4 days in Kyoto is an ideal amount of time to explore this cultural hotspot of Japan. It is a city which is rich in history and tradition, ranging from beautiful golden temples to silent bamboo forests. I would go as far as saying that Kyoto is the place you want to visit on during your first visit to Japan; it perfectly encapsulates what it is to be Japanese.
I’ve written this post for first-time visitors, but also those of you who might want to return to this wonderful city. I’ve included everything you need to know for a fantastic 4 days in Kyoto, as well as my helpful top tips as somebody who has recently been here.
I hope that you enjoy it and find this post helpful.
4 Days in Kyoto for First-Time Visitors: Your Ultimate Itinerary
What to Know Before Planning
Kyoto is the culture heartland of Japan and the city is considered extremely sacred. You have some of – if not the most – sacred sites in the country here, as well as some of the most iconic gardens and groves. The city has been incredibly well-preserved since the mid-twentieth century. Unlike Tokyo, whose rejuvenation and rapid growth since 1945 is legendary, Kyoto has remained peaceful and quaint.
Whilst this all seems lovely and ideal for travellers, it comes with one major weakness. Kyoto has not been built with large populations in-mind. The transport links are not what you’d expect of a modern city and the sporadic nature of the key shrines and temples means that pinch-points and overcrowded walkways are a common sight. Tokyo does have more tourists mind-you, but the city is just so vast that it absorbs them effortlessly in most places.
Don’t let this put you off though, just consider this and keep it in mind. To get the most out of Kyoto you need to explore this city independently, coupled with plenty of early mornings. If you stick to tours and a leisurely pace you’ll find yourself immersed in a sea of tourists for your 4 nights in Kyoto.
Getting Around Kyoto
As I’ve mentioned, the transport links in Kyoto are not what you would consider good. There are two main Metro lines which form an almost x and y axis configuration, with a handful of smaller tributary lines which connect up other areas. As with all public transport in Japan, Kyoto accepts and predominantly uses an I/C Card such as Suica. If you’ve read my other Japan blog posts, you’ll know that I heavily recommend downloading this app. It is super simple to use – just load it up with Japanese Yen (which may incur a currency fee) and tap your phone to enter / leave the subway. You don’t need to double-click to open it from your digital wallet.
Most of the time in Kyoto, you’ll be either walking or catching a bus (which again takes Suica). This can be quite complicated compared to Tokyo, which is actually rather challenging by itself! I would 100% recommend downloading an eSIM for Japan. I think that in Tokyo we maybe could have managed (albeit more stressfully), but in Kyoto we really needed that data to work out how on earth we get around the city. For a handy discount on this, check out my SIM Local review here.
I haven’t actually mentioned yet that Kyoto is huge and many of the areas which tourists visit are spread out across it. You won’t be able to walk from one place to the other.
Where to Stay in Kyoto
Kyoto is such a large city and there are plenty of areas to choose from. You can choose to stay in the bustling centre, or in a quieter retreat such as Arashiyama on the outskirts.
Personally, we opted to stay in the Gojo area first, and then moved off of Shijo. These are both in the ‘Old Town’ part of the city, and we had no regrets about staying here. They were both incredibly well-connected and meant that getting around the city was relatively straightforward.
For our hotel in Gojo, we stayed at the beautiful Marufukuro Hotel. This was the original Nintendo Headquarters and was home to the founder of the company. The hotel showcases 20th Century life in Kyoto, but is also highly luxurious. There is also an exclusive Nintendo museum here too for hotel guests. You can read more about it through Marufukuro Hotel Review | Staying in Kyoto.
After our stay here, we then stayed at Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi. This was nowhere near as luxurious as the Marufukuro, but still kept some traditional Japanese features such as tatami flooring and shoji screens. It was a perfect option for a more budget-conscious hotel, and had some really good amenities attached, including a lovely Italian restaurant.
Tip: I would also recommend staying in rental apartments in more residential areas of Kyoto, such as Shimogyo Ward or similar. If you do stay here, try Walden Woods for a really fantastic coffee in a uniquely designed building. The upstairs of the coffee shop is unlike anywhere else I’ve been, and the coffee is delicious.
Your Ultimate Itinerary
Before we get started, I’ve written this assuming that you effectively have 4 full-days in Kyoto and that you arrive early morning of day 1.
If you have arrived in Kyoto on Day 1, I’ve made sure that the day has less to do so that you can still enjoy your time here and complete the itinerary. I have also put in a day trip on Day 4 as that is really needed to enjoy this part of Japan.
Day 1: Temples and Traditions in Eastern Kyoto
On day one of your 4 days in Kyoto, we’re going to see the classic Kyoto; we are heading to Gion. As a disclaimer, this part of Kyoto gets incredibly busy – it is where the tours often go and sometimes you can hardly move. However, it also happens to be the best spot to watch the sunset in the city.
So, I’ve written this with Gion last as your Shinkansen likely arrived mid/late afternoon. However, if you are already in Kyoto, Gion at first light is also pretty magical. Feel free to swap this around if needbe.
Late Morning
Start your morning by getting acquainted with Kyoto. I would actually suggest walking along the Kamo river for your first introduction to the city. It is a really peaceful walk and you’ll actually see a fair amount of wildlife. In the river, you’ll spot fish in the clear waters, as well as more herons and egrets than you’ve ever seen before. Sometimes you’ll also see locals wading in the water to catch fish using traditional methods. If you’re really lucky, you may even spot giant salamanders, growing to 5ft long!
I would suggest walking up (say from Gojo) up as far as Pontocho Alley. This is one of the main sights in Kyoto and is home to traditional restaurants and bars, as well as geisha culture. To be honest, the alley comes alive after dark and is where you’ll find many high-end places to grab a drink/ dinner. However, there is something incredibly charming about the old wooden structures in the daylight. After all, you can always come back later one!
Tip: If you plan to visit Pontocho Alley after dark, you might find that some establishments are incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to get into. These require the right connections and are home to the city’s elite. There are however plenty of more ‘normal’ places to choose from, serving both local and western dishes.
Afternoon
Cross the Kamo river and head over to the Shirakawa Canal. This will lead you deeper into the Old Town and Gion. However, before all of that, grab a coffee at Black Cat. The coffee here is unbelievable and, though it takes time to make, you can tell that the owner here truly cares about how the drink is crafted. Do not miss it.
Walk down the canal deeper into the Old Town. You are headed to the Kōdaiji Temple, one of my personal favourites and one which was built by a mourning wife to commemorate her late husband. The grounds here are beautiful and even feature a smaller and quieter bamboo forest to explore. For me, this temple is quintessential Kyoto and is particularly beautiful in the autumnal light.
Tip: Before you get to Kōdaiji Temple, you’ll walk through historic Kyoto streets. This will take you around 20 minutes, but is well worth doing.
After exploring, walk down into Ninnenzaka and then Sannenzaka. You’re now in classic Gion and you’ll be able to spot geisha as well as the looming pagoda in the distance. This is an ideal spot to pick up souvenirs. Watch out though – the area gets very busy and is a tourist hotspot.
Evening
Continue walking through Gion and head in the direction of the Nio-mon Gate. This is all uphill and you can’t really miss the gate; it is a vibrant red. This is where most of the tourists will be heading, but the evening light on these structures is simply breathtaking. You’ll also be able to get that typical view over the city too, with the light making it perfect for photographs.
Walk past the gate and into the final stop of the day; Kiyomizu-dera. This mostly consists of a giant wooden building which is perched on a hillside, however there are some lovely grounds to explore here and to enjoy. The best part though has to be the view from its extensive veranda; possibly the best in all of the city.
After exploring, I actually would recommend a walk back to the hotel. You can choose whichever route you like, but we chose to head into a more residential area for our walk to see more of the city.
Tip: If you want to go into Pontocho Alley this evening, wait until the sun fully sets before doing so as many of the restaurants won’t be open until then.
Day 2: Arashiyama
For your second day out of 4 in Kyoto, you’re heading to Arashiyama. I honestly thought that this was one of the more magical days of our 4 days in Kyoto. Whilst the bamboo forest here is sadly very touristy, the area is incredibly beautiful and mystical. However, to enjoy it best you need to wake up early. Very early in fact. To be honest, I would say that you need to try to get there for 6:30 – 7:00am.
Getting to Arashiyama
You have a few options to get to Arashiyama. Firstly, you have the city bus network which regularly runs here (3, 11 or 13 from the Shijo area). However, we felt that the best way was via the Randen Tram. This was a really cool way to see the city. The tram is historic and makes you feel as if you are back in 1970 Japan. It is also really efficient and only costs ¥250 per person per trip (payable at the end of the trip). The first tram runs at 06:00am.
In terms of Metro, you can also take the Hankyu-Kyoto Line from downtown Kyoto, but then need to change to the Hankyu-Arashiyama Line at Katsura Station. This is actually slightly quicker than the tram, but is a bit more complicated and long-winded.
Early Morning
You’ll arrive at Arashiyama Station if you took the Randen Tram. This is the perfect place to start your morning. There are a few little shops and cafés to pick up a drink should you wish, but I’d suggest heading to the bamboo forest as soon as possible. This area gets incredibly busy and soon the forest will just be completely swamped with tourists. It is open 24/7 so there isn’t a time which is too early.
Walk through the bamboo forest slowly and enjoy it. Without people here you can listen to the rustling of the bamboo leaves, which is how this place should be experienced. Don’t forget to look up. the green that shows when light hits these leaves is just magical.
The walk here won’t take you too long and it depends on whether you want to do all of the sections. Once you’ve seen it though, you can then head into the Okochi Sanso Garden. You’ll find this at the end of the trail and it is a peaceful spot to wander about. The best part about this though is undoubtedly the lookout over the Katsura River and the surrounding hills. Just beautiful.
Late Morning
After seeing the bamboo forest, walk into residential Arashiyama. I seriously enjoyed walking around here and found that the tourists disappeared really quickly. One good stop is at Harry’s Coffee Stand, which sells nice coffee and even ice cream too!
I would suggest that you first aim for the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple. This is the furthest away from you and you’ll be able to hit the closer temples on the way back. The walk here will take you half an hour and has a slight incline. You have to do this though – it is one of the most remarkable temples in Kyoto and, sadly, public transport is unavailable.
Otagi Nenbutsuji is famous for hundreds of moss-covered statues. These look like traditional jizo statues or similar, and are actually quite haunting to begin with. However, they actually date back only to the 1950s and were carved by visitors to the temple in a bid to make money. Look carefully at them and you’ll be able to see this. One even has an old walkman, whereas another holds a tennis racket.
Afternoon
Start walking back the way you came. Your next stop is the Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, which has a truly lovely – albeit sad – meaning. This is a temple dedicated to lonely souls; those who died without kin. The small statues which you see dotted around the main spire represent the souls of those who are remembered here. It is a small area to walk around, but is strikingly beautiful throughout the year.
After you have spent time here, continue on your walk. For our next temple, we’re heading to the Giōji Temple, which is famous for having a large moss garden. This was the quietest of all the temples we visited and is not that famous with tourists. The entire grounds were really stunning, but the highlight was the small bamboo forest which is here. If you arrived late and couldn’t take that iconic bamboo photo due to the crowds, this is the perfect place to have another crack at it.
Lastly, your final temple is Tenryu-ji, which is the largest one and is found right by the main hub of Arashiyama. This particular temple has some of the best Japanese traditional gardens you can find in Kyoto. You of course have your raked gravel, plenty of moss, and a large pond filled with carp. These gardens are also pretty large too, so it is perfect for a lazier walk about.
Evening
If time allows, take a little walk to Togetsukyo Bridge. If you cross it, you will reach the Arashiyama Monkey Park, where you’ll see the famous Japanese macaques. Depending on how badly you want to come here, you could skip out one of the shrines, but I personally wouldn’t recommend it.
Catch the train back to downtown Kyoto and then head to the Nishiki Market for some street food for dinner. This place does get rather busy (like any popular Kyoto destination), but it is a must-do for anyone spending 4 days in Kyoto. I would seriously recommend anything tempura here alongside a Japanese beer.
Tip: The Nishiki Market is worth seeing, but it is not usually a nice experience. It has become far too crowded and moving from one part to the other is actually quite difficult. I’d recommend trying to find a stand which has nearby seats so that you can relax and enjoy your food, otherwise it can be quite tricky. Remember – it is extremely rude to walk whilst eating in Japan.
Day 3: Fushimi Inari and the Golden Pavilion
This day revolves around arguably the most iconic Kyoto destination; the Fushimi Inari Shrine. To time this right, it is another early morning. This is the most popular tourist destination in Kyoto and from 09:00am it will be rammed-full of tourists. We arrived at 07:30 and I’d argue that this was even slightly too late given how busy it was then.
In all honesty, I’d aim to get here for 06:30am, if not earlier. It will be a very early start but, trust me, it will be worth it.
Getting to the Fushimi Inari Shrine
Fushimi Inari is right on the outskirts of Kyoto and can be quite challenging to get to early in the morning. We decided to catch a taxi (which actually was really cheap from our Hotel Resol) so that we could get there as soon as possible. It did cost more than what we would have paid for a bus, but we thought that it was worth it.
If you want to take public transport, expect to change at least once. Effectively, you want to either take the Nara Line (directly from Kyoto Station) or the Karasuma Line. Both of these will drop you off near to the shrine.
Morning
Begin your walk through Fushimi Inari. This shrine is of course famous for the thousands of red torii gates which cover the path up the mountain. You can choose to either complete the hike up the mountain, or take a shorter route to get a feel for the place.
If you want to do the entire hike, remember that it is an actual hike, You will be walking up stairs towards the summit of a mountain and a certain level of fitness will be required. The overall walk will take you anywhere from two to three hours depending on you. Be warned though that there aren’t many places to stop or grab a drink on the way up! It is a lot of effort but, if you have the time in the day, the views are well-worth the effort.
However, if you don’t fancy the full hike, there is a shorter route. This one requires a little bit of climbing, but you’ll eventually reach a fork in the path where you can choose to either continue the hike or begin your descent. This route takes you anywhere between one hour to 90 minutes and is perfect for people wanting to get a good experience, but without excessive exercise.
Top Tip: If you – like us – didn’t fancy the large hike, then there is a fantastic little café called ‘Vermillion’ on the way down. It overlooks the nearby river and sells wonderful food and coffee. Be warned though, this isn’t one of Kyoto’s best-kept secrets and plenty of tourists have heard about it. If you arrive early enough, come here first from the entrance (a 10 minute detour) and put your name on the waiting list. Then, aim to get here for 08:30 so that you are first in the queue and get prime riverside seats.
Afternoon
After Fushimi Inari (which may or may not be the afternoon depending on how much hiking you did), aim for the Golden Pavilion. This is on the other side of the city and will take at least an hour to get here by Metro or bus. Usually, I’d recommend getting here early again, but I want your final day in Kyoto to be a day trip.
When you get to the Golden Temple in the afternoon, expect it to be busy. This is one of the most popular spots in the city, but you’d rather this one be busy rather than Fushimi Inari or Arashiyama. As the name suggests, the star here is a large pavilion in a lake which has been covered in rich gold leaf. The path leads you around the lake through the temple gardens, giving you fresh perspectives of the building. If you look carefully, you’ll also see the sacred phoenix bird on top of the pavilion.
The path continues and eventually climbs up a hill. This is probably the best photo opportunity which you have of the Golden Pavilion and you shouldn’t get too many tourists in your shot. Plus, you won’t have to fight for a photo unlike by the shores of the lake.
Tip: At the end of the path there is actually an ice cream vending machine! This was the perfect pick-me-up after a long day of walking.
Evening
Go back to downtown Kyoto and enjoy a walk around the shops. The best street for this is Kawaramachi Street. Here you’ll find shopping centres as well as outlets for your favourite brands. If you came to Japan with your heart set on the Onitsuka Tiger shoes (like I did), there is a shop off of this road, but there is usually a considerable queue to go along with it.
One place to try is Koé Donuts Kyoto. They have an amazing range of donuts including savoury creations like the Margherita pizza version. Nearby is also the Kyoto Pokémon Center, which is much quieter than the Tokyo equivalents. In fact, my husband found everything he wanted here!
Day 4: Day Trip to Nara
With just 4 days in Kyoto, you only really have room for one day trip. In all honesty, the city is perfectly located for day trips and there are many good options to choose from. If I could only pick one – and I’m assuming that you go to Osaka anyway – I’d have to choose Nara. This is where you find the famous bowing deer. Whilst it could be said that the main park is a peak tourist trap, when you get deeper into the park it becomes very beautiful. Plus, Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan and has a truly rich history.
Getting to Nara
Once again I’m a big advocate for an early morning. You definitely won’t be the only one going to Nara for a day trip and the earlier you arrive the better. However, I would say that there is an optimum time. The vendors selling the famous deer cookies will only put up shop from around 09:00am (any earlier and there wouldn’t be enough tourists).
To get to Nara, you need to catch the train. There are two lines to choose from; the express line and the standard line. I’d recommend taking the Kintetsu Limited Express train. You can cover the base fare with your Suica card, but you must buy a ticket to reserve your seat. This is the quickest option and is without doubt the best way to arrive in Nara. This line also takes you directly to the park – it is only a short walk away.
If you have taken the JR Line and not the Kintetsu Limited Express, you’ll arrive at Nara Station. This is actually quite far from Nara Park, but there are regular shuttles which run to it.
Morning
Once you enter Nara Park, you’ll almost certainly be eyed-up by deer. The bowing likely started as a fun tourist attraction and all of them will now do it. However, much of it is unprompted and the deer can be particularly forward if they sense you have food.
Tip: If you aren’t sure about feeding the deer, watch other tourists first. As I said, some of the deer are rather forward and will bump/ bite you if they want a cookie that they know you have. Whatever you do though, don’t hold out cookies for all the deer to see you. I promise you that you will become inundated with deer.
Head deep into the park and away from the road. You’ll notice that most of the tour groups really don’t go here and you’ll very quickly be separated from the crowds. I’d suggest walking as far as the Kinryu Shrine. This is actually a rather lovely walk and you’ll find that the deer up here are far more friendly – they are less likely to bite you in their search for cookies. The Shrine is also really beautiful.
Afternoon
After your walk in Nara Park, you’ve basically seen all that this city has to offer for tourists. You can head to other shrines if you wish, but I don’t think that this is particularly necessary. One place that I would recommend though is Todai-ji. This is one of the most impressive temples in the area and is worth seeing during your time in the city.
The Temple houses a grand, 15m tall Buddha statues, which is housed in one of the largest wooden buildings in the world (in fact, it held this title until very recently).
Once you’ve explored the temple, spend the rest of your afternoon travelling back to Kyoto. You likely need a much-needed rest!
Possible Extra: If you still fancy exploring this afternoon, head to Nijo Castle. With only 4 days in Kyoto, I couldn’t include this as a main stop. However, I’d definitely recommend it.
FAQs and General Guidance
If I don’t want a day trip during my 4 days in Kyoto, what else could I do?
If you don’t fancy taking a day trip to Nara, then I would suggest that you start your fourth day in Kyoto at the Golden Pavilion. Then, instead of doing this on the third day, you could spend the afternoon shopping / at the Nishiki Market. You could even hit up more shrines in Gion. There were plenty there that we did not cover.
I also mentioned Nijo Castle, which is another stop which I’d include on your trip. For more inspiration though, check out my post on what to do in Kyoto.
Are 4 days in Kyoto enough?
I would say that 4 days in Kyoto gives you a brief tour of the city. However, I’d suggest either extending this or adding a few nights in at Osaka. This will mean that you can experience this region of Japan fully. Also, as you’ve probably noticed, you need lots of early starts to make the most of it and to avoid the tourists. If you want all of the main places to be quiet, you’ll likely have to extend it, especially if you want day trips.
Best hotel recommendation?
As I said above, we stayed at some lovely hotels in Kyoto. However, the Marufukuro has to be one of my favourite hotels of all time. If I could give you just one hotel recommendation, it is that.
Final Thoughts | 4 days in Kyoto
I hope that you found my guide to 4 days in Kyoto useful. Overall, it gives you just enough time to enjoy and to explore this wonderful city, but you might want to extend it slightly if you are in Japan for longer.
I’ve also written 2 Weeks in Japan | The Ultimate Guide for First-Time Visitors as well as Travelling by Train in Japan | Your Quick Guide. Both of these have been designed to be read with this post and together they’ll help you map out your perfect itinerary.
Kyoto has a timeless charm and richness and needs to be seen by any traveller to Japan. If you have any more questions about my post on 4 days in Kyoto, please let me know. I always love hearing from you.
