Kyoto Itinerary 2 Days

Kyoto is a gorgeous traditional Japanese city, filled with historic temples, zen gardens, enchanting neighbourhoods and delicious Japanese food. Follow this Kyoto 2 day itinerary to make the most of just two days in Kyoto Japan. During this time, you can explore the ancient temples of Higashiyama, get lost in the charming streets of Gion and Pontocho, wander around the Arashiyama bamboo grove and visit majestic Nijo-jo Castle!

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How Long to Spend in Kyoto

You should aim to spend two or three days in Kyoto to cover the best things to do in Kyoto. In this time, you can visit ancient temples, wander around the spectacular bamboo grove, get lost in the narrow streets of Kyoto’s neighbourhoods, and have some time to relax.

If you only have one day in Kyoto, then it’s still worth visiting. Simply focus on one area depending on your interests, like Higashiyama if you want to see quintessential Kyoto temples. Alternatively, take a Kyoto day tour like this awesome cycling tour or a group tour if you want to cover a bit more ground and see a diverse range of attractions.

If you have longer in Kyoto during your Japan itinerary, then add some incredible day trips from Kyoto including Nara, Hiroshima and Osaka. You could comfortably see Kyoto and visit these surrounding areas in 5 to 7 days in Kyoto.

Where to Stay in Kyoto for 2 Days

If you’re only in Kyoto for two days, then you’ll want to stay somewhere central with easy access to train stations. Book early if you plan to travel for the busy cherry blossom season around April, and be prepared to pay rather steep prices during this time of year!

Gion & Southern Higashiyama

The area around Gion and Southern Higashiyama is a popular place for tourists to stay in Kyoto. This area is right slap bang in the middle of some of the most incredible temples in Kyoto, has good nightlife and food around Gion, is walkable and has access to train stations.

If you want a well priced hotel in a central location, then The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo is a good bet. This hotel is in Downtown Kyoto rather than Gion itself, but is just a short walk from Gion and Nishiki Markets. It’s also walkable to some other key sights in this Kyoto 2 day itinerary, including Nijo Castle and the Southern Higashiyama Temples. If you’re not so much of a walker, Sanjo Station is just a couple of hundred metres away.

Book The Royal Park Hotel: Booking.com | HotelsCombined

If you want to experience an authentic ryokan (Japanese guesthouse) in a superb location, check out the charming Gion Ryokan Q-beh. This well reviewed ryokan is located in Southern Higashiyama, just a short walk from Gion and walking distance to the Southern Higashiyama temples, including popular Kiyomizu-Dera Temple.

Book Gion Ryokan: Booking.com | HotelsCombined

Kyoto Station

Another good place to stay in Kyoto is around Kyoto Station. There’s not a lot of sightseeing right by Kyoto Station, but there is  plenty of good food and (obviously!) very accessible transport. From Kyoto Station, it’s easy to explore all of Kyoto and to get the Shinkansen (fast bullet train) to other places in Japan including Tokyo and Osaka.

You can’t get much more convenient than Hotel Granvia Kyoto, which is literally in Kyoto Station. An excellent choice if you’re staying in Kyoto for longer and taking day trips from Kyoto Station.

Book Hotel Granvia Kyoto: Booking.com | HotelsCombined

Kyoto Itinerary 2 Days

You’re in luck if you have two or three days in Kyoto, as you’ll have plenty of time to explore the best highlights of Kyoto. Focus your first day on the main tourist district north east of the city, where you’ll stumble across historic temples and shrines at every turn.

On the your second day in Kyoto, travel further afield to Arashiyama and then visit some of Kyoto’s most beautiful monuments including the red tori gates of Fushimi Inari and the tradition of Nijo-ji Castle. If you love a bit of nightlife, take a short trip to nearby Osaka and take in the bright lights and tasty street food.

Kyoyo Day 1: Higashiyama Area

Spend your first day in Kyoto getting acquainted with Higashiyama, Kyoto’s main temple district. There’s a lot of temples and shrines in Higashiyama, so if you want to see all the temples or like to take your time then you may prefer to focus on just Southern Higashiyama or Northern Higashiyama. The itinerary below goes for the best of both worlds, and includes some highlights from both the southern and northern areas.

Most temples are open from 9am to 4 or 5pm and have a small entry fee of around a few dollars. Higashiyama is best navigated on foot or by bicycle, as the streets are lovely and the temples aren’t far apart.

You can plan a route around Higashiyama or simply get lost in its charming streets and discover temples as you go. In fact, my favourite thing about Higashiyama was the times I took a wrong turn and stumbled across a hidden temple that I hadn’t planned on visiting!

Morning – Southern Higashiyama 

Getting There: Kiyomizu-Dera temple is best reached by bus or taxi. Alternatively, it’s around 20 minutes walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station. If you’re staying nearby in Higashiyama, you can walk to the temple.

Start your day with a bang at Kiyomizu-Dera Temple (photo above), which is on the hilltop and has beautiful views over Kyoto.

Note: Kiyomizudera is undergoing renovations until March 2020, when the main hall will be covered. 

Next, walk through the pretty streets of Higashiyama until you reach Kodaiji Temple, which should take around 15-20 minutes. Kodaiji Temple is a lovely Buddhist temple dating back to the 17th century with beautiful gardens. 

If you have time, continue north until you reach Maruyama Park, which is particularly spectacular during Kyoto’s cherry blossom season. Near the park, you’ll find Yasaka Shrine, Chion-in Temple and Shore-in Temple.

Afternoon – Northern Higashiyama and the Philosopher’s Path

Getting There: Northern Higashiyama is a short walk from Southern Higashiayama. If you’re not already in the ‘hood, get the Tozai Line to Keage Station.

After lunch, cross-over into Northern Higashiyama. It’s a short walk from Shore-in temple (if you made it that far!) to Nanzen-ji temple, which is one of the most beautiful temples in all of Kyoto (at least in my opinion!). Nanzen-ji is a traditional wooden temple, of grand proportions but beautifully understated.

From Nanzen-ji, walk a few hundred metres north to Eikando Temple, formerly know as Zenrinji Temple. Eikando Temple is a Buddhist temple and is famous for its stunning gardens, which come alive with bright shades of red, orange and yellow during autumn.

If you’re all ‘templed out’ (yup, it happens), follow the signs to the Philosopher’s Path walk. The Philosopher’s Path is a tranquil path that follows a narrow canal which is lined with traditional houses, cherry trees and a few temples. The trail is around 2km long and will take 30 to 45 minutes to walk. Allow longer if you want to visit temples or have a break at one of the local cafes.

Evening – Gion and Pontocho

Getting There: Either grab a taxi to Gion or get a train to Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Line and Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line.

Gion and Pontocho are historic neighbourhoods on either side of the Kamo River. The districts are filled with narrow alleyways, traditional wooden shops, teahouses, bars, canals and cherry blossoms, and are famous for Geisha spotting opportunities early in the evening.

Gion and Pontocho are most atmospheric in the evening, when the bars and dining venues comer alive with people and entertainment. Here, it pays to get lost in the narrow streets, as the main streets near the stations can be packed with tourists. 

Kyoto Day 2: Arashiyama, Outlying Temples and Osaka

On your second day in Kyoto, wrap up the most impressive places in Kyoto that are outside of the Higashiyama District. You’ll need to get a train or taxi a couple of times to get between sites.

Be warned, this is a fair amount to fit into one day in order to make the most of just two days in Kyoto. If you prefer a slower travel pace, you may just want to choose a couple of sites that appeal to you the most.

Morning – Arashiyama District

Start day 2 of your Kyoto itinerary by visiting Arashiyama, a gorgeous historic neighbourhood west of Kyoto city which is famous for its bamboo forest.

Getting There: The easiest way to visit Arashiyama is by train using your JR Pass. Simply take the JR San-In Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station (approx. 11 minutes), and you’ll be a short walk from the main Arashiyama attractions.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

First up in Arashiyama, visit the famed Arashiyama bamboo grove, which is around 10 minutes walk from San-Arashiyama Station. Here, you can walk around soaring bamboo plants that sway gently in the breeze.

The paths do get busy, so aim to visit early in the day before the crowds arrive. Alternatively, hire a traditional rickshaw which has access to private paths which makes it worth the price tag.

Arashiyama Historic Neighbourhoods

After the bamboo forest, explore the historic backstreets of Arashiyama to the north-west of the bamboo grove, all the way up to Saga Torimoto Preserved Street. These streets are filled with traditional wooden houses and temples, and are much less busy than central Arashiyama.

If you’re on foot, it will take a while to wander around the Arashiyama backstreets. If you take a rickshaw tour, you can cover the bamboo grove and get a good taste of the historic streets of Arashiyama in just one hour. That’s pretty good bang for your buck, and means you can make the most of a short trip to Kyoto!

Tenryu-ji Temple

If you visit just one temple in Arashiyama, make it the Tenryu-ji Temple just south of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Tenryu-ji features a traditional zen temple and lovely Japanese gardens.

Tongetsu-Kyo Bridge

After Tenryu-ji temple, duck along the riverfront and check out the Togetsu-Kyo Bridge. This bridge is a beautiful historic wooden pedestrian bridge which offers lovely mountain views. 

Togetsu-Kyo bridge is particularly spectacular in spring and fall. As the seasons change, the surrounding mountains come alive with pink cherry blossoms (spring) and autumnal reds and yellows (fall).

If you want to see monkeys, you can also drop into Iwatayama Monkey Park which is on the other side of the bridge.

Finish your morning in Arashiyama by heading back down the main street to Saga-Arashiyama Station. If you’re peckish, grab some lunch at one of the many cafes and restaurants lining the main street.

Afternoon – Kinkaku-Ji Temple and Niño Castle

In the afternoon, round out your Kyoto itinerary by visiting some of the most impressive temples and other monuments surrounding Kyoto city.

Kinkaku-Ji Temple

Getting There: From Saga-Arashiyama Station, jump back on the JR San-In Line towards Kyoto and get off at Emmachi Station. From here, take a short bus to Kinkakujimuchi stop.

Kinkaku-ji temple is also known as the Golden Pavilion, which is not surprising given that its top two floors are covered in gold leaf. The temple is somewhat of a juxtaposition, with the rather over-the-top and almost garish gold temple being set against a tranquil reflecting pond and relaxing gardens.

The Golden Pavilion has a pretty intriguing history. In 1950, the original temple was burnt down by a novice monk who then tragically attempted to take his own life. Kinkakuji was then rebuilt in 1955, largely into the temple that you’ll see today.

Kinkaku-ji is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kyoto, and gets pretty crowded. For me, it was enough to do a loop around the reflecting pond, grab a couple of snaps of the temple, and be in-and-out in 30 minutes. Like most popular temples in Kyoto, it’s best to visit early or late in the day but, hey, you’re not gonna be able to manage this for all the temples if you have just 2 days in Kyoto.

Nijo Castle

Getting There: From Kinkakujimuchi bus stop, get the bus to Nijojo Mae stop or Horikawa Marutamachi stop (approximately 20 minutes).

Nijo-jo Castle makes for an interesting change of architecture from the Buddhist and Shinto temples and shrines that have been the focus of your Kyoto trip so far. Here, you’ll find a majestic 17th century castle complex in the traditional Japanese style.

Nijo Castle has been reincarnated over the years, from a shogun residence to an imperial palace and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Nijo Castle complex is large and impressive, with different palaces, pretty gardens and large lawns, all surrounded by a formidable moat and stone walls.

Nishiki Market

Getting There: Nishiki Market is around 25 minutes walk from Nijo-jo Castle. Alternatively, take the Tozai Line from Nijojo Mae Station to Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station and walk approximately 10 minutes from there.

Nishiki Market is a popular food market street filled with delicious Japanese treats. If you’re averse to crowds and small spaces, you may want to give the markets a miss, as they’re pretty jam packed and the food stalls are small often leaving standing room only.

Keep your energy up by sampling whatever takes your fancy at the markets. Sure, you might not know what it is but that’s half the fun! Don’t miss the famous Kyoto-style Takoyaki at Karikari Hakase where you order from a vending machine and wait in line for your freshly cooked Takoyakki. If you haven’t tried them before, Takoyaki are delicious deep-fried ball snacks filled with batter, herbs and octopus.

Evening – Fushimi-Inari Shrine and/or Osaka

Fushimi-Inari Shrine

Getting There: If you’re coming from Nishiki Markets, walk to nearby Gion Shijo Station (10 minutes walk) and take the Keihan Main Line to Fushimi-Inari Station (10 minutes train).

If you’re not completely pooped by now, then you absolutely must visit Fushimi Inari Taisha. Fushimi Inari is the most important Shinto shrine in Kyoto, and is one of the most popular attractions in all of Japan. Yup, that means it gets as busy as all heck, particularly in the middle of the day. Lucky for you, Fushimi Inari shrine is open 24/7 so you can visit late in the afternoon or during the evening once the crowds have dispersed. (Or at the crack of dawn if you’re an early bird!).

The highlight of Fushimi-Inari is the thousands of bright red tori gates that wind their way up the mountain. If you want to hike the entire path, you should allow 2-3 hours to walk the 12,000 steps past 10,000 tori gates. There’s also a small loop of gorgeous gates at the bottom but, again, the further you walk the fewer crowds.

Osaka Nightlife

Getting There: It’s super easy to visit Osaka from Kyoto! Take the train from Kyoto to Osaka, either 12 minutes on the high speed Shinkansen or 30 minutes or more on the regular train.

If you have time or you’re a night-owl, visit nearby Osaka which is Japan’s second largest city. Osaka is a vibrant city which really comes alive at night and is famous for its incredible food.

Spend your evening in Osaka walking around Namba, Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi, where you’ll find busy and bright streets filled with famous bright billboards and equally famous food. It’s only around 1.5km to walk between all three districts, so it’s easy enough to cover all three areas In one evening.

Highlights include the famous Glico Man billboard, Osaka street food including takoyaki balls, kushikatsu skewers and okonomiyaki savory pancakes, to name a few. If the central Dotonbori area feels all a bit hectic to you, get off the busy main street and explore Shinsaibashi which is a little quieter and more local feeling.

If you have longer in Kyoto, then make sure you take a day trip to Osaka to explore the city’s other crazy neighbourhoods and the gorgeous Osaka Castle.

Phew! While that’s a lot to cover in 2 days in Kyoto, it’s definitely worth seeing as much as you can in Kyoto, one of the most beautiful cities in Japan. Let me know if you have any other top tips for a Kyoto 2 day itinerary!

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