Things to Do in Kyoto Japan in 3 Days
Over 71 million people visit Kyoto Japan each year for its amazing temples and shrines, Zen gardens, bamboo forests, tea houses, Geisha District, old shopping streets, sake distilleries, and black sesame ice cream. There are many amazing things to do in Kyoto Japan! Kyoto has over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines. One of Kyoto’s must-see attractions is Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. The brightly colored Fushimi Inari Gates is another top thing to see in Kyoto. If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience, be sure to visit the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple. If you love spending time outdoors you will not want to miss the Arashiyama bamboo forest. As you can see, you will have no problem filling 3 days in Kyoto Japan with amazing experiences. Continue reading for my carefully thought-out Kyoto Japan 3-day itinerary. Enjoy your time out of the office!
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How to Spend 3 Full Days in Kyoto Japan
Arrival and Hotel Check-in
Arrive at Kyoto Station and transfer to your hotel. I stayed at the Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo. It was a convenient 5-minute walk from the station making transportation around Kyoto super easy.
Day One of Kyoto Japan 3-Day Itinerary: Kyoto’s Temples, Shrines, and Geisha District
10 AM Kyoto is spread out and transportation options are limited. Utilizing the Kyoto Sky Hop Bus is the most time-effective way to explore Kyoto’s temples and shrines. The first pick-up is at 10 am at Kyoto Station’s bus terminal. It is a 2-hour route; not to miss stops include:
Stop 7 Kinkaku-ji (the golden pavilion)
Stop 8 Daitoku-ji Temple
Stop 10 Philosopher’s Walk (cherry blossoms)
Stop 11 Heian Shrine
Stop 12 Gion District, Tatsumi Bridge, Yasaka-jinja Shrine, Maruyama Park (Cherry Blossoms)
Walk from Maruyama Park stopping at: Ishibei-koji Lane, Kōdai-ji Temple, Ryozen Kannon (Buddha statue), Starbucks Coffee, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Paths, Kiyomizu-dera (closes at 6 PM)
Note: there are an incredible amount of temples and shrines to visit in Kyoto. It is not possible to see them all. I have no regrets about the above choices BUT I do regret not seeing the 1001 statues of compassion at Rengeō-in (Sanjūsangen-dō) Temple.
Day Two of Kyoto Japan 3-Day Itinerary: Temples, Bamboo Forest, and Monkeys of Arashiyama
8:04 train from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station 7 stops on the San-In Line. Walk 5 minutes to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before the crowds arrive. The zen garden at the Tenryu-ji Temple is nearby and said to be worth a visit. The line was too long when I visited.
Cross the Togetsukyo Bridge on the way to the Arashiyama Monkey Park. Stop to admire the cherry blossoms in Arashiyama Park during the Sakura season.
Hike up the mountain to say hello to the Japanese Macaque monkeys at Arashiyama Monkey Park. You truly are hiking UP THE MOUNTAIN, bring water! It is worth it. Hang out and feed the monkeys for as long as your traveling companion will allow.
11 am Head down the mountain and cross back over the Togetsukyo Bridge for lunch at one of the many restaurants. Shop for a souvenir before grabbing a taxi to the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple. Don’t be concerned, there is a taxi line for your return ride.
Return by JR train to Nijō Castle and Shinsen-en Garden, open until 4 pm.
Take a taxi to Nishiki Market for a DIY dinner food tour.
Day Three of Kyoto Japan 3-Day Itinerary: Sake Tasting and the Famous Thousand Torii Gates
8AM Get up early to beat the crowds under the famous rows of vermilion-colored torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha. Take Nara line 2 stops from JR Kyoto Station and exit Inari Station. Then follow the crowd for 2 minutes to the entrance.
10 am Continue on the Nara line to Uji Station. Walk 10 minutes to the Byōdō-in Temple and check out the grounds. Walk across the Kisen Bridge and stop by the Fukujuen Uji (Uji Tea Factory) for a unique matcha experience.
Return to Kyoto on the Nara line to Momoyama Station. Exit and walk 15 minutes to the Fushimi Sake Village and the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. Take a Jikkokubune Canal Cruise under a cherry blossom tunnel during Sakura season.
Things to do in Kyoto Japan
- Walk under the rows of vermilion-colored torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Visit the Kiyomizu-Dera, a shrine built on a cliff and without any nails, and drink water from the Otowa Waterfall
- Shop for souvenirs on Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka in the Higashiyama district
- Visit a tea house in Gion, the Geisha district
- See the 1001 statues of compassion at Rengeō-in (Sanjūsangen-dō) Temple
- Watch a Kabuki show at the Minamiza Theatre
- Walk the Philosopher’s path along a canal lined with cherry blossom trees
- Visit Kinkaku-ji, Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and Ginkaku-ji, Temple of the Silver Pavilion
- Relax under the cherry blossom trees in Arashiyama Park
- Take a walk in the Arashiyama bamboo forest, and arrive early
- Check out Tenryu-ji temple and Seiryo-ji
- Spend some time relaxing in an onsen (Japanese bathhouse)
- Visit Nijo Castle and its zen gardens
- Create a DIY tour of Fushimi, the sake brewing district
- Ride the Sagano romantic train through Kameoka
- Feed the monkeys at Iwatama Monkey Park
- Grab a quick meal from one of the 100+ stalls in Nishiki Market, don’t miss tako tamago (candied octopus)
- See the zen rock garden at Ryoan-ji Temple
- Check out Japan’s tallest pagoda at Tōji-in Temple
- Walk up the stone staircase with red lanterns to Kifune Shrine, and be sure to buy fortune-telling paper
- See Ryozen Kannon war memorial paying tribute to Japanese soldiers who died in World War II
- Relax under the cherry blossom trees in Maruyama Park
- Watch a kimono fashion parade at the Nishijin Textile Centre
- Check out the samurai- and ninja-themed attractions at Toei Kyoto Studio Park
- Browse the premodern Japanese and Asian art at the Kyoto National Museum
- Check out the tiny backstreets, restaurants, and bars of Ponto-chō Alley
- Take a samurai swordplay lesson
- Watch a performance of kembu sword dance
- Take a calligraphy or Ikebana (flower arrangement) class
- Eat a Floresta donut (animal-shaped donut)
- Dance the night away at Kitsune Kyoto
Best Places to See Kyoto’s Cherry Blossoms
Catching the cherry blossoms in bloom is often a matter of luck. Normally the trees blossom the last week of March with full bloom sometime during the first two weeks in April. Trees blossom earlier when the weather is mild and the blossoms open later when the weather is cool. Not-to-miss sites for cherry blossom viewing include Maruyama Park, Philosopher’s Walk, Shimbashi Street, To-ji Temple, Keage Incline, and the Imperial Palace Gardens.
Check the Kyoto Japan Office of Tourism website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
Day Trip to Nara Japan
Be sure to take a day trip to Nara Japan! Nara Japan is famous for its World Heritage shrines and temples and bowing deer. You can reach Nara from Kyoto in less than an hour by train and there are several departures a day. While there, be sure to feed the deer sika senbei or “deer crackers”. Bow to the deer, and some will bow back to you.
Booking Resources for Kyoto Japan
Japan Travel Guide Books
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Kyoto Attractions and Day Tours
The best attractions sell out! Don’t chance it, get your tickets now and relax when you arrive.
Travel Essentials
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Enjoy your time out of the office!
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