Kyoto trip ideas

Trips planned for Kyoto run 3 to 4 days. These are the places they keep coming back to, and the trips themselves, day by day.

  • 2 trips
  • 3 to 4 days
  • 12 places

How many days do you need in Kyoto?

2 trips planned for Kyoto run 3 to 4 days.

A 3-day planA 4-day plan
Map of the most-visited places in Kyoto

What to see in Kyoto

The places Kyoto trips keep coming back to, most often first.

  1. 1

    Kinkaku-ji Temple

    Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.

    In 2 of 2 trips
  2. 2

    Kiyomizu-dera

    Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto.

    In 2 of 2 trips
  3. 3

    Fushimi Inari-taisha

    Shinto shrines in Kyoto, Japan.

    In 2 of 2 trips
  4. 4

    Tenryū-ji Temple

    Temple in Ukyō-ku, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

    In 1 of 2 trips
  5. 5

    Saihō-ji Temple

    Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple located in Matsuo, Japan.

    In 1 of 2 trips
  6. 6

    Kyoto Tower

    Observation tower in Kyoto, Japan.

    In 1 of 2 trips
  7. 7

    Sanjūsangen-dō Temple

    Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.

    In 1 of 2 trips
  8. 8

    Honnō-ji Temple

    Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.

    In 1 of 2 trips
  9. 9

    Yasaka Shrine

    Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan.

    In 1 of 2 trips
  10. 10

    Nanzen-ji Temple

    Building in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

    In 1 of 2 trips
  11. 11

    Tōfuku-ji Temple

    Buddhist temple in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

    In 1 of 2 trips
  12. 12

    Daigo-ji Temple

    Shingon Buddhist temple in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan.

    In 1 of 2 trips

Trips to Kyoto

Sample trip4 Days in Kyoto · Temples at a Family PaceWest, east and south Kyoto temples and shrines · November maples · relaxed pace4 days · November · a family trip · 12 stopsSample trip3 Days in Kyoto: Temples, Castles and SpringApril in Kyoto · a couple · moderate pace · temples to castles3 days · April · a couple's trip · 12 stops

Good to know

Does Saihō-ji require a reservation?

Yes. The moss temple admits a small number of visitors each day and entry is arranged in advance. Sort this before the trip; the voucher is checked at the gate.

Is Fushimi Inari one long climb?

The torii gates climb a long mountain path. A family can walk the lower loop, pass through the dense gates, and turn back; the full summit is optional.

What is the best season for temple maples in Kyoto?

November is the season, and the trip is timed to it. Tōfuku-ji's valley and the gardens of the western temples are at their strongest then.

Is this itinerary easy to manage with a family?

Each day stays in one part of the city and keeps to a few stops, so the family never crosses town twice. Mornings are early, afternoons are short.

Do I need to book the Kyoto Imperial Palace in advance?

Yes. The palace is visited with a guided group and a reserved slot, so arrange that stop before the day. The route builds the morning around it.

Is the full Fushimi Inari hike part of this trip?

The 45 minutes in the plan cover the lower torii gates. The complete ridge loop takes several hours, so treat the lower section as the visit and save the summit for a spare morning if you want it.

Plan your own Kyoto trip

Tell Triptic your dates and who is going, and get the days, real flights and a place to stay.

Plan a Kyoto trip