Tokyo to Kyoto and Back in Less Than 24 Hours

Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital, is a dream destination for many travelers. If you are short on time and can’t stay overnight, it’s possible to do a day trip from Tokyo instead. With just a 2-hour Shinkansen ride, you can reach Kyoto and explore many iconic sights in a single day. Here’s how to do it.

Before we start — we know this is a jam-packed itinerary. And yes, it’s impossible to see all of the famous spots in Kyoto in one day — we’ll be skipping some of the big names like Fushimi Inari Shrine, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and Kinkaku-ji Temple, due to time and geographical restrictions. We actually recommend spending at least 1-2 nights in Kyoto, if you can. But if you can’t, this whirlwind tour should help you maximize your visit.

Note: The itinerary below is based on our own day trip to Kyoto, which we took on a weekday in late summer. We encourage you to adjust the activities to best suit your preferences, travel schedule, and time of year.

You can also take an overnight bus from Tokyo to Kyoto, spend the day there, and then take a bus back — it’s much cheaper, but also way more tiring! See all the ways to get from Tokyo to Kyoto.

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7 a.m. — Depart from Tokyo Station

Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station
¥13,970 for economy class and ¥18,840 for business (Green Car)
Book tickets

When we say it’s going to be an early start, we mean it. To make the most out of your day, we recommend leaving Tokyo around 7 a.m. You can get to Kyoto in just over 2 hours by taking the Shinkansen, specifically the Nozomi, the fastest train. 

Since you will also need time to get to Tokyo Station, it is best to have your tickets ready. We advise buying and picking up your tickets at least a day or two before your trip, in order to avoid extra stress in the morning. 

Where to buy tickets

There are a few places you can buy Shinkansen tickets, with our personal recommendation being Klook. A one-way ticket for economy class costs approximately ¥13,970, with some variance depending on the time of year. There is a fulfillment fee of about ¥1,537 (this, too, varies by season). Though Klook is more expensive, we have found it easier than using sites like Eki-net. You also have the ability to request a seat with a view of Mount Fuji.

Note: Japan Rail Pass holders can use their pass for the Tokyo to Kyoto trip and reserve seats in advance. Find out everything you need to know in our Beginner’s Guide to the Shinkansen: Essential Information for Your First Trip.

9:10 a.m. — Arrive at Kyoto Station

Upon arrival, follow the signs for the central exit, as that’s where the bus terminal is. You know you are in the right place when you can see Nidec Kyoto Tower in front of you. Given that there are so many bus stops, each going to different sightseeing spots, it can be confusing to know which one is which.

To reach our first destination, Kiyomizu-dera, we’ll need to take the 206 city bus which departs from the D1 bus stop. Even before 10 a.m., there was already a queue of people waiting to board this bus, and we waited 10 to 15 minutes to get on the crowded bus.

After getting off the bus at Gojo-zaka, you’ll need to walk approximately 10 minutes uphill to reach the temple grounds. This journey costs ¥230.

Pro tip: If you want to save some money, get a one-day bus and subway pass for Kyoto. Totaling ¥1,100 for adults and ¥550 for children, it is valid on all Kyoto City Bus routes and both subway lines.

10 a.m. Explore the iconic Kiyomizu-dera

Gojo-zaka
¥500 for adults, ¥200 for Junior High and Elementary School students

The first sightseeing spot on our whistle-stop tour of Kyoto is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kiyomizu-dera (“Pure Water Temple”). It is considered one of Japan’s most famous Buddhist temples, with an estimated 5 million people coming to visit it every year. Even by late morning, the area is already getting busy, so we recommend being as prompt as possible. 

The route

Once you arrive at the top, you will see the main entrance gate, known as Nio-mon. As you walk up the stairs, you can also catch a good glimpse of the West Gate (Sai-mon), Zuigu-do Hall and Sanju-no-to (Three Story Pagoda).

To enter the main hall and continue along the path to other sections of the temple, you need to buy an entry ticket. These cost ¥500 for adults and ¥200 for junior high and elementary school students. Note that you can only pay in cash.

Take time to admire the remarkable architecture of the Main Hall and marvel at the view from the wooden veranda perched on the cliff of Mt. Otowa. Then, proceed towards the red temple, Okuno-in Hall. This is one of the best photo spots to capture the Main Hall and panoramic view of Kyoto.

If you follow the suggested route from here, you will start to make your way down to Otowa Waterfall, famous for its “life-prolonging water”. If you walk around briskly, the whole course takes around 30 minutes; if you go at a more leisurely pace it can take around a hour.

Stroll through the streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka

Should you finish the route in 30 minutes or so, you’ll have time to shop for some souvenirs on the surrounding streets. Ninenzaka is the main cobblestone street leading up to the temple, and is lined with an array of shops, cafés, and restaurants.

Although there is not much time to properly explore the side street Sannezaka (Safe Delivery Hill), take the opportunity to photograph its winding street and traditional wooden buildings.

Getting to Nishiki Market from Kiyomizu-dera

From the base of Ninenzaka, it’s about a 30-minute walk to Nishiki Market. Throughout this itinerary, we encourage walking to each spot if possible. This will not only save on transportation costs, but also give you a better feel for the city. Additionally, based on our experience, Kyoto’s local buses can be extremely crowded, meaning it can take a while just to board! 

11:30 a.m. — Early lunch at Nishiki Market

Nishikikōji Street
Free admission, but food can cost anywhere from ¥100 to ¥3,000

Fondly known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, Nishiki Market is a lively food market that features over 100 stalls, all lined up along a single street. The market first opened its doors in 1615 as an open-air fish market. Nowadays, it is famous for selling everything from tako tamago (skewered octopus heads) to high-quality wagyu. It has secured its place as a top destination for both locals and tourists looking to savor regional delicacies.

We think it’s worth spending an hour or so exploring the bustling market streets and grabbing a bite to eat. In addition to the main strip of food stalls, you’ll also find a variety of souvenir and thrift shops in the market complex.

What to eat

Prices vary from stall to stall, with the average item between ¥300 and ¥1,000. Most vendors also only accept cash. Although most of the stalls don’t offer any seating, there are a handful that do, meaning you can enjoy a sit-down mini meal. Fans of character cafés may even want to go into the Snoopy-themed café, Snoopy Cha-ya. 

We wanted to sample some of the seafood offerings. First, we tried a ¥500 crab-cream croquette with tomato sauce from the shop Kanizamurai. It had a velvety smooth filling that was absolutely delicious.

Next, we wanted to try something a bit different, opting for a shrimp tempura seasoned with matcha salt, which also cost ¥500 from Nishiki Yatai Village. It is certainly worth stopping by Nishiki Yatai Village, as it has a bunch of stalls selling fresh sashimi, oysters, wagyu, and even sake. 

Getting to Nijō Castle from Nishiki Market

Aim to leave Nishiki Market around 12:30 p.m., as it takes around 30 minutes to get to the next stop on our itinerary: Nijō-jō.

1 p.m. — Walk the grounds of Nijō-jō Castle

Nakagyo-ku
¥1,300

Nijō Castle is one of Kyoto’s most significant historical landmarks. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate, originally built the castle in 1603. In 1929, the City of Kyoto received it as a donation, and soon after, it opened to the public. It is one of Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Before entering the grounds, you will need to get a ticket. The price depends on the type of ticket; with a castle admission and Ninomaru-goten Palace ticket costing ¥1,300 for adults, ¥400 for junior high and high school students, and ¥400 for elementary school students ¥300. If you want to spend less, you could consider just getting the castle admission ticket, which is ¥800 for adults.

What to see

There is a lot to explore, with the two main points of interest being the Niomaru-goten Palace and the Honmaru-goten Palace. Inside both palaces, you can see various rooms filled with beautiful painted panels and intricate architecture — a sight to behold. Each palace also has its own stunning gardens which you can walk around.

Touring one of the palaces and its garden takes around a hour, if going at a leisurely pace, meaning that seeing both takes quite a bit of time. Depending on how interested you are in Japanese history, castles, and gardens, you may want to carve out more of the afternoon to stay here.

If you are keen to stick to our suggested timings, then we would recommend only going inside one of the palaces. This leaves you with enough time to explore the other points of interests, such as Seiryu-en Garden and the various castle gates.

Getting to Gion from Nijō Castle

When leaving the castle grounds, walk 6 minutes to the local bus stop. From there, you can catch the 12 City Bus for ¥230, which takes you directly to Gion.

Alternatively, you can take the 15 City Bus, also ¥230, which will drop you at Shijo Keihan-mae. Although it is an 8-minute walk to Gion, going this route gives you a chance to browse the shops along the main road.

2:30 p.m. Wander around Gion

Gion
Free to walk through

Gion, Kyoto’s geisha district, is not only a cultural treasure but also one of the city’s most visited places. Situated between Yasaka Shrine and the Kamo River, this charming area has many ochaya (teahouses), ryōtei (exclusive traditional restaurants), and okiya (houses) — all places in which geiko and maiko still live and work to this day.

If you happen to see a real-life geiko or maiko, make sure to be respectful and do not take any photographs. Gion’s district council has banned photography on private streets, mainly Hanami-kōji Street, with fines of up to ¥10,000. There are many signs in the area, telling you where photography is prohibited.

When visiting Gion, many people take the time to rent a kimono or yukata from the many rental shops. The surrounding wooden architecture and quaint side streets provide the perfect backdrop for those dressed in traditional attire. However, there is probably not enough time to rent one during this brief day trip.

One of the main highlights of the area is Yasaka Shrine. As one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Kyoto, Yasaka Shrine hosts the annual Gion festival, which attracts around 230,000 people. Built in 656, this shrine has impressive architecture and hosts special performances with local maiko and geiko. One of the smaller shrines on the grounds, known as Utskushigozen, is popular among young women wishing for beautiful skin and hair.

If have some time to spare, you could always stroll around the nearby Maruyama Park, a famous cherry-blossom viewing spot.

3 p.m. — Enjoy some traditional sweets

Gion
¥900 to ¥1,700

After wandering through Gion, it is time for a much-needed dessert break. While the area boasts numerous amazing dessert spots, one in particular stands out for its popularity. Gion Tokuya is a traditional dessert restaurant renowned for its high-quality matcha and melt-in-your-mouth mochi, as well as for always having a queue! On this particular visit, though, we were lucky and only ended up waiting 15 minutes. 

Not only is there a great selection of traditional Japanese desserts to try, but you get to enjoy them inside a traditional machiya (townhouse). The quintessential Kyoto experience!

The menu features an array of traditional sweets, including warabi mochi, kuzumochi, anmitsu, kakigōri, and parfaits. Complementing these treats is a classic selection of teas, perfectly suited to enhance the flavors of the sweets.

Although it is on the pricier side, with the matcha and warabi mochi parfait costing ¥1,700, the high-quality ingredients, generous portion size, and overall experience make the price justifiable. Some of the desserts cost slightly less, with a plate of warabi mochi being ¥1,300.

4:30 p.m. — Meander over to Hōkan-ji (Yasaka Pagoda)

Higashiyama
NA

From Gion Tokuya, take a 12-minute leisurely stroll over to Hōkan-ji, a Buddhist temple that is also referred to as Yasaka Pagoda. On the way, you are likely to pass through some of the private streets where photography is banned, so keep an eye out for the signs.

This 46-meter tall pagoda was built in 592 and is the oldest in the city. It is situated in a quiet part of Higashiyama and is deemed as one of the most iconic landmarks and photo spots in Kyoto. While impressive up close, the best photos are captured from a distance, incorporating the street in the shot. As you approach Hōkan-ji, there are many local shops that you can stop by.

How to get from Hōkan-ji to Nidec Kyoto Tower

From Hōkan-ji, we recommend hopping on the 206 city bus from the Kiyomizumichi bus stop. In our experience, trying to take the bus back towards Kyoto Station can prove to be a bit of a struggle. The line for the bus was long, and we missed 3 or 4 consecutive buses due to the fact they were all full. Because of this, we suggest trying to leave the area slightly earlier or walking to a less crowded bus stop. Once on the bus, you will need to get off at Karasuma Nanajo, the final stop of the day.

5:30 p.m. — See the sunset from Nidec Kyoto Tower

Kyoto Station
¥900 for adults, ¥700 for high school students, ¥600 for elementary school students, and ¥200 for those 6 and under

Although you might not get the chance to see the whole city by foot in a day, you can at least see it from above at Nidec Kyoto Tower.

Conveniently located just outside of Kyoto Station, Nidec Kyoto Tower has an observation deck where you can enjoy 360-degree views of the city and beyond. Notably, it is also the tallest structure in all of Kyoto — measuring 131 meters in height.

Tickets to go up to the observation deck range from ¥200 to ¥900, depending on your age. You can buy them at the counter on the 1st floor. Then take the elevator up to the observation deck, located 100 meters above.

Visiting around this time of day gives you the chance to watch the city transition from day to night. You’ll need to check the sunset times for the dates you are visiting, though, as it may be a little earlier or later in the evening.

Use the free telescopes and catch sight of all of Kyoto’s most famous spots including Kiyomizu-dera, Toji Temple, and Chion-in Temple. Since the deck isn’t very large, you don’t need to stay for too long — just enough time to absorb the cityscape. 

6 p.m. — Dinner at Kyoto Station

After a long day on your feet, it is time to grab something to eat before jumping on the Shinkansen. Luckily, there is a wide variety of restaurants around Kyoto Station, so you don’t need to venture out far.

As we were eager to find some affordable Kyoto-style kaiseki (a traditional multi-course meal), we chose to eat at Minoru Dining Kyoto. This restaurant is in Porta Dining, a row of restaurants inside the shopping mall with the same name.

At Minoru Dining Kyoto, you can enjoy Kyoto-style kaiseki for a resonable price, in a casual setting. This restaurant prides itself on using local, freshly harvested ingredients to make seasonal Kyoto cuisine. We ordered the Premium Set because it’s an amazing deal, offering 16 different small dishes for just ¥2,580. For comparison, many kaiseki restaurants start from around ¥5,000.

Everything in the set tasted exceptional, with standout dishes including the Kyoto beef slice, handmade tofu, and tempura platter.

Bear in mind that the contents of the meal may change, and that they do include allergens like diary, egg, and wheat.

Despite Minoru Dining Kyoto’s contemporary vibe, the interior draws on traditional esthetics, making it feel as though you are dining in the streets of Gion rather than the station. With its laid-back atmosphere and high-quality cuisine, it is the perfect place to end your day trip in Kyoto.

7 p.m. — Head back to Tokyo

It is time to head back to Tokyo. We suggest taking a Shinkansen that leaves Kyoto around 7 p.m., as this will get you back to Tokyo around 9 p.m. It is best to head to the platform 15 minutes before departure to ensure you have enough time to find the right carriage and hop onto the train. 

If you find that you have some time before departure, you could always pick up some last-minute souvenirs at one of the gift shops in the station.

Is a day trip to Kyoto worth it?

Honestly, it depends on how much of the city you want to see, and whether you like sticking to a tight time schedule. There is a reason why so many people make the effort to add Kyoto to their travel itinerary — it is steeped in traditional culture and boasts 17 magnificent UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you don’t have time to dedicate a few days to the city, then a Kyoto day trip from Tokyo is definitely a worthwhile challenge. 

It is worth keeping in mind that Kyoto and its top sightseeing spots are crowded, even on weekdays. Soon into our day trip, we came to realize that just trying to take the bus to places required extra time.

Ultimately, we would strongly recommend spending at least two days in Kyoto. Although you can get a feel for the city in one day, you can’t properly savor it. Plus, there isn’t time to venture to some of Kyoto’s other top spots, like Kinkaku-ji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and Fushimi Inari Taisha.

Tokyo to Kyoto day trip FAQs

Can I do a Kyoto day trip from Tokyo?

Yes, this itinerary demonstrates that you can see a lot of Japan’s old capital in just one day. Fortunately, it only takes around 2 hours to get there on a Nozomi train from Tokyo — though you should brace yourself for a long and busy day.

How much time do you need in Kyoto?

As mentioned, we encourage you to spend at least 2-3 days in Kyoto for the most enjoyable experience. However, if you are going to go on a day trip, 10 hours is a sufficient amount of time to get a taste of what Kyoto has to offer.

While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.