I went to Kyoto in March 2018 for 2 days with my partner, Philip, as part of a larger trip throughout Japan. I absolutely loved Kyoto and wished we had spent more time there! Here is my two day Kyoto itinerary.
Getting to Kyoto
Kyoto is located in south central Japan within the Kansai region. Kyoto is a ~3 hour train ride from Tokyo and 1 hour from Osaka.
Where to Stay
We stayed at an Airbnb near Sanjo Station which we were really happy with. This is a great central area along the river with easy access to public transportation.
Day 1 Kyoto
We took the train from Tokyo to Kyoto and arrived in the evening. After settling into the Airbnb we went out to find dinner and stumbled upon Kappo Yamashita, a small, upscale seafood restaurant. We ate some really great fish, but definitely spent more than we’d intended. Later we walked down the street to Pig & Whistle for a drink.
Day 2 Kyoto
Golden Palace
For our first full day in Kyoto we rode bikes provided by the Airbnb around the city. Our first stop was Kinkaku-ji, or Golden temple, which is a beautiful Buddhist temple. This is a popular spot among tourists, so expect it to be busy!
Ryoanji Temple and Rock Garden
After exploring Kinkaku-ji we got back on our bikes briefly and rode to the nearby Ryoanji, a zen temple with a famous rock garden. The rock garden has 15 rocks surrounded by pebbles with different meanings up to interpretation. Expect to take your shoes off at the rock garden! In addition to the rock garden, the grounds at Ryoanji are really nice to walk around with forested pathways weaving around a pond
Arashiyama Monkey Park
From Ryoanji Temple we biked south to Arashiyama which is a district in western Kyoto. We parked our bikes then walked along the river across the Togetsukyo bridge. Our next stop was Iwatayama Monkey Park which is home to 150 wild Japanese macaque monkeys and sits at the top of Mt Arashiyama. You get to the park by hiking up a hill then are rewarded with views of Kyoto. Once at the top of the hill you can purchase food to feed the monkeys from inside an open air building. Given that the monkeys are wild, be sure to follow any safety rules listed!
Later we wandered through the dense Arashiyama bamboo forest and gardens.
Dinner at Chao Chao Gyoza
Once we made it back from our adventurous day biking all around Kyoto, we went to Chao Chao gyoza which was one of my favorite meals in Japan. This gyoza is incredible and there are so many different flavors. There is even a chocolate dessert gyoza.
Day 3 Kyoto
Fushimi Inari
We started our second full day in Kyoto by cooking breakfast at the Airbnb, then taking the metro to Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of Japan’s most famous shrines. I had seen so many photos of Fushimini Inari and thought it might be really busy and overrated, but I was wrong! Not about it being busy, because it was, but it was so cool and exceeded my expectations.
Fushimi Inari is the head shrine for the Shinto kami Inari; the rice or business spirit of the Shinto religion. The shrine is built on Inari mountain and has 1000 orange torii (traditional Japanese gates) weaving up the mountain. What I liked most about Fushimi Inari was that you get to hike up a mountain through the orange gates and eventually get a great view at the top. The further up the mountain you go, the thinner the crowds get.
In addition to the many orange torii, there are many fox statues since they are associated with Inari and regarded as the messengers.
Tips: Wear good walking shoes, keep going up for thinner crowds, and be prepared to spend a couple hours here.
Nishiki Market & Ichiran
Later we went to Nishiki Market which is a large market with tons of food and goods. We tried a couple snacks at the market then went to Ichiran for a late lunch. Ichiran is a ramen chain with locations all throughout Japan, and I absolutely love it! Not only is the ramen delicious but the experience is fun. You order your ramen through the vending machine, find a seat at a booth, then your ramen appears!
Final Thoughts on Kyoto
I left Kyoto wishing we had budgeted more time there, and I’ve heard this from others too. Kyoto has a much more low key vibe compared to Tokyo and has more nature which I really liked. There are so many cool shrines and temples to check out, and not just the popular ones. There are shrines and temples everywhere in Kyoto!
Other Ideas in Kyoto
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Sanjusangendo temple
- Nijo Castle
- Tofukuji temple
- Walk Philosopher’s Path
- Wander the Gion district
- Hike Mt Kurama to Kurama-dera temple
- Kyoto Imperial Palace
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