Kyoto in October: Temple Hours, Fees, and What to Pack

We operate the Maiko & Zen Kyoto experience mentioned in this guide.

Planning Around October's Dates

A few Kyoto dates fall at the end of October and the start of November, which is why this guide is organized around dates first and places second. The practical details that follow are drawn from official temple and tourism pages. Tofuku-ji itself says that the dates and hours of its autumn viewing change every year. Use the dates here to sketch a plan, then confirm them on the official page before you travel. The guide moves from the dated changes to a plan for each area, then a half day in the south and some notes on clothing. For a longer trip, our Kyoto itinerary puts the pieces together.

October Opening Times and Fees

Tofuku-ji's daily hours stay the same in October, but two dates matter: October 25 and November 1. Until November 13, the temple opens at 9:00 am and runs until 4:00 pm; 4:00 pm is also when ticket sales stop, and the gates close half an hour later, at 4:30 pm. For adults, the Hojo gardens are 500 yen during October, rising to 600 yen from November 1, 2026. If the Treasure Tour is on your list, note that it is suspended from October 25 to December 16. Our Tofuku-ji guide covers the temple in more depth.

The temples in the table keep the same hours throughout October.

Listed dates for the Arashiyama Bamboo Light-up are 30 Sep to 08 Nov 2026, a span that takes in the whole month. Evenings come on fast at this time of year, so spend the daylight on temples and pick a single illumination for after dark.

One Area per Day in October

East Kyoto. Kiyomizu-dera's usual hours, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, let you start the day there. From Kyoto Station, take Kyoto City Bus 206 or 100 to Gojozaka, then walk about 10 minutes. Kyoto City Bus costs 230 yen per ride for adults. Sanjusangendo can be reached on foot from Kyoto Station in about 18 minutes, or by City Bus 106, which runs all year. See the Sanjusangendo guide for how to visit. North Kyoto. Ryoan-ji and Kinkaku-ji make a natural pair, with the stone garden of Ryoan-ji first and the pond of Kinkaku-ji second. At Kinkaku-ji, get off the Kyoto City Bus at Kinkakuji-michi. Our guide to Zen gardens in Kyoto helps you decide which gardens to see. Central Kyoto. Nijo-jo Castle opens at 8:45 am and its last entry is at 4:00 pm, so it works well as a morning stop. The castle closes at 5:00 pm. Adult admission is 800 yen, or 1,300 yen with the Ninomaru Palace. The Honmaru Palace costs 1,000 yen extra and needs an advance reservation. Arashiyama. Tenryu-ji sits about 5 minutes on foot from Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Arashiyama Line; from Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Sagano Line, allow 13 minutes. Its garden admits visitors from 8:30 am until last entry at 4:50 pm, and closes at 5:00 pm. Adults pay 500 yen for the garden and another 300 yen to enter the main halls.

Tofuku-ji and Fushimi Inari on the JR Nara Line

To visit Tofuku-ji and Fushimi Inari, take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station. Tofukuji Station is about 3 minutes from Kyoto Station, and from there the temple is about a 10-minute walk. Stay on a local train for one more stop, about 2 to 3 minutes, and you reach Inari Station. Fushimi Inari Taisha stands right beside that station. Other routes reach the same stops. Tofuku-ji is about 10 minutes on foot from Keihan Tofukuji Station, and Kyoto City Bus 88 or 208 from Kyoto Station takes about 15 minutes, followed by about 4 minutes on foot. Fushimi Inari Taisha is a 5-minute walk east of Fushimi-Inari Station on the Keihan Main Line, or 7 minutes on foot east of the Inari Taisha-mae bus stop. At Tofuku-ji, the Hojo gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori in 1939, and the Sanmon gate is a National Treasure. From Tsutenkyo Bridge, the autumn leaves and fresh green of the Sengyokukan ravine are the highlight. At Fushimi Inari, the whole of Inariyama, a 233 m holy mountain, is considered part of the shrine precinct, and the shrine asks visitors not to block worshippers on narrow paths while taking photographs or filming. For the mountain walk, see our Fushimi Inari hike guide.

The gates at Tofuku-ji close at 4:30 pm, so visit the temple before an afternoon session rather than after it.

To compare formats first, see our guide to maiko experiences in Kyoto. Add a quiet temple stop to your day. We operate Maiko & Zen Kyoto, a 90-minute session at Ikka-in, a sub-temple of Tofuku-ji, where a maiko dances in the same temple hall with no stage between you, then takes time for your questions and photos. See current session times and prices.

Clothes, Shoes, and Temple Rules

Layers work well. A temple day means long stretches on your feet outdoors, and sun and shade can feel noticeably different. Some temple buildings ask you to take your shoes off, so choose a comfortable pair you can slip on and off quickly. A small umbrella or a light rain jacket is worth packing for a passing shower. At Tofuku-ji, re-entry is not allowed, and visitors are asked not to eat or drink on the grounds or use tripods, so have a meal before or after you go in. Carry water and a small bag. A Subway & Bus 1-Day Pass costs 1,100 yen for adults, but seasonal routes are excluded from its valid area, for example Kyoto Bus routes 51, 90 and 95. See a maiko dance at a Zen temple. We operate Maiko & Zen Kyoto, a 90-minute session at Ikka-in, a sub-temple of Tofuku-ji, where a maiko dances in the same temple hall with no stage between you, then takes time for your questions and photos. See current session times and prices.

Frequently asked questions