Kyoto itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · JapanJune–September
- Days
- 7
- Stops
- 35
- Per day
- ≈ ¥11,000
- First stop
- 07:00
Short answer
The TripWalkers Kyoto itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 35 stops, hour by hour, for June–September. The first three days:
- Day 1 Higashiyama & Gion
- Day 2 Fushimi Inari & Uji
- Day 3 Arashiyama
Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Day 5 is a day trip out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about ¥11,000 a day (excluding accommodation and flights).
Day 1 · 08:00–18:30
Higashiyama & Gion
Culture
Kiyomizu-dera
Wooden terrace built without a single nail; empty at 08:00. Try the three streams of Otowa waterfall, and look out for the spring and autumn night openings.
≈ ¥500 per personLandmark
Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka
Preserved stone-stepped lanes; stop at the tatami-floored Starbucks and sample yatsuhashi (cinnamon sweets).
FreeCulture
Kodai-ji
Zen garden and bamboo grove; the temple of Hideyoshi's widow.
≈ ¥600 per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Nishiki Market
"Kyoto's Kitchen", a 400-year-old market: tamagoyaki (rolled omelette), yuba (tofu skin) and pickles. No eating while walking. Allow for 2 streets.
≈ ¥1,500 per person- 3 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Gion Hanamikoji
The geisha district: Shirakawa canal, and between 17:30 and 18:00 the maiko head to work. Follow the photo rules; private lanes are off limits.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Omen NishikiUdon, right by Nishiki.
- Yasaka ShrineGion's shrine and Maruyama Park; lanterns glow at night.
Day 2 · 07:00–16:30
Fushimi Inari & Uji
Culture
Fushimi Inari Taisha
10,000 red torii gates; empty at 07:00. It's 45 minutes to the Yotsutsuji viewpoint (2.5 hours for the full loop). Open 24 hours.
Free- 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Byodo-in Uji
The Phoenix Hall from the 10 yen coin; 15 minutes on the JR Nara line, museum included.
≈ ¥700 per personFood
Nakamura Tokichi Uji
A tea house since 1854: matcha soba and parfait, expect a queue, and try the Uji matcha tasting.
≈ ¥1,500 per personNature
Uji River & Ujigami Shrine
Japan's oldest shrine and the riverbank; tea shops along the way.
Free- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Fushimi Sake District Gekkeikan
Sake breweries along the canal; the Gekkeikan Okura Museum includes 3 tastings.
≈ ¥600 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Tofuku-jiZen garden and the Tsutenkyo bridge (autumn); an alternative to Uji.
- Tsuen Tea UjiThe world's oldest tea house, since 1160; at the foot of the bridge.
Day 3 · 07:30–14:45
Arashiyama
Nature
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
A corridor of bamboo; crowded after 08:00, so enter through Tenryu-ji's north gate.
FreeCulture
Tenryu-ji
UNESCO-listed Zen temple; Sogenchi garden with its borrowed mountain scenery.
≈ ¥500 per person- 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Togetsukyo Bridge & Katsura River
The "Moon Crossing Bridge"; boat rides and hills of cherry and maple.
FreeFood
Arashiyama Yoshimura Soba
Soba with a view of the bridge; tempura too.
≈ ¥1,500 per personNature
Iwatayama Monkey Park
Macaque monkeys on the mountaintop; a 20-minute climb with city views.
≈ ¥600 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Sagano Romantic TrainTrain through the Hozugawa valley; Torokko Saga, an alternative to the monkeys (stunning in autumn).
- % Arabica ArashiyamaCoffee on the riverbank; expect a queue.
Day 4 · 09:00–19:00
North: Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji & Nijo
Culture
Kinkaku-ji
The Golden Pavilion; opens at 09:00, reflected in the pond. The loop takes 30 minutes.
≈ ¥500 per personCulture
Ryoan-ji
Zen garden of 15 stones; sit quietly and you'll only see 14 of them.
≈ ¥600 per personCulture
Ninna-ji
Five-storey pagoda and the late-blooming Omuro cherry trees (April).
≈ ¥800 per person- 1 h · travel, break, free time
Culture
Nijo Castle
The shogun's palace; the "nightingale floors" squeak, plus the Ninomaru garden. Closed Tuesdays in some months.
≈ ¥1,300 per person- 2 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Honke Owariya
Soba since 1465; Kyoto's oldest restaurant.
≈ ¥1,800 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Ippudo NishikiRamen chain; quick.
- Kyoto Imperial PalaceThe imperial palace; free, an alternative to Nijo (closed Mondays).
Day 5 · 09:00–14:30Day trip
Nara
Nature
Nara Park Deer
35 minutes on the Kintetsu line (direct from Kyoto); 1,200 free-roaming deer, shika senbei (deer crackers) cost 200 yen, and the deer will bow to you.
≈ ¥200 per personCulture
Todai-ji Daibutsu
A 15 m bronze Buddha in the world's largest wooden building; try squeezing through the pillar hole.
≈ ¥800 per personCulture
Kasuga Taisha
A path lined with 3,000 stone lanterns, set in the forest.
≈ ¥500 per personFood
Nakatanidou Mochi
Lightning-fast mochi pounding show; try the yomogi (mugwort) mochi.
≈ ¥200 per personLandmark
Naramachi
Old merchant quarter; the Koshi-no-ie house and cafes.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Kamameshi Shizuka NaraRice cooked in an iron pot (kamameshi); next to the park.
- Isuien GardenA garden that borrows Todai-ji as its backdrop; an alternative to Naramachi.
Day 6 · 09:00–15:30
Philosopher's Path & Ginkaku-ji
Culture
Ginkaku-ji
The Silver Pavilion (it isn't actually silver); sand cone and moss garden.
≈ ¥500 per personNature
Philosopher's Path
A 2 km canal path: cherry blossom in April, maples in November, and cats.
Free- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Nanzen-ji
The Suirokaku aqueduct and Sanmon gate; Tenjuan garden.
≈ ¥600 per personFood
Okutan Nanzenji Yudofu
Simmered tofu (yudofu) beside the temple; open since 1635, with a quiet garden.
≈ ¥3,500 per personCulture
Heian Shrine
Giant red torii; the garden has weeping cherries in April.
≈ ¥600 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Blue Bottle Kyoto NanzenjiCoffee in a machiya (traditional townhouse); an alternative to the tofu.
- Kyoto National MuseumNational treasures; a rainy-day alternative to Heian Shrine.
Day 7 · 08:30–13:15
Pontocho morning and a gentle farewell
Nature
Kamo River Morning Walk
Along the riverbank; stepping stones between Sanjo and Shijo, and herons.
FreeLandmark
Pontocho Alley
A narrow geisha lane, quiet by day; kawayuka terraces in the evening (May to September).
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Shopping
Kyoto Station Isetan
Inside the station: a depachika (basement food hall) and yatsuhashi souvenirs; the rooftop Skyway is free.
FreeFood
Kyoto Ramen Koji
8 regional ramen shops on the station's 10th floor; a fitting farewell.
≈ ¥1,100 per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Kyoto Station Haruka Kansai
The Haruka express takes 75 minutes to Kansai; the bus to Itami takes 55 minutes.
≈ ¥1,800 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Kyoto Tower SandoFood street beneath the tower.
- To-jiJapan's tallest pagoda, next to the station; flea market on the 21st of each month.
Getting around: get an ICOCA + daily bus
Kyoto's bus network is extensive; the metro has only 2 lines; ICOCA works everywhere
Good to know: 6 things that make a Kyoto trip easier
- The bus costs 700 JPY a day (tourist routes are packed); metro plus bus is 1,100. ICOCA is the most practical option. Haruka from Kansai takes 75 minutes; JR from Osaka takes 30 minutes. Bike rental is 1,000 a day.
- Summer brings 33-36°C and humidity (Gion Matsuri on 17 July, Daimonji on 16 August); June means rain and hydrangeas; kawayuka river terraces; set out at 7 am.
- Temples cost 500-800 JPY in cash; no eating while walking in Nishiki; private lanes in Gion have been off limits since 2024, and don't stop maiko.
- Yudofu, kaiseki (10,000+), obanzai (Kyoto home cooking), matcha; ramen 1,000, teishoku (set meal) 1,200; no tipping, cards are becoming more common but carry cash.
- Kiyomizu, Fushimi and the Bamboo Grove before 08:00; Kinkaku-ji and Nara open at 09:00; check Nijo's closing days.
- Nara's deer eat paper and will bow; when the senbei is gone, show them your empty hands.
Spending: ≈ ¥77,000 per person for 7 days
- Food¥45,000
- Entry and tours¥15,000
- Local transport¥9,000
- Other¥8,000
Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.
On world lists: 1 place in this city
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Kyoto?
This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 5; skip it on a short stay.
How much does a day in Kyoto cost?
In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about ¥11,000 per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.
What time should you start the day in Kyoto?
The first stop is at 07:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.
Which season is this itinerary for?
This page covers June–September. There is a separate plan for October–May: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.