Destinations / Japan
Kyoto
Temples, gardens and backstreets best seen on foot and early in the day. Five days at an unhurried pace.
- Length5 days
- Best monthsMar–May, Oct–Nov
- TypeCultural journey
- Budgetfrom €780
Why Go
A thousand years of capital, at walking speed
Kyoto was the imperial capital for more than a thousand years, and it still holds the temples, gardens and wooden streets that time built. Most of them sit at the edges of the city, where the streets run out into forested hills.
The trick is not to see everything. This route takes one side of the city each day, starts early, and leaves the afternoons loose for tea, markets and wandering. A day trip to Nara rounds it off.
The Route
Day by day
Higashiyama and Gion
Start on the eastern hills. Visit Kiyomizu-dera and its wooden terrace above the city, walk down the old lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, and reach Yasaka Shrine and Gion as the lanterns come on.
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Sannenzaka
- Yasaka Shrine
- Gion
Fushimi Inari and the market
Be at Fushimi Inari soon after sunrise and climb through the tunnels of red gates while they are still quiet. Stop at Tofuku-ji for its gardens, then spend the afternoon eating your way along Nishiki Market.
- Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Tofuku-ji
- Nishiki Market
Arashiyama
Head west to the river and the hills. Walk the bamboo grove first, before the tour groups, then see the garden at Tenryu-ji and the villa of Okochi Sanso. Finish by the Togetsukyo Bridge.
- Bamboo grove
- Tenryu-ji
- Okochi Sanso
- Togetsukyo Bridge
The north and the castle
Three very different places in one day: the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji, the rock garden at Ryoan-ji, and Nijo Castle with its painted rooms and floors that sing underfoot.
- Kinkaku-ji
- Ryoan-ji
- Nijo Castle
Nara day trip
Under an hour by train. Walk through the deer park to Todai-ji and its great bronze Buddha, then follow the lantern-lined path to Kasuga Taisha. You are back in Kyoto for a last dinner.
- Nara Park
- Todai-ji
- Kasuga Taisha
Where to Stay
One base for all four nights
Downtown, near Kawaramachi
Central, with trains, the market and hundreds of places to eat on the doorstep. Gion is a short walk across the river.
Higashiyama
Wooden streets and temples outside your door, magical after dark. Quieter, pricier and further from the trains.
A night in a ryokan
Swap one hotel night for a traditional inn with tatami floors, a futon and a set dinner. Worth the extra cost once.
When to Go
Blossom or autumn leaves
Spring
Cherry blossom around the turn of April, then fresh green and mild days. Blossom weeks are the busiest of the year.
Autumn
Clear skies and red maples in the temple gardens, usually at their best in the second half of November.
Possible, with trade-offs
Summer is hot and very humid, with a rainy season in June. Winter is cold, quiet and good value.
Budget
What five days cost
An estimate for one person sharing a room, outside the peak blossom and autumn-leaf weeks. Flights to Japan are not included, and the exchange rate moves these figures, so check before you plan around them.
Practical Notes
Worth knowing before you go
Start early
The famous sights are calm before nine and crowded by eleven. Do the big one first, every day.
Trains before buses
City buses are slow and full in high season. Use the train and subway lines where you can, and walk the rest.
Respect Gion
Some private lanes are closed to visitors and photography is restricted. Never stop or photograph geiko and maiko in the street.
Shoes that slip off
You take your shoes off at many temples and inns. Wear ones that are easy to remove, and good socks.
Carry some cash
Cards work in most places, but small temples, old shops and some restaurants still take cash only.
Getting there
Kyoto has no airport. Fly to Kansai International near Osaka and take the direct train, or come by bullet train from Tokyo.
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