This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2019. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
Kyoto was the city I was most excited to visit in Japan.
Known for its photogenic shrines and historic Japanese architecture, I figured it would be a dream for photography-obsessed travellers like myself. I was keen to capture some of those iconic shots you’ve probably seen on Instagram—minus the crowds.
Of course, I knew avoiding tourists completely would be tricky. Japan’s tourism boom means Kyoto’s top attractions are rarely quiet, and we did encounter busloads of visitors (especially at the bamboo forest). Still, by travelling independently in late June—just outside the peak seasons of spring and autumn—we found the crowds bearable and even had some places nearly to ourselves.
This itinerary includes a mix of must-see temples, charming neighborhoods, scenic photo spots, and mouth-watering meals, plus a few guided tour options if you’d prefer a local to show you around. If you’re planning a trip to Japan and are wanting to cover all the essential Kyoto activities, here are my suggestions for the best things to do in Kyoto over 2 days!
Quick summary:
Looking for a Kyoto travel guide? This itinerary for Japan’s cultural capital covers the city’s must-see highlights in two days—from iconic shrines and temples to bamboo forests and scenic spots.
Recommended tours:
⛩️ Fushimi Inari Hidden Route Tour – Explore quieter shrine paths, enjoy soba lunch, and relax with tea in a mountain hut
👘 Gion Hidden Gems Walking Tour – Discover geisha culture and local secrets with a knowledgeable guide
🎋 Arashiyama Secrets Walking Tour – Get insider access to the best photo spots in the bamboo grove and surrounding area
🍢 Nishiki Market Food Tour – Taste your way through Kyoto’s culinary scene with guided food stops and shopping insights
🍶 Sake Brewery Tour – Learn how sake is made and sample different varieties in a traditional setting
Where to stay in Kyoto:
🏨 We stayed at The General Bukkoji Shinmachi – a boutique hotel in Kyoto near Kawaramachi station. The location was really convenient – it was far enough from the tourist hotspots (like Gion) to be away from the crowds, but located within easy reach of public transport.
Our room was tidy, and the hotel offered a free basic breakfast each morning. I would definitely recommend this place or one of its sister properties for your accommodation in Kyoto.
Day one Kyoto itinerary
Morning
Start your first day in Kyoto by visiting the star attraction (in my opinion) – Fushimi Inari Shrine. This ancient Shinto shrine is what you’ll often see featured in advertisements for tourism in Kyoto. This is a very popular spot, so it’s best to arrive at the shrine before 9AM. We caught the metro to Fushimi Inari station and got started on the walk by around 8:45AM.
This shrine features thousands of red torii gates that line a path leading upwards through a forest hike around Mount Inari. Many tourists come here in tour buses and take their photos right at the entrance (there was already a crowd gathered by the time we arrived), so it’s best to move past this spot as quickly as possible. The crowds thin out as you walk further up, giving you much more space for photos.
The mountain path is not particularly difficult, but it is quite long and involves a fair amount of stairs – we did the entire loop, which took about 1.5 hours. The paths on the higher part of the mountain are also covered by the torii gates, and the setting is even more lovely in beautiful dense forest. There are also tiny shrines along the way with very few tourists and some small shops for you to buy drinks or snacks.
⛩️ You can also choose to do this hike on a Fushimi Inari Hidden Route Tour. This includes a soba noodle lunch and a Japanese tea break in a scenic mountain hut along the route. Sounds like magic!
Lunch
After you’ve finished with Fushimi Inari, catch the metro north to Gion Shijo station. We found a tasty lunch at Musubi cafe where I ordered a stellar green curry! The cafe has a bunch of healthy meals including some vegetarian options on the menu.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon in Gion – a historic district in east Kyoto where you’ll see many old houses, shrines, temples. We started our self-guided walking tour of Gion by walking up the hill towards Kiyomizu-dera temple. This 8th century Buddhist temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers fabulous views over Kyoto.
You’ll see people walking around in traditional kimonos in Gion, and if you want, you can join in the fun by renting a kimono for yourself!
👘 Gion is a hotspot for elegantly dressed Geishas. If you’re interested in hearing more about the Geisha culture in Kyoto, I’d suggest booking a Gion hidden gems walking tour to get a perspective from a local guide.
Afterwards, take a few snaps at the Yasaka Pagoda Photo Spot (one of the best photo spots in Kyoto, which is popular with Instagrammers). This picturesque street is lined with historic houses and looks down towards a 5-level Buddhist pagoda.
Next, stop in at the most Japanese Starbucks ever. I’m usually impartial to this coffee chain, but the Stackbucks in Gion is unique in that it’s set in a gorgeous old Japanese house. Once you’ve ordered your drink (try the iced matcha latte!), take it upstairs to enjoy in the Japanese-style tatami seating area.
Continue on to Yasaka Shrine, which is located in a big city park. We found it fascinating to watching the locals do their Shinto prayer ritual at this shrine.
Dinner
Pop over the Kamo River for dinner at Gyoza ChaoChao. We enjoyed this place so much that we went there twice! The Japanese fried dumplings are just so incredibly good, and there are plenty of vegetarian options. This casual restaurant can get pretty busy, but it’s worth the wait.
Day two Kyoto itinerary
Morning
The Arashiyama bamboo forest is another of the top Kyoto attractions. If you’re going for the photo ops, you’d better plan to arrive very early in the morning. We arrived mid-morning and the crowds made it impossible to get any good pics.
There are plenty of things to do in Arashiyama, and it’s easy to spend an entire morning here. Arashiyama town has souvenir shops and restaurants on the main street, plus zen gardens and Buddhist temples scattered around the area.
We ventured into Tenryuji Temple to see the Sogenchi zen garden which was a quiet spot with more bamboo and not nearly as many people as the main bamboo forest. We also did a short hike through Kameyama Park which had a gorgeous vista of the surrounding mountains and river.
🎋 If you’d like to have a local guide to show you all the best photo spots in the area, I’d suggest booking an Arashiyama secrets walking tour. This way, your Arashiyama itinerary will be planned out for you!
Lunch
Due to the Buddhist communities, Arashiyama is a good spot for vegetarians. There are a handful of tofu restaurants in the area, though we were told by one of them that unfortunately they use fish stock in most of the meals.
We ended up eating at a famous vegetarian restaurant, Shigetsu, which is inside the Sogenchi zen garden grounds. The experience of Shojin Ryori (traditional Japanese Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) was lovely – sitting on the tatami mats while practicing mindful eating was really peaceful.
Afternoon
After lunch, head back to Kyoto and hop off the metro at Kawaramachi station. This area is known for gorgeous tree-lined streets, shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.
Walk to Nishiki Market, which has hundreds of stalls selling seafood and other snacks. As someone who doesn’t eat fish, this was a pretty weird experience though I still found it interesting to be among the locals shopping for their dinner ingredients.
🍢 If you want to explore this place in more detail, you can do a Nishiki Market food tour. This walking tour includes food tastings at the market as well as a visit to the local shopping streets and a Japanese department store.
By late afternoon you should be ready for a rest, so sit down and try some local sake! We walked over the river to Jam + Sake Bar, which was pretty quiet in the afternoon but had loads of tasting flights with different grades of sake.
🍶 If you want a more immersive experience, try a sake brewery tour where you can learn how sake is made and try a few tastings.
Dinner
Sober up by taking a stroll down Kiyamachi-dori. There are loads of restaurants along this street, many of which feature a balcony out the back with seating facing the river. We stopped in at an Italian restaurant, Amore Kimiyachi, where the food was fairly good and the atmosphere was lovely.
On another night we went out to Pettirosso Kyoto which was nearer to our hotel. This restaurant has fish, vegetarian, and vegan options. The owner and his wife are an Italian-Japanese couple and their unique menu reflects this interesting mix of cuisines.
Other things to do in Kyoto:
If you have more time in Kyoto, here are some other attractions that you might want to visit. Unfortunately I didn’t get the time to include them all in my Kyoto itinerary, but I’m sure they would be a great addition for your visit to the city.
🏯 Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) – One of Kyoto’s most iconic sights—a gold-leaf-covered Zen temple reflected in a serene pond. It’s often rated the must-see temple in Kyoto.
🪷 Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) – A quieter, more subdued counterpart to Kinkaku-ji, with a lovely moss garden and raked sand garden—ideal for a zen moment.
🏞️ Nanzen-ji Temple + Aqueduct – A large Zen complex at the base of the Higashiyama mountains with a unique brick aqueduct and multiple smaller sub-temples.
🛕 Heian Shrine – A grand, modern-era Shinto shrine with a vast torii gate and tranquil gardens. It’s often used in cultural festivals and is visually striking.
🌆 Kyoto Imperial Palace – The historic residence of Japan’s emperors before Tokyo became the capital. Located in Kyoto Gyoen National Garden—good for a picnic or bike ride.
🖼️ Kyoto International Manga Museum – A fun stop for anime/manga fans. You can browse thousands of manga and learn about the art form’s history.
🏮 Pontocho Alley – A narrow, atmospheric alley near the Kamo River—lined with lantern-lit restaurants and a chance to glimpse a geisha.
🌸 Philosopher’s Path – A peaceful walking trail along a cherry-tree-lined canal, connecting Ginkaku-ji and Nanzen-ji. Especially beautiful in spring and autumn.
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