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2 days in Kyoto: an itinerary day by day

A tunnel of closely spaced vermilion torii gates with black bases lining a paved path at the Senbon ToriiThe long, low wooden hall of Sanjusangen-do under a tiled roof, a gravel courtyard and cloudy skyKiyomizu-dera's wooden stage on tall pillars above red and orange autumn maples, a red pagoda on the left

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
4 of 9 free; 5 paid — see “Cost”
Duration
2 days, 9:30 to 17:51 each day
Start and finish
Fushimi Inari Shrine → Arashiyama
On foot
≈ 25 min in total
Transport
5 rides, ≈ 1 h 56 min
Lunch
around 12:37
With kids
fine: short walks
Best time
Spring and November.

Day-by-day plan

Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.

Day 1 · Kyoto09:30–17:51 · 5 places · 8 h 20 min

  1. Fushimi Inari Shrine

    · 2 h · Free

  2. 22 min · transport or taxi

  3. Sanjusangen-do

    · 45 min · About ¥600

  4. Lunch · 1 h
  5. 19 min · transport or taxi

  6. Kiyomizu-dera

    · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥500

  7. 19 min · transport or taxi

  8. Gion

    · 1 h 30 min · Free

  9. 6 min on foot

  10. Yasaka Shrine

    · 30 min · Free

Day 2 · Kyoto09:30–17:45 · 4 places · 8 h 20 min

  1. Nijo Castle

    · 1 h 30 min · ¥800; with Ninomaru ¥1,300

  2. 25 min · transport or taxi

  3. Kinkaku-ji

    · 45 min · ¥500

  4. Lunch · 1 h
  5. 19 min on foot

  6. Ryoan-ji

    · 45 min · ¥600

  7. 31 min · transport or taxi

  8. Arashiyama

    · 3 h · Free

Go · start

Add nearby

Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.

What the route costs

4 of 9 are free; 5 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.

2Sanjusangen-do3845 minabout ¥600
3Kiyomizu-dera511 h 30 min≈ ¥500
6Nijo Castle441 h 30 min¥800; with Ninomaru ¥1,300
7Kinkaku-ji4845 min¥500
8Ryoan-ji3745 min¥600
Other 4 places7 hFree
Total12 h 20 min4 of 9 free

Tips for each stop

Day 1

  1. 1

    Fushimi Inari Shrine. Thousands of red torii gates up the mountain, guarded by stone foxes. Free, 24 hours; best early in the morning.

  2. 2

    Sanjusangen-do. A 120 m hall with 1,001 statues of the thousand-armed Kannon, a National Treasure. About 600 yen.

  3. 3

    Kiyomizu-dera. The 1633 main hall on a wooden stage above a cliff, UNESCO. About 500 yen, from 6:00.

  4. 4

    Gion. The geisha district: machiya houses, Hanamikoji Street and the Shirakawa canal. Free; loveliest at dusk.

  5. 5

    Yasaka Shrine. The shrine at the end of Shijo Street: hundreds of lanterns light the dance stage at night. Free.

Day 2

  1. 6

    Nijo Castle. The shoguns' castle: Ninomaru Palace with its 'nightingale floors'. 800 yen, 1,300 with the palace.

  2. 7

    Kinkaku-ji. The Golden Pavilion over its pond, UNESCO. 500 yen, daily 9:00–17:00.

  3. 8

    Ryoan-ji. The rock garden: 15 stones on white gravel, one always hidden. 600 yen.

  4. 9

    Arashiyama. Sagano bamboo grove (free), Tenryu-ji temple and garden (500 yen) and Togetsukyo Bridge.

Who this route is for

Good for
  • Two or three days in Kyoto
  • The great UNESCO temples
  • Independent
Not for
  • Nara is day three
  • A tea ceremony needs booking
Best time

Spring and November.

How the two days work

Day one is the one-day Kyoto itinerary. Day two is the centre and north-west: Nijo in the morning, Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji 20 minutes' walk apart, and Arashiyama by train towards evening.

Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.

Arashiyama

Sagano bamboo grove is free and always open — quietest early or late in the day. Tenryu-ji's garden is 500 yen, 8:30–17:00. Togetsukyo Bridge over the river is the district's classic view, especially in November.

Is 2 days in Kyoto enough?

For the highlights, yes. Walk the Philosopher's Path from Ginkaku-ji to Nanzen-ji, or take the 45-minute train to Nara for the deer and the Great Buddha.

How to do it right

  • Be at Nijo before 16:00, the last entry.
  • At Ryoan-ji, sit on the veranda — the garden is meant to be taken slowly.
  • Keep quiet at temples and shrines and take your shoes off before entering halls; photos inside halls are often not allowed. There is no tipping in Japan.
  • Japan uses the yen. Foreign cards work almost everywhere, but temples, markets and small cafés want cash. A Suica or PASMO card pays for trains, metro and shops by the station.
  • A one-day subway and bus pass pays off after 3–4 rides.

Questions

What to do with 2 days in Kyoto?

Day one: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu and Gion. Day two: Nijo, Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji and Arashiyama.

How much is Kinkaku-ji?

500 yen, daily 9:00–17:00.

How much is Nijo Castle?

800 yen, 1,300 with Ninomaru Palace.

Is the bamboo grove free?

Yes, and always open.

Is 2 days in Kyoto enough?

For the highlights, yes. Nara needs another day.

How much does it cost?

About 1,100 yen on day one and 2,900 on day two.

Is it good with kids?

Yes; the nightingale floors are a hit.

When is the best time?

Spring and November.

How do I get to Arashiyama?

By JR Sagano line or the Keifuku tram from the centre.

How do I pay in Japan?

Japan uses the yen. Foreign cards work almost everywhere, but temples, markets and small cafés want cash. A Suica or PASMO card pays for trains, metro and shops by the station.

Sources and fact-check

  • Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
  • Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
  • Wikipedia: Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji
YesGo editorial team ·
How we checkedDay one is the city's one-day route; the next days were put together by hand — an area, or a full-day trip. The YesGo planner works out the order within each day, the transfers and lunch. Prices, hours and closing days come from the place pages.

More Kyoto routes

Other cities in Japan: one-day routes