2 days Kyoto Itinerary: What to see in Kyoto in 2 days
Kyoto is undoubtedly the most beautiful Japanese city. Following our 2 days Kyoto itinerary will give you a chance to enjoy the magnificent temples, enchanting gardens, the many Unesco World Heritage sites, and so much more!
That’s why we have done the hard work for you and put together a 2 days in Kyoto itinerary: both efficient and non-stressful!
At a quick glance: 3 must-do’s in Kyoto
In this 2 days Kyoto itinerary, we recommend you to see all of these places!
- Kiyomizu-dera temple
- Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion
- Ryoan-ji
- Northern Higashiyama district – Ginkaku-ji or Silver Pavilion
- Philosopher’s Path
- Gion
- Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Arashiyama bamboo grove
- Iwatayama Monkey park
- Togetsu-Kyo bridge
Let’s see what everything you can do in Kyoto in just two days! And believe us, you will be really amazed!
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What everything you can see in Kyoto in 2 days
Since you have just 2 days in Kyoto, you have to be quite efficient with exploring, and we will make sure that you will definitely become with this Kyoto Itinerary.
With more than 1600 Buddhist temples and over 400 Shinto shrines, as well as gardens, parks, markets and tempting culinary delights, these two days in Kyoto will be as busy as they’ll be splendid.
Just as a note – if you arrive in Kyoto by following our Japan 10 day itinerary, you’ll have two and a half days in Kyoto. In this case, we recommend starting your visit with the beautiful Kiyomizu-dera temple with its eye-catching 13m tall wooden stage supporting the front façade of the temple.
Getting to Kiyomizu dera from Kyoto
We recommend taking bus no. 100, the bus stop is just outside the northern side of the railway station (to be precise, the platform is D1). The bus ticket should cost you just 230 YEN!
As a fun fact, during the Edo period, there was a belief that leaping off this stage meant your wish would be granted. Well, we definitely do not recommend trying that nowadays – otherwise your wish to enjoy the rest of this 2 days Kyoto itinerary might remain, ironically, just a wish.
Southern Higashiyama is best explored on feet – after being amazed by Kiyomizu-dera, just walk at a leisurely pace through the picturesque old streets where you’ll feel like in ancient Japan and discover for yourself all the gems this place offers – numerous temples, cozy teashops and romantic streets.
To top it off, watch a beautiful sunset with a photogenic Yasaka Pagoda in the background.
If you have just 2 days in Kyoto, you can visit Kiyomizu-dera in the morning of the first day.
Remember, Kiyomizu-dera is open daily from 6 am to 6 pm (opening hours are extended to 6:30pm on certain days during summer, and until 9 pm during night illumination), and entrance fee is 500 YEN, and if you are student, you get yourself a discount at 200 YEN.
First Day in Kyoto: Kinkakuji, Ryoanji, Ginkaku-ji, Philosopher’s Path, and Gion
Let’s start the day in a shiny way – visiting the ever-so-shining and iconic Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion. Set in a magnificent Japanese garden, the golden structure of this Zen Buddhist temple reflects beautifully in the pond. It looks simply stunning and it really is so damn shiny you’ll need sunglasses 😊.
Kinkaku-ji is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Entrance fee in 2024 is 500 YEN, and 300 YEN for children.
Enough of shiny gold? Let’s move on to Ryoan-ji with its mysterious rock garden with 15 scattered rocks and no plants. Let your imagination run wild to interpret the meaning of the garden.
If you haven’t managed to visit the Kiyomizu-dera yet, then we’d recommend skipping Ryoan-ji and going to the temple instead.
For the afternoon, let’s make our way to the northern Higashiyama district. Ginkaku-ji or Silver Pavilion with its stupendous garden is waiting to be explored.
From there, follow the Philosopher’s Path winding its way southwards, discovering the various gems for yourself such as Honen-in Temple and finishing in famous Gion at around sunset.
Will you be lucky to spot a geisha in this traditional district?
Getting around Kyoto
Take a bus to the shiny Kinkaku-ji temple. Several buses run there from various places in Kyoto – 12, 59, 101, 102, 111, 204, 205.
For Ryoanji – walk from Kinkakuji. Then walk back to Kinkaju-ji and take bus no. 102 or 204 to Ginkaku-ji.
Remember, all buses in Kyoto cost 230 YEN for adults, and 120 YEN for kids under 12 years.
Second Day in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine and Torii gates, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Togetsu-Kyo bridge, and Iwatayama Monkey park
Let’s start your second day in Kyoto at another unique place – Fushimi Inari Shrine.
This magnificent shrine with thousands of vermilion torii gates is one of the most iconic sights not only in Kyoto but in the whole of Japan. The numerous torii gates form sort of arcades and wind their way uphill from the site of the shrine towards Mount Inari.
Did you know that each of these gates was donated as an offering by an individual or business, with the larger the gate, the larger the donation?
Walking through these mysterious arcades makes not only for a pleasant stroll but also for an absolutely unforgettable fairy-tale-like experience. And as a reward for the uphill stroll, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view of Kyoto from the top.
After lunch, head to the Arashiyama district. Arashiyama was a former vacation spot for the emperors and it still retains a very pleasant atmosphere.
Visit the awe-inspiring Tenryuji temple, enjoy a relaxing walk through the mystical Arashiyama bamboo grove and get amused by the utterly photogenic and slightly cheeky macaques in the Iwatayama Monkey Park, which also offers a superb vista of Kyoto. It’s actually one of the most Instagrammable places in Kyoto.
To get to the Monkey Park, you’ll have to cross the Togetsu-Kyo Bridge, which is a landmark of the Arashiyama district. It offers some amazing views of the surrounding mountains.
If you still have some time to spare, perhaps hop on the Sagano Scenic Railway for a 25-minute sightseeing trip along the picturesque Hozugawa River valley, taking a cruise back to Arashiyama in the traditional Edo-era boat.
Getting around
To get to Fushimi Inari Shrine, take the JR Nara Line to station Inari. It’s a short 5-minute journey, with about 4 services an hour. We don’t quite remember the price, but it should be less than 100 YEN. Also, remember, only local trains go there.
For Arashiyama – take the JR Sagano Line, from Kyoto station to Saga-Arashiyama station.
If you wish to hop on the Sagano Scenic railway, the train departs from the station just adjacent to JR Saga-Arashiyama station (the station is called Saga Torokko station). The journey takes just 17 minutes, and you should pay 240 YEN.
For the way back, you may use the same train or, even better, book a Hozugawa river boat ride, lasting about 2 hours. The boats depart from the boarding site which is about a 10-minute’ drive by bus or taxi or a 30-minute walk from the scenic railway’s terminus (Kameoko Torokko station).
Planning your 2 days Kyoto Itinerary
Well, planning is often so hard, that you don’t even know where to start, and end. With so much beautiful things to see, and do in the area. Let’s see how you can plan your own perfect itinerary.
Are 2 days in Kyoto enough?
Honestly, there is so much to do and so much to see in Kyoto that the more time you can spend there, the better. Kyoto is a rather big city, so just the transfer from one place to the other can take quite some time. But still, we believe you will see really a lot if you go according to our 2 days Kyoto Itinerary.
2 days is the minimum time to see the highlights of the city, while 2 and half days will allow you to spend the time at a bit more leisurely pace, and anything above that will give you a chance to add extra things to your Kyoto itinerary.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
Like for the rest of Japan, the best time to visit Kyoto depends on what you’d like to experience.
Basically, we can say that the best time to visit Kyoto would be from late March to May, as that’s usually when the cherry blossom season is. On the other hand, from September to November, the weather in Kyoto is mildest. Also, remember, that these top seasons are bringing a lot of tourists to Kyoto, so be prepared for more expensive hotels. If you want to skip the lanes, crowds are smaller in summer and winter.
So, well, choose the best time to visit Kyoto is after all totally up to you, and depends on what you want to see in Kyoto.
The exact times for cherry blossoms and autumn foliage, of course, depend on the weather.
You definitely won’t be alone in the streets and parks of Kyoto if you visit during these times, but hey, those blooming sakura and red and crimson maple leaves do look wonderful.
As I said, in winter and summer, Kyoto is going to be less full of tourists, but it will be rather cold in winter and sweltering hot, humid, and possibly rainy in summer. If the weather doesn’t bother you, it might be rather nice to visit in these seasons!
Where to stay in Kyoto?
Since our 2 days Itinerary in Kyoto does not leave too much time to waste, it’s better to stay somewhere central. Some of the most popular places are Gion and Kyoto station areas. There are many great options for every taste and budget – from capsule hotels to Ryokans.
Stay in Gion for some incredible temples, historic atmosphere, good food, and nightlife, but keep in mind that it’s a very popular place for tourists.
Kyoto station area will offer you easy access to transportation and plenty of good food, but not so much to see (although this is Kyoto we’re talking about, so sightseeing is not far away).
We personally stayed in the Smile Hotel Kyoto Shijo and can recommend it. Although it’s not in either Gion or the station area, it’s still conveniently located, there’s plenty of food around, and public transport is nearby (Kyoto train station is just a couple of subway stops away). Anyway, I prepared for you a list of best three places to stay in Kyoto, according to your budget. And if you’re more into where to stay in Kyoto, we prepared the whole article about this topic.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hotel Granvia Kyoto
✔️ Perfect location – in Kyoto station
✔️ Good price
What to eat in Kyoto?
Kyoto is an excellent place to try just about anything from Japanese cuisine. So, whether you are heading for famous Kaiseki or Tofu, which are really popular in Kyoto, you should definitely at least once try them. We even prepared a whole article where you will find out more information about what to eat in Kyoto, and check some popular restaurants in Kyoto.
Make sure to not break any Japanese dining rules when going there!
What to pack to Kyoto?
We visited Kyoto in November, and it was around 20 degrees Celsius, so quite pleasant for walking. But, obviously, the clothes that you need will depend on the season, the weather, and yourself (for example, when it’s 20 degrees outside Michal is ok in a t-shirt and I might need a jacket…).
We’ve covered most of the things you need to have with you on the packing list for Japan.
Some important things to take with you are:
- comfortable shoes, as it’s going to be a lot of walking
- a travel bag for water, snacks, extra clothes, wallet, ID, camera… you get the idea.
- camera – you will definitely want to take pictures!
- If you’re travelling in spring or autumn, we definitely suggest packing layers of clothing, as the mornings and evenings might be colder, and during the day it can get quite warm. Plus, the Torii gates are winding their way uphill 😉
What are the opening hours of the temples and shrines in Kyoto?
There are around 2000 temples and shrines in Kyoto, which range from huge and famous UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples to small and intimate shrines.
The temples open mostly at around 8 or 9 am, with some opening even at 6am. The closing time ranges from 4pm to 6pm, with most of the temples closing around 5pm.
So, on average, you could say that the temples are open from 9am to 5pm. Of course, it’s better to check the specific opening hours of the temples that interest you the most!
There are some, mostly shrines, that are open 24 hours a day as well (for example, Fushimi Inari Taishi with the famous Torii gates)!
What are the entrance fees for Kyoto’s shrines and temples?
Again, since it’s so many temples and shrines, the prices differ. Most of them are below 1000 yen, and some are even free to enter. So, prepare well as you probably have only 2 days in Kyoto!
Opening hours and entrance fees to the temples from this Kyoto 2 day Itinerary
- Ryonan-ji opening hours and entrance fee:
- open: 8 am to 5 pm from March to November and 8:30am to 4:30pm from December to February
- entrance fee: 600 YEN for adults, High schools students for 500 YEN, and kids for 300 YEN.
- Ginkaku-ji or Silver pavilion opening hours and entrance fee:
- open: 8:30 am to 5 pm from March to November and 9 am to 4:30 pm from December to February
- entrance fee: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for children
- Fushimi Inari shrine opening hours and entrance fee:
- open: 24h
- entrance fee: none
- Tenryuji temple opening hours and entrance fee:
- open: 8:30 am to 5 pm (entry until 4:50 pm)
- entrance fee: 500 YEN (plus 300 YEN if you’d like to enter the temple buildings)
- Arashiyama bamboo forest opening hours and entrance fee:
- open: 24h
- entrance fee: free
- Iwatayama Monkey park opening hours and entrance fee:
- open: 9 am to 4 pm; closed on days with heavy rain or snow
- entrance fee: 600 YEN, under 15 year for 300 YEN
Getting around Kyoto during this 2 day itinerary
In this section, we will give you all the transportation information needed for getting around Kyoto while using this Kyoto 2 day itinerary.
How to get to Kyoto?
Depending on where you’re arriving from, the most convenient mode of transport to use will change. There are many options, but the preferred ones, in my opinion, would be either plane or train.
Check out the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to see any restrictions and visa information.
By train
It’s extremely convenient to travel all over Japan by train. It’s fast, comfortable, and relatively cheap if you have the Japan Rail Pass. Plus, riding a Shinkansen – the bullet train, which travels with speeds up to 300km/h, and even a bit higher on certain segments, it’s definitely a Japan bucket list experience!
We personally spent two and a half days in Kyoto, arriving at the cultural capital of Japan around lunchtime from Hiroshima, after spending approximately two hours on the supermodern Shinkansen and changing in Shin-Kobe. It’s the perfect way if you’re following our 10-day Japan itinerary, and it gives you an extra afternoon in Kyoto as well! Win-win!
If you’re arriving from Tokyo (check also our Tokyo 2 days Itinerary), taking Shinkansen works as well, as the cities are only 3 hours apart and there are frequent services between them. If you are still considering buying a Japan Rail Pass, you definitely should as it would save you a lot of money.
By plane
If you plan to arrive in Kyoto by plane, the nearest airport is located in Osaka – the Kansai International Airport. From there then you can choose between a train, bus, or taxi to get to Kyoto. We recommend taking the train – the Haruka train, especially if you have a JR Pass, as it’s the fastest and most convenient way.
Getting around Kyoto city by public transport:
During your 2 days in Kyoto, you’ll be using Kyoto city buses and possibly metro to get to the places suggested in our Kyoto 2 day itinerary. You’ll also be using local JR trains to get to Arashiyama and Fushimi-Inari (convenient, as we have the Japan Rail pass).
You may either get individual tickets for each bus trip or a one-day (or two-day pass) for either bus only or bus and metro.
While our itinerary doesn’t require that many bus or metro trips to make the one-day pass worthwhile price-wise, it is still a convenient option as you don’t have to buy the ticket all the time with exact change and the difference is after all rather negligible (one-day pass for the bus is cheaper than individual tickets if making at least 3 journeys by bus; one-day pass for bus and metro is cheaper than individual tickets if making at least four trips a day).
For all the Kyoto city buses except bus 100, you get on the rear door and get off the front door, paying the driver when leaving.
For some reason, it is the opposite for bus 100, which is probably the most popular tourist route as it runs from Kyoto station to the southern and northern Higashiyama district.
The exact change is needed and there is a flat fare of 230 YEN (for stops within city limits). For the metro, you can buy tickets from the machines located at each station. The fare depends on the distance travelled.
The website of Kyoto city buses and subway has valuable information including route maps, types of tickets, and how to use the day passes (the timetables are only available in Japanese, however, the buses run often enough so one can do without a timetable).
We suggest you ask your hotel which would be the most convenient buses depending on the location of your hotel. You may also check the route map here.
Conclusion about the 2 days in Kyoto
It’s quite a lot to cover in Kyoto in 2 days, isn’t it? But it’s definitely worth it! We hope you find this 2 days in Kyoto itinerary helpful, and kindly leave us a comment section if you have anything to share, or just wanted to ask about anything. We will be so happy to provide an answer.
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