The best 3 day Kyoto itinerary options - Ultimate Guide
Kyoto is a must-visit place in Japan due to its rich cultural heritage, countless temples and shrines, and natural beauty. The city was Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868 for over a thousand years. In addition, Kyoto is one of the few cities in Japan that survived the WWII bombing, therefore the city is full of well-preserved traditional streets and centuries-old temples. If you are planning a visit to Kyoto for 3 days and wondering how to make the most of your time, look no further. We have curated five incredible 3-day Kyoto itinerary options to take you through the best sights and experiences this ancient city offers. The aim of this post is to help you find a ready-made 3-day Kyoto itinerary that suits your needs.
What is the best 3-day Kyoto itinerary?
Well, it depends. There are must-see places in Kyoto such as Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari Taisha, but this city offers so much to see that you could spend 10 days here without getting bored. In general, it is worth visiting places close to each other and walking all day as the buses in Kyoto can be pretty unreliable or crowded. Here is our take on the best itineraries for 3 days in Kyoto considering multiple factors. We designed five different 3-day Kyoto itinerary options for first-timers, nature lovers, hidden gem hunters, traditional culture enthusiasts and people with limited mobility. Choose the one that suits your interests and needs and get ready for an unforgettable adventure.
What other themed itinerary would you like us to craft? Leave a comment below.
Contents
- Balanced 3-day Kyoto itinerary, best for first time visitors
- Best 3-day Kyoto itinerary for nature lovers
- Best 3-day Kyoto itinerary off the beaten path
- Best 3-day Kyoto itinerary for Traditional Japanese Culture Enthusiasts
- Best 3-day Kyoto itinerary for people with limited mobility
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#1 Balanced 3-day Kyoto itinerary for first timers
This 3-day Kyoto itinerary is carefully curated to give you a well-rounded experience of Kyoto. With a perfect mix of historical sites, cultural activities, and culinary delights, it’s an ideal itinerary for first-time visitors who want to dive deep into the beauty of Kyoto. So, get ready to immerse yourself in the breathtaking sights, authentic traditions, and delicious cuisine of this charming city.
Day 1
Morning – Nijo Castle & Nishiki Market
- Start the day at Nijo Castle, built for the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603. This UNESCO World Heritage site is renowned for its architectural beauty and historical significance. I recommend spending at least 2 hours in the castle – it has beautiful gardens. You can download an official PDF guide made for the castle visitors here.
- Explore Kyoto’s 400-year-old kitchen, Nishiki Market at lunchtime. It is a 25-minute walk from Nijo Castle. Many local delicacies, including senbei, tako-tamago, and tamagoyaki, are worth trying.
Afternoon – Kinkaku-ji
- Visit Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion in the afternoon by taking a 30-minute ride on 12 City Bus from Shijo Takakura to Kinkakuji-michi. Don’t forget that Kinkaku-ji like most temples in Kyoto closes at 5 PM. If you have time left you can walk to the nearby zen temple Ryoan-ji, which also closes at 5 PM.
Day 2
Morning – Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Start the day early around 7-8 AM at Fushimi Inari Taisha, the most famous Shinto Shrine. Hike up Mt. Inari to see the beautiful nature and small hidden shrines in the forest. If you want to go to the top of Mt. Inari the hike takes 3-4 hours.
Afternoon – Arashiyama
- Head to Arashiyama in the afternoon, it will take an hour to get there. Take the Nara line from Inari station to Kyoto station, at Kyoto station change to the San-In line and head to Saga-Arashiyama Station.
- Walk around in the Arashiyama area, and visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama, and Tenryu–ji temple. Head to the Monkey Park first, then Temple as those close earlier. There is a restaurant in Tenryu-ji temple called Shigetsu where you can try temple food eaten by the monks.
Evening – Arashiyama
- Check out the Kimono Forest lit up near Arashiyama train station in the dark.
- Alternatively, you can spend the day in Arashiyama and go to Fushimi Inari Taisha for a night hike.
Day 3
Morning – Kimono rental & Gion
- Start the day at a Kimono rental in Higayashima and walk in this beautiful old area in a Kimono.
- Check out our guide on the kimono rentals in Kyoto to find the one suitable for you.
- Visit Kiyomizu-dera, Kodai-ji Temple, and the famous streets of Ninnenzaka, Sannenzaka, and Hanamikoji.
Afternoon – Tea ceremony
- Attend a tea ceremony in the afternoon wearing the kimono. Don’t forget the return time and date of your rental kimonos.
Evening – Yasaka Shrine
- Yasaka Shrine is open 0-24 and lit up after dark, make sure to return for a night walk.
#2 Best 3-day Kyoto itinerary for nature lovers
I designed this 3-day itinerary is for nature enthusiasts visiting Kyoto who would like to see the most beautiful gardens and picturesque sceneries and truly connect with nature. This 3-day Kyoto itinerary includes multiple hikes to discover the city’s natural wonders from mesmerizing gardens to serene bamboo groves.
Day 1
Morning – Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Start the day early around 7-8 AM at Fushimi Inari Taisha, the most famous Shinto Shrine. Hike up Mt. Inari to see the beautiful nature and small hidden shrines in the forest. This hike will likely take 3-4 hours.
- Walk to Tofuku-ji temple and check out its breathtaking garden, then walk across the Tofuku-ji Tsutenkyo Bridge.
Afternoon – Kiyomizu-dera
- Continue your journey to the famous Kiyomizu-dera. To get there take the 202 City bus from Tofukuji stop to Kiyomizumichi stop. If you choose to walk there it will take 40 minutes, but on the way, there are great cafes and snack bars such as Shimizu-Ippoen Kyoto Main Branch. Keep in mind that Kiyomizu-dera closes at 6 PM.
Day 2
Morning – Hozugawa River Boat ride
- Start the day with a scenic boat ride in the nature. Get to Kameoka Station with the San-In line and a short walk from the station find the Hozugawa River Boat River Ride. The 2-hour-long scenic ride down the Oi River starts from ¥6000/person. The boat will take you to Arashiyama, Togetsukyo Bridge.
Afternoon – Arashiyama
- After arriving at Arashiyama, walk to the Okochi Sanso Garden. This mansion once belonged to a famous actor and now you can enter for ¥1000, receive complimentary tea and sweets, and enjoy the stunning views from the garden.
- Continue your journey towards North Arashiyama and visit the quiet Gioji Temple. It has a beautiful moss garden.
- I recommend having lunch at Jurakuan, a small tucked-away place run by a very nice old lady. This lovely traditional place in a 165-year-old building offers various types of soba and udon. If it seems quiet try to ring the bell, they are open!
- Walk further northwest on the Saga Toriimoto preserved traditional street towards Adashino Nenbutsu-ji temple and Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple.
- Check out Ayu-no-Yado Tsutaya traditional restaurant on the way to Otagi Nenbutsuji, it is open until 6.30 PM.
Day 3
All day – Mt. Atago
- Hike up to Mt. Atago to visit the quiet Atago Shrine. You can find various hike routes, I recommend this 9.3km long loop route from AllTrails, it takes around 5 hours.
- There are beautiful temples that you can visit during this hike including Jingo-ji Temple, Kozan-ji Temple, and Saimyo-ji Temple.
Planning to visit Tokyo as well?
–> The best 3-day Tokyo itinerary options
#3 Best 3-day Kyoto itinerary off the beaten path
This 3-day Kyoto itinerary is for those who want to avoid the most crowded places and popular sights and aim for quieter hidden gems including small family-owned restaurants and shrines tucked away in the mountains. I excluded the main sights such as Kiyomizu-Dera and Fushimi Inari Taisha from this itinerary, therefore it is ideal for people who already visited Kyoto.
Day 1
Morning & Afternoon – Kurama-dera & Kifune Shrine
- Spend the day at Mount Kurama. Take the Eizan Kurama line to Kurama Station to climb Mount Kurama. On the way visit Kurama-dera and walk to Kifune Shrine. This AllTrails route shows the 1.8km walk from Kurama-dera to Kifune Shrine.
Evening – Yasaka Shrine
- If you have energy left & would like to have a nice evening walk in more central Kyoto after resting in your hotel a bit, I recommend visiting Yasaka Shrine after dark. It is open 24/7 unlike most of the temples and shrines in Kyoto and looks beautiful lit up by lanterns.
Day 2
Morning – Take-no-Michi & Ancient Tombs
- If you would like to take a walk in a bamboo grove, but hate the crowds, don’t go to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, go to Take-no-michi Bamboo Path. Walk around in the nearby Kyoto City Rakusai Bamboo Park.
- Then head to Muko Shrine, a quiet shrine mostly visited by locals, it takes approximately 25 minutes to get there on foot from Take-no-Michi. Stroll in the surrounding Katsuyama Park, where you can find an ancient keyhole-shaped tomb from the late 3rd century called Motoinari Ancient Tomb.
- Even if you are aiming for the quieter places, it is hard to leave the Gion and the surrounding areas out of an itinerary. However, there are quieter places to visit in this popular area as well. Take the Hankyu-Kyoto Line from Nishi-Muko Station to Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (40 mins). Walk to Kennin-ji temple, a less popular, but beautiful temple with a zen garden. It is considered to be the birthplace of Zen, it was the first Zen temple built in Kyoto in 1202.
- Walk from Kennin-ji to Yogen-in temple (20 mins), another less popular, but very interesting sight. Yogen-in is famous for the so-called blood ceiling. The blood ceiling has parts from the bloody floor of Fushimi Castle where Mototada Torii and other samurai warriors committed ritual suicide at the end of an 11-day siege in 1600. Their refusal to surrender Fushimi Castle impacted Japanese history as it gained time for Tokugawa Ieyasu to gather his army and win the famous Battle of Sekigahara.
- If you have time, attend a tea ceremony in the Gion near one of these temples.
Day 3
Morning – Ruriko-in & Kuzuryu-Taisha
- Take the Eizan Main Line to Yase-Hieizanguchi station and walk to the beautiful and quiet Ruriko-in temple. Continue your walk along the Takano River, it takes 20 mins to get to another breathtaking hidden gem, the Kuzuryu-Taisha Shrine. This is a shrine built in the 20th century, in the Showa era and it has a special worship practice different from the usual bow twice, clap twice, pray, and bow once. In this shrine worshippers bow twice, then recite the mantra of Benizaten, pray, and then clap four times and bow twice.
- If you are a cat lover, definitely check out Nyan-nyan-ji, a cat cafe with a cute gift shop next to the Kuzuryu-Taisha Shrine. After another 20-minute walk, you will get to Yase Tenmangu Shrine.
- Turn back and take the bus from Furusato mae stop to Mikagebashi stop (33 mins) and walk to Shimogamo Shrine built next to the Mitarashi River. It is the shrine of exorcism and purification. There is a unique purification ritual held here on the first day of autumn, the Yatori ritual, when 50 skewers are placed in the Mitarashi Pond, and naked men go the the pond to fight with each other using the skewers.
- Near this shrine, there is a lovely teahouse called Kamo Mitarashi Chaya where you can buy traditional Japanese sweets as well.
#4 Best 3-day Kyoto itinerary for Traditional Japanese Culture enthusiasts
Kyoto has a lot to offer in terms of nature, but undoubtedly it is best known for its rich history, culture and heritage. This 3-day Kyoto itinerary is ideal for those who would like to immerse themselves in the traditional culture, history and heritage of Kyoto. This is a faster pace itinerary aiming to cover the as many traditionl sights and experiences as possible. It includes special experiences that you can’t miss such if you like Japanese traditional culture such as a kimono rental, geisha performance or a tea ceremony.
Day 1
Morning – Kimono Rental & Gion
- Start the day at a Kimono rental in Higayashima and walk in this beautiful old area in a Kimono.
- Check out my post on the best kimono rental in Kyoto to find the one suitable for you.
- Visit Kiyomizu-dera, Kodai-ji Temple, and the famous streets of Ninnenzaka, Sannenzaka, and Hanamikoji.
Afternoon – Tea Ceremony
- Attend a tea ceremony in the afternoon wearing the kimono. Don’t forget the return time and date of your rental kimonos.
Evening – Yasaka Shrine
- Yasaka Shrine is open 0-24 and lit up after dark, make sure to return for a night walk.
Day 2
Morning – Shimabara
- Explore Shimabara, the old red light district in Kyoto. Although it is quiet now, there is a lot to see and tons of history to explore. Start your day at the Nishi-Hoganji temple, then move to the nearby Sumiya Cultural Art Museum, where you can see the old halls where the geisha worked in the past and held banquets for their guests. Next to the museum, you can see the old gate of the red light district, the Shimabara-omon Gate.
Afternoon – Samurai & Ninja Museum
- Take the 32 City bus from Kyoto Research Park Mae to Shijo Kawaramachi stop and walk to the Samurai Ninja Museum. The basic ticket costs ¥3000 for an hour-long experience. You can dress up as a samurai and the guides will teach you how to throw ninja stars while telling you about the history of samurai and ninjas.
Evening – Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Finally, do a special night walk in the torii gate labyrinth of the majestic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. If you decide to hike up at least halfway you can enjoy a beautiful nightscape of Kyoto.
Day 3
Morning – Nijo Castle
- Start the day at Nijo Castle, built for the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603. This UNESCO World Heritage site is renowned for its architectural beauty and historical significance. I recommend spending at least 2 hours in the castle – it has beautiful gardens. You can download an official PDF guide made for the castle visitors here.
Afternoon – Gion
- Then move to Higashiyma ward and visit Kennin-ji, a beautiful Zen temple. It is considered to be the birthplace of Zen as it was the first Zen temple built in Kyoto in 1202.
- Attend a geisha afternoon tea or dinner show in the area to enjoy the breathtaking art of these performers.
#5 Best 3-day Kyoto itinerary for people with limited mobility
Traveling to Kyoto should be a joy for everyone, regardless of mobility challenges. However, planning for a trip with young kids or elderly parents is a different challenge. In this section, we put together a curated 3-day Kyoto itinerary tailored to cater to individuals with limited mobility. This plan is ideal for people who can’t hike or walk too much a day. The itinerary below is designed to cover the best of Kyoto with minimal walk and travel included.
Day 1
Morning – Kimono Rental & Gion
- Start the day at a Kimono rental in Higayashima and walk in this beautiful old area in a Kimono.
- Check out my post on the best kimono rental in Kyoto to find the one suitable for you.
- Visit to Kiyomizu-dera, Kodai-ji Temple, and the famous streets of Ninnenzaka, Sannenzaka, and Hanamikoji.
Afternoon – Tea Ceremony
- Attend a tea ceremony performed by a geisha in the afternoon wearing the kimono. Don’t forget the return time and date of your rental kimonos.
Day 2
Morning – Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Start the day at Fushimi Inari Taisha, the most famous Shinto Shrine. Don’t hike up Mount Inari, but check out the start of the beautiful torii gate tunnels.
Afternoon – Tofuku-ji Temple
- Walk to Tofuku-ji temple and check out its breathtaking garden. On the way to Tofuku-ji explore Inari Saryo Cafe. After visiting Tokufu-ji walk across the Tofuku-ji Tsutenkyo Bridge and finish your day at Shorin-ji temple.
Day 3
Morning – Shimabara
- Explore Shimabara, the old red light district in Kyoto. Although it is quiet now, there is a lot to see and tons of history to explore. Start your day at the Nishi-Hoganji temple, then move to the nearby Sumiya Cultural Art Museum, where you can see the old halls where the geisha worked in the past and held banquets for their guests. Next to the museum, you can see the old gate of the red light district, the Shimabara-omon Gate. Get to Nijo Castle by taking the 9 City Bus from Nishihoganji-mae stop to Nijojo-mae stop.
Afternoon – Nijo Castle & Manga Museum
- Spend the afternoon at Nijo Castle, built for the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603. This UNESCO World Heritage site is renowned for its architectural beauty, gardens, and historical significance. You can download an official PDF guide made for the castle visitors here. I recommend to spend at least 2 hours here and relax in the beautiful gardens.
- Finish your day with a visit to the Kyoto International Manga Museum. Everyone can find something interesting here and sit down to read or just marvel at the huge collection of vintage and contemporary mangas. Take the 15 City Bus from Horikawa Oike stop to Karsum Oike stop to get to the museum.
