How Many Days Is Enough in Kyoto?

There are so many things to do in Kyoto and so many things to see. Spending a couple of days in Kyoto might not be enough to see at least the major attractions. Therefore, we recommend spending at least 4 days seeing the best of Kyoto. If you want to explore the hidden gems of Kyoto, we recommend spending 5-7 days for you to experience the depths of Kyoto. If you want to take day trips to neighboring cities like Osaka, Nara, Himeji, or even Hiroshima, adding 1 more day for each city will do.

Is 2-3 days enough in Kyoto? You might wonder. Well, you can see a lot of attractions in Kyoto within 3 days. However, you won’t be able to breathe and rest in between, and this might be too exhausting for you. On top of that, anything that is rushed usually removes the joy of doing something. You might not be able to appreciate what’s in front of you during your short trip because you are too caught up with running out of time. Nevertheless, it’s 2 or 3 days in Kyoto is still doable with the right planning.

Kyoto is an ancient city, being the first capital of Japan. It is home to so many temples, shrines, gardens, museums, and other cultural and traditional attractions. If you are looking for inspiration for your trip to Kyoto, here’s a sample 4-day Kyoto itinerary:

Day 1: Southern Higashiyama (Gion, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka Preserved Districts, Yasaka-no-to Pagoda, Kennin-ji Temple, Maruyama-koen Park, Chion-in Temple)

Day 2: Arashiyama District (Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, Arashiyama Monkey Park)

Day 3: Nishiki Market + Fushimi Inari Shrine + Geisha tour

Day 4: Northern Higashiyama (Nanzen-ji Temple, Heian-jingu Shrine, Kyocera Museum Art, Philosopher’s Path, Ginkaku-ji Temple)

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