Kyoto in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Here are the best things to do in Kyoto in 3 days. Temples, shrines, palaces, castles, teahouses, natural areas... You'll be able to see it all.

Your first day starts with a tour of the city of Kyoto. You will discover the Otani Honbyo Buddhist Temple, the Kiyomizu Dera Temple, the Geisha Quarter, the Chion-in Temple, the Shoren-in Temple and the Heian Jingu Temple.

The Otani Honbyo Buddhist Temple

The first stop of this day in Kyoto is the Otani Honbyo Buddhist Temple, located in the Otani Mausoleum. There, you will enjoy a solemn atmosphere, surrounded by acres and a bonsai garden.

During the tour of this site, considered one of the best temples in Kyoto, you can enter the hall of the founder of the Buddhist sect Jodo Shinshu and the hall of the Buddha and the Kura, which is a storehouse of national relics. There is also the hiunkaku or tea room along with a couple of ancient stages.

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: daily from 6am to 5pm.

Kiyomizu Dera Temple

From the previous destination, walk about 10 minutes to the Kiyomizu Dera Temple, built in 780. It is one of the largest temples in Japan and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

In the temple you will see the statue of the goddess of mercy, Kannon, with her 42 arms and 11 faces. You will also get a breathtaking view of Kyoto from the wooden terrace, have the opportunity to drink water from the streams of the Otowa Waterfall and then visit the halls of Okunoin Hall, among other areas.

• Price: Entrance to the temple costs around €3 per person.
• Opening hours: Every day from 6am to 6pm, and in summer the opening hours are extended to 6.30pm.

The Gion Quarter

Once you have finished your visit to Kiyomizu Dera Temple, a 15-minute walk will take you to the Gion Quarter or geisha district.

You will find a traditional and picturesque scene, temples, sake bars, izakayas (pubs), boutiques and restaurants. A place you can explore on your own or by booking a private tour of Kyoto.

You will pass the wooden Tatsumi Bridge, where you will see the geishas in their colourful kimonos. You can also marvel at the Zen garden of Kennin-ji Temple and visit the Yasaka Shinto Shrine, which is the main shrine in the area.

• Price: Entrance to Kennin-ji Temple is approximately €4 per person. Access to the Yasaka Shrine is free.
• Opening hours: Kennin-ji Temple from 10:00 to 17:00 (March to October) and from 10:00 to 16:30 (November to February). Yasaka Shrine is open 24 hours a day.

Chion-in Temple

Chion-in Temple, located within a six-minute walk from the Gion Quarter, is a Buddhist compound comprising some 106 buildings: Kuromon Gate, Gobyō Mausoleum, Hōjō Gardens, Tahoto Pagoda, Yūzen Gardens, Nokotsudo Hall, among others.

Some of the hidden gems you'll see on your tour include the statue of Jōdo shū Hōnen, the temple's founder, in the main hall. You will also be amazed by the 74-ton bell, which is usually rung on New Year's Day.

• Price: Admission to the temple is free.
• Opening hours: The main buildings are usually open from 9am to 4.30pm.

Shoren-in Temple

To get to the next destination, you will have to walk about three minutes from the previous point to Shoren-in Temple. This is a place built in the 14th century as an imperial residence where you will breathe peace and tranquillity from the very first moment.

Inside the temple you will be able to appreciate the decorations on the sliding doors. You will also stroll through the Zen-influenced Japanese garden, Shoren-in, which is located on the side of a mountain. You will also see the Ryujin-no-ike purification lake, which features a stone in the shape of a dragon sword.

• Price: to enter the temple you have to pay around €4.
• Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 16:30.

Heian Jingu Temple

The last stop of the day is Heian Jingu Temple, located approximately eight minutes walk from Shoren-in Temple. This is a must-see destination, especially if you are in Kyoto in October, as it is the site of the Jidai Matsuri or Festival of the Ages.

Whether you visit this temple on your own or book a Higashiyama tour in Kyoto, you will be amazed by the scenic garden scene and the monumental torii, considered one of the largest in Japan. You will also see the central building, whose design evokes the style of the Imperial Palace.

• Price: Admission costs around €4 per adult and approximately €2 per child.
• Opening hours: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.

On Day 2 in Kyoto you will visit a number of historic buildings: Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Nijo-jo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace and Ginkakuji Temple.

The Fushimi Inari-taisha Shinto Shrine

For today's adventure, you will travel 16 minutes by car from central Kyoto to the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shinto Shrine. The shrine dates back to 711 AD and is located at the base of Inari Mountain.

To access the shrine, you'll walk along a beautiful path with 32,000 torii, or traditional orange-and-black gates. It is about a three-hour walk, where you will be in touch with nature and spirituality. It is also usually included when booking the Higashiyama tour in Kyoto.

• Price: Admission is free.
• Opening hours: Open 24 hours a day.

Nijo-jo Castle

The next place to visit is Nijo-jo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is only a 20-minute drive from the previous destination.

The castle consists of the Ninomaru Palace, where you will see a series of paintings from the Edo period, the Honmaru Palace with its rice paper decorations and the garden area with about 400 cherry, maple and ginkgo trees.

It has a natural environment ideal for enjoying hanami in spring or watching Momiji if you are in Kyoto in autumn.

• Price: The average entrance fee is around €8 per person.
• Opening hours: 8.45am-5pm. Closed on 29 and 31 December.

Kinkakuji Temple

Kinkakuji Temple or Golden Temple is the next stop on your second day in Kyoto. This Zen compound is located approximately 15 minutes from Nijo-jo Castle and is one of the most representative monuments of Japan.

Apart from the gardens and the Kyōko-chi pond, you can see the different floors of the temple: the Chamber of Waters, the Tower of Wind Waves representative of the samurai style and the Kukkyoo-choo, with the triad of Buddha. There is also the ancient Sekkatei, where you can experience the Kyoto tea ceremony.

• Price: The entrance fee is approximately €3 per adult and around €2 for children.
• Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

From Kinkakuji Temple you will have to travel about 10 minutes by car to reach the Kyoto Imperial Palace. This historic building was erected in 1331 and rebuilt in 1855, and was the official residence of the emperors until 1869.

Although access to the interior of the palace is not permitted, you can view the pavilions from a distance and stroll through the gardens. There is a rest centre for visitors , water dispensers and free Wi-Fi.

• Price: admission is free.
• Opening hours: 9am-4.30pm September-March, 9am-4pm October-February and 9am-5pm April-August. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Ginkakuji Temple

The itinerary for this day ends at the Ginkakuji Temple or Silver Temple, located a 10-minute drive or 30-minute walk from the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It is a Buddhist compound built in the 15th century and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

You will be able to see the main building preserved intact despite fires and earthquakes, the white sand garden with a central dune representing Mount Fuji and the moss garden with a series of small islands and bridges connected to each other.

• Price: admission to the temple costs approximately €4 per adult and around €2 per child.
• Opening hours: daily from 8.30am to 5pm.

For your last day in Kyoto, the recommendation is to get up early and travel to the village of Arashiyama. There you will see Tenryu-ji Temple, Daikaku-ji Temple and Giouji Temple.

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

After a drive of about 30 minutes from the centre of Kyoto to Arashiyama village, you will arrive at the shopping street of Arashiyama , from where you should start walking a few metres following the signs. You will find the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.

You will enjoy the photogenic scenery of this path surrounded by thousands of moso bamboos, while relaxing to the sound of the stalks, registered among the 100 sounds preserved by Japan. And to enhance the experience you can book a food tour of the Arashiyama and Sagano Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, as there are food stalls with delicious traditional sweets in the forest.

• Price: free admission.
• Hours: Open 24 hours.

Tenryu-ji Temple

Your next destination is the Tenryu-ji Temple, which you will reach via one of the bamboo forest paths in about 7 minutes on foot. In this Zen Buddhist World Heritage site, you will be able to see the over 700 year old garden, the Sogenchi Teien.

You will also be able to see the Hojo or main building, made up of several halls. You will also have the opportunity to visit the prayer shrine where Emperor Go-Daigo studied when he was a prince.

Afterwards, you can go to the Shigetsu restaurant for a taste of vegan temple cuisine. It's a great place to add to any food tour destinations in Kyoto.

• Price: The entrance fee is approximately €4 per adult and about €2 per child.
• Opening hours: daily from 8.30am to 5pm.

Daikaku-ji Temple

From Tenryu-ji Temple you will have to walk approximately 20 minutes to Daikaku-ji Temple, which is the destination of your next visit. There, you will see the main building or Shinden, accompanied by an ancestral orange tree.

On the other hand, there is the Shingyo pagoda, which houses the Heart Sutra, but unfortunately this temple only opens its doors every 60 years. You will also have the opportunity to stroll around Lake Osawa. This artificial spring has a diameter of approximately one kilometre and is home to some 300 lotus flowers.

• Price: Access to the temple costs around €4 per person and to enter the pond, you will have to pay approximately €1 per person.
• Opening hours: daily from 9am to 5pm.

Giouji Temple

To end your last day in Kyoto, you should move on from the previous destination to Giouji Temple. This is a quiet place with postcard scenery. Inside the temple you will find the imposing statue of the Buddha of Light, Dainichi Nyorai.

Meanwhile, outside you will enjoy a moss garden with a nostalgic and somewhat sombre atmosphere. This is thanks to the dense vegetation, which in autumn creates an incredible contrast due to the ochre colours of the leaves. After this tour you can return to the hotel to travel to the airport.

• Price: The average entrance fee to the temple is around €2 per adult and less than €1 per child.
• Opening hours: daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

By purchasing the JR Rail Pass in Kyoto, you will be able to save time on some of the transfers on your itinerary. For example, if you travel to Arashiyama or Fushimi Inari, you will arrive in less than half the time compared to the bus.

Among the JR train lines in Kyoto that you can use are these two:

• The JR Sagano line: stopping at Nijo station near Nijo Castle and Saga-Arashiyama station located a few metres from the bamboo forest, among others.
• The JR Nara Line: stops at Tofukuji Station near Tofukuji Buddhist Temple and Inari Station near Fushimi Inari, among others.

Kyoto is a city well served by buses. Generally, public transport lines operate from 6:00 am to 10:30 pm. All you need to do is buy an unlimited day pass at a cost of around €4 per adult and approximately €2 for children.

Some of the routes served by the main bus lines in Kyoto are as follows:

• Buses100 and 206 stop at Ginkaku-ji Temple and the Gion district.
• Lines 204 and 205 to the Golden Pavilion.
• Lines 5 and 105, ideal if your destination is Fushimi Inari.
• Lines 72 and 74, for Arashiyama Village.
• Bus 101, 50 and 9, which will take you to Nijo Castle.

This 3-day Kyoto itinerary is very complete. So that you don't forget anything, I've left a summary below.