Kyoto has a plenty of must-visit places and it’s impossible to visit all those places in one day.
If you have a few days in Kyoto, I recommend you spend one day in the west part and another day in the east part of the city (and more if you have extra days).
In Kyoto the transportation system is not so efficient as Tokyo and Osaka where subways and metros spread everywhere like a spider net, and some of the famous temples and shrines have access only by bus.
Even though we divide Kyoto city into the 2 areas, there are so many options where to visit, so this time I’ll introduce 1 day trip plan in western Kyoto, which I actually use for my guide work.
Let’s set the starting point at JR Kyoto station or Hankyu Kawaramachi station at 9:30.
10:00 Arashiyama
This area has been so popular since 9th century, when nobles enjoyed the nature changing colors every season. Nowadays the beauty of the nature and temples harmonized with it attracts even more people from anywhere in the world.
First let’s walk over Togetsukyo bridge, which is one of the landmarks of Arashiyama, where you can have a fascinating view of mountains and Hozu River.
Then stroll along the main street with many souvenir shops and some rickshaw drivers (it would be nice to ask one of them to have a tour if you have enough budget).
After some hundred meters walk, you’ll find a gate of Tenryuji temple, which is the biggest temple in Arashiyama, registered as world heritage.
The temple originally built in 14th century by a shogun Takauji Ashikaga, is well-known for a beautiful zen garden, where you can enjoy different flowers every month. A dragon picture on the ceiling is also worth seeing (500 yen). You can choose either to enter both inside of the temple and the garden (800 yen), or just to walk through the garden (500 yen) .
When you reach the other gate of Tenryuji temple, the bamboo forest is just there.
Don’t stop so soon if you would like to take the best photo, as the entrance is the most crowded point in the forest where everybody wants to start taking photos, so just walk ahead 100 m more.
It’s fine to just take photos in the forest and go back to the main street if you hurry on your way, but if not, it would be lovely to walk further to see Sagano areas more, which have more pretty temples and shrines here and there. You don’t need to enter all those attractions but it’s fun to walk in the area even just to look around … !
12:00 Lunch
Before leaving Arashiyama, it would be better to have lunch, as the rest of western Kyoto area doesn’t have such a big tourist street as Arashiyama (though it’s not enough big here either considering the number of visitors), and Arashiyama area has more choice of meal.
When traveling in Kyoto, you must try these food below :
- Tofu & yuba (soy milk products)
- Udon noodle (with fried tofu called kitsune or duck )
- Obanzai (a la carte of typical Kyoto meal)
Basically Kyoto cuisine including these above has delicate flavor without so much sauce. And sushi you imagine with raw fish is not typical Kyoto food, so don’t expect to eat “authentic” sushi which you believe (there are some types of Kyoto sushi such as inari and mackerel sushi and you can take them as option).
13:00 Take Keifuku train (Randen) to Ryoanji temple !
Oh before getting on the train, check out the decoration of the station called Kimono forest, filled with lamp poles covered with Kyoto traditional style kimono clothes.
Ryoanji is about 10 minutes walk from Keifuku Ryoanji station.
This temple has got a renown with a dry garden which even Queen Elizabeth highly admired when she visited there. The garden (500 yen) is quite simple with white sand and 15 rocks describing Zen world. What you do is just sitting on the floor to watch the garden, probably with meditation if you like.
Walking around the pond in the temple offers you some extra relaxing time, being away from the noise of the city and people.
14:30 Catch a bus to Golden Pavilion
Rokuonji temple with the nickname Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) is just 10 minutes away from Ryoanji so it’s really easy to visit the both temple together and you’ll see a great gap of the simplicity of Ryoanji and luxury of Golden Pavilion.
Golden Pavilion is also built by Shogun Ashikaga family in late 14th century and at that time it was not a temple but a villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, who succeeded in trading with China.
The Pavilion is so fantastic when it’s beautifully reflected on the pond, and you need extra luck if you want a chance to see the garden with some snow.
15:30 Head to Kitano Temmangu Shrine by bus
If you travel in Western Kyoto in February and March (especially early March), don’t miss Kitano Temmangu Shrine, which has a splendid plum garden. A nobleman enshrined there, Michizane Sugawara), loved plum blossoms and many Temmangu shrines in Japan (there are a plenty with the name of Temmangu) have plum trees or a plum garden, and Kitano Temmangu in Kyoto is the best to enjoy plum blossoms.
Also a lot of students come to the shrine before taking their important exams, because the nobleman is now regarded as a god of study. Pray for your success of study and write your wish on your wishing board ! Don’t forget to touch a head of one of the cow statues in the path to get some more wisdom !
17:00 JR Kyoto station or Hankyu Kawaramachi station (by bus)
In this itinerary we take buses 3 times and in that case I recommend you get 1 day city bus pass for 500 yen, as each bus ride fare is 230 yen. But if you’re 3 or 4 people, it’s not a bad idea to catch a cab between Arashiyama and Ryoanji, and Ryoanji and Golden Pavilion so that you can save more time !
It would be nice to have a tea/coffee break at any cafe on the way. Green tea sweets is must try food in Kyoto !
This is how you can explore the western Kyoto in one day, but this is just an example, and where to visit best depends on each season. So check out more information before visiting Kyoto !
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