover, it’s a true embodiment of traditional Japanese culture. So you may be wondering how do you spend only three days in Kyoto and feel like you’ve seen enough of this vibrant city!
If you plan it right, then 72 hours in Kyoto can be just the right amount of time, and besides any amount of time in this city is sure to be a magical experience. If it’s your first time and you’re looking for more inspiration, then you can check out our guide on the best things to do in Kyoto.
Contents
Is 3 days enough time in Kyoto?
Most people allocate at least 2 or 3 days to exploring Kyoto, that being said, you could easily spend up to 4 or 5 days and still have plenty to explore. But for the purpose of making the most out of you trip, we suggest keeping to the following itinerary, that way you can get a little taste of everything while exploring the beauty of this historic city.
If it’s your first time visiting Japan, be sure to check out our top Japan travel tips. If you don’t have 72 hours to spare, then check out our suggestions for how to spend 1 day in Kyoto and how to spend 2 days in Kyoto. If you’re wanting to travel further afield, then here are our suggestions for the best day trips from Kyoto.
Day 1 in Kyoto
Kinkaku-ji
For your first day, start by visiting Kyoto’s golden temple, Kinkaku-ji. The easiest way to get to the temple is via bus, you’ll need to take line 205 from Kyoto bus terminal (right outside of Kyoto station) and the journey time takes just under 40 minutes. You’ll need to pay with exact money and tickets are cash only, usually costing around 230 yen one-way.
Kinkaku-ji open at 9am, I suggest getting there just a little beforehand to avoid queuing and also with less people it’s perfect for photo opportunities! After wandering about and exploring (or beforehand if you didn’t have time for breakfast) you can enjoy a a matcha tea with a traditional sweet cake for 500 yen at the tea garden.
Directly outside of the Temple Complex area you’ll also find stores selling goodies like soft serve matcha ice cream and other popular snacks, as well as drinks. Please note that no food or drink is allowed to be consumed within the actual grounds of the Temple as this is a sacred place of worship.
For more information: Read our guide on how to visit Kinkaku-ji and what to know before you go.
Murmur Coffee
After spending the morning exploring the golden temple and its beautiful Japanese gardens, head back towards the city centre using the same bus and get off at the stop named Kawaramachi Shomen. About a 4 minute walk from getting off the bus, you’ll reach the compact and minimalist cafe murmur coffee.
Located along the tranquil bank of the tree-lined Takase River, murmur coffee makes for a great spot to get your caffeine fix and enjoy a baked delight! One of their popular delicacies, which you can find in many coffee shops around Kyoto is, honey butter toast (which is Japanese shokupan (milk bread) baked in honey and butter, making it crispy on the outside with a fluffy soft interior).
Downtown Kyoto
After fuelling up on coffee and baked goods, you can either walk (22 minutes) or get the line 205 bus again (5 minutes, plus 10 minutes of walking) and head to Downtown Kyoto to explore the abundance of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés. We personally walked as this is the best way to truly experience the best of Kyoto.
Home to Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcades, two covered walkways which make up the heart of Kyoto’s shopping district. Along Shinkyogoku, the street is lined with shops selling any kinds of souvenirs you can imagine, making it the perfect spot to purchase something to remember your trip by.
Teramachi is a little more refined, lined with galleries, clothes shops and bookshops. As well as this, you’ll also find shops filled with religious goods, Buddha images, prayer beads and what not, holding on tradition from the 16th century as this was the street in which Toyotomi Hideyoshi once moved many of the city’s temples (the name of Teramachi literally translates as ‘temple town’).
While in the area if you’re a fan of comics and manga, you can pop into the The Manga Museum. For a small fee you can look at the various exhibitions which show an extensive collection of Japanese manga and comics.
Nishiki market lunch
Stop for lunch at Nishiki market, which is conveniently located just off of Teramachi arcade. Once you wander through this covered market you’ll understand why it’s known by locals as “Kyoto’s kitchen“. There are over 130 vendors and the market is famed all over Japan for its rich variety of foodstuffs and associated culinary products and gadgets.
Make sure you come to the market hungry because there’s a tantalising array of sweet and savoury foods to choose from! However, walking while eating is frowned upon in Japan, so be sure to either consume your food at the stall in which you bought it or wait until you’ve left the market and found a suitable place in which to enjoy it.
To learn more about the market, which shops to go to, what foods to sample and the customs/respectful ways of visiting, read our how to visit Nishiki market guide here.
Ginkakuji
Once you’ve had your fill of Japanese delights, make your way to Ginkakuji and visit the Zen temples. You can take the line 17 City Bus from stop Shijo Kawaramachi and ride for 18 minutes, then at Ginkakuji-michi (Ginkakuji Temple) its a 9 minute walk from there.
Ginkakuji is situated along Kyoto’s eastern mountains and consists of temple buildings, the ‘Silver Pavilion’ temple (although its not made from silver), a moss garden, and an unusual sand garden. The best way to experience Ginkakuji is to simply soak up the tranquil ambience and stroll around the grounds.
Philosopher’s Path blossom
In the same area, in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, you’ll find a path lined with hundred of cherry trees that follows the canal. As you can probably imagine, this is especially beautiful in cherry blossom season when the trees explode with colour and pink and white fluffy blossoms adorn the trees.
The path is approximately 2km long and takes its name from the famed philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who’s said to have practised meditation while strolling down this pleasant stone pathway. The perfect way to reflect on all the magical things you’ve seen so far in Kyoto!
Sanjo Bridge
If you keep following the Philosophers path along Lake Biwa Canal, you’ll eventually reach Sanjo bridge which is the perfect place to end your day of exploring. A vibrant hub bustling with activity, this pocket of Kyoto comes to life at night time.
Enjoy the city light up and the reflections twinkle as you grab dinner and a beer in one of the many terrace restaurants by the waterside. On the weekends you may even find live musicians and performance artists putting on free displays to enjoy!
Day 2 in Kyoto
Togetsukyo bridge
Start the day by exploring Kyoto’s natural landscape! We recommend either grabbing a coffee beforehand or packing a small hamper of snacks and a drink to bring along as you will be going into a rural area.
Togetsukyo bridge spans a stretch of 155 meters across Katsura River right in front of the picturesque Arashiyama Mountain. Loosely translated, ‘togetsukyo‘ means ‘bridge over the moon’ and it very much gives that fairytale vibe upon visiting.
One of the most scenic spots in all of Kyoto, this majestic wooden crossing has been a timeless icon for centuries, with its origins dating back over 1,000 years ago (first construction of it was completed in 836). At the centre of artistic vision for poetry, paintings it has also featured in several Japanese films.
It’s the perfect place to enjoy a morning stroll, and a good opportunity to experience a different side to Kyoto away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Accessible by train, you can take the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto station and get off at Saga-Arashiyama Station. The journey takes a mere 16 minutes and usually costs 240 yen one-way.
Arashiyama bamboo forest
After crossing the bridge, located at the foot of the mountain you’ll come across the endless green forest of mōsō bamboo shoots that shoot high into the sky and sway gently with the breeze, separated by narrow winding trails for which to explore.
To see the bamboo grove you only need an hour, it’s an easy route and the path goes around in a 1.7 mile loop trail. The earlier you can come the better as it does get very popular, but there’s something very magical about walking through the bamboo and looking up into the sky.
And, both Togetsukyo bridge and the bamboo forest are free to visit! For more information, check out our guide to Kyoto bamboo grove.
Monkey forest
Heading back over Togetsukyo bridge you’ll find Iwatayama Monkey Park, which is a commercial park situated on the Arashiyama mountainside where a troop of over 120 Japanese macaque monkeys reside.
Again, another reason to have comfy shoes is because the trail leading up to where the monkeys are is quite steep for about a 15-20 minute hike once you get off of Togetsukyo bridge. At the top upon arrival you’ll pay a fee of 550 yen to visit, and then all you will see is monkeys!
The Japanese macaque, also known as the ‘snow monkey’ is native to Japan. When visiting the park you will see plenty of signs asking that you do not touch the monkeys, you can feed them but from a distance, but as a sign or respect don’t get too close or disturb them (they deserve space too).
Tenryruji temple
Next, while in the district, take yourself to the most important temple in Arashiyama. Founded in 1339 by the ruling shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, this spot was dedicated to Emperor Go-Daigo, (just after his passing). Although many of the temple buildings in the complex were repeatedly lost to fires and rebuilt several times, the gardens have survived in their original form.
This traditional Japanese garden is tranquil in ambience with a pond, surrounded by pine trees and rocks and the Arashiyama mountains poking out in the background, adding further to its serene nature.
Nijo castle
After filling yourself with nature, head towards Nijo Castle to get your fill of culture, rich with history this has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nijo Castle is actually an expansive complex comprising of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace, and gardens, among other additional buildings.
If you visit during the springtime, then you’ll be rewarded with the sight of beautiful sakura blooming across various spots in the Castle’s gardens.
As with most Palaces and Castles in Japan, you’ll have to take off your shoes in order to enter the Palace and so be sure to wear some socks! Set aside around 1 hour 30 minutes for your visit to the castle complex. Book a guided tour here in advance.
Starbucks Coffee – Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya スターバックス コーヒー 京都二寧坂ヤサカ茶屋店
Take an afternoon break here! This unique Starbucks is located within the Gion district and is complete with tatami mats and even a Zen Garden. It seems odd to be suggesting a Starbucks while on holiday in such a historic city, but it has to be said that this one is particularly special.
Set against the backdrop of a traditional wooden building that even has tatami, you can sit on to enjoy your beverages (be sure to take off your shoes before going into these areas) and a garden inspired by Japanese tea ceremony culture.
Sanneizaka
This is a pedestrian stone paved road that’s lined with restaurants and various boutique shops, cosy coffee shops, all of which sell delicacies and treasures of Kyoto that you won’t want to miss! It’s also a prime spot for those looking to capture a picturesque street photo of Kyoto.
I personally bought an Ichigo Ame (candied strawberries on a stick- though have cash on hand as most street vendors only accept cash) on this street and loved sampling on the juicy sweet fruits set against the backdrop of such a historic location.
Gion/ Southern Higashiyama
Visit Kyoto’s geisha district and immerse yourself in the entertainment hub of the city. This area is filled with private clubs, tea houses and is the most likely spot in which you will catch a glimpse of some of Japan’s Geisha.
Geisha (traditionally are female Japanese performing artists and entertainers trained in performing arts such as dance, music and singing).
However, it’s important to note that recently there has been a limit to how much of this area you can visit because of a rise in tourist numbers which has led to increased harassment of the Geisha. There are plenty of signs to warn visitors, so just be respectful and bear this in mind when visiting that this is a street of culture and tradition and the Geisha are people, not something to be papped for Instagram.
Hokan-ji
End your day of culture by visiting one last temple, known colloquially as Yasaka-no-to, this temple has an impressive 46 meter tall pagoda with graceful curved edges (it’s kind of like how you would imagine drawing a temple if you were asked to) and in fact, it is said to have been inspired by a dream.
You can actually enter this temple and see the historic paintings, marvel at the statues and see inside of the architectural design of its tower.
Get dinner
Of course, while in Japan you should be sure to sample some ramen at least once during your stay. Unfortunately, it can be a little tricky to find vegan and vegetarian restaurant cities, but if you have dietary requirements, you can check out the following spots:
KYOTO ENGINE RAMEN: Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free or even a meat eater, Kyoto Engine Ramen has something for you. I was really impressed that they have two dishes that cater specifically to vegans (my personal preference is the Zesty Ramen which is a little spicy and certainly packs a punch).
Gion Soy Milk Ramen: Without a doubt, one of our favourite meals in Kyoto was at the Gion Soy Milk Ramen restaurant. We loved the all vegan noodle bowls and the presentation of them completely blew us away.
Day 3 in Kyoto
Your final day in Kyoto will be spent on a day trip to one of Japan’s most famous cities, the deer city of Nara. But beforehand, if you wake up early enough we suggest visiting the enchanting Fushimi Inari.
Fushimi Inari
One of the most famous places to visit in all of Japan thanks to the presence of 10,000 Torii gates lining the slopes of Mount Inari, it’s an absolute must-see if you have time to do so!
The shrine is dedicated to the rice goddess Inari, who is also the goddess of trade, commerce, and harvest. It’s believed that foxes are the god’s messengers on earth and so over 100 fox statues are located on the mountain.
The shrine is completely free to visit and is open 24/7, although the whole loop takes 2-3 hours, you can hike halfway up the mountain and back in around 1 hour and 30 minutes. For more information, check out our guide on how to visit Fushimi Inari taisha.
Nara day trip
Public transport: Miyakoji rapid trains operate every 30 minutes between Kyoto Station and JR Nara Station, the journey takes around 45 minutes one-way and costs 720 yen. This trip is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
The former capital of Japan, and home to no fewer than eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Nara is a historic treasure trove of cultural experiences. Easy to fall in love with thanks to its abundance of wild deer, beautiful parklands, and wealth of dazzling temples, this is the best way to spend your last day if 3 days is all you have.
Looking for more inspiration? Read our Nara travel guide for more tips on the best things to do here.
If you’re lucky and have more than just a few days, consider taking some of our suggested day trips from Kyoto, there’s so much to see beyond this gorgeous city that you won’t want to miss out on!
Where to stay in Kyoto
Thanks to its sheer popularity, Kyoto has plenty of places to stay to suit a variety of needs and budgets. I would personally recommend staying in central Kyoto as this will give you the best base from which to explore the other districts of Kyoto, as well as take day trips.
Hotel Tavinos Kyoto: We stayed in this hotel while in Kyoto and loved it so much that we also stayed there in our following trip to Kyoto! We found it to be clean and comfortable. The rooms were a little on the small side, but since we were out exploring most of the time, it didn’t really impact on our stay. Check prices and availability here.
Ryokan Mugen: If you’re looking for an unforgettable stay in Kyoto, then you’ll want to book yourself into this traditional Ryokan. Amenities include a bar onsite, and a courtyard with a rock garden. Some rooms have tatami mats. Check prices and availability here.
Watch our Kyoto vlog
Enjoyed reading about how to spend 3 days in Kyoto? Pin this article now, read it again later:
Charlotte is a photographer, cat lover and an avid knitter. When she’s not curled up on the sofa with her newest knitting project (and Rico her cat!) you can find her out and about on long walks. Currently living in the magical city of Edinburgh, she looks forward to travelling and seeing more of the world!