5 Days in Kyoto, Japan: Things To Do, See & Eat
Kyoto is a fascinating and fairly magical place - it’s the cultural capital of Japan and home to more than 1600 temples and 400 shrines and surrounded by lush nature and serene bamboo forests.
It’s also a popular city in Japan and oftentimes inundated with tourists, however, I don’t think it takes the magic of Kyoto away. Though you do need to be prepared when you visit some of the more popular sights that it can be pretty busy.
I visited Kyoto for 3 weeks so I managed to see quite a bit of the city! Here’s my guide on 5 days in Kyoto: things to do, see & eat.
Quick links:
Things To Do & See
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
One of the most famous sights to see if the Arishiyama Bamboo Forest. Walking through the forest you will find yourself enchanted by the zen atmosphere and the sunlight dancing between the bamboo trees. It’s a really beautiful place; one that attracts many a tourist daily, so be aware of large crowds that frequent this popular spot in Kyoto, especially in high season.
I would advise you to go a bit deeper in the forest (for example here). Also, walking along the Katsura river is magical, and it’s one of my favourite moments during my 3 week visit to Kyoto.
You can easily get to Arashiyama by train from Kyoto station, and it just takes around 20 minutes to get there. Make sure to go early though, to beat the crowds.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Another top attraction in Kyoto is the Fushimi Inari temple located just 15 minutes by train from Kyoto station. Fushimi Inari is one of the most visited temples in Japan, and it’s famous for it’s 10,000 Tori gates that go all the way up the mountain. You can actually hike up through all the Tori gates for 5 kilometres. Fushimi Inari is a shrine dedicated to the rice and sake spirit.
It’s a popular place again so be weary of crowds. However, there’s a simple tip to find less crowds: the further up you go, the less people you will find! Most people will go back to the main shrine maybe after 10 minutes hiking.
After visiting, make sure to visit Vemillion cafe to get a coffee with a cake and soak in the nature views, sitting on their terrace overlooking the river.
Nishiki Market
The most famous food market in Kyoto is called the Nishiki market, where you can find all sorts of fresh food, such as sushi, sashimi, grilled meats, fresh fruits, mochi and so much more.
There’s lots to try and taste! Just make sure to eat while standing and not while walking as that’s frowned upon in Japan.
The Imperial Palace of Kyoto
Located right in the middle of the city within a public park lies the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It’s very beautiful palace and it’s actually free to enter! There are also guided tours available in different languages.
This palace was home to the Emperors of Japan for 500 years until the capital moved to Tokyo in 1869.
There is no option to have a look inside (I think), so you can only wander around the palace but it’s still really beautiful to see both the buildings and the gardens.
Kinkaku-ji - Golden Pavilion Temple
Another famous temple in Kyoto is Kinkaku-ji, also called the Golden Pavilion Temple, that is in the north of the city. It’s famous for it’s golden appearance - the top two floors of the temple are covered in gold leaf. The temple is of course beautiful, but the gardens surrounding it are also well worth the visit. You can also find other statues, such as Buddha statues and a Phoenix statue.
Sannenzaka, Ninnenzaka and the Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka are picturesque sloping streets in Kyoto lines with traditional shop and restaurant buildings. You can find all kinds of souvenirs, gifts and snacks along these streets. The popular Maccha House cafe is located here, that serves the famous Matcha tiramisu that went viral on social media. You can also find the very popular Starbucks here that is situated in a traditional Japanese shophouse. Though I wouldn’t recommend it because it’s always crazy busy.
You can also find the Snoopy Chocolat store and cafe here as well as the Studio Ghibli shop.
If you walk up the Sannenzaka road you will find the famous Kiyomizu-dera temple.
It’s a beautiful area and it’s lovely to walk the streets, eat street food and shop some unique Japanese gifts; but again, it’s also very touristy and crowded. So make sure to go early to skip the crowds.
Check out the Gion district - with respect
The Gion district is the area where many Geisha’s are working. However, recently Kyoto has banned tourists because they were bothering the Geisha’s so much, which I totally understand.
I think you can still walk the streets lined with beautiful, old Japanese style houses, but it’s not allowed to walk where the Geisha’s are.
Attend a traditional Japanese tea ceremony
A Japanese tea ceremony is a serene and beautiful experience and it really shows the Japanese values of wabi-sabi, which is difficult to translate literally but means something like ‘living in the moment’.
There are various tea ceremonies you can do in Kyoto, and you can easily book and experience via GetYourGuide.
Day trips - Nara, Uji, Osaka and more
There’s much to see in Kyoto, but also outside of city there are a multitude of places and cities to visit.
Here are some of my favourite day trips from Kyoto:
Nara
I know, I know.. everyone is going to Nara these days. But the deer are really quite cute and if you manage to hide your biscuits they won’t attack you 😂 Jokes aside, Nara is a really fun place to visit and it is cool to see the (mostly) friendly deer, feed them some crackers and see the beautiful temple of Tōdai-ji, which is a Buddhist Temple that houses the largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan. There is also the famous mochi place called Nakatanidou which went viral on Instagram a few years back. I tried the mochi and it’s quite good! I didn’t stay for the mochi show though, but I’ve seen it gets quite crowded.
There is also a beautiful cafe located in Nara which I loved called NORR coffee roasters, which was perhaps the most beautiful cafe I’ve ever been to!
Uji
Uji is a town south of Kyoto, about 20 minutes by train from Kyoto station. It is famous for it’s tea, so you will find a lot of tea shops in the town. It’s perfect for a day trip from Kyoto - you can visit the magnificent Byōdō-in Temple, a Buddhist Temple. Have a matcha ice cream at Akamon-chaya before heading over the Asagiribashi bridge to check out the Tale of Genji Museum and the Uji shrine.
It’s also lovely to walk along the river and look at the stunning views from Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park. Visiting Uji was one of my favourite days during my 5 week trip in Japan 😊.
Osaka
Of course, Osaka is another great daytrip from Kyoto as it’s so close, just 30 minutes by train. There’s also loads to do in Osaka, such as eating your heart out at Dotonbori, checking out the Osaka castle and marvelling at the installations at teamLabs Botanical Garden.
And there’s more of course. You can visit the Osaka Aquarium as well as Universal Studios located not far outside of Osaka.
Kifune
Another amazing day trip, and perhaps a bit more off the beaten path, is to go north of Kyoto and visit a small village called Kifune. Especially in the summer it’s supposed to be extremely beautiful as you can walk in the nature along the river and waterfalls and visit hidden shrines in the forests. There are a few lovely restaurants and cafes where you can sit next to the river and eat a delicious meal, such as Katsura.
Where To Eat
Japanese Food
Kyo Tsuke-men Tsurukame, $$, Noodles - You need to try Tsukemen which is like ramen but they serve the noodles dry and you need to dip them in the broth. This place had some of the best noodles I’ve ever tried. It’s a tiny shop so you might need to wait a bit but it’s definitely worth it!
Wajoryomen Sugari, $, Noodles - Another Tsukemen place that is dangerously good! Come at opening time to avoid waiting in a long qeue.
Charcoal-grilled Unafuji Daimaru Kyoto villa, $$, Eel - This restaurant is located at the top of a department store and serve delicious Unagi (eel) dishes. One of the best meals I had in Japan!
Yayoi, $, Set Meals - This is a Japanese fast food chain but fast food in Japan means something different then in the West. They’ve got delicious and cheap set meals with fish or meat, rice (that you can fill up again at the rice machine!), vegetables and miso soups. You order and pay at the machine at the front and give it to a staff member who will direct you to a table and bring you the food. Also a great option if you’re eating alone! They’ve got various locations all over Japan.
Kura Sushi, $, Sushi - For cheap but delicious sushi that is also a great experience, visit Kura Sushi. It’s super popular so be aware that you will need to wait a bit. You can go inside and get a number and then come back when it’s your time. You can also reserve via the app by the way, although you will need to use your Japanese skills or use a translator app ;)
Kyo-Machiya Kyoto Shijo Kuon, $$, Udon Noodles - These tasty udon noodles are served with a kind of meat stew along with some Tempura. The noodles are so thick and chewy and together with the meat stew it really was heaven! Definitely recommend.
Specialty Coffee & Breakfast
Goodman Coffee Roasters - For amazing specialty coffee visit this cafe, which also roasts their own coffee.
Stumptown Coffee Roasters - Great coffee place, and also a good spot to do some work.
common. - Located close to the Imperial palace, you can find this cozy specialty coffee spot.
Schoolbus Coffee - They have a few locations in Kyoto and they serve good coffee and also some breakfast dishes. It’s also a nice place to work from.
For a more detailed list, check out my blog post on the best specialty coffee places in Kyoto! ☕
Desserts and Bakeries
Amairo Cafe Taiyaki鯛魚燒, $, Taiyaki is a fish-shaped waffle filled with either custard or sweet red bean paste. This place serves some really delicious ones along with a nice, warm matcha latte
2/7 kitchen, $, a tiny bakery located close to the main shopping area in Kyoto, 2/7 kitchen serves all kinds of pastries and breads, and they’re all delicious!
(THISIS)SHIZEN, $$$, If you want to eat a beautiful flower ice cream surrounded by plants, then go to this cool cafe. I do think it’s a bit over priced but the flower ice cream does look quite stunning.
International Cuisine
Pizzeria Osteria e．o．e, $$, Pizza - If you’re craving some Neapolitan pizza then this is the place to go to in Kyoto!
Shake Shack, $, Burgers - If you crave some burgers, there’s always Shake Shack there for the rescue!
Konbini Food
If all else fails, (or even just for fun), go to one of the myriad of convenience stores (7 Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart) and get yourself a fun dinner of assorted snacks, both salty and sweet!
I loved going to the konbini every day almost to get an Onigiri, a mochi and a 1000 Yakult.
Where To Stay
There are a few areas you can stay in Kyoto that are closed to public transportation and still in walking distance to some main temples or other landmarks.
I stayed in an area called Shijo Kawaramachi and I thought it was very conveniently located and easily accessible by metro. I could still walk to the city in 20 minutes (the area close to the Nishiki Market), and it was about a 6 minute metro ride to Kyoto Station.
If you want to stay more close to the popular areas and sights to see, such as the Gion area and Sannenzaka, then I would recommend the Gion Area.
Accommodation
Mid-range option
We stayed at the Imu Hotel, which was close to the Shijo metro station. I thought it was very conveniently located as you could get to all the major sights quite easily via metro or metro and then the train.
The rooms at the Imu Hotel were small but comfortable, and you could also choose different pillows on each floor at the “pillow station”. There was also a lounge area at the lobby, which was also the restaurant and breakfast area, where you could just hang out during the day. They also had free coffee, tea and water as well as a pretty good breakfast menu, which was fully vegetarian. I would mostly go with the vegetarian Japanese breakfast set, which was delicious.
Overall, the IMU Hotel was a great stay and very high value for money! So I definitely recommend it if your budget is in the mid range (around 50-80 euros a night).
🛌 Book IMU Hotel Kyoto here on Booking.com
Higher-end options
For a slightly more luxurious stay (150-300 euros a night), these are some great options, which I was also looking into:
Check out other hotels in Kyoto on Booking.com:
When To Go
Kyoto is beautiful all year round and depending on the season there may be different events going on and things to see and experience. The most popular time is autumn - this is when you’ll see the colourful autumn foliage and the weather is very mild as well. This is also high season, so if you go then it will be very crowded.
Another popular season is sakura season in the spring, usually around end of March and beginning April.
Winters can be quite cold (of course it’s relative depending where you come from) and summers are hot and humid. The summer (June to September) is lovely too, as there are many summer festivals that take place, with fireworks, street food, music and parades.
How To Get There
Kyoto lies in the middle of Japan so it’s really accessible from anywhere within Japan. There are plenty of trains and bullet trains going to and via Kyoto. Going from Tokyo to Kyoto by bullet train will take you around 2 hours and 40 minutes.
By airplane you will need to land in KIX, the airport in Osaka. From there you can take the train directly to Kyoto which takes a bit more than an hour and it’s also fairly cheap, around $10. This train is called the Haruka Express which you can also easily book via Klook. It was pretty convenient to book it in advance, then you just need to pick up the ticket at the ticket machines at the airport in Osaka.
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