Kyoto Sightseeing

Kyoto Sightseeing

Checklist

  1. Get cash
    • Pretty much every single temple charges an admission fee. Sometimes multiple fees for multiple sections of a (large scale) temple.
    • The fee varies from 400yen (US$3) to 1500yen (US$15).
    • Shrines are almost always free of charge except a designated area or its museum.
    • No temple/shrine accepts credit cards
  2. Check the closing hour
    • of each temple as most of them close at 4pm or 5pm.
    • Shrines are open 24 hours (as long as you don't walk into its buildings, which are off limits anyway for the most part).
  3. (Optional) Get a Shuin book
      If you are planning on visiting multiple temples and shrines, you may want to consider purchasing a shin book (朱印帳: shu-in-cho) at the first temple/shrine you visit, and collect stamps (shuin) as you visit. This will be great memorabilia.
  4. Sunscreen
      If your skin is sensitive, you may want to get one though depending on the weather. There is a drugstore (Matsumoto Kiyoshi=マツモトキヨシ or Matsukiyo=マツキヨ for short) inside Kyoto station, on the Hachijo side, the ground level, so you can purchase one there. I was in Kyoto on Aug 1, 2026, and I found Kyoto uncomfortably hot in the afternoon. You can walk about the city in the morning, but then after 1PM or so, you might want go back to your hotel and take a nap (siesta), or stay in a cafe, or the national museum, or TeamLab, save your energy, and then go back on the street once it's cool down.
  5. Coinlockers
    • I didn't know but large suitcases are now not allowed on the bus in Kyoto (since 2025). See this: Kyoto’s Public Transportation: The Ultimate Guide by Travel Smart Japan (12 min, Aug 2026)
    • You will want to leave your luggage before heading to sightseeing spots. There are 1500 coinlockers available at the Hachijo (八条口 south) side of JR Kyoto station (details here).
    • Or, consider the luggage forwarding services.

Tokyo to Kyoto

The most straightforward way to travel to Kyoto from Tokyo is to take the bullet train (Tokaido Shinkansen: Nozomi, Hikari or Kodama), either from JR Tokyo station or JR Shinagawa station. It's a bit more than 2 hours from Shinagawa on Nozomi, the fastest, and 2.5 hours with Hikari.

    You do not need the JR Pass just to visit Kyoto and Osaka from Tokyo and back.

When booking the bullet train for Kyoto and Osaka and want to view Mt. Fuji from the train window, book the E (and/or D) side seat. The A side is always facing the Pacific Ocean regardless of the train direction.

    Even if you couldn't get an E seat, you could always walk to one of the deck areas to take photos. If you are on a Nozomi, it will be about 40min after departing Tokyo station and for about 4min.

There is no airport in Kyoto, nor in Nara. The closest ones are ITM (domestic, 60min by bus) or KIX (int'l, 90min by Haruka train).

Between Osaka and Kyoto

Osaka is 15min away by bullet train, 30 min by JR rapid, so a day trip from one to the other is practical. And aside from JR, there are two other railways connecting Kyoto and Osaka:

  • Hankyu (阪急) Railway, which run generally north of JR between Osaka (Umeda) and Kyoto at Shijo Kawaramachi (near Gion), but it also branches to Arashiyama. For that a transfer is required at Katsura (桂) station. Hankyu also connects between Osaka and Kobe: Map
    • Hankyu Garaku train between Kyoto and Osaka only on weekends and national holidays: Timetable
  • Keihan (京阪) Railway, which generally runs south of JR including Fushimi Inari, and then all the way to the north east of Kyoto. It also owns Randen, a short railway network that connects Arashiyama and the Kyoto subway and Hankyu Kyoto line. It also has a separate network that spans over the west coast of Lake Biwa and Enryakuji Temple (PDF).
So, depending on the origin and the destination, either one may be more convenient than JR.
  • You could argue Kintetsu (近鉄) Railway is also connecting Kyoto and Osaka albeit indirectly via Nara at Yamato-Saidaiji (大和西大寺). Kintetsu also connects Osaka (Namba) and Nagoya, but not directly from/to Kyoto, and a transfer is required at Yamato-Yagi (大和八木), further south of Yamato-Saidaiji (PDF).

If you don't want to be concerned about buying separate pieces of tickets each time, get a Train IC card.

Kyoto Public Transportation

The Go app is useful to grab a cab.

Kyoto by Areas

It's safe to say it's impossible to visit all the popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto in a day. But, in case you are in a hurry, see what I did in a day in Dec, 2022, and another in April 2023. But here, I've listed attractions in Kyoto by the areas below:

You probably will need half a day to a full day per area below. Please note that

  • most of the areas above are scattered around the edge of Kyoto city limit
  • so it takes time to get to by public transportation. The exceptions are Arashiyama and Fushimi (though they are opposite from each other), which can be easily accessible by JR Train from Kyoto station.
  • But some areas are close from one another (e.g. Arashiyama and Kitayama, and Higashiyama and Kiyomizu/Yasaka). So those two areas can be visited in a day.
  • But going from Arashiyama to Kiyomizu/Yasaka, for example, can be challenging unless you are willing to take a taxi (probably JPY5,000)
So, you will want to plan accordingly.

Every place listed below is my recommendation, but "★" denotes the five spots I would take Kyoto first timers to (but not all in one day), and "☆" denotes additional places I'd add to my intineary before those without a star.

Arashiyama

Arashiyama (嵐山 = storm mountains) is about 20 min by train (Sagano line) from JR Kyoto station and is a popular spot for autumn leaves, and you would be confronted with a sea of people had you visited in fall, maybe not so much in summer it's crowded throughout the year from around the noon. You may want to allocate at least half a day in case you are interested.
One caution is that the platforms for Sagano-line (something like 31~33) are somewhat hidden in the north west corner of the station behind Platform 0, which is also confusing. And there’s no platform 11 ~29 as far as I know (a story behind platform zero).

Kitayama

Located in the north side of Kyoto, the best way to get there from Kyoto station is by bus (30~40min to Kinkakuji). Getting there from Arashiyama requires two buses, or a cab ride (3,000 yen? to Kinkakuji), or take Keifuku "Randen" (non-JR) from Arashiyama station near the main entrance to Tenryuji temple, and then transfer at Katabiranotsuji (帷子ノ辻) station, and get off at Omuno-Ninnaji (御室仁和寺) station and start from Ninnaji in the reverse order of the list below. You probably don't want to walk to every single one of them below in a hot day.

  • ★ Kinkaku-ji temple (金閣寺): The gold pavilion, probably the most popular temple in Kyoto, possibly in Japan as well
  • ☆ Ryoan-ji temple (龍安寺): The famous zen rock garden
  • Toji-in temple (等持院): Largely unknown, the resting place of the Ashikaga shogunate, you will be able to see wooden statues of most of Ashikaga shoguns, if you care. And a pretty garden too.
  • Ninna-ji temple (仁和寺): Probably the biggest temple complex in the Kitayama area. A number of halls, a tower and a massive gate, you may want to schedule at least two hours.
  • Myoshin-ji temple (妙心寺): Watch this YouTube video by Japan Unravelled "SECRET KYOTO: Quiet Adventures Most Tourists Miss" from 8:44.
  • Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮): enshrining Sugawara Michizane (菅原道真), the god of study.

Higashiyama

There’s no efficient way to traverse from Arashiyama or Kitayama to Higashiyama. Taking a bus, it will take about 50min, and you may have to wait up to 20 min for the bus. And a cab ride could be almost 5,000yen. So, you might want to schedule it on another day.

  • ☆ Ginkaku-ji temple (銀閣寺): The silver pavilion. While the rich grandpa (Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, 足利義満 3rd Ashikaga general) who made fortune by trading with Ming Dynasty in China built the gold pavilion with real gold foils, the broke 8th (Yoshimasa 義政) built a place of refuge from the war he caused, and didn't have the money for the gold or the silver. A good reference starts roughly at 2:44 of this popular video. He was politically incapable but astute artistically, and influenced the Japanese culture that lasted to this day (or at least till the 20th century). You might find it interesting to compare the two.
  • ☆ Philosopher’s Path (哲学の路): Narrow stone path originating/ending at the foot of Ginkakuji-temple, to its south. It's nice for a walk, if it's not too hot.
  • Heian Shrine (平安神宮): as seen in "Lost in Translation".
  • ☆ Eikando temple (永観堂)
  • ★ Nanzenji temple (南禅寺) and the aqueduct
    • Both Eikando and Nanzenji are great for the autumn leaves, but to me they are either one or the other. There is a good Tofu restaurant (Junsei "順正") near Nanzenji, so I ended up going to Nanzenji more often. Nanzenji is easy to get to by subway, so you could start from Nanzenji and walk up north along the philosopher’s path.

Kiyomizu & Yasaka (清水 & 八坂)

  • ★ Kiyomizudera (清水寺): One of more famous temples featuring a dance floor/platform and shopping streets on the way.
  • Yasaka shrine (八坂神社)
  • ☆ and the pagoda (tower) between the two, though you can’t walk in. This is the popular photo spot.
  • Nineizaka (二寧坂) and Sanenzaka (三年坂): iconic shopping alleys
    • JR
  • Chionin (知恩院): Another temple on the hill east of Yasaka shrine.
  • Houkokubyo/Amidagamine (豊国廟/阿弥陀ヶ峰): A good 30 min uphill walk from Kyoto National Museum (below), AND 500 steps up to the summit, then you will get a panoramic view of Kiyomizu temple and beyond to yourself. Do make sure to get a water bottle before attempting the steps. There's no vending machine at the summit (Sep 2025). Photos.

Central Part of Kyoto

  • Near Kyoto station
    • ☆ Sanjusangendo (三十三間堂): The hall of a thousand Buddhas. Magnificent.
    • Kyoto National Museum (Kyoto Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan 京都国立博物館): This museum is located directly across from Sanjusangendo
    • Nintendo original building: sort of middle of nowhere, but it's there.
    • ☆ Toji Temple (東寺): on the Hachijo side of Kyoto station. Maybe a 15min walk. Beautiful garden and a 5-story pagoda, and magnificent Buddha statues.
  • Gion/Shijo (祇園/四条)
    • Nishiki market (錦市場): 400 year old popular food market.
      • There are many more places.
  • Nijo (二条) and its north
    • ☆ Nijo-jo (二条城)
    • Shinsenen (神泉苑): 5 min walk from Nijo-jo castle on the way to JR Nijo station. Beautiful garden with a pond. The vertical line between Shinsenen (presumably much bigger than today) and Funaokayama (船岡山) was the spine of the city (Y-axis) when the city was built back in the late 8th century.
    • Seimei Shrine (晴明神社): enshrining Abe-no-Seimei (安倍晴明)
    • Shiramine Shrine (白峯神宮): 5min walk from Seimei Shrine. God of soccer and other (ball) sports.
    • Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所): I have been here only once, on one rainy day in January, before the cellphones and mobile internet. The place is huge but not much to look at other than the cherry blossoms or the foliage in my opinion. So, if you are in those seasons, this is a great place to go to.

Fushimi (伏見)

  • ★ Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社): The shrine of thousands of trii gates. Voted the most popular tourist spot among visitors to Japan some years ago. You will have to take a local train for Nara from Kyoto station (2nd stop, express trains will skip) Express trains now stop at JR Inari (稲荷) station :)
    In summer, I'd recommend visting there early (like 6am) and quickly hike. With less people, you should be able to go up to the summit and back in 70min to 2 hours. The shrine is open 24 hours.
  • Tofuku-ji temple (東福寺): This is a beautiful temple roughly 15~20min from Fusimi Inari if you don't get lost. It's probably easier to walk from Tofukuji to the shrine than the other way around, which case you will need to get off at Tofukuji-station (at the first stop) and then 10min walk.

Outside Kyoto

Outside Kyoto (city) but still inside Kyoto (pref)

  • Hieizan (比叡山)
    • ☆ Ruri-koin (瑠璃光院): may not be open to public throughout a year and advance booking may be required. Check the web site.
    • Hieizan Enryaku-ji temple (technically not in Kyoto)
  • Uji (宇治)
    • ☆ Byodoin (平等院)
    • Green Tea
    • Fushimi Momoyama Castle
    • Momoyama Mausoleum
  • Suntory Yamazaki Distillery
    • About 15 min from JR Kyoto to Yamazaki (toward Osaka), and then 10 min walk. While Yamazaki station and the town of Yamazaki are in Kyoto, the distillery is in Osaka pref.
    • The entry rules have significantly changed since the first time I went in 2006, and now you need to make a reservation even just to walk into the visitor center, and to be on one of distillery tours, you need to win a lottery, and to win the lottery you need to register yourself 2 months in advance. Check here.

Nara

  • Nara (奈良) is 50~60 min one way by train, so a day trip from Kyoto is practical if you just want to go to Nara Park and pet the deers and watch the giant Buddha, and National museum and Kofukuji temple.
  • For that, unless you've already purchased a JR Pass, I'd recommend taking Kintetsu train from Kyoto as Kintetsu Nara station is much closer to Nara park.

Kyoto in a day

Here's how I spent a day in Kyoto (Dec, 2022), having arrived in Kyoto the night before:

  1. 8:30AM: a train ride from JR Kyoto Station to JR Saga-Arashiyama
    • Togetsu-kyo
    • Observatory Deck
    • Bamboo Grove
    • Tenryu-ji
  2. Cab ride from Arashiyam to Ryoanji (Kitayama)
    • Ryoanji
    • walk to Kinkauji (15-20min?)
  3. Bus to Ginkakuji from Kinkaku-ji (50min)
    • Ginkakuji and lunch
    • walk along the Philosopher's path down to Nanzenji and Aqueduct
  4. Cab ride from Keage (near the Keage subway station) to Yasaka shrine
    • Yasaka Shrine
    • walk to the Yasaka Pagoda
    • walk to Kiyomizu temple
  5. Cab back to JR Kyoto station (6pm-ish)
Photos here.

Another full day in April 2023, also having arrived in Kyoto the night before:

  1. 9:30AM: at Nijo Castle
    • Nijo Castle
    • Shinsenen
    • walk to JR Nijo station
  2. Train ride from Nijo to Saga Arashiyama
    • Brunch
    • Togetsu-kyo
    • Observatory Deck
    • Okouchi Sanso
    • Bamboo Grove
  3. Train Ride from Randen Arashiyama to Kitano-hakubaicho (transfer at Katabiranotsuji)
    • walk to Kitano Tenmangu
    • Kitano Tenmangu
    • cab to Kinakuji (5min)
    • Kinkakuji
  4. Cab ride from Kinkakuji to Shiramine Shrine
    • Shiramine Shrine
    • walk to Seimei shrine
    • Seimei shrine
  5. Bus back to Kyoto station (5pm-ish)
  • Fushimi Inari in the following morning (though I did not go, my kids did go)
Photos here.

Where to stay in Kyoto

I visit Kyoto four times a year every year for the last 13 years, mostly one night on business, sometimes two nights, rarely three or more with a weekend.

So, I end up staying near JR Kyoto station for the vast majority of time.
Staying near the Kyoto station,

  • Daytrip to Nara, Osaka, and even Kobe, becomes feasible
  • you could leave your luggage at the hotel before check-in and after check-out, mitigating the possibility of not finding a vacant coin locker(s). Or, consider the luggage forwarding services.
  • If one night, Miyako City Kintetsu Kyoto Station is my go-to hotel. This is the closest hotel to Shinkansen ticket gate. The room is small (single at about 16m²), but it's only one night anyway and it's super convenient.
    • If two nights or more, Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo as it's a bit more spacious (20m²~25m²), but additional 3 min walk, mostly along the concourse inside the station.
    • I have stayed 3 APA hotels (11m² ~ 15m²) on the north side of JR Kyoto station, as well as four others in the walking distance, all one night each, but I found staying in the south side (Hachijo-guchi, 八条口) makes coming in and going out of Kyoto much less hustle.
    • I've also stayed at Granvia Kyoto, which sits on JR Kyoto station, which is a lot more spacious (40m²) and luxurious than the two Kintetsu hotels. Although it looks close enough from the shinkansen gate, in reality I had to snake through the corridor, extra few hundred meters to the lobby, and then additional one hundred meters or more to my room. But again, not only luxurious and spacious, you may be able to marvel at Kyoto Tower depending on the type of room you get. But I've already had fair few. It's really your call and how you'd like to travel.

The rate varies quite drastically by the timing. The foliage season (Nov to early Dec) is the most expensive, also during the Sakura (cherry blossoms) season, and also during any of the three Kyoto festivals. On the other hand, I found the rate gone down in the week RIGHT AFTER Gion matsuri festival in late July, but this must depend on the hotel, I believe.

If you can't find a room in Kyoto, very likely during the foliage season, you could stay outside Kyoto:

  • Osaka: 15min by bullet train, 30min by JR rapid, and 45min by local train
  • Ohtsu, Shiga: 15 min by train
  • Kusatsu, Shiga (not to be confused with the hot spring in Gunma): 40min by train, maybe a bit too far unless you also want to visit Hikone castle, or Koka (甲賀, of Ninja) region.

From Kyoto back to Tokyo (and Narita)

You could take

  • the bullet train back to Tokyo, which is the most straightforward, and most likely the fastest
  • you could take a bus to ITM and fly back to NRT (or HND)
      You could look for a flight out of KIX back to your home country
  • Or, you could take the Hokuriku Arch Pass and travel along Fukui, Kanazawa and Toyama.

Links

Last Update: 2026-9-18

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