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Kyoto Map (for Tourists)

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Inside Kyoto

A Kyoto Travel Guide

Your Kyoto Travel Guide

Make the most of your trip to Kyoto with our comprehensive Kyoto itineraries and rundown of essential attractions in each of Kyoto’s fascinating districts

Kyoto Itineraries

First Time In Kyoto

Kyoto Ryokan

Kyoto Hotels

Kyoto Machiya

Kyoto Places To Eat

Things To Do In Kyoto

Romantic Kyoto

Kyoto Walking Tours

Kyoto Districts

Kyoto Events

Kyoto Photo

How To Get To Kyoto

Japan SIM Cards, Wifi etc

Inside Kyoto Blog

Getting Around Kyoto

Japan Travel Guides

There are several must-see destinations in Japan within easy reach of Kyoto. They all make great additions to any Kyoto itinerary. These concise guides provide details about what to see and do.

Tokyo Travel Guide

Osaka Travel Guide

Nara Travel Guide

Kanazawa Travel Guide

Hiroshima And Miyajima

Takayama Travel Guide

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Explore Kyoto On Your Laptop, Smartphone And Tablet

InsideKyoto.com is designed to read on all your devices

• Plan your trip to Kyoto on your laptop – view our Kyoto Itineraries and the Best Times Of The Year To Visit Kyoto , book a Kyoto hotel or Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), and explore Kyoto’s bewitching districts
• Get a Japanese SIM card on arrival in Japan – then you can access all your important online services and use InsideKyoto.com on your phone too to guide you around the city – the same info is on every webpage, and it will resize to be readable on your phone and tablet too
• Nearly every attraction listed on InsideKyoto.com has a Google Map location you can use on your phone to put you right where you need to be. Plus Japanese text to show to taxi drivers, opening times, price of admission and more
• InsideKyoto.com is written by Chris Rowthorn, author of Lonely Planet Kyoto for 7 editions – for more Kyoto travel guide goodness, we recommend you buy Lonely Planet Kyoto

Kyoto Vacation Checklist

• For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
• Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
• You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto , Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
• Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
• See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
• Buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Kansai International Airport (for Osaka and Kyoto) or Tokyo's Narita Airport . Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
• Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
• If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
• A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
• World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world

Kyoto District Map

• Central Kyoto
• Northwest Kyoto
• Northern Higashiyama
• Southern Higashiyama
• Downtown Kyoto
• Kyoto Station Area
• South East Kyoto

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Kyoto Travel Map Fourth Edition Kindle Edition

• Central Kyoto 1:20,000
• Greater Kyoto 1:55,000
• Kawaramachi & Gion 1:10,000
• Nara 1:17,500
• Kansai 1:250,000
• Print length 1 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher Periplus Editions
• Publication date September 30, 2014
• File size 6564 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• See all details

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Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00NS3Y958
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Periplus Editions; 4th Revised ed. edition (September 30, 2014)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2014
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 6564 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 1 pages
• #46 in 15-Minute Travel Short Reads
• #301 in Atlases (Kindle Store)
• #478 in 15-Minute Education & Reference Short Reads

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Kyoto tourist map (google maps!) with top attractions, temples, shrines, Japanese gardens 🍵 Kyoto itinerary with city walks 🍵 Japan travel blog

Below is basically a Kyoto travel planning map.

There are places you can walk around Kyoto too.

Use the map to plan your Japan trip itinerary for  one day in Kyoto , 2 days in Kyoto , or 5 days in Kyoto , a cherry blossom photo walk in the spring , or a fall colors walk in autumn !

Be sure to play around with the map!

But first…

Quick tips for getting around Kyoto

• When you’re actually in Kyoto and in the major tourist areas, you’ll see local sightseeing maps all over!
• The Google Maps app is also a reliable way to figure out how to get around Kyoto by bus and train
• The Japan Travel Navitime app can be good if you’re trying to figure out the best way to get around with a JR pass (or to help you decide if it’s better to get around without your JR pass)
• The Google Translate app has a feature where you can take a picture of Japanese writing and it will translate it for you
• The one day bus pass will be worth it if you’ll be taking the bus at least 3 times – see more tips for taking the bus in Kyoto
• The ICOCA card is SO worth it to get if you’ll be taking the bus or train to get around Kyoto. (No cost savings, but it’s highly convenient so you won’t have to go through the hassle of buying individual tickets! They are basically recharge cards.)
• If you’re traveling with a JR pass , there’s a JR bus in Kyoto and a  JR train in Kyoto . The routes are limited, but there ARE some top spots in Kyoto you can get to for FREE!

See more Kyoto travel tips.

Here’s the quick list of 5 days in Kyoto to use along with the map!

• Day 1:  Top tourist spots with one day bus pass
• Day 2:  Fushimi Inari shrine hike through 1,000 torii gates
• Day 3:  Philosopher’s Path walk
• Day 4:  Arashiyama and Sagano
• Day 5:  Kurama Kibune Ohara with one day pass

The Kyoto travel planning map

Click the little icon in the top left corner of the map to see the list of what you’ll find on this map.

Click on a colored icon for more information about each location!

These maps may not work very well on this page on mobile, sorry!

In that case, have a look at this Kyoto map in Google Maps.

What’s on the Kyoto tourist map?

Day 1 in kyoto, top kyoto attractions by bus.

• Kyoto one day bus pass
• Kyoto station to Nijo Castle bus
• Nijo Castle (world heritage site)
• Nijo Castle teahouse
• Kinkakuji Temple (world heritage site)
• Ryoanji Temple (world heritage site)
• Yasaka Shrine
• Gion to Kiyomizu-dera walk
• Chion-in Temple
• Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka slope
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple (world heritage site)
• Ancient Kyoto (world heritage sites in Kyoto)
• JR bus in Kyoto
• Raku bus (Kyoto tourist bus)

Day 2 in Kyoto

Kyoto hikes.

• Kyoto station to Fushimi Inari
• Fushimi Inari Shrine hike
• Fushimi Inari to Ginkakuji
• Daimonji-yama hike

Day 3 in Kyoto

• Philosopher’s Path

• Kyoto Station to Ginkakuji bus
• Ginkakuji Temple (world heritage site)
• Ginkakuji tea room
• Eikando Temple
• Nanzenji Temple

Day 4 in Kyoto

Arashiyama and sagano.

• One day in Arashiyama and Sagano
• Arashiyama tourist map
• Sagano scenic railway (Sagano romantic train)
• Arashiyama torokko station
• Hozukyo torokko station
• Kameoka torokko station
• Okochi Sanso Garden
• Okochi Sanso teahouse
• Arashiyama bamboo forest
• Tenryuji Temple (world heritage site)
• Togetsukyo Bridge
• Arashiyama monkey park
• Hozugawa river rafting

Day 5 in Kyoto

Kurama – kibune – ohara.

• Kumano Kodo ancient pilgrimage trail (temples and shrines through the mountains)
• Must-see sumo show
• Traditional yukatabune dinner cruise
• Fun ninja lesson
• Koyasan pilgrimage temple town
• Kurama Kibune Ohara one day pass
• Kyoto to Kurama station
• Kurama-dera Temple
• Kurama to Kibune hike
• Kifune-jinja Shrine
• Ohara village
• Sanzen-in Temple
• Jakko-in Temple

HAPPY KYOTO TRAVEL PLANNING!

Is a JR pass worth it?!

• Google maps can make it easy to figure out whether or not you should get a JR pass!
• In google maps, type in your departure and arrival city, and choose the transit icon. The route will come up, and so will the estimated cost at the bottom!
• Here is an example of a train route with cost on google maps.
• So do that for all of your long distance routes to figure out how much it might cost.
• Next, go here to see how much a JR pass costs from an official JR pass vendor (and partner of this website).
• And compare!
• Not all forms of public transportation are JR, but long distance shinkansen bullet trains are, and that's where the most cost savings will come.

Best of Kyoto (and Japan!)

• Best temples to visit in Kyoto
• Japanese gardens in Kyoto

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Kyoto travel map fourth edition (9784805311851).

• Description
• Central Kyoto 1:20,000
• Greater Kyoto 1:55,000
• Kawaramachi & Gion 1:10,000
• Nara 1:17,500
• Kansai 1:250,000

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Kyoto travel maps

Kyoto's gion district map:.

Kyoto temples maps:

Before you go...

We think you might be interested in these suggested itineraries around Japan.

Recommended itineraries in Japan

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Here you'll find information on how to reach various parts of Kyoto Prefecture from major cities in Japan.

Access to Kyoto

From narita international airport, from kansai international airport, from osaka station, access from kyoto city to each area, access to kyoto by the sea, access to woodland kyoto, access to kyoto tea country, access to kyoto otokuni bamboo grove.

Kyoto 4 Day Itinerary: Best Places to Visit [+ Map]

Latest update: July 24, 2023

Kyoto is an absolute must-visit for any trip to Japan. The city was the capital of Japan for several centuries and so you’ll find historic buildings galore in Kyoto. You can easily spend a week here and you still won’t manage to visit all the sights and temples in and around Kyoto.

Most travelers don’t have that much time anyway. That’s why we’ve have compiled a 4 day itinerary for Kyoto in this post.

We’ll tell you which temples we’ve seen in Kyoto, what we thought of them, which ones you absolutely have to see, and we’ll give you a route suggestion for a tour of Kyoto.

Our Kyoto post features 4 walking tours for 4 days in Kyoto . If you have more than 4 days in Kyoto, you can obviously see even more, and if you have less time on your hands, we’ll tell you which sights we’d skip.

And as always, we have a lot of practical tips on where to stay in Kyoto, our favorite restaurants, and local public transport.

You can use the table of contents to jump to a section of your choice or read the entire article from top to bottom. Have fun!

Read all our posts about Japan

Kyoto sights and our route suggestion

When we started planning for Kyoto, we were completely overwhelmed by the huge number of temples and sights. The individual highlights in Kyoto are also quite far apart, so you have to plan ahead if you want to see as much as possible in a relatively short time.

To help you with your planning for Kyoto, we’ll show you the order in which we visited the temples and give you our tips for a route through Kyoto.

We read elsewhere that you should buy the Kyoto Bus Pass for a price of 500 yen per day to use all the buses in Kyoto. We can’t really confirm that though. Most days we didn’t need one as our hotel in Kyoto was in a perfect location and we were able to use our Japan Rail Pass on the local train.

We’ll tell you in each section whether the pass is useful for that day’s tour or not.

Of course we didn’t manage to see all the temples, but that’s completely impossible in just a few days anyway. Nevertheless, we did manage to see all the most important sights in Kyoto and also some checked out some well-kept secrets that you won’t find on your average itinerary for Kyoto.

Day 1: Guide to the temples in the east of Kyoto

For starters, we scoped out the temples in the east of Kyoto on our first day there. These temples are all close to the city center, making it a good first-day tour.

All the sights and attractions are within walking distance so there’s no need to buy the Kyoto Bus Pass on day 1 of our itinerary.

Our feet ached a bit at the end of the day, but all in all the distances between the temples don’t warrant taking the bus.

#1 Gion and Kennin-ji

Passing through the Gion district (a), which has developed into the center of Japanese geisha culture over the years, we headed to Kennin-ji Temple.

The 12th-century Kennin-ji is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto. The vast temple complex is really worth seeing and not as crowded with tourists as many of the other temples.

The temple might not be all that spectacular, but it’s still a good entry point into world of temples in Kyoto.

Our verdict: Nice enough, but not a must-see.

10:00 am to 5:00 pm

#2 Yasui-konpira-gu

If you explore Kyoto on foot, you’ll come across small hidden temples that you’d never get to see if you had just taken the bus from A to B.

That’s how we came to visit Yasui-konpira-gu Shrine, which we stumbled upon by chance after our visit to Kennin-ji. At first glance, the small temple doesn’t really stand out amidst Kyoto’s large and well-known temples.

If it wasn’t for one wonderfully weird thing: There’s a large stone covered with notes standing in the temple complex. And there’s a hole in this stone that grown-up men and women actually crawl through – first in one direction, then in the other. The things people do…

Of course we wanted to know what it was all about, so here’s what we found out: The stone has the power to help you with your relationships with other people. If you want to establish a relationship with someone or to end a relationship, then this is the stone for you.

Here’s how it works :

• First you have to pray in the main hall of the temple.
• Then you buy a note to stick on the stone for 100 yen.
• Write down your wish on the note.
• Then you crawl through the stone from front to back while reciting your wish.
• Next you crawl back in the other direction while you continue to recite your wish.
• When you’re done, you stick your note next to all the others and the magic stone will take care of the rest.

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Our verdict: A real hidden delight that we highly recommend. Plus it’s magic, so there’s that.

Open 24 hours

#3 Kodai-ji

Kodai-ji is a Zen temple that we liked a lot. Surprisingly enough, we hardly encountered any tourists here. That’s probably because the bus tours don’t visit the temple, so only independent tourists come here.

The vast temple complex includes a Zen garden and a small bamboo forest that’s great for taking pictures.

Our verdict: One of the most beautiful temples in Kyoto and absolutely worth seeing.

9:00 am to 5:30 pm

600 yen or 900 yen in combination with the Entoku-in Temple

#4 Entoku-in

Entoku-in is a small sub-temple of Kodai-ji, located right on the opposite side of the road. The temple has a nice garden, but apart from that it isn’t particularly spectacular.

Sometimes Entoku-in hosts light shows in the evening, which we hear are very worthwhile.

Our verdict: Not something you really need to see.

500 yen or 900 yen in combination with Kodai-ji Temple

#5 Chion-in

Chion-in is a Jodu Shinshu Buddhist temple. This particular version of Buddhism is particularly popular in Japan.

The huge entrance gate is especially interesting, with the stairs leading up to the temple right behind it. The main hall is currently undergoing renovation and is hidden beneath a huge corrugated iron construction.

The inside of the hall is partly accessible though and a huge ceremony with lots of believers was in progress while we were there.

Our verdict: Due to the ongoing construction work, scheduled to last until 2019, the temple isn’t a highlight at the moment.

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

#6 Ninning-zaka, Sannen-zaka & #7 Kiyomizu-dera

At the end of the day we visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The 8th-century Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most famous temples in Kyoto, which makes it a prime destination for all tourist groups. The pretty streets, Ninnen-zaka and Sannen-zaka, exude the ‘old’ Kyoto charm.

Since Kiyomizu-dera is one of the best-known sights in the city, the streets are packed with tourists and souvenir shops. If you have the time, try to get off the main roads and explore the side streets.

Kiyomizu-dera’s main hall is under renovation and is hidden behind an impressive bamboo scaffolding. That’s not that big a problem though, the hall isn’t that photogenic on the outside anyway. You can still get inside despite the ongoing construction work.

Our verdict: Of course Kiyomizu-dera is a must-see in Kyoto and the location with a view overlooking the city alone is worth the visit.

6:00 am to 6:00 pm

Day 2: Temples in the south and around Kyoto Station

We started the second day in the south of Kyoto. The temples there are too far to walk from the city center, but you can get there in a few minutes by train. You don’t have to get a ticket if you have a JR Railpass. If not, the trip still only costs about 2 euros.

Once again, the Kyoto Bus Pass isn’t worth it for day 2 of our itinerary.

#1 Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of the absolute highlights of any Kyoto visit. The shrine itself is rather unspectacular, but the red torii you pass through on your way up the mountain more than make up for it.

In total, there are more than a thousand of these red gates, all of them donations by individuals or companies. In the beginning, the torii are very dense, but later on the gaps between them get larger and larger.

It’s still very crowded right at the bottom around the first torii, and taking pictures is almost impossible when you’re surrounded by that many people. Fortunately, the bus tourists don’t go very far up the mountain, so it empties out as you get closer to the top.

Have a bit of patience and you’ll get a chance to take some great souvenir photos.

Our verdict: An absolute highlight that you mustn’t miss.

open 24 hours

It’s a 14-minute train ride to Inari Station from Kyoto Station with the JR Nara-Line. The ascent starts right outside the train station.

#2 Tofuku-ji

After Fushimi Inari, we walked to Tofuku-ji. Tofuku-ji is a Zen temple, one of the most beautiful temples we’ve seen in Kyoto. Surprisingly, only few tourists come here.

The temple complex is beautifully idyllic, with an old wooden bridge, a small stream, lots of greenery, and beautiful gardens.

Our verdict: Apparently it’s a well-kept secret, but one you definitely shouldn’t let slip you by.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm

The main buildings are free, while the area with the bridge and the Zen garden cost 400 yen each. But both they’re both really worthwhile.

It’s 20 minutes’ walk from Fushimi Inari. When you’re done here, you can take the JR train from nearby Tofuku-ji Station to Kyoto Station.

To-ji Temple is located to the south of the train station. It dates back to the 8th century and is mainly known for its 5-storey pagoda, which rises up from the beautiful temple garden.

To-ji isn’t featured on the usual tourist routes, so it isn’t particularly crowded here.

Our verdict: Pretty temple away from the crowds. But not something you absolutely need to see.

8:30 am to 5:00 pm

It’s a 10-15 minute southbound walk from Kyoto Station.

#4 Higashi Hongan-ji and #5 Nishi Hongan-ji

As the final stop on our temple tour around Kyoto Station, we checked out the two Hongan-ji twin temples. The two temples look very similar on the outside.

But the golden interior of the huge halls is what makes these temples worth seeing. They’re the largest of their kind in Kyoto. The two temples are only 5 minutes apart and are a good way to end, or if you want to do it in reverse, start this day’s itinerary.

Our verdict:  Their proximity to the station make them a nice way to finish the day, but they’re not an absolute Kyoto highlight.

5:50 am to 5:30 pm

5 minutes’ walk from Kyoto station

Day 3: Sightseeing in the northwest and center of Kyoto

It’s actually worth buying a Kyoto Bus Pass for day 3 of our itinerary. Taking the bus is the only way to get to the temples in the northeast because they’re not connected by train or metro.

#1 Kinkaku-ji – The Golden Pavilion

The first stop of the day is an absolute highlight on any Kyoto itinerary, Kinkaku-ji Temple. The pavilion languishes in a picturesque setting by a small lake a small lake and is a real eye-catcher with its entirely gold-plated facades.

If you want some peace and quiet here, you should make sure to be at the front of the line when the ticket counter opens at 9 am.

Otherwise, be prepared to be buoyed along by tourist groups pushing their way through the rather narrow pathways. Of course the pavilion is really beautiful, but it’s no place to relax.

Our verdict: The golden pavilion looks great, there’s no question about it. But the masses of tourists really cloud the picture. This was the most crowded place we visited in all of Kyoto.

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Bus routes 12, 59, 101, 102, 204, and 205 go straight to the temple from Kinkakuji-michi Station. The bus ride takes a good half hour from the city center.

#2 Ninna-ji

About two kilometers to the west of Kinkaku-ji lies the Zen temple Ninna-ji. The temple has a beautiful garden and is an especially popular place during cherry blossom season.

There’s a vast cherry tree park on the grounds, which must look absolutely magnificent when the trees are in bloom.

We were there towards the end of cherry blossom season, so unfortunately many of the flowers had already dropped. It was still very pretty.

If you feel like it, you can stop at Ryoan-ji Temple on the way from Kinkaku-ji and Ninna-ji, which is known for its beautiful rockery.

Our verdict: During cherry blossom season, this temple is an absolute highlight. If you’ve already taken the long journey to the Golden Pavilion, a little detour here is definitely worth your time.

500 yen (and an additional 500 yen for the orchard in the back during cherry blossom season)

The bus number 59 takes about 10 minutes from Kinkaku-ji to Ninna-ji.

#3 Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace is located in the center of Kyoto and was the seat of the Japanese Emperor for many centuries. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the Emperor moved to Tokyo, which has been the capital of Japan ever since.

Many travel guides and online sources claim you need to apply to visit the Imperial Palace in advance, but that’s not true any more.

The grounds are open to everyone nowadays. And there’s a free guided tour in English at 10 am and 2 pm every day.

Our verdict:  Huge grounds and an interesting insight into the world of the powerful. But if we had to choose between the Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle, we’d probably opt for the castle.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm (until 5:00 pm from April to August), closed on Mondays and during special ceremonies

The bus number 59 takes about 20 minutes to get from Ninna-ji to the Imperial Palace. From the train station, the fastest way is to take the metro (closest stop: Imadegawa, Karesama Line).

#4 Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle is located just over a kilometer from the Imperial Palace. The castle used to be the residence of the shoguns, the leaders of the samurai.

The castle buildings are very impressive and the circular path through the gardens is very worthwhile. The castle is particularly famous for its squeaking parquet floors, which are said to have been specially built so no one could enter undetected.

It’s been said that the squeaking sounds like a nightingale. We think it sounds more like bats.

Our verdict: Nijo Castle is very impressive and definitely one of the highlights in Kyoto.

Unfortunately, there’s no direct connection from the Imperial Palace to Nijo Castle. But it’s only a 20-minute walk. You can also take the metro (closest stop: Nijojo-mae).

Day 4: The sights in the west of Kyoto

Day 4 of our itinerary takes you a bit further out from the center to the Arashiyama district in the west of the city, home to some of Kyoto’s most famous attractions.

Arashiyama is also a major destination for many travel groups, so brace yourself for masses of tourists, but there are also some great places off the beaten path where you can get away from them.

If you want to do everything on the itinerary, we recommend starting by 9 am at the latest, otherwise you’ll be cutting it very close.

How to get to Arashiyama: Take the JR Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama. The whole journey takes about 15 minutes. The trip’s free if you have a JR Pass, otherwise it costs 240 yen. There are buses going to Arashiyama too, but it takes a lot longer and is much less comfortable than by train.

The Kyoto Bus Pass isn’t worth it for day 4 of our itinerary. It doesn’t even cover the buses going to the more distant sights in Arashiyama, so you’d have pay anyway.

#1 Tenryu-ji

The most frequented tourist attractions in Arashiyama are all along the main street, which is lined with souvenir shops and leads to Togetsukyo Bridge (a).

Located along this road is Tenryu-ji, the main temple in Arashiyama. Its huge garden is particularly impressive. You have to buy separate tickets for the temple buildings and the garden, but it isn’t worth paying to see the buildings. The garden runs right past the buildings, so you can see everything from there.

Our verdict: The garden is definitely worth it, the temple itself less so.

8:30 am to 5:30 am

500 yen (garden), 300 yen (temple)

#2 Bamboo Forest

Next head through the Tenryu-ji Gardens straight to the famous Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama. There’s a relatively wide path leading through the huge bamboo grove.

Everyone wants to take a selfie among the huge bamboo trees. But you’ll need to bring a lot of patience to take pictures because masses of tourists push their way down this path too.

Our verdict: The bamboo forest is impressive, but the masses of people are just extremely distracting. If you want to take a selfie among bamboo plants, we’d recommend Kodai-ji (day 1) or Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple, which is also located in Arashiyama.

#3 Adashino Nenbutsu-ji

Up until this point, our visit to Arashiyama hadn’t really convinced us yet, and we wouldn’t recommend taking the trip to Arashiyama just for the Bamboo Forest and Tenryu-ji.

But for us, the real highlight of Arashiyama is the northwest. Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple is located in the extreme northwest and it was basically deserted during our visit.

There’s a cemetery in Adashino Nenbutsu-ji with more than 8,000 stone statues. Very impressive! There’s also a bamboo grove right next to the temple, and unlike the more famous Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama, there isn’t another soul to be seen.

Our verdict: Adashino Nenbutsu-ji was our absolute highlight in Arashiyama and the entire area in the northwest is simply beautiful.

It takes about three quarters of an hour to walk from Saga-Arashiyama Station to Adashino Nenbutsu-ji. Or you can take the bus number 91. The closest stop is called Toriimoto and the trip costs 230 yen.

#4 Stroll through the northwest of Arashiyama

The walk from the station to the northwest of Arashiyama is very idyllic and there are many beautiful temples along the side of the road. We’d definitely recommend walking one leg of the way there or back. We took the bus there and walked back.

Tourist groups don’t stray that far northwest and so suddenly you’ll find yourself alone in an idyllic suburb with traditional houses and lots of tiny temples.

It’s really worth spending some time exploring the area.

#5 Romantic Train in Arashiyama

A perfect end to a day out in Arashiyama is a ride with the so-called Romantic Train. The ancient train happily hurtles down the line on its 25-minute journey through a beautiful landscape from Torokko Saga Station to Torokko Kameoka Station about 7 kilometers to the west.

The trip goes down a gorge and past a wide river, through tunnels and over two slightly dubious looking bridges. In terms of scenery, it probably isn’t the most spectacular train ride there is, unlike the train ride from Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka for example, but it’s worthwhile nonetheless.

And at the end of the trip, the conductor, who was almost as old as the train, even burst into song!

The trip is especially pretty in the fall when the leaves start to get some color. But it’s also really popular around that time, so make sure to book a few days in advance. The same goes for the cherry blossom season.

You can buy tickets at the JR counter at Kyoto Station, or right at the station if the train isn’t full. We were lucky and managed to get a ticket right on the spot.

The last train leaves Torokko Saga Station, which is right next to Saga Arashiyama Station, at 4:01 pm. The train’s destination, Torokko Kameoka, is about a 10-minute walk from Umahori Station, where you can catch a JR train back to Kyoto.

Instead of ending the day with the trip, it’s also a good way to start it. In that case, take the JR to Umahori from Kyoto and then take the first Romantic Train from there to Arashiyama at 9:29 am. It’s a single-track railway, so the journey is just as nice in both directions.

Our verdict: A nice end to a day in Arashiyama!

The train leaves Torokko Saga (Arashiyama) once every hour between 9:01 am and 4:01 pm. The return trip to Arashiyama leaves Torokko Kameoka Station every hour from 9:29 am to 4:29 pm.

Kyoto: Guided tours and special tours

Of course it’s fun exploring Kyoto on your own, but sometimes you might like to head out to discover the city with a local guide.

We’ve found you some special guided tours through Kyoto where you’ll get to know the city from a different perspective and are guaranteed to get some real insider tips.

The tours can all be booked online and are led by an English-speaking guide.

Kyoto Welcome Tour : This tour is perfect for your first day in Kyoto. Your local guide will accompany you on your first steps around Kyoto and give you lots of tips for your time there, which you can explore for yourself in the next few days.

Tea ceremony in Kyoto : A Japanese tea ceremony is a real experience and Kyoto is a perfect place to experience that kind of thing.

Cycling tour through Kyoto : You don’t always have to get around by bus or your own two feet. Why not explore Kyoto by bicycle for a change? You can do so on this tour.

Kyoto highlights with private guide : This tour is for great if you don’t have much time and want to see as much of Kyoto as possible. A private guide will take you to the most important sights of Kyoto in tour.

Food tour through Kyoto : This culinary tour through Kyoto is something for true connoisseurs. The guide will take you to a food market where you can try many local specialties.

Getting around in Kyoto: Buses and metro

The sights in Kyoto are relatively far apart and are sometimes they’re even all the way out in the suburbs. We planned the individual days of our 4-day itinerary for Kyoto so you can spend most of the time on foot. But that doesn’t always pan out and you can’t go completely without taking the bus or metro in Kyoto.

Buses in Kyoto

The most common means of transportation in Kyoto is the bus. Buses will take you to most distant corners of the city.

But bus travel isn’t all that comfortable because on the one hand, buses are usually packed with people and on the other hand, they stop every 2 minutes, so it takes forever to get from A to B. That’s why we tried to avoid buses and took the train whenever we could.

A bus ride costs 230 yen and the easiest way to pay is with an IC card. If you were in Tokyo before, you can also use your Suica card from there in Kyoto.

A Kyoto Bus Pass costs 500 yen and is valid for unlimited bus travel for one day, which is worth it if you plan to take three or more trips. The bus pass is available at Kyoto Station, tourist information offices, and other major stations in the city area.

We only used the bus pass on the third day when we visited the temples in the northwest. On the other days we only took the bus once or twice.

By the way, unlike in most of Europe, you enter the bus at the back and exit at the front. You pay for your trip when you get off, either in cash (have exact change ready!) or with the IC card. If you have a bus pass, then you only validate your ticket the first time you get off, and then just show it to the driver the next time.

Metro and local trains in Kyoto

The metro and local trains are generally a lot faster and more comfortable than buses in Kyoto. Metro lines mostly run in downtown Kyoto while local trains are most suitable for visiting the temples scattered outside the city center.

We’ve already told you which train goes to which attraction in our 4-day itinerary above.

Where’s the best place to stay in Kyoto? Our Kyoto hotel tips!

Unfortunately, staying in Kyoto doesn’t come cheap. Especially in the main travel period in spring and autumn, the already exorbitant prices go up even further.

We really recommend taking a hotel in downtown Kyoto because the distances are far enough as it is without having to commute into town first.

The area around Kyoto Station is a great location for exploring the Kyoto’s sights and attractions. So is everything north of the station to the left and right of the main shopping street Karasuma Dori.

Our hotel in Kyoto: Tabiya Hotel

Attention : The Tabiya Hotel is currently closed and we don’t know if it will open again.

Originally, we had booked an apartment in Kyoto via Airbnb, but that was a complete disaster. So we had to move into a hotel at the last minute and were lucky that the Tabiya Hotel still had a free room. After all, the city was already at 97 percent (!) occupancy.

The Tabiya Hotel is located in a quiet side street to the east of Karasuma Dori. Restaurants, stores, and the Shijo metro station are just around the corner. The temples in the east and the station aren’t far away either. The perfect location!

The rooms were really tiny and even more cramped than our hotel in Tokyo . But everything was very new and modern, the bed was comfortable, of course the toilet seat was heated, and the Internet connection was excellent. Weird how quickly you get used to things in Japan.

You just shouldn’t bring too large suitcases, otherwise things might get a little tight. The room was cleaned every day and you can take a small free breakfast (yogurt and pastry) from the fridge in the hallway.

Our tip : We stayed in the Tsuyukusa room and felt very comfortable there. We recommend asking for one of these rooms: Wakaba, Tsuyukusa, Kaki, and Matsuba. Because they all face the street and each have a large panoramic window. That made our room feel very homey and bright. The rooms facing the back, Koiai, Akane, and Sakura, only have small windows.

To the hotel: Tabiya Hotel

Other hotels in Kyoto

Our hotel only had 8 rooms and it isn’t unlikely that your preferred hotel in Kyoto might be fully booked. So we’ve found you a few other recommended places to stay in Kyoto.

Cheap hostels in Kyoto:

Fairfield House Backpackers Hostel Piece Hostel Mosaic Hostel

Mid-range hotels in Kyoto:

Len Kyoto Kawaramachi Sakura Terrace The Gallery Kyoto Itoya Hotel

Upscale hotels in Kyoto:

Aoi Hotel NAZUNA Kyoto Nijo-tei Hotel Kanra

Our favorite restaurants in Kyoto

We also discovered some great restaurants in Kyoto that we’d like to share with you.

Musashi: Running Sushi in Kyoto

Musashi is a running sushi restaurant in Kyoto and what a place it is! The plates are slightly more expensive than in other running sushi restaurants and cost 146 yen, or 346 yen for special dishes.

The selection and quality is really great, so we ate here three times. There are two Musashi branches in Kyoto: One is located at the back of the Kyoto Station in Hachijo Dori. The other is in the center on the corner of Sanjo Dori / Kawaramachi Dori. We like the restaurant in the train station a bit better, but both are good of course.

Both restaurants are very popular, so you may have to wait to be seated. We always got there before 6 pm and got a table right away.

Opening hours:  10:00 am to 10:30 pm (at the station); 11:00 am to 10:00 pm (in the city)

Tadka: Indian restaurant in Kyoto

Tadka in Oshikoji Dori is a super-delicious Indian restaurant in Kyoto. If you’re looking for an alternative to Japanese food, then Tadka is a great choice.

The menu isn’t very long, and many dishes are completely vegetarian or even vegan. Everything we tried was extremely tasty and authentic, so we came back here a second time.

It mainly attracts a younger crowd of eco-conscious Japanese hipsters. Something we only rarely got to see on our trip. Very pleasant!

Opening hours:  Noon to 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Organic House Salute: Vegan restaurant in Kyoto

The Organic House Salute, five minutes from the station, is a cute, completely vegan restaurant. You take off your shoes at the entrance and sit at the small tables on the floor.

The menu is relatively short. The dishes are super-delicious and the different cakes top off a great dining experience!

Opening hours:  11:30 am to 2:30 pm, and also from 5:00 pm to 6:45 pm on weekdays, closed on Thursday.

Tenkaippin: Delicious ramen in Kyoto

Tenkaippin is a small chain of ramen restaurants in Kyoto. We were at the one in Imadegawa Dori, just around the corner from the Imperial Palace. They have very tasty ramen, the typical Japanese noodle soup, one of the best we ate on our trip.

Our tip : We took the ramen dish where it said in the menu that we could spice it to taste.

The opening hours vary depending on the restaurant. But most of them open every day and stay open well into the evening.

Day trips from Kyoto

Many travelers go on day trips from Kyoto to Nara and Osaka. Nara, like Kyoto, is a former capital with many impressive temples. You can take the JR Miyakoji Line to get from Kyoto to Nara in about 45 minutes.

Osaka is another popular destination for a day trip from Kyoto. Japan’s third largest city is also only a half hour away by train and has some great sights and attractions to offer.

Our tip: Since you’ll be going from temple to temple anyway when you’re in Kyoto, we’d recommend not going straight from Kyoto to Nara. The charm of Nara pales a bit when you come directly from Kyoto.

Therefore we’d recommend not just going on a day trip to Osaka from Kyoto, but staying there a few days instead. Then you can go on a day trip from Osaka to Nara, which will make it appear much more beautiful in contrast to the modern city rather than to the other historic city of Kyoto.

Another popular day trip destination from Kyoto is Amanohashidate, a more than three-kilometer-long sand bank along Miyazu Bay to the north of Kyoto. Getting there from Kyoto is a bit more complicated and not exactly cheap, so booking a private tour is a worthwhile option.

Kyoto travel guide

Lonely Planet has two English-language travel guides for Kyoto:

Kyoto City Guide   Pocket Guide for Kyoto and Osaka

More tips for your trip to Japan

We hope that our guide to Kyoto will help you plan your time in Kyoto and will also be useful when you get there. We’re really looking forward to your feedback and would be pleased to hear from you with more travel tips, ideas, and hints for Kyoto.

What did you think of the city? Was it your absolute highlight in Japan or did you grow a bit temple-weary? Please let us know in the comments below!

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