Typical Nov · 15° / 7°
Autumn pick: To-ji Temple

Kyoto

Watch 3 days unfold, then make them yours. Kyoto's best, planned around opening hours.

Use this 3-day plan See stays in Kyoto

Day 1 · 9:00 AM

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Shrine · 1 h 45 min

See the full 3-day plan

Kyoto at a glance

Kyoto is a city of palaces, temples, and shrines, known for its traditional Japanese culture.

About Kyoto

Kyoto, located among the mountains of the Kansai region, was the capital of Japan and the residence of the Emperor from 794 until 1868. It has a collection of palaces, temples, and shrines built for emperors, shoguns, and monks.

The city escaped Allied bombings of World War II, retaining prewar buildings like machiya townhouses. Kyoto's core follows a grid pattern, with numbered west-east streets.

Palaces
Temples
Shrines
Kaiseki dining
Matcha
Traditional townhouses

How long to stay

3 days

3+ days will allow you to see more of Kyoto.

Best time to go

Spring & autumn

Apr–May, Oct–Nov are the mildest.

Getting around

Kyoto's public transport system is useful due to the city's size and the distribution of attractions. Public and private trains, subways, and buses cover the city. The Kyoto Sightseeing Card offers unlimited travel on the subway and city buses.

Kyoto in 3 days

Each day stays in one part of town, timed around opening hours, with lunch on the way.

Day 1

Around Fushimi Inari Taisha

9:00 AM – 5:31 PM

Fushimi Inari Taisha9:00 AM
Senbon Torii (Thousand Torii Gates)10:52 AM
Kiyomizu-dera12:12 PM
Lunch at GYUKATSU Kyoto Katsugyu Gion Yasaka1:31 PM
Higashi Honganji2:46 PM
Sannenzaka4:31 PM

Personalize Day 1

Day 2

Around Kinkaku-ji

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Kinkaku-ji9:00 AM
Nijō Castle10:05 AM
Ninna-ji Temple11:25 AM
Kyoto Botanical Gardens12:50 PM
Lunch at WIFE & HUSBANDClosed Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays2:15 PM
Kyoto Imperial PalaceClosed Mondays3:30 PM

Personalize Day 2

Day 3

Around Nishiki Market

9:00 AM – 5:50 PM

Nishiki Market9:00 AM
Yasaka Shrine10:52 AM
Lunch at Kyoto Tonkatsu Katsuda Sanjo Kawaramachi2:10 PM
To-ji Temple3:30 PM
Ninenzaka4:50 PM

Personalize Day 3

Add dates, swap places and book stays, free in Pilot.

Use this 3-day plan

Where to stay in Kyoto, by area

Every part of town at a glance: what's near, and where you'd sleep, with tonight's price.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha4.6 · 83K
Senbon Torii (Thousand Torii Gates)4.7 · 13K
Tōfuku-ji Temple4.5 · 11K

Stays near Fushimi Inari Taisha

5-Star hotel

Kyo-machiya Stay WAKA Fushimiinari

8 min walk

9.3(34)

5-Star hotel

Randor Residential Hotel Kyoto Suites

Kyoto U-BELL Hotel

Higashiyama

This area is between the Kamo River and the temple-studded mountains of Higashiyama, with attractions including Gion and Philosopher's Path.

Kiyomizu-dera4.6 · 65K
Yasaka Shrine4.4 · 31K
Sannenzaka4.4 · 16K

Stays near Higashiyama

3-Star hotel

Yuenshe Kiyomizu Villa

4 min walk

4-Star hotel

Oyado Kiyomizu Shichifuku

8 min walk

8.8(12)

4-Star hotel

Yasaka Yutone Kyokoyado

9 min walk

9.9(60)

Arashiyama

This district is set against the tree-covered hills of Arashiyama and has historic and natural sites.

Kinkaku-ji4.5 · 64K
Hojo Teien (Rock Garden)4.5 · 418
Kyoto Prefectural Insho-Domoto Museum of Fine Arts4.2 · 413

Stays near Arashiyama

5-Star hotel

ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts by Hilton

Ryokan Nenrinbo

Central

This district contains Nijō Castle and the Imperial Palace. Kyoto Station, the city's main gateway, is at its southern end.

Matsui Honkan

Ryokan Kohro

Kyoto Watazen Ryokan

South

This district covers a large part of Japan's former capital, from Ōharano in the west to Fushimi-ku, Daigo, and the southern tip of Higashiyama-ku in the east.

Stays near South

5-Star hotel

YADORU KYOTO HANARE Washi No Yado

6 min walk

7.6(27)

3-Star hotel

Comfort Hotel ERA Kyoto Toji

6 min walk

8.8(4.8k)

3-Star hotel

M's Hotel Kyoto Station Kasuga

8 min walk

7.8(1.5k)

North

This district has shrines and temples, including World Heritage Sites. Kinkaku-ji, a gilded pavilion, is located here.

Ginkaku-ji4.5 · 16K
Eikandō4.6 · 9.4K
Philosopher's Path (Tetsugaku no Michi)4.6 · 2.6K

Ryokan Yoshida-sanso

Heian No Mori Kyoto

Kyoto Nanzenji Garden Ryokan Yachiyo Established in 1915

24 min walk

See all stays in Kyoto

When to visit Kyoto

Weather by month, and what's best each season.

Best time to visit

Spring & autumn

Best: Apr–May, Oct–Nov
Hottest: Aug · 30°C
Coldest: Jan · 0°C
Wettest: Jul · 253 mm

Jan: 0 to 7°C, 95 mm of rain. Feb: 0 to 8°C, 77 mm of rain. Mar: 3 to 12°C, 120 mm of rain. Apr: 7 to 18°C, 152 mm of rain, one of the mildest months. May: 12 to 22°C, 161 mm of rain, one of the mildest months. Jun: 17 to 25°C, 221 mm of rain. Jul: 22 to 29°C, 253 mm of rain. Aug: 23 to 30°C, 201 mm of rain. Sep: 19 to 27°C, 205 mm of rain. Oct: 13 to 21°C, 165 mm of rain, one of the mildest months. Nov: 7 to 15°C, 93 mm of rain, one of the mildest months. Dec: 2 to 9°C, 96 mm of rain.