JAPAN / CITY GUIDE

Kyoto

Find your way through the historic capital of Japan.

Temple gardens, neighborhood cafés, mountain paths. Start with an area, then leave a little room to wander.

EXPLORE KYOTO

A city of neighborhoods.

Gion

The city’s historic entertainment quarter

Higashiyama

Temple slopes, museum afternoons and a mountain above the city

Central Kyoto

Urban Kyoto: shopping streets, markets and nights by the river

North Kyoto

Gardens, textiles and the neighbourhoods around the river

Arashiyama & West Kyoto

Bamboo, river views and the temples of the northwest

Fushimi & South Kyoto

A sacred mountain and the city beyond the postcard

View all neighborhoods

SHAPE YOUR DAYS

Four days in Kyoto.

One possible way to spend four days, with time to explore, eat well, and follow your own interests.

DAY 1
Temple paths & an evening in Gion
Start early at Kiyomizu-dera, then walk down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka before the busiest part of the day. Pause for lunch and give Kōdai-ji or Kennin-ji a proper visit rather than rushing between temples. Continue through Maruyama Park and Yasaka Shrine, finishing with dinner in Gion and a respectful walk along its public streets.
View day plan
Start early at Kiyomizu-dera, then walk down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka before the busiest part of the day. Pause for lunch and give Kōdai-ji or Kennin-ji a proper visit rather than rushing between temples. Continue through Maruyama Park and Yasaka Shrine, finishing with dinner in Gion and a respectful walk along its public streets.
DAY 2
Castle rooms, market tastes & city streets
Spend the morning at Nijō Castle, allowing time for its palace and gardens. Head towards Nishiki Market for a few small tastes, then explore the shops and architecture around Sanjō. Choose the Museum of Kyoto or a café for the afternoon. End with dinner near the Kamo River and a walk through Pontochō.
View day plan
Spend the morning at Nijō Castle, allowing time for its palace and gardens. Head towards Nishiki Market for a few small tastes, then explore the shops and architecture around Sanjō. Choose the Museum of Kyoto or a café for the afternoon. End with dinner near the Kamo River and a walk through Pontochō.
DAY 3
Arashiyama, Sagano & the riverside
Reach Arashiyama early for the bamboo grove and Tenryū-ji’s garden. Walk beyond the busiest streets towards Sagano and Seiryō-ji, stopping for lunch along the way. Spend the afternoon beside the river or reserve the Sagano Scenic Railway. Keep the evening relaxed rather than crossing the city for another major sight.
View day plan
Reach Arashiyama early for the bamboo grove and Tenryū-ji’s garden. Walk beyond the busiest streets towards Sagano and Seiryō-ji, stopping for lunch along the way. Spend the afternoon beside the river or reserve the Sagano Scenic Railway. Keep the evening relaxed rather than crossing the city for another major sight.
DAY 4
Fushimi, or a day in the hills
For a southern Kyoto day, walk part of Fushimi Inari’s hillside route early, then continue to Fushimi’s sake district for lunch, canals and the Gekkeikan Ōkura Sake Museum. Alternatively, devote the whole day to Ōhara and Sanzen-in, or Kurama and Kibune. Choose one direction and leave enough time for the return journey.
View day plan
For a southern Kyoto day, walk part of Fushimi Inari’s hillside route early, then continue to Fushimi’s sake district for lunch, canals and the Gekkeikan Ōkura Sake Museum. Alternatively, devote the whole day to Ōhara and Sanzen-in, or Kurama and Kibune. Choose one direction and leave enough time for the return journey.