5 Days in Kyoto & Nara: Temples, Gardens and Day Trips

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Kyoto deserves time. Five unhurried days cover its great temples and gardens, with day trips to Nara's Great Buddha and the matcha town of Uji. Fly into and out of Osaka Kansai.

Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion
  • Length5 days, 4 nights
  • RouteKyoto → Arashiyama → Nara → Uji
  • Best forCulture lovers and slow travellers
  • When to goLate March–early April, May, November
  • Rail passNo rail pass needed: use an IC card and buses.

Make it yours: open this route in the trip planner, add your dates and get travel times, seasonal alerts and links to flights and hotels.

Open in the trip planner →

The route at a glance

  1. Day 1 · Kyoto: Arrival and Gion
  2. Day 2 · Kyoto: Higashiyama
  3. Day 3 · Arashiyama: Arashiyama and the Golden Pavilion
  4. Day 4 · Nara: Nara
  5. Day 5 · Uji: Fushimi Inari, Uji and home

Day 1 · Kyoto

Arrival and Gion

The Haruka express brings you from Kansai Airport to Kyoto in about 80 minutes. In the evening, stroll along the Kamo River, Pontocho and the lanes of Gion.

Pontocho alley
  • Pontocho
  • Gion
  • Kamo River

Day 2 · Kyoto

Higashiyama

Kiyomizu-dera, the slopes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, Kodai-ji and Yasaka Shrine, then the Philosopher's Path up to Ginkaku-ji.

Kiyomizu-dera
  • Kiyomizu-dera
  • Sannenzaka
  • Kodai-ji
  • Ginkaku-ji

Day 3 · Arashiyama

Arashiyama and the Golden Pavilion

Arashiyama's bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji early, the monkey park or Okochi Sanso villa, then Kinkaku-ji and the rock garden of Ryoan-ji.

Tenryu-ji garden
  • Arashiyama bamboo grove
  • Tenryu-ji
  • Kinkaku-ji
  • Ryoan-ji

Day 4 · Nara

Nara

Todai-ji, Nara Park's deer, Kasuga Taisha and the old merchant streets of Naramachi.

Lanterns at Kasuga Taisha
  • Todai-ji
  • Kasuga Taisha
  • Naramachi

Day 5 · Uji

Fushimi Inari, Uji and home

Sunrise at Fushimi Inari, then the short train ride to Uji for the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in and a matcha tasting, before heading to the airport.

Byodo-in, Uji
  • Fushimi Inari
  • Byodo-in
  • Uji tea houses

Tip: Uji is on the JR Nara line, an easy stop on the way back to Kyoto Station.

Getting around

Kyoto buses get crowded: combine the subway, JR and Keihan lines with walking. Nara and Uji are 30–45 minutes away by train.

When to go

Late March–early April, May, November. Add your dates in the trip planner to see cherry blossom and autumn leaf timing, the rainy season, typhoons and holidays for this route.

Where to stay

  • Kyoto (4 nights): near Kyoto Station (best for day trips) or Shijo-Kawaramachi.

Frequently asked questions

Is Nara better as a day trip or overnight?

A day trip is enough for the main sights; staying overnight lets you see the park at dawn, when the deer and temples are quiet.

How do I avoid crowds in Kyoto?

Start at 7–8 am, visit the famous spots first and keep afternoons for smaller temples.

What is the best season?

Cherry blossom season (late March–early April) and autumn leaves (mid-November to early December) are the most beautiful and the busiest.

Prefecture guides for this trip

Want a different pace or more stops? The planner rebuilds the itinerary around your dates and choices.

Customise this itinerary →

Last updated: 19 October 2026 · Japan47.org, by Francesco Consalvo. Travel times are approximate; check timetables and opening days before you go. Photos: Wikimedia Commons.

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