One Day in Kyoto: Where Should You Start?

One day means cutting the list in half

The guide recommends 3 to 4 days for Kyoto. There is so much to see that trying to cover it all in a day mostly means time on the move. A better one-day plan splits the city into east and west and picks just one side.

Plan around temple hours. Many temples and shrines close around 5 pm, with last entry earlier. Put the busy and paid sights in the morning and early afternoon, and save the evening for street walks and markets that don't close on you.

Fushimi Inari Taisha and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove are free but very crowded by midday, so the guide suggests going early. Starting your day with one of them makes the rest of the route easier.

• Kyoto travel guide →

Where are you starting from? Osaka, a Kyoto hotel or the airport

On a day trip from Osaka, the Hankyu, Keihan, JR and other lines reach Kyoto in 30 minutes to an hour. Each line leaves from a different station (Umeda, Namba, etc.), so check the official route to your first stop the night before.

Staying in Kyoto gives you a much freer start. The Kyoto Station area is the easiest base, where airport trains, buses and railways all meet. Arashiyama is close to the bamboo grove and great for early mornings, though it is about 30 minutes by train from the center.

If you head straight to Kyoto from Kansai Airport, remember Kyoto has no airport of its own. The times and fares below are the guide's ranges; check official transport information for exact fares and timetables.

• Limited express train (Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station, no change): about 1 hr 20 min, about 2,000-3,600 yen depending on the ticket
• Airport limousine bus (to Kyoto Station): about 1 hr 30 min, about 2,500-3,000 yen; traffic can cause delays
• Trains via Osaka: about 1 hr 40 min-2 hr; check official fares

• Osaka travel guide →
• Incheon → Osaka Kansai route info →

East side: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, then Gion

On a first visit, if you want classic Kyoto scenery, the east side suits you best. It is the guide's Day 1 compressed into your one day. Start early at Fushimi Inari Taisha, where thousands of red torii gates wind up the mountain. It is an outer sight, so JR or a private railway beats the bus.

In the afternoon, visit Kiyomizu-dera (paid), famous for its wooden stage over the hillside, then walk down the old Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka lanes. With closing times in mind, don't leave Kiyomizu-dera too late.

End with an evening walk through Gion and Hanamikoji, lined with old teahouses. Some lanes are private with no entry or photography, so follow the signs, and don't photograph geiko or maiko up close without permission.

West side: Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, then Nishiki Market

If you prefer nature and gardens, go west. This is the guide's Day 2. Walk the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and riverside early in the morning; the grove is free but packed by midday. Arashiyama is also an outer area, so JR or a private railway is faster than the bus.

In the afternoon, head to Kinkaku-ji (paid), the gold-leaf pavilion reflected in its pond. The route through the gardens is one-way, so it takes less time than you might expect.

Come back into the center for Nishiki Market and Kawaramachi in the evening. Many market stalls ask you not to eat while walking, so eat at the stall before moving on.

• Spare time or bad weather: Nijo Castle (paid, large, allow 1-2 hours), easy on the Tozai subway line
• In cherry blossom or autumn season: the canal-side Philosopher's Path and nearby Ginkaku-ji are good options

Getting between areas: don't rely on buses

Kyoto's city buses reach nearly every temple and shrine, but they are packed and slow in peak season. On a one-day trip, time lost on buses hurts the most, so mix in the subway, JR and private railways.

The subway has two lines: the north-south Karasuma Line and the east-west Tozai Line, handy for Kyoto Station, Shijo and Nijo Castle. For outer sights such as Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama, JR or private railways are faster.

One IC card (ICOCA and others) works on trains, subways, buses and at convenience stores, and most Japanese IC cards can be used. Central Kyoto is mostly flat and good for cycling, but park only in designated areas. Old lanes are best on foot.

• Japan's IC cards: Suica, PASMO, ICOCA →

Food, budget and cash for the day

For lunch near the temples, try yudofu, Kyoto's classic tofu dish (set meals about 2,000-4,000 yen), or an obanzai set of seasonal home-style dishes (about 1,200-2,500 yen). For something lighter, nishin soba with sweet herring is about 1,200-1,800 yen. In the afternoon, take a break with a matcha parfait (about 1,000-2,000 yen).

Per person per day, budget about 8,000-10,000 yen with a guesthouse, buses and simple meals, or about 18,000-25,000 yen with a hotel, entry fees and restaurant meals. Some small shops and temple ticket counters are cash only, so carry some yen.

If you stay a night in Kyoto, a separate accommodation tax applies. Check your booking and official information for the amount.

• Most beautiful: late March to early April (cherry blossoms), mid-November to early December (autumn colors); very crowded with higher hotel prices
• June-July is the rainy season; July-August is very hot and humid
• Winter is cold but quieter
• Check official Japanese government information on entry procedures before you travel

• Osaka in 4 days (with a Kyoto day trip) →

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