Kyoto is one of the most popular places to visit in Japan and with good reason! From beautiful temples to historic neighborhoods and the famous Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine, Kyoto is a magical city and a must-do on any Japan itinerary.
It’s not easy to choose from the many different things to do in Kyoto and narrow down a feasible Kyoto 2 day itinerary. That’s why I wrote this post, to help you make the most of your trip to Kyoto!
Kyoto 2 day itinerary and city guide
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Things to know before traveling to Kyoto
Spring (March/April) and autumn (October/November) are the best (but also the busiest) time to visit Kyoto. As summers are quite hot and very humid I wouldn’t recommend traveling to Kyoto between June and August.
If you don’t mind cold weather, winter can be a magical time to visit Kyoto and great discounts can be had on accommodation as this is low season.
The official currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (¥). Here you can find the current exchange rates, at the time of writing €1 is approximately 120¥ and $1 is around 110¥.
For over a thousand years, Kyoto was the capital of Japan and the seat of the Emperor. Because of this rich history, Kyoto is home to countless beautiful temples and shrines.
The cheapest (and easiest) way to travel around Kyoto is by bus, you can buy a Kyoto city bus all-day pass which costs ¥600 per ticket.
This all-day bus ticket gives you unlimited rides within the area on the bus map and that area covers pretty much all the major highlights in Kyoto! Read more on the Kyoto Station website.
The Kyoto bus station is located in front of the train station, this is also where you can find the bus ticket information center. The information center staff will gladly provide you with a city map and a bus map.
The best things to do in Kyoto
As the cultural capital of Japan, there are plenty of attractions to visit in Kyoto. In fact, there is so much to see that it can be difficult to decide where to go if you have only two days in Kyoto…
Below you can find my list of the best places to visit in Kyoto, it’s a mix of ancient temples and other Kyoto highlights, and will help you plan an awesome Kyoto sightseeing itinerary. You can download this list at the end of the post.
Map of the perfect 2 day Kyoto itinerary
You can find the interactive map here
The 10 best things to do in Kyoto in 2 days
- Wander through Ayashima Bamboo Forest
- Walk the Philosophers Path
- Visit the Honen-in and Nanzen-ji Zen Buddhist temples
- Stroll through the streets of historic Gion
- Explore Pontocho street
- Marvel at the Kinkakuji Temple (the Golden Pavilion)
- Buy quirky foods at Nishiki market
- Have a picnic in the Imperial Palace Park
- Climb to the top of Kyoto station
- Walk under the thousands of vermilion Torii gates at Inari Fukushi
Kyoto itinerary day 1
Wander through Ayashima Bamboo Forest
My advice to avoid the crowds in Ayashima Bamboo Forest?
Get up early.
Very early…
In the early morning (before most tourist arrive) Ayashima Bamboo Forest is a really nice and relaxing place! I had never seen a bamboo forest before in my life, it was very different from the forests in my home country the Netherlands.
It was lovely to walk around and have the place pretty much to ourselves. But as more and more people arrived, we headed to our next destination.
Walk the Philosophers Path
Let your mind wander while walking the Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku-no-Michi in Japanese).
You can find this lovely pedestrian street in Northern Higashiyama, when we were here it was surprisingly quiet! Walking through this green tunnel I almost felt like I was in a small village instead of a city with 1,5 million inhabitants.
Visit the Honen-in temple (and garden)
Along the Philosophers Path, you can find many temples. We visited one of those temples, the Honen-in temple. I particularly loved the garden, it was so green!
Visit Nanzen-ji Zen Buddhist temple
Ginkakuji temple is more famous than Nanzen-ji, however, there are also a lot more people at Ginkakuji which is why I recommend to visit Nanzen-ji instead.
Nanzen-ji is a beautiful temple that was founded in 1291. The wooden structures are impressive and made with incredible attention to detail.
Stroll through the streets of historic Gion
Subsequently, head to Gion, the historic district of Kyoto. You can easily spend a few hours getting lost in the quaint little streets lined with old (wooden) buildings!
This is Kyoto’s geisha district and if you are lucky you may see a geisha as she walks to her appointment. A common but severe misconception is that geishas are prostitutes, which most certainly isn’t true! In fact, geishas are highly respected in Japan and it’s very difficult to become one.
There are many cafes, restaurants, and traditional teahouses in Gion as well. It’s best to visit as night begins to fall, small lanterns will be lit everywhere and it will feel like you’ve stepped into another world.
Visit Pontocho street
Don’t forget to pay a visit to Pontocho street, one of the most atmospheric streets in Gion. Pontocho Street is a narrow street running from Shijo-Dori to Sanjo-Dori and lined with beautiful wooden buildings.
If you have more time in Kyoto, also visit the Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This World Heritage site on Mount Otowa offers magnificent views over Kyoto.
Or, if you only have a day, check out this one day Kyoto itinerary to make the most of your limited time in this beautiful Japanese city.
Kyoto itinerary day 2
Marvel at the Kinkakuji temple (the Golden Pavilion)
Another relatively early start, as you want to make sure to be at Kinkakuji temple on time. Kinkakuji is also known as the Golden Pavilion and definitely a Kyoto highlight.
We arrived at 8.30 am and even though the gates only open at 9 am, a crowd had already gathered! At 9 am exactly (the Japanese are very punctual!) the gates were opened and we got to admire the beautiful Golden Pavilion.
While Kinkakuji Temple is the main attraction, the surrounding gardens are lovely as well. Make sure to allow yourself plenty of time to stroll through the beautiful and typical Japanese gardens.
Buy quirky foods at Nishiki market
Be prepared when visiting the Nishiki Market, I was astonished by the number of strange and unfamiliar foods on display. I still don’t know what the food in the left picture is, perhaps sea cucumbers?
In any case, be sure to try out some samples handed out by the vendors and to buy some snacks for a picnic at the next stop on your Kyoto itinerary!
The Imperial Palace Park
Visit the Imperial Palace Park, a nice green area where you will see many Japanese families having a picnic or play with their children.
This is a great place to eat the snacks you bought at the Nishiki market and relax for a bit before continuing your Kyoto travel itinerary.
Admire the view over Kyoto (and the Kyoto Tower)
Kyoto station
Kyoto station is the second-largest station in Japan and an imposing structure! This beautiful building was finished in 1997 and commemorates Kyoto’s 1200th anniversary. Almost 125.000 people pass through Kyoto station on a daily basis!
Make sure to go up to the roof of the Kyoto station, you will have a great view of the city and of the Kyoto tower in front of the station.
Walk under the thousands of vermilion Torii gates at Inari Fukushi
One of Kyoto’s must-do activities is visiting the famous Inari Fukushi shrine, known for its thousand vermilion Torii gates.
Following the path below the Torii gates is something I had been dreaming about since I booked our tickets to Japan. It was indeed very special to walk below the many gates… Definitely a highlight of our Kyoto trip!
To avoid most of the crowds, visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Also, if you hike to the top of the mountain (2-3 hour return) you will lose most tourists within the first hundred meters of the trail and have all the intriguing vermilion gates to yourself.
Kyoto on a budget
A Kyoto holiday doesn’t have to break the bank, it’s definitely possible to visit Kyoto on a budget. My husband and I spent an average of ¥9410/€75/$85 per day for us as a couple. Our expenses in Kyoto are divided into 4 categories:
- Airbnb accommodation: 37% of our costs
- Transport by bus: 11% of our costs
- Food & drinks: 49% of our costs
- Activities: 3% of our costs (the only activity we paid for was Kinkakuji temple which levies an entrance fee of ¥400 per person, the rest of the activities we did were free!)
Where to stay in Kyoto
We stayed at Mi’s via Airbnb for 2 nights but unfortunately, this Airbnb is no longer available. However, definitely check out this lovely Airbnb or this traditional Ryokan.
Less than €50 a night: OYO 43949 Carta Hotel Kyoto Gion
This clean and modern hotel in Gion offers comfortable beds, a private bathroom with a Japanese toilet (yes, one with lots of buttons) and friendly staff. The hotel is centrally located and there is a bus stop just a few steps from the hotel.
All this will only cost you just under €50 a night! Not bad for a three-star hotel in one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations. Be sure to book in time, as the hotel is often sold out.
Click here to book a room now!
Less than €100 a night: the B Kyoto Shijo
The B Kyoto Shijo opened in 2018 and this stylish hotel is an excellent place to stay in Kyoto. It’s only a 3-minute walk to Omiya Station and Shijo Omiya Station and across the hotel, there is a bus stop, making it very easy to get around the city.
Rooms are spacious, have spotlessly clean bathrooms and are nonsmoking (which surprisingly isn’t always the case in Japan). The is a coin laundry (second floor) and free coffee is available in the lobby.
Click here to book a room now!
Where to eat in Kyoto
I spent a lot of time in Japan eating because Japanese food is absolutely delicious… Below you can find some of the dishes I ate during my time in Kyoto. I have to admit we had a craving for Indian food while we were in Kyoto and ended up eating Indian for lunch two days in a row…
Abura soba
Where to eat this: Aburasoba Nekomata, 〒605-0862 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Higashiyama-ku, 清水４丁目１３８, +81 75-551-5088
Price: ¥700
Where to eat this: Kerala, 〒604-8006 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Nakagyō-ku, Shimomaruyachō (Kawaramachidōri)
Price: ¥900 for the set lunch menu
Where to eat this: Ganesha, 〒603-8357 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Kita-ku, Hirano Miyanishichō
Price: ¥900 for the set lunch menu
Ramen
Where to eat this: 14 Hirano Miyakitachō, Kita-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 603-8352, +81 75-462-3737
Price: ¥600 (+ optional toppings, between ¥50 – ¥100)
What to do in Kyoto: in conclusion
I hope I have convinced you to visit Kyoto in 2 days, it’s a wonderful city and definitely worth a trip! Though admittedly, you could easily spend a week in Kyoto if you have the time, there is much more to see and do…
Do you want to read more about traveling in Japan? Also read my other Japan posts:
- 1 month in Japan
- Japan on a budget
- Japan off the beaten track
- What to pack for Japan
- Driving on Hokkaido
- Hokkaido itinerary
- Tokyo itinerary
- Osaka itinerary
- Hiroshima itinerary
- Japanese Alps itinerary
- Kanazawa to Shirakawago
- Takayama to Shirakawago
- Kamikochi itinerary
- Things to do on Miyajima
- The Koyasan Choishi Michi Pilgrimage Trail
- Weird things in Japan
This post has been updated in December 2019.
Mike
I’m heading to Kyoto in 2 days and love this guide! Very useful info and thanks for the budget breakdown too because I’m having a hard time figuring out how much to bring
Lotte
Hi Mike, arigatou gozaimasu (thank you very much) for your kind comment! I am happy to hear you like my Kyoto guide:-). Have fun on your trip!
Sadie
I was just in Japan for 2 weeks back in Nov and absolutely loved Kyoto. It was such a breath of fresh air after being in Tokyo for 3 days! And Gion is the best!! Great photos! It made me miss Japan.
Lotte
Gion is awesome! I am plotting to go back to Japan, I loved the country, the people and the food… What is your favorite place in Japan?
Patrick
I love Kyoto and have been there many times. This is a great post! I don’t agree on everything but that’s unavoidable when you talk about a city with so much to do and see. I personally don’t like to use buses to move around the city. They are cheap, sure, but often so crowded and very, very slow. I really like to move around Kyoto on a bicycle! And on foot (for shorter distances)!
Lotte
I agree the buses take a long time, but because it was my first time in Kyoto I didn’t mind as I found it a great way to do some sightseeing:-). We also walked around a lot, but for longer distances a bike would be perfect! As a Dutchie I’m used to cycling everywhere anyway;-).
Soufiane
Great article Lotte, really helpful and informative! Thumbs up:-)
Lotte
Great itinerary! Kyoto is such a beautiful city…
Danial
We went to Kyoto last spring and absolutely adored it! You’re really lucky to enjoy Arashiyama Bamboo Forest so early in the morning – it was teeming with people when we were there.
Lotte
Kyoto is pretty great indeed! Yes, I’m glad we set our alarm very early to see Arashiyama before the flood of other tourist arrived;-)