{"id":470,"date":"2023-03-31T13:12:28","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T12:12:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/?p=470"},"modified":"2023-03-31T13:12:28","modified_gmt":"2023-03-31T12:12:28","slug":"4-days-in-kyoto-what-to-see-and-where-to-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/4-days-in-kyoto-what-to-see-and-where-to-go\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Days in Kyoto: What to See and Where To Go"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Only having four days in Kyoto<\/a> might initially feel as though you\u2019re just not going to have time to do much at all, but the truth is, with some careful planning and a sense of adventure, you can definitely get a lot done. We\u2019ve come up with an itinerary you can follow to make the most of your time in this gorgeous city.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Day 1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re truly going to make the most of your time in Kyoto on your Japan Rail trip, the key thing to remember is to set your alarm clock for an early start. On day one, head to Fushimi Inari Shrine<\/a> first thing in the morning. This is one of the best-known shrines in the area, and what\u2019s truly wonderful about it is that you will walk through literally thousands of torii gates to get there; you\u2019ll get a true sense of Kyoto\u2019s heritage in this way.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your next stop should be the Buddhist temple, Kiyomizu-dera (as pictured above). From here, you\u2019ll get the best views of the city, so soak it all in. If you\u2019re ready for lunch, the best place to go is Higashiyama District, where you\u2019ll find lots of street food vendors among the stunning buildings.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lunch done, and it\u2019s off to Arashiyama. This district is where you can walk through bamboo groves before hopping on a boat to travel along the Hozu River or visit the Tenryu-ji temple. To finish the day, go to the geisha district, Gion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Day 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On day two of your Kyoto trip, you can start by visiting Nijo Castle. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the gardens are lovely here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t skip visiting Kyoto\u2019s Imperial Palace while you\u2019re in the area. You can join a guided tour to get as much information as possible about this impressive building. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For lunch, Kyoto has plenty of choice for you. If you\u2019ve been to the imperial palace, your lunch can quickly be foundry nearby by Nishiki Market, where you can find pretty much anything you want, including plenty of traditional Japanese food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re ready to move on, your next stop should be Kinjaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion. At this Zen temple covered in gold, you can take a lovely walk through the gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To end the day, you can find a fantastic restaurant on Pontocho Alley and then find a bar to while away the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Day 3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you love peace and quiet, start day three in Kyoto by visiting the Ryoan-ji temple, where you\u2019ll find a highly regarded rock garden. And then, completely at peace, you can go to the Ninnaji temple where the gardens are really something to behold. You can get lunch near here as well at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine where there are plenty of street food vendors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some fun, your afternoon can be spent at Toei Kyoto Studio Park, a theme park that is all about Japanese entertainment. You can even try on traditional costumes and watch live shows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For dinner, you can book a table at Kyoto Tower. This is a true landmark of the city, and the views of Kyoto from the top are unparalleled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ryoan-ji Temple – Photo by\u00a0Gor<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Day 4<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kyoto is full of wonderful gardens and Tofuku-ji temple is a serene and peaceful place to relax for a while before moving to your next stop, which could be Fushimi Sake District. As the name suggests, this is the place to learn how sake is made and try some samples for yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might need lunch after all that sake, so head to the Kyoto Station Building. This place is full of cafes and restaurants, but there are many shops too, so once you\u2019ve eaten, you can go shopping as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, a fun trip to Kyoto\u2019s aquarium will be in order before you find a great spot for dinner and think about the fun you\u2019ve had over the last four days in Kyoto.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Only having four days in Kyoto might initially feel as though you\u2019re just not going to have time to do much at all, but the truth is, with some careful planning and a sense of adventure, you can definitely get a lot done. We\u2019ve come up with an itinerary you can follow to make the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":471,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[17],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/cosmin-georgian-gd3ysFyrsTQ-unsplash-1.jpg?fit=1920%2C1280&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":90,"url":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/what-to-do-and-see-in-kyoto\/","url_meta":{"origin":470,"position":0},"title":"What to do and see in Kyoto","date":"30th August 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"If you think that a trip to Kyoto is just about visiting historical monuments and temples, then think again. While the city has more than its fair share of historical monuments - being the birthplace of ancient Japanese civilisation - it\u2019s also home to a host of modern attractions too.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Japan Travel Guides"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/vicky-tao-FUJKdg_lIjI-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":59,"url":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/japan-rail-route-templates\/","url_meta":{"origin":470,"position":1},"title":"Japan Rail Route Templates","date":"21st July 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Not sure where to go on your rail trip around Japan? Get your plan started with our customisable route templates. These routes aim to inspire your travel around Japan - you should research your trip thoroughly in addition to using these templates. 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