Kyoto Tour Two Days in Kyoto Itinerary
Kyoto Tour: Two Days in Kyoto Itinerary: For those travelers to Kyoto who have just 2 days to see the ancient capital's many sites, what to do? What to choose? What to weed out?
Kyoto Tour: Two Days in Kyoto Itinerary 京都
Two Days in Kyoto
For those travelers to Kyoto who have just two days to see the ancient capital's many sites, what to do? What to choose? What to weed out?
As long-time Kyoto residents, we suggest breaking down the city into geographic areas and focus on a group of temples, shrines, etc. that are in close proximity and can be seen comfortably in a short time.
Day one takes in Arashiyama, day two Higashiyama.
Day 1 - Arashiyama
Arashiyama is a beautiful area several kilometers west of downtown Kyoto. Arashiyama is hard by the Katsura River and flush against the mountains that encircle the city.
Arashiyama is among the most famous places in Kyoto and all of Japan. It is best known for Tenryuji Temple, its bamboo forest, the Katsura River, Togetsukyo Bridge, the Sagano Romantic ("Torokko") Train, as a wonderful place to stroll, and for its Monkey Park.
Arashiyama is a great day out.
Here is a suggested itinerary.
A short walk from either the final stop of the Hankyu Line, Arashiyama Station, or the Keifuku Railways ("Randen") Arashiyama Station, is the Togetsukyo Bridge. (It is also possible to take the JR Saiin Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station. From there, it is a 10-15-minute walk.) It spans the Katsura River and in some form has stood for 400 years. It offers views of the river and nearby mountains.
Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama
Tenryuji Temple
Having taken the requisite selfie, it is time to move on to Tenryuji Temple, the best-known temple in Arashiyama. Tenryuji is the head temple of the Tenryu sect of Rinzai Zen Buddhism and is ranked first among Kyoto's top five Zen temples, or Gozan: Nanzenji, Shokokuji, Tofukuji and Kenninji are the other four.
Tenryuji was created in honor of Gautama Buddha, and was founded by the Shogun Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358).
Prior to the founding of Tenryuji, the Empress Tachibana no Kachiko, who was the wife of the Emperor Saga, created a Buddhist temple named Danrinji on the exact same spot. In the mid-thirteenth century, however, Emperor Gosaga and his son Emperor Kameyama converted the grounds into an imperial villa.
The villa was later converted into a temple in order to hold a memorial service for Emperor Go-Daigo.
Tenryuji Temple grew to contain 150 sub-temples. Fire, however, decimated the temple no less than five times in the 14th and 15th centuries, and then again in the Onin War, and yet again in 1815. Tenryuji as it stands today dates mainly from the Meiji Period. In 1994, Tenryuji became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Suggested time - 40 minutes to 1 hour.
Groves of Giant Bamboo are ubiquitous in Japan, with this one in Arashiyama, Kyoto being one of the most popular tourist sites in the area
Bamboo Forest
From here, a short walk brings you to the Bamboo Forest. This is, literally, a large grove of bamboo trees. It is very popular with tourists, but well worth a stroll. Even on the hottest days of summer, it is cool and peaceful.
Within the forest is Okochi Sanso Villa. It was originally the estate of the famed film actor Okochi Denjiro (1898-1962). The main house here is a beautiful example of traditional Japanese residential architecture; in addition, there is a tea house and gorgeous gardens.
From here it is a 10-15-minute stroll through the Bamboo Forest (again) and a pleasant neighborhood to the Torokko Arashiyama Station.
Suggested time - 30-45 minutes in Okochi Sanso Villa; 15 minutes through the Bamboo Forest.
Sagano Romantic Train, Kyoto
Sagano Scenic Railway
The Sagano Scenic Railway (also known as the Sagano Romantic Train or Sagano Torokko) is a sightseeing train line that runs along the Hozugawa River between Arashiyama and Kameoka.
It is an old-school train that runs through the mountains, slowly and above the river. The trip takes about 25 minutes to arrive at Kameoka. For this tour, we will enjoy the station building and keep on moving.
Suggested time - 30 minutes for the ride and the station.
Next on the tour is the Sagano Doll House. You will now come to the Sagano Doll House. Beyond this, follow the narrow road up and up, past old machiya-like homes.
Suggested time - 20 minutes.
The last two stops on a full-day walk are the Kyoto Okusaga Shoji Photo Museum and Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple.
The latter has thousands of Buddhist statuettes. If you are fortunate enough to be in Kyoto during the Bon period - in mid-August when the souls of one's ancestors return to earth on their annual visit - the entire place is lit up at night with candles.
The Sento Kuyo festival is held in late August at the temple from 5.30 - 8.30 pm. It is magic. (Please check with the Tourist Office in Kyoto for the exact dates.)
Suggested time - Okusaga Shoji Photo Museum & Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple (45 minutes).
Now it is time to retrace your steps back to the central part of Arashiyama. Green tea ice cream or the foot baths at the Keifuku Arashiyama Station are highly recommended.
For the very ambitious - or those with children - a side trip is to walk to the monkey park. Iwatayama Monkey Park houses roughly 150 monkeys. They are wild monkeys native to Japan, but are used to people.
Walk Itinerary: Togetsukyo Bridge - Tenryuji Temple - Bamboo Forest - Okochi Sanso Villa - Torokko Arashiyama Station - Sagano Doll House - Kyoto Okusaga Shoji Photo Museum - Adashino Nenbutsu Temple.
At night, it is best to head back into central Kyoto. Dining and drinking options are far greater and more interesting than in Arashiyama. A walk along Pontocho or through Gion is highly recommended. Shops, restaurants and bars abound.
Arashiyama Access
Hankyu Railways: Take the train to the last stop, Hankyu Arashiyama Station. If you are coming from central Kyoto or Osaka, you will need to change at Katsura.
Keifuku Line: Ride to the last stop, Arashiyama.
JR Sanin Line: (Sagano Line) From Kyoto Station, take a local train to Saga Arashiyama Station.
Bus: Best avoided because of traffic jams. From Kyoto Station, stop C6, take bus 71, 72, or 73.
Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa (Shugakuin Detached Palace), Kyoto
Day 2 - Higashiyama
Day 2 of your Kyoto visit takes in Higashiyama ("eastern mountain"). Higashiyama is a broad area that runs along the eastern side of the city, and we break it into two areas: north and south. The northern section can be done in half a day, the southern area requires a day.
The northern section of Higashiyama is one of the most pleasant areas of Kyoto, retaining an almost semi-rural feel. It is mostly free of tour buses and traffic jams, and features Shugakuin and Ichijoji.
Northern Higashiyama
Northern Higashiyama is an area full of Buddhist temples and traditional gardens and makes for an ideal half-day stroll. There are wonderful views of Mount Hiei throughout the walk.
The walk begins at Shugakuin Station on the Eizan Line. This is accessible via Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan Line or bus #5 from Kyoto Station to Shugakuin Rikyu-michi bus stop.
Sekizanzenin Temple
Walk north east along the side of the small Otowa River and turn left to enter Sekizanzenin Temple up the hill from the concrete torii gate. This free-admission temple dates from the 9th century and has a pleasant carp pond and even an Edo Period fire-engine on display.
Suggested time - 20-30 minutes.
Shugakuin-rikyu Palace
From Sekizanzenin, walk back the way you came and then turn left up to the gates of Shugakuin-rikyu Palace. Turning right past the entrance to the palace, you will see some beautiful old houses with wooden entry gates and gardens on your right. Look out for the Chinese characters 山脱解 above the gate. The small Japanese garden contains stone Buddhist images.
Walking straight along this lane affords great vistas of Mount Hiei to your left and brings you out at Saginomori Shrine - a pleasant Shinto shrine with towering cypress trees and plum and cherry blossoms in spring.
Turning left here and up the hill is Manshuin Temple, which was founded by Saicho (767-822) and originally stood on Mount Hiei. The Tendai sect temple moved here in 1656 and contains a lovely Japanese rock garden and original teahouses.
Suggested time - 30 minutes at Manshuin.
Walking back down the hill, bearing south brings you to an area still containing a number of Edo and Meiji Period walled farm houses, still owned by their original and wealthy families.
Enkoji Temple, Kyoto, Japan
A 15-minute stroll south will bring you to Enkoji Temple, a Rinzai sect temple that has stood here since the 17th century. Enkoji has a small garden and a beautiful screen painted by the artist Maruyama Okyo. Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered the priests of Enkoji to study Confucianism and their ancient wooden type sets are preserved in the temple.
Suggested time at Enkoji - 30 minutes.
A 5-minute walk to the south is Shisendo Temple, which was established as a Soto sect temple in 1966 on the grounds of a retreat built Jozen Ishikawa (1582-1672), a scholar, warrior, master of the tea ceremony and landscape architect.
Virtually next door to Shisendo is the Hachidai Shrine, now dedicated to the legendary Japanese swordsman Musashi Miyamoto (1584-1645), and the author of The Book of Five Rings, who fought one of his famous and deadly duels here.
Suggested time at Shisendo and Hachidai Shrine is about 40 minutes.
Walking along the road up the mountain leads to Tanukidani Fudoin, a Shingon sect temple noted for its popular car blessing ceremonies and sales of lucky charms for safe driving.
On the evening of July 28 from 7 pm, Tanukidani Fudoin hosts a fire festival, where yamabushi mountain priests blow conches and walk across the hot ashes of burnt pine branches. Spectators can hot foot it across too. The main hall of the temple is built on pillars and from the veranda there are good views over Kyoto.
Suggested time including walking up and down from Tanukidani Fudoin is about 50 minutes.
Artist's studio, Zonkoro, Hakusasonso Hashimoto Kansetsu Garden & Museum, Higashiyama, Kyoto
Southern Higashiyama
This walk wends it way through southern Higashiyama, heading south along Philosopher's Walk, passing many temples and shrines, and ultimately ending at Kiyomizu Dera (temple). It is a full day's walk.
For those coming from Enkoji or Shisendo, walk down the hill, with Mt. Hiei at your back, until you arrive at Shirakawa Dori (street). Turn left. Walk for roughly ten minutes until you get to Imadegawa Dori. Turn left. A hundred or so meters on the right is the beautiful Hashimoto Kansetsu Garden & Museum, once the refined home of the Japanese painter Hashimoto Kansetsu (1883-1945). From here it is several minutes to the Silver Pavilion (Ginkakuji) and the northern end of Philosopher's Walk.
If you are coming from other parts of the city, the Silver Pavilion is a 15-20 minute walk from Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan Line from Sanjo Keihan Station or take bus #5 from Kyoto Station.
Ginkakuji is arguably the zenith of Japanese artistic expression. The fifteenth century temple was originally a villa for the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, a less than competent ruler but tremendous patron of the arts in a time of conflict and instability.
Suggested time for Hashimoto Kansetsu Garden & Museum and Ginkakuji together is about 1 hour, 20 minutes, though you could spend longer.
View of the Silver Pavilion - Ginkakuji Temple - amongst summer leaves
From there, begin walking along Philosopher's Walk. Along this tree-lined path are Honen-in Temple, Anrakuji Temple, Eikando Temple, and Nanzenji Temple. The path stretches for about 2 kilometers (a bit more than a mile).
Philosophers Walk is a favorite spot for cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto.
Suggested time for Philosopher's Walk is about 30-40 minutes
The end of Philosopher's Walk takes you to Keage Station, which is on the Tozai (east-west) line of the Kyoto subway and in front of the Westin Miyako Hotel.
A side trip is just south in Okazaki, which is home to the Kyoto Zoo and several of Kyoto's best museums: the Kampo Museum, Hosomi Museum, Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art, and Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art.
The next stop is Chion-in Temple.
Turn right and walk down the slope from Keage Station. At Jingu-michi (street), turn left. Walk up the slope lined with trees. This is the beginning of Maruyama Park. Chion-in is on the left.
Chion-in is the headquarters of the Jodo sect of Buddhism and was built in 1294. It is also home to the largest bell in Japan.
Suggested time for Chion-in is about 25-35 minutes.
From here, walk through Maruyama Park. Yasaka Shrine is on your right, and Gion just out the front gate and across the street.
You are now entering one of the most beautiful and popular parts of Kyoto. Exiting the park on the south side, you will wander narrow streets with temples all around you.
You should find yourself on Nene no Michi, a beautiful traffic-free street with Kodaiji Temple on your left and the quaint alley Ishibei-koji on your right.
Kodaiji was built in 1605 at the behest of Nene, a noblewoman who was married to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After his death in 1598, Nene decided to become a nun and founded the Buddhist temple Kodaiji. It is perched atop a hill above Nene no Michi.
On the opposite side of the street from Kodaiji is Ishibei Koji Street, a lovely alley with wooden homes, restaurants, and ryokan (Japanese style inns).
Continuing south on Nene no Michi, you will ultimately arrive at Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. These are narrow sloped streets with traditional shops.
Walking from Maruyama Park, seeing Yasaka Shrine and Nene no Michi should take an hour.
Jostling with the crowd - and doing a bit of shopping - you walk up the slopes, which will bring you Kiyomizuzaka, the path that leads to Kiyomizudera Temple.
Kiyomizu Dera is the most visited site in Kyoto. The original Kiyomizu Temple dates from the eighth century C.E. and is composed of several Buddhist temples.
The most well-known aspect of Kiyomizu dera is the huge veranda of the main hall. It juts out from the mountain on wooden pillars and is quite impressive.
Walking back down Kiyomizuzaka, you can take the bus back to Kyoto Station from Gojo-zaka. Take bus number 100 or 206.
We suggest an hour or more in and around Kiyomizu dera.
For those interested in eating out, nearby Gion and Kiyomizu are both full of establishments.
Accommodation in Kyoto
Japan Experience offers many holiday rentals in Kyoto in some great neighborhoods throughout the city; The famous entertainment area of Gion and Philosopher's Path, a quiet and pretty spot, popular with locals. Their comfortable accommodation in Kyoto has everything that you need for a trip and is a perfect base for any stay. See japan-experience.com/rent-a-house-in-kyoto for further details.
Kiyomizudera is one of the most popular temples in Kyoto
