Kyoto Itinerary: A 3-Day Plan for First-Time Visitors

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

A good Kyoto itinerary is mostly a question of grouping. The famous sights are spread across the city, so the plan below gives each day one area and one main theme. Hours and fees come from each site's official page and were checked in October 2026, but they change, so confirm them before you go.

How Many Days Do You Need?

Two days is the shortest plan that still feels unhurried: one day in the east and one day in the south. Three days adds a day of gardens and a castle in the north and west, and it leaves a gap for a slow lunch. If you have only one day, pick a single area from the plan and skip the rest.

Whatever the length, keep the first and last day light. Arrival and departure days are easy to overfill.

Day 1: Temples in the East

Start early. Kiyomizu-dera usually opens at 6:00 am and closes at 6:00 pm, with closing at 6:30 pm in July and August. Special night viewings run later, and the autumn 2026 viewing is listed for Nov 21 to 30, with dates that change every year.

After Kiyomizu-dera, add Sanjusangendo. It is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm between April 1 and November 15, and from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm between November 16 and March 31, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Adult admission is 600 yen, and the hall is open every day of the year.

Leave the afternoon open for a meal and a walk. This is the day to wander rather than to tick off sights.

Day 2: Fushimi Inari and Tofuku-ji

Spend the morning at Fushimi Inari Taisha. By train, the shrine is right next to JR Inari Station, which is 2 stations and 5 minutes from Kyoto Station on the JR Nara Line. From the Keihan Main Line, it is a 5-minute walk east of Fushimi-Inari Station.

You do not need to climb the whole mountain. Walk up as far as your energy and the time allow, then head back down for lunch.

Around midday, ride the JR Nara Line from Inari Station one stop back toward Kyoto to Tofukuji Station (about 2 to 3 minutes by local train). From Tofukuji Station, Tofuku-ji is about 10 minutes on foot. The temple is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm between April 1 and November 13, and the hours change in autumn and winter. The Hojo gardens cost 500 yen for adults, rising to 600 yen from November 1, 2026. The dates and hours of the autumn viewing period change every year, so check the temple's page for your dates.

Day 3: Gardens and a Castle

Begin with Ryoan-ji, known for its dry rock garden. Between March 1 and November 30 it is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and from December 1 to the end of February from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Adults pay 600 yen. The gates close at 5:30 pm, or 5:00 pm in winter. Continue to Kinkaku-ji, which is open every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Adult admission is 500 yen.

If you still have energy, finish at Nijo-jo Castle. Last entry is at 4:00 pm, and the castle closes at 5:00 pm. Adult admission is 800 yen, or 1,300 yen with the Ninomaru Palace.

A Quiet Afternoon in the South

On Day 2, visit Tofuku-ji earlier in the day, then leave room for a quiet stop in the afternoon: ticket sales end at 4:00 pm for most of the year and at 3:30 pm in winter. To compare formats before you decide, see our guide to maiko experiences in Kyoto and our guide to tea ceremony in Kyoto.

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.

Getting Around Kyoto

Trains and buses cover almost every stop above. A single ride on a Kyoto City Bus costs 230 yen for adults in the flat-fare zone. The Subway and Bus 1-Day Pass costs 1,100 yen for adults, and the Subway 1-Day Pass costs 800 yen. Add up your planned rides before buying.

The city has announced a planned change to the bus fare for fiscal year 2027, subject to national approval, so check the current fare before your trip. To reach Tofuku-ji from Kyoto Station by bus, take Kyoto City Bus 88 or 208, which takes about 15 minutes plus about 4 minutes on foot. By JR, the ride to Tofukuji Station takes about 3 minutes.

Two small habits help. Carry water, and wear shoes you can walk in for several hours. Tofuku-ji asks visitors not to eat or drink on the grounds or use tripods, and it does not allow re-entry, so plan meals around your visit.

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.

Frequently asked questions