If you’re visiting Japan, 2 days in Kyoto should be an absolute minimum. A beautiful city with wide boulevards, leafy parks and even a few Geishas, it is the stuff of Japanese dreams.
A much slower pace of life awaits you here, particularly if you’ve arrived via the hustle of Tokyo. Pushbikes dominate the roads, there’s a meandering pace and a swathe of temples to explore.
A former capital of Japan, 2 days in Kyoto will give you the opportunity to get around and see the key highlights of this city.
So what to fill your 2 days in Kyoto with? Read on for the highlights of this excellent city.
Kinkakuji
Start your temple tour at Kinkakuji (aka as the Golden Pavillion). The temple is stunning. Casually covered internally with actual gold, you’ll shudder thinking of the expense it must have taken to build. Sitting behind a pond, it’s a picture perfect Japanese temple. When the sun appears, you’ll have a reflective pond to ponder upon.
Ginkakuji
Next on your temple visits, the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavillion) provides a different style of temple. You won’t find any silver here though, but the name makes it easier to differentiate from the Golden Pavillion. The gardens are great to walk through as you enjoy in tranquility.
Kiyomizdera Temple
Sitting on the hills behind Kyoto, these grounds offers a sprawling walk with some wonderful views. There are many different angles to enjoy this temple. Once you’re finished here, take a walk down through the Higashiyama District. There are endless stalls and eateries along here that provide great views and give you a real flavour of Kyoto.
If you’re not yet castled and templed out, head to Nijo Castle. Unlike many of the other temples that have needed restoration, this castle remains as it was built. There are a number of gardens internally where you can find some zen.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Sitting a 25 minute train trip outside of Kyoto, the Fushimi Inari Shrine offers a very different visit than anything you’ve seen yet in Kyoto.
The Shrine is famous for its thousands of torii gates. When you think there can’t be any more gates, they just keep on going. You’ll need your walking shoes, and give yourself patience if you’re trying to get an iconically deep shot of the gates with no one in your pic. The light coming through the gaps provides an interesting photo opp. Along the way, there are gaps and breaks with some wonderful views afforded back over Kyoto.
Over the last few years in particular, this has heated up as a popular Instagram spot for obvious reasons. Press on in your visit to get ahead of the crowds and influencers, I promise you there will be many more gates for you to admire on your visit here further along!
Arashiyama
To the west of Kyoto, you’ll find Arashiyama, famous for its bamboo groves. Here, you can walk amongst the bamboo groves which tower above you and provide yet another contrast to this amazing city.
You may get a little excited when you spot a ‘Geisha’. But know that most of the folks you’re seeing are not true Geishas. Dressing up seems to be a thing here and really playing the part. I’m not one to debate with people about real and fake Geishas although that does have a special part of the Internet devoted to this issue. As a traveller, I thought it was a lovely way of paying homage to the tradition and even makes for great photos like below!
Gion District
Not convinced by my fake Geisha diatribe? To find the real deal, it helps to be looking in the right area. And in Kyoto, the right area is Gion. You’ll find them wandering about in the late afternoon/early evening. Remember, they are people, and hotly sought after, so do be respectful. I witnessed some getting chased down the street in a paparazzi style which can’t make for an enjoyable experience.
Eating in Kyoto
There are so many different types of cuisine to be had in Japan, and you can try some very different types in the Nishiki Market. Nibble away at a few different pieces here to see what takes your fancy. The sweet potato lollipops were a favourite of ours during our visit!
In Gion, you’ll find a number of Shabushabu restaurants. Shabushabu is a type of cuisine where you effectively cook the food yourself with hotpot of soup. You’ll generally be sitting on the ground with your hotpot in the middle and is a truly unique experience. Knock back a sake or two to wash it down.
A must-eat – Gogyo Ramen
When I think back to my time in Kyoto, even amongst all of the beautiful sights we saw, one thing sticks out in my mind. Indelibly marked on my tastebuds is the unmistakably good burnt ramen from Gogyo Ramen.
An intimate restaurant, you can expect a queue most days of the week. Don’t despair, they turn the tables relatively quickly. It’s the absolute best on a cold night and you’ll want to come back and visit again on your trip after you’ve tasted it for the first time. We enjoyed it twice, and long for our next visit.
2 days in Kyoto is a great amount of time to get around and see the best parts of the city. We hope you have an amazing time in this most beautiful part of Japan.
Have you been? What do we need to add to our itinerary for next time?
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