Itinerary for 2 Days in Kyoto, Japan

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Kyoto was my favorite city that I visited in my recent trip to Japan. Kyoto was the ancient capital of Japan for over 1000 years and still preserves its history, culture and charm. This post covers how to spend 2 days in Kyoto and also includes useful tips to make your visit enjoyable.

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Tips for 2 Days in Kyoto

• You will need 2 full days for this itinerary. What is important is to have 2 morning so that you can start early. To do this, either get to Kyoto on day 0 (the night before) or leave Kyoto on day 3 after the morning activity – see below for more.
• You can switch the 2 days here if you like.
• If you are coming from or going to Osaka, you can take the Shinkansen and it only takes 15 minutes.
• Book your tea ceremony experience in advance.
• As of April 2024, some areas of the Gion district in Kyoto is now closed to tourists. Make sure you don’t venture into these streets as they will fine you.
• See HERE for more general tips for visiting Japan, especially if you are a first time visitor.

2 Days in Kyoto

Day 1 in Kyoto

Start your day 1 of this 2 days in Kyoto itinerary early. I know! Who wakes up early on vacation? But, trust me on this. Especially if you are here during Sakura season. When I got to the Hagashiyama District at 6:30 AM, there was already a crowd forming.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

An iconic temple in Kyoto that gets really crowded as the day progresses. They open at 6 AM so it is best to start your day at this temple. There is a small entrance fee to visit. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It first opened in 778 AD and was reconstructed in 1633.

The Otowa Waterfall is located at this temple. Its waters are divided into three separate streams that visitors can drink from. Each stream’s water is said to have a different benefit, such as longevity, success at school and a fortunate in love. Drinking from all 3 is considered to be greedy!

The best views of Kiyomizu-dera is from its far end. Keep going past the Great Hall towards the small path. You will see a sea of pink or fall colors if you go during Sakura season or during the fall.

Surrounding Roads and Shrines

If you are keen on taking pictures, especially pictures without people, consider going to see the following places first.

• Sannensaka Path
• Ninenzaka
• Yasaka Dori (road leading up to the…)
• Yasaka Pagoda (also called Hokanji Temple)

Kodai ji Temple

Kodai ji was established in 1606 AD and is considered the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto. This temple has a beautiful garden and is a great place to take a break from the crowds outside. There is a small bamboo grove here (just a few meters long), that provides a good opportunity for some crowd-free pictures.

Maruyama Park

A cherry blossom hot spot that you should definitely visit if your 2 days in Kyoto falls during Sakura season!

Yasaka Shrine

 Yasaka Shrine is also called Gion Shrine. It is a s a Shinto shrine and was established in 656 AD!

Hanami-koji Street

This famous street in Gion is a stones throw away from Yasaka Shrine.

Ginkaku-ji Temple

I know there’s been quite a few temples on the itinerary today but whatever you do, don’t miss going to visit this temple. It is also referred to as Silver Pavilion and was one of my favorites on the entire trip to Japan. This zen temple had one of the most beautiful, quintessentially Japanese gardens that I had ever seen. There is also a view over the city as well.

Philosopher’s Path

The Philosopher’s Path is next to Ginkaku-ju temple and is a pedestrian walkway alongside a canal. This is another must-visit location for Sakura season as cherry blossom’s line up the path.

It is called Philosopher’s Path because two 20th-century Japanese philosophers and Kyoto University professors, Nishida Kitaro and Hajime Tanabe, are thought to have used it for daily exercise.

Nijo Castle

If you are here during Sakura season, Nijo Castle has a Sakura festival with lights. It starts in the evening and ends around 10 PM, making it an ideal pre-dinner or post-dinner activity. The castle has over 300 cherry blossom trees, including 50 or so varieties and is a prime cherry blossom viewing spot even during the day. See HERE for more information.

Day 2 in Kyoto

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Start day 2 of your 2 days in Kyoto at Fushimi Inari Taisha. Even when I got here at 7 AM, there was quite a crowd. The Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of the most iconic shrines in Kyoto and honors the Shinto god of rice. There are around 10,000 Torii gates here, that lead up to Inari Mountain. There are a lot of steps the higher you go up so come prepared. Go in 30 minutes from entrance to the Yotsutsuji intersection for good views if you don’t want to climb all the way up.

TIP – Come early morning for a crowdless experience. The crowds lessen the higher up you go.

Tea Ceremony

Participating in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony is a must-do in my opinion when in Kyoto. While you can attend a tea ceremony anywhere in Japan, Kyoto is the birth place of this tradition and therefore, the best place to do it.

Read everything you need to know about a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and our experience HERE.

Book your Tea Ceremony Experience

It’s probably lunch time now, so head over to..

Nishiki Market

Markets are amazing in Japan and Nishiki is no exception!. From food to souvenirs, you can find a lot at Nishiki. There is even a Michelin Guide approved gyoza place down a side alley. You can easily spend a couple of hours here and eat your heart out!

If you want to join a food tour, this one is highly rated!

Golden Pavilion/ Kinkaku-ji

This Zen Buddhist Temple with it’s golden pavilion is perhaps Kyoto’s second iconic spot after Fushimi Inari Taisha. The top levels of the pavilion are inlayed in pure gold leaf and overlooks a large pond. Today’s pavilion dates back to 1955. The earlier building was burned down by a young monk who attempted suicide 5 years prior.

Unless you have more than 2 days in Kyoto, my recommendation is to take a taxi here as it is a little difficult to get here using public transport (not impossible! just time consuming).

They close by 5 PM and also have a small entrance fee.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

This bamboo forest is another famous spot in Kyoto but if you ask me, I did not find it that impressive. We got here in the evening and the crowds were not as crazy. We found a spot just before that railway crossing that had no crowds at all and were able to take some peaceful pictures here. The town itself is small and cute and lined with shops.

If you come during Sakura season, the river bank is lined with cherry blossom trees and is worth a gander.

Sake Tasting

If you have time between finishing up at the bamboo forest and dinner, you could do some sake tasting at Sake Hall Masuya or go to a place to have some pre-dinner cocktails . See below for a suggestion!

Additional Kyoto Callouts

If you are looking for a place to have cocktails with the best views in Kyoto, look no further than Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu. Be sure to make your reservations in advance so you don’t have to wait in line to get in.

One special note is to have Obanzai when you are in Kyoto. Obanzai is a traditional style of Japanese cuisine that is native to Kyoto. We had Obanzai at Nakashimaya and can highly recommend it! They take online reservations, so be sure to book in advance.

Wondering what foods you should not miss in Japan? Check out my detailed guide HERE

Itinerary Adjustments

If you cannot make it to Kyoto the night before so that you get 2 early mornings on days 1 and 2, you can do everything on day 2 except Fushimi Inari and do Fushimi Inari early on day 3 before you leave Kyoto.

Public Transport

You can use both trains and buses to get around Kyoto and can use your Suica card. Buses do start running early morning. However, Kyoto is a little spread out so we ended up taking Ubers to a lot of places. With only 2 days in Kyoto, we did not want to spend time waiting for trains and buses.

Where to Stay in Kyoto

The Higashiyama Ward, near the main train station and downtown Kyoto are usually the good spots to stay. I usually use booking.com to book accommodation. The more you stay, the more they reward you and give you discounts.

Tours

Check out these highly rated tours in Kyoto!

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Also going to Tokyo? Check out what to do in Tokyo HERE