3 days Kyoto Itinerary

Our 3 days Kyoto Itinerary is exactly what you need to plan your trip. There is a lot to do in this city and it can get a little confusing, follow this 3 day Kyoto Itinerary to make sure you visit is stress free!

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Is Kyoto worth visiting?

Yes, Kyoto is a really vibrant city, there is a ton of things to see here. You can still get a sense of the history of the city, and there are some great day trips to do from Kyoto.

What is the best month to visit Kyoto?

We went in November and loved it. The weather was perfect. It does get pretty busy especially in Spring so make sure to plan accordingly if you want to miss the major crowds.

How to get to Kyoto

You will get to Kyoto by train or bus. The closest airports are actually in Osaka so you will generally land there and jump on a train or bus to reach Kyoto. You can also arrive there by train or bus from Tokyo or one of the smaller towns in Japan. We came from Takayama to Kyoto by train but there is a great bus service although it books out days in advance. If you are taking the Shinkansen/Bullet Trains you should consider the JR Pass which is really convenient and will end up saving you money if you are taking a few of them.

You will more than likely arrive in Kyoto Station which is the main station in the city, from here you can jump on another train or bus.

Where to stay in Kyoto

We stayed at M’s Hotel Sanjo Omiya and it was great. Right near a bus stop and train station that connected well to the city and central train station. The room was comfortable, clean and reasonably big for Japan.

Other hotels we recommend are:

Wander Kyoto Nanajo – not a bad cheap (for Kyoto) option. It is clean and comfortable. Great location and serves free drinks in lobby.

Travelodge Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi – clean comfortable and easy location. The breakfast included is great.

The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by Hulic – stunning hotel in Gion area. The rooms are beautiful and comfortable, excellent breakfast.

Candeo Hotels Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku – the Candeo hotels are really well rated and popular in Japan. This one is in a central yet peaceful location, it is really lovely.

Auberge AZABU – Elegant traditional Ryokan experience.

The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu – a unique stay in a restored former school. It has a free lounge with drinks and snacks available, rooms are beautiful. It is an experience stay.

This is our 3 day in Kyoto itinerary, it is set up so you can visit a range of sights over the 3 days and get a real sense of the city. We loved Kyoto and made sure to set off early morning to avoid the crowds as much as possible.

Good to Know– Kyoto is a big city, staying in the central area and then using the trains or buses to get around is the best way to go. You can use your Sucia card here and will need it. The walking distance is pretty huge between places so getting used to the public transport can help. Or utilise taxis.

Day 1 – Arashiyama, Philosopher’s Path, Nishiki Market and

Head out to explore the beautiful bamboo forest, walk the ancient paths and check out downtown Kyoto. There are loads of places to see in the city so you will fill a day quickly.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

If you have seen one picture of this majestic bamboo path on Instagram you will probably want to go to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. It is worth a visit once, it is actually a smaller stretch of path than you would think (the bamboo is crazy tall though). Getting there early is your best bet, we jumped on the first train there around 6:30am and were some of the first people there. Take a walk through this short patch of really tall bamboo and you will end up at a T junction. Head right and you will end up at a viewpoint or the river. Head left and you will end up at Ogura Pond and Nison-in Temple.

Sagano Romantic Train

Keep going from here and you will arrive at the Sagano Bamboo forest which is a little younger and shorter but you will also find the Sagano Romantic Train. This is a super cute old train that you can take a short trip on to experience the pretty river views and old world charm. I loved this experience and honestly it made the visit to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove better as on its own it is nice but not incredible (in my honest opinion!). We hadn’t pre booked tickets and just waited for the counter to open at 8:30am. They sold us a couple of tickets and we were off although it was pretty much sold out at this point.

It was such a sweet little experience and we recommend it. It was not expensive at only 880 yen each way and although you can take a round trip to get back we decided to jump off at Kameoka and take a regular train to the city. During autumn it was a really pretty train ride, but I think it would be even more stunning in spring with the cherry blossoms! You can book your Sagano Romantic Train ticket here as it was almost sold out when we grabbed our tickets.

Gio-ji Temple

If you do decide to return to the Bamboo Groves grab a cab to Gio-ji Temple & Moss Gardens which is not too far away. It does cost 300 yen to enter but it is a lovely peaceful place to soak up the mysterious vibes of Kyoto. It is usually pretty quiet there and makes a nice stop off.

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavillion)

While you are out in this area visit the famous Golden Pavilion. The Kinkaku-ji Temple is really pretty with its gold leaf exterior reflecting on the water below, it really is one of the most famous temples in Kyoto. IT costs 500 Yen to enter and is worth about an hour to check it out. It does get a little crowded but if you time it for the afternoon it can be a little quieter.

Philosopher’s Path (Tetsugaku No Michi)

This path is one of the prettiest places in Kyoto if you are travelling during spring or autumn. In this season it is covered by cherry blossoms or red trees and is really beautiful. It takes about 30 minutes to stroll along and you will find temples dotted along the path to see. If you are looking to see just one then make it Hōnenin Temple. It is an old Buddhist Temple which has lovely gardens.

Nishiki Market

I love checking out the markets in most places we visit and this is a great one. Nishiki Market is popular and can be busy but it adds to the vibe. Walk the market and try all the interesting food from the booths, if you haven’t already take a shot of sake to see what you think! There are some restaurants that prefer if you speak Japanese and do warn you before entering, also the rumours about not eating while walking are very true in all of Japan! Make sure to finish your food before wandering off. There are also loads of souvenir shops here, buy your chopsticks, t shirts or splurge on a beautiful Japanese knife. You can also do a tea ceremony and visit the samurai and ninja museum here!

Samurai and Ninja Experience with Guided Museum Tour in Kyoto

We visited the samurai and ninja museum and had a ball. It is located right in the Nishiki Markets so book your time slot for when you plant to be at the markets. It is honestly a lot of fun. First you will learn some history about Japan, its rulers and the samurai and ninjas. As you move through different rooms you will also see artefacts from this time such as the clothing, swords and knives which are passed around for all to hold. At the end you are taught how to throw ninja stars before dressing up as samurai or ninja and taking some pictures. We thought it was great! Very family friendly too if you are travelling with kids…but we big kids loved it too! You can book your samurai and ninja experience online here!

Kamo River

The Kamo River is where you will see a lot of people sitting, particularly at sunset. It is a gathering spot for people to come and chill, have a drink or snack and relax. It is only a short walk from Nishiki Market and in the evening you will see the restaurants come alive and lights twinkling.

Day 2: Kyoto temples and old streets

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Get up early if you can and head to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. We got there just before sunrise at 6:30am in November! It was a little fresh but honestly the pink sky lighting up the temple was beatuiful and worth seeing. It was also much quieter than when we walked back past later on! This is a lovely temple to visit and set up on a hill you get some good views too. To enter the temple properly it is a cost of 500 yen. The temple is built on the side of a waterfall, without any nails you can walk to the great hall for the best views.

While you are there you can take part in a tea ceremony and walking tour. Tea ceremonies are so lovely, highly recommend it!

The nearby shrine called Jishu-Jinja is super cute, make sure to check it out while you are there. We loved this little shrine dedicated to love and relationships.

Sannenzaka

While it is still early head over to Sannenzaka and take in the charming old streets before the crowds arrive! This was simultaneously one of my favourite and least favourite places. I loved it while it was quiet and still in the early morning. But when we returned later on in the day it was so incredibly busy, we could barely walk the street. It is a beautiful area, enjoy the stillness before the crowds start to arrive around 8:30am. Enjoy the paved stone street before wandering into the unique Starbucks for a much needed coffee. While I wouldn’t ususally recommend Startbucks it is worth going in to check out the cool cafe.

Ninenzaka

Make sure to stop at Ninen-zaka before 8:30am as well. It is another charming street lined with restored traditional buildings. Wander the lanes and soak up the historic scenes and calm early morning vibes. There are lots of souvenir stores and boutique shops to browse as well as great food. You can even do a very highly recommended tea ceremony and this is not to be missed! If you do only one in Japan then make it this one. You can actually stay in this street in the stunning Park Hyatt Kyoto it is in the perfect position!

In this area is where you will find the famous 5 story pagoda, Yasaka Pagoda. It gets really really busy during the day as everyone wants that perfect photo, we stopped by early morning and it was fine. Very quickly though, this spot was one of the busiest!

Gion

I loved walking around the Gion area. It is well known for being the traditional place to see a Giesha performance. The area really comes alive in the late afternoon when the streets get a little more bustling but I prefer when it is quiet. You may see a Mako or Geisha walking the street but even if not you can soak up the charm and atmosphere. There is a really beautiful tea ceremony here, it is hosted by a Mako which is rare.

Make sure to walk Hanamikoji Street adn Shinbashi-dori. Head to the Gion-Shirakawa Viewpoint for a really cute bridge viewpoint. I just loved walking this area and in the stillness trying to imagine what it would have been like years ago. We stopped into a shop called Kyoto Gion Kikuume which sells unique hand made items of ceramics, bags and clothing. If you are interested in a walking tour this one is great and shows you Gion by night.

Pontocho

I loved this little area, its long narrow alleyway with lanes leading off is really charming. It is another place where you can see Makos and Geisha moving between buildings or picking something up. It is rare and they are so graceful and quick, appreciate the moment before it is quickly gone. There are restaurants all along the lanes and often line ups waiting to get in. This is one of the smallest streets and is brimming with charm especially in the early evening as the lights turn on.

Day 3: Nara and Fushimi Inari

We jumped on a train first thing in the morning and went to Nara. We decided that we would spend half a day here and half in Kyoto.

Train from Kyoto to Nara

It is really easy to take the train from Kyoto to Nara, it was just a regular commute train and we got in to Nara around 7am.

Nara Deer

The main drawcard for me was to feed to cute deer. I had seen it everywhere and really wanted to see them for myself. We arrived in Nara and headed straight for the Nara Deer Park. This is a huge open park area and the deer are just hanging around where ever they want. I was glad to see they were not caged up or trapped in any way. We didn’t realise that the cracker sellers dont start until about 9am, so we wandered around for a while without any crackers…. the deer were not impressed with us.

FInally while we were hanging around wiating another tourist came and gave us some of hers, purchsed the evening before! We were so grateful and could finally interact with the cute deer. We walked up to them and bowed showing our crackers and they magically bowed back and accepted it! I was in love. They were so cute and honestly sometimes they didn’t want the cracker and just sniffed it and left. I found a cute baby deer that loved them though…I didn’t really care if it bowed I just wanted to feed it!

If you want to go to Nara but don’t want the hassle of arranging it yourself then jump on this Nara tour, it also has an early option!

Temples

There are lots of temples in Nara to check out if you have the time, we didn’t but if we go back we will definitely take some of these in!

Shopping

While we waited for our train back to Kyoto we wandered around, looking at souvenirs from our trip. We found some really nice antique shops, a lovely dress shop where the lady was selling antique saris cut up into scarves and lots of knick knack stores… I would love to come back and shop here again!

Mochi Show

There is a very old mochi shop right in the centre of town and everyday, twice a day, they do a show on the old ways of producing the mochi. It is worth trying to catch it. They do put up a time that it will be on but it actually happened about half an hour before that, really just when they are ready I guess. I would keep an eye on it if you are keen to watch.

Either way make sure to taste the mochi! It is the freshest and tastiest. Made traditionally it is a match mochi with a red bean paste inside and cornflour dusting. Such a unique taste but so good and very cheap!

The Train back to Kyoto

We were leaving around 12pm which happened to line up with one of Japans special trains so we booked tickets on it! While we still had to pay for the fare with our Sucia card back to Kyoto, we paid an extra supplement to go on the express and very beautiful Kintetsu Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Limited Express. It was absolutely worth it and we loved every minute!

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Definitely somewhere to arrive as early as possible or in the late afternoon, this site fills up quickly! Aim for around either 6am or in the early evening. These famous gates are stunning in real life and although they get busy there is a lot of room and people disperse out giving you chances of being alone. The red-painted torii gates at the Shinto Shrine will take at least 2 hours to climb and soak it in. Bring water and a snack to have at the viewpoints as the climb is long but worth it. You will see statues of foxes around the climb and at temples, they are believed to be the messengers of the temple.

B y now you will be exhausted! There is so much to see in Kyoto that we have just scratched the surface but hopefully this 3 day Kyoto Itinerary has helped plan your trip and given you a taste of everything that Kyoto has to offer. We already want to go back and explore further and I can’t wait!

If you are looking for tours these are our tops picks!

Kyoto: Ramen Cooking Class at a Ramen Factory with Souvenir – Experience and learn the art of preparing ramen in Kyoto; from making noodles and chashu to mixing the proper soup. Once you’ve completed the activity receive a unique souvenir while enjoying ramen.

Kyoto: Full-Day Best UNESCO and Historical Sites Bus Tour – Discover the best of ancient Kyoto in a single day on this comprehensive guided tour by bus. Immerse yourself in the city’s most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites and historical highlights.

Kyoto: Early Morning Tour with English-Speaking Guide – Beat the crowds and explore the main sights of Kyoto on a guided tour of the 10,000 torii gates at Fushimi-Inari Shrine, Golden Temple aka Kinkakuji, and the Bamboo Forrest in Arashiyama.

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