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Kyoto, Japan · Free itinerary

2-Day Kyoto Itinerary: Best Things to Do

Japan's ancient imperial capital safeguards more than a thousand temples, manicured gardens and the geisha districts of Gion. Kyoto is the country at its most serene and traditional, especially among bamboo groves and golden pavilions.

2 days10 stopsKyoto, Japan

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1Temples & Bamboo
8:30 AM
Fushimi Inari Taisha ⛪ Religious site
Religious site · Fushimi
A mountainside shrine famous for thousands of vermilion torii gates winding up the hillside. Go early to walk the tunnels of gates in peace.
🧭Map
11:30 AM
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 🌳 Park
Park · Arashiyama
A towering, otherworldly path of swaying bamboo on the city's western edge. The light filtering through the green stalks is unforgettable.
🧭Map
1:00 PM
Nishiki Market 🍴 Food
Food · Nakagyo
The narrow, covered "Kyoto's Kitchen" lined with stalls of pickles, tofu, seafood and sweets. The ideal place to graze your way through lunch.
🍴Find a table🧭Map
3:00 PM
Kinkaku-ji ⛪ Religious site
Religious site · Kita
The Golden Pavilion, its top two stories sheathed in gold leaf and mirrored in a still reflecting pond. Kyoto's most photographed temple.
🧭Map
4:45 PM
Ryoan-ji ⛪ Religious site
Religious site · Ukyo
Home to Japan's most famous Zen rock garden, fifteen stones set in raked gravel. A masterclass in contemplative minimalism.
🧭Map
2Gion & Eastern Hills
9:00 AM
Kiyomizu-dera ⛪ Religious site
Religious site · Higashiyama
A hillside temple famous for its vast wooden stage jutting over the slope, with sweeping views over Kyoto. Stunning in cherry blossom and autumn seasons.
🧭Map
11:00 AM
Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka 🛍️ Shopping
Shopping · Higashiyama
Preserved stone-paved lanes of wooden machiya shops and teahouses climbing toward Kiyomizu-dera. The most atmospheric stroll in old Kyoto.
🧭Map
1:00 PM
Kikunoi Roan 🍴 Food
Food · Nakagyo
The relaxed sister of a Michelin-starred kaiseki house, serving exquisite seasonal Kyoto cuisine at lunch. A refined taste of the city's culinary art.
🍴Find a table🧭Map
3:00 PM
Yasaka Shrine ⛪ Religious site
Religious site · Gion
The lantern-lit guardian shrine of Gion, glowing especially at dusk. A gateway between the old geisha quarter and Maruyama Park.
🧭Map
4:30 PM
Hanami-koji Street 🎭 Entertainment
Entertainment · Gion
The heart of Gion, lined with wooden teahouses where geiko and maiko still entertain. Wander at twilight for a glimpse of old Kyoto.
🎟️Find tickets🧭Map
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