3 Day Kyoto Itinerary: Ideal vs Reality

If you’re like me, you were bombarded with photos and videos of things to do in Kyoto on social media.

Ideally, I wanted to visit all 9 temples on my list.

In reality, I saw only 5.

Ideally, I wanted to wake up early and get to all the popular places before the crowds.

In reality, the jam-packed days often meant we slept in a little later (max 8 a.m. but still).

This meant we were often touring the popular spots at the most crowded times, but you know what?

Even though I wasn’t at Fushimi Inari at the crack of dawn, I still really enjoyed it because it was actually really freaking cool and popular for a reason.

Maybe your Kyoto itinerary won’t be ideal but, in reality, Kyoto is an amazing place and your experience will be great regardless.

So what is a more realistic itinerary for Kyoto? Let’s get into it!

A person with a brown backpack walks up stone steps lined with tall orange torii gates at a Japanese shrine. — Fushimi Inari

A person in a red kimono walks along a stone path surrounded by green bushes and autumn trees under a blue sky. — Kimono rental

Table of Contents Show

Overview of 3 Days in Kyoto

Day 1: Modern. Manga portrait at Kyoto Manga Museum, cute cafes like Kyo Karucha Cafe, ramen (Fukuchian Nijō-jō-mae over Ichiran)

Day 2: Traditional. Maikoya Kimono Tea Ceremony, kimono rental to wear while exploring Higashiyama Ward and Gion

Day 3: Temples. Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera

Stone torii gate leads to a path lined with vibrant orange torii gates at a Japanese shrine, surrounded by trees and stone lanterns. — Fushimi Inari

My Top Tip for Traveling to Kyoto: Front-Load Your Days

My No. 1 tip for traveling to Kyoto is to front-load your days with your absolute must-dos!

Every day, ensure that the first thing you do that morning is your No. 1 priority.

This was a repeatable lesson during my trip to Japan — do what you must do first and see what else you have time for next!

There is just so much to do in Kyoto.

You really won’t get to do everything on your list unless you have weeks to spend in Kyoto and plan to criss-cross the city like Sonic the Hedgehog.

Prioritization is key.

What I’d Do Differently

I knew there would be crowds in Kyoto, but I didn’t anticipate how much longer things would take with all the queues (to be seated at restaurants, to get entry tickets, etc).

I’m glad I did the popular things in Kyoto, as they’re popular for a reason, but I would give myself more time to do them and narrow down my list of things to do and see.

I had tons of pins saved on my map just in case we had some spare time to kill.

I mean, it’s good to have back-up plans in case your original plans don’t work out, but it was also a bit overwhelming trying to fit in more things when there really wasn’t time for it.

I’m glad I at least prioritized my must-dos and got those done.

But, at the end of my trip, I did wish I had more time. (A reason to return, right?)

Day 1: Manga and Cute Cafes (Modern Kyoto)

This day explores a very fun and modern side of Kyoto where you get to take home a unique souvenir.

My No. 1 Priority: Getting a manga portrait drawn at the Kyoto International Manga Museum

Ideal Itinerary: Bullet train to Kyoto, Kyoto Manga Museum, 4-5 cafes, Nishiki Market, ramen for dinner

Reality: I thought I would have time to explore Nishiki Market and try out more cafes but I didn’t anticipate spending over 4 hours at the Kyoto Manga Museum. Also, the early morning travel on the bullet train to Kyoto really zapped our energy by the time we could check into our hotel.

On My List That I Didn’t Do: Ippodo Tea Daimaru, Nishiki Market, Ain Soph Journey, Nakamura

Here’s what I did do:

Manga Portrait and Exploring the Manga Museum

I started my trip in Kyoto by heading straight to the Kyoto Manga Museum, fresh off the bullet train. Luckily, there are loads of luggage lockers at the Kyoto Station, so stashing my suitcase was a breeze.

I wanted to get there first because I really, really wanted a manga portrait done by Kasumin! These slots are first-come, first served and often get booked full by noon. The manga portrait took longer than anticipated because our slot was in the afternoon and the actual drawing of it took about an hour (for 2 people).

It was well worth the wait!

It was one of the best souvenirs I brought home from Japan. How cool it was to watch the artist at work, capturing little details and turning me into my very own manga character.

If you love manga or anime, then you must visit the Kyoto International Manga Museum and sign up to get your own manga portrait.

It goes without saying, but the sheer volume of manga at the Kyoto Manga Museum is truly impressive.

That being said, I’d definitely recommend taking your time to peruse every floor of the Kyoto Manga Museum.

A hand holds a drawing of a woman with long wavy hair in front of shelves filled with colorful manga and books in a bookstore or library. — My manga portrait

A framed illustration with a QR code and contact info sits on a desk; a small koala toy is attached. A person with brown hair, head down, works in the blurred background. — Manga artist, Kasumin, at the Kyoto Manga Museum

A person with shoulder-length hair and a beige sweater looks at a display case filled with white ceramic hands and drawings inside a well-lit room or museum exhibition. — Kyoto International Manga Museum

Enjoy Fun Treats

Kyo Karucha Cafe: Their specialty is cheesecake that looks like a wedge of cheese.
(THISIS)SHIZEN: Their specialty is ice cream that looks like a bouquet of flowers.

Both are within walking distance of the Kyoto Manga Museum. (I walked to both after visiting.)

Kyo Karucha Cafe

As mentioned, the specialty of Kyo Karucha Cafe is cheesecake that looks like a wedge of cheese.

This cafe is popular, so expect a wait to go inside. You can either order to go or wait for a table upstairs. Note that if you order to go, it’s generally looked down upon in Japan to eat while walking. So be sure to have a place in mind to eat your cheesecake.

There are several different flavors, and it can vary based on availability for the day.

I got the matcha flavor and loved it. This cheesecake was well worth the wait! The photos look cute, but the food is actually good, too.

(THISIS)SHIZEN

The specialty of (THISIS)SHIZEN is ice cream that looks like a bouquet of flowers.

This ice cream shop is super trendy and making its rounds on Instagram, but I didn’t really like the flavor at all.

The flowers are made of bean paste, and there’s vanilla ice cream within the cone. I’m all for trying new things, but why does it have to be so expensive?

Each flower cone costs 1750 yen, or about $12. $12?? This was the most expensive food item I purchased in Japan.

For that reason, I don’t recommend it personally, but I also hope everyone who’s interested will give it a try themselves.

if anything, it is a beautiful (and edible) work of art.

Two hands holding waffle cones with ice cream shaped like roses, one cone has peach and white roses, the other has chocolate and white roses. Both cones have wooden sticks and greenery in the background. — (THISIS)SHIZEN

A green, cheese-shaped dessert with a tiny mouse figurine sits on a white plate next to a fork; another yellow dessert shaped like cheese is in the background. — Kyo Karucha Cafe

Ramen for Dinner: Which Ramen Is Best? Ichiran vs Fukuchian

I had to try the famous Ichiran ramen which was all over my Instagram feed back when I still used social media.

And, don’t get me wrong, it was a cool experience. I loved filling out the customized ramen order and having my bowl of ramen slide out to me through the bamboo-covered window.

But the taste did not compare to the local ramen place we ended up eating nearly every single night of our stay in Kyoto.

I’m speaking of the ramen at Fukuchian near Nijo Castle. It was chef’s-kiss delicious.

a bowl of ramen on a table inside a ramen shop in Kyoto — Fukuchian Nijō-jō-mae (the best ramen we had in Japan!)

A bowl of ramen with green onions and a black spoon sits on a wooden counter in a private booth, with a bamboo screen and Japanese signs in the background. — Ichiran Kyoto (the famous ramen experience)

Day 2: Kimono Tea Ceremony (Traditional Kyoto)

My No. 1 Priority: Participating in a kimono tea ceremony

Ideal Itinerary: Maikoya Kimono Tea Ceremony, Ninenzaka, Higashiyama Ward, Hokan-ji, Sannenzaka, Sanmen Daikokuten Temple, Entoku-in Temple, Kodai-ji Temple, Kennin-ji Temple, Gion Ichiho, Kiyomotocho, Shirakawa Canal

Reality: I’m really glad we booked the early morning tea ceremony as this meant we could spend the rest of the day wandering around Kyoto while wearing kimonos. We did see everything we sought out to see, but I didn’t spend as much time in the popular places (such as Hōkan-ji Temple’s Yasaka Pagoda and Sannenzaka) as I expected. To escape the major crowds here, we instead visited smaller temples I hadn’t known about beforehand.

On My List That I Didn’t Do: Gion Ichiho, Kiyomotocho, Shirakawa Canal (walked through briefly but not enough time to really see much)

For a full breakdown of my time in the kimono tea ceremony and where I took the best crowd-free photos, see my post:

Best Kimono Tea Ceremony in Kyoto (Review + Best Photo Spots)

the tea ceremony leader wearing a kimono sitting in the corner of a traditional Japanese room holding a piece of paper — Maikoya Kimono Tea Ceremony

a bowl with green and red leaves painted on it sitting on a tatami map with a bamboo whisk nearby — Maikoya Kimono Tea Ceremony

the back of a girl's head, where her hair has been braided and wrapped in a bun with three flowers in it. the girl sits in a traditional Japanese room. — Maikoya Kimono Tea Ceremony

girl wearing a red kimono with fake flowers in her braided hair standing in front of a pond with red autumnal trees surrounding it — Kodaiji Temple

Day 3: Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu-dera

My No. 1 Priority: Climb to the top of Fushimi Inari

Ideal Itinerary: Nijo Castle, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Tenjuan, Tofuku-ji Temple, Daigo-ji Temple, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji Temple

Reality: I had half a dozen temples on my list to visit on my last day in Kyoto plus a tour of Nijo Castle. How many did I actually visit in reality? Only 2. And I didn’t even make it to Nijo Castle which was right across from my hotel! A shame, honestly.

On My List That I Didn’t Do: Nijo Castle, Tenjuan, Tofuku-ji Temple, Daigo-ji Temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple

So, what happened?

Climb to the Top of Fushimi Inari

Well, I visited Fushimi Inari, thinking it would be a quick little hike through the 10,000 red Torii gates. I enjoyed it so much, I spent well over 3 hours there.

Yes, there are a lot of people, even all the way up. But it was such an interesting, unique climb, I just had to reach the top.

And I’m glad I did!

Even though the top was just a sign that said “top,” completing the hike felt rewarding and a little bit magical, if I’m being honest.

I loved spotting all the foxes, sacred messengers of Inari Okami, as I made my way up 1,000 stone steps.

A person with long hair and a backpack walks down stone steps among vibrant orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan. Japanese characters are written on the gates. — Fushimi Inari

A stone fox statue wearing a pink bib stands outdoors, surrounded by vibrant autumn trees with red and orange leaves and clear sky above. — Fushimi Inari

Bright red torii gates with Japanese writing stand before a large stone monument, surrounded by autumn trees with vibrant red and orange leaves, under a partly cloudy sky. — Fushimi Inari

A sign in Japanese and English reads Summit Top, 233m and is displayed on a wooden stand with stone steps and sunlight in the background. — Top of Fushimi Inari

City view from a hill with colorful autumn trees in the foreground, a sprawling cityscape in the middle, and distant mountains under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. — View from Fushimi Inari

Try the Street Food near Entrance to Fushimi Inari

There were surprisingly lots of food venders near Fushimi Inari (or perhaps, not so surprisingly when considering how touristy this area is).

So we ended up spending quite a bit of time strolling around and trying out different food like tanghulu and more strawberry daifuku.

Note that we didn’t stroll and eat simultaneously as that is against the rules (as signs would tell you).

Sign on sidewalk with a symbol of a person eating crossed out. Text in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean says, No eating while walking. Sunlight casts shadows on the ground. — No eating while walking sign

A hand holds a skewer with three strawberries coated in a shiny sugar glaze, with a blurred background of signs and lights, likely at an outdoor market or food stall. — Strawberry tanghulu

A white vending machine decorated with Pikachu characters next to a blue vending machine, both filled with various colorful drinks, standing against a tiled wall. — Pikachu vending machine

A hand holds a cup of smoothie from Seven Cafe in front of a smoothie machine, with a colorful sign and calorie information visible on the cup. — 7-Eleven smoothie machine

Taste the Waters at Kiyomizu-dera

After Fushimi Inari, I went to Kiyomizu-dera to taste one of the three streams.

I learned about this legend online and thought it was so interesting. There are three streams, which are believed to grant specific blessings if you drink from it—either success, health and longevity, or love. But you can only drink from one.

At the time, I had no idea which stream represented which, and there were no signs, so both my cousin and I drank from the right stream since most people seemed to be bending over backward to taste that one.

Later, I learned the following:

Right stream: Health and longevity
Middle stream: Success in love and relationships
Left stream: Success in academics and work

I’d say I picked the right one, wouldn’t you? Or would you want a different blessing?

Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, Japan, overlooks a vibrant landscape of red and orange autumn leaves under a partly cloudy sky, with people gathered on the wooden terrace. — Kiyomizu-dera

A serene Japanese garden with vibrant red and orange autumn leaves, a calm pond reflecting the foliage, rocks, green shrubs, and distant forested hills under a clear blue sky. — Kiyomizu-dera

A person with long brown hair and a backpack looks at a traditional Japanese building surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage under a partly cloudy sky. — Kiyomizu-dera

Create Your Own Fragrance

This was not on the itinerary at all, but after visiting 2 temples, I realized I didn’t have the energy for a third (and they are quite a distance from each other).

So instead, we went to create our own fragrance at My Only Fragrance.

I’m a bit regretful that I missed the famous golden temple, Kinkaku-ji, but it’s something to see on my next trip to Kyoto.

Tip: If you want to ensure you do see all 3 famous temples in Kyoto —Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, and Kinkaku-ji — then book this day tour.

For My Only Fragrance, I didn’t book a time slot in advance, and the only availability was at the Teramachi location in a shopping mall. It wasn’t as scenic as the one in old town at Kiyomizu, but I was still glad to make a unique fragrance.

It was yet another souvenir I was happy to bring home from Japan (and it’s been put to good use!).

A hand holds a fragrance form with handwritten details in a modern room with shelves and glass containers in the background. The card includes item numbers, volume, accent, concentration, and guidance sections. — My Only Fragrance

3 Days in Kyoto…But…Why Stay a Week?

Kyoto makes a great base for exploring other nearby places. If you want to reduce your time spent lugging suitcases around, packing and unpacking, then settle into Kyoto for a week and take it easy.

This is what I did and I highly recommend it!

From Kyoto, I went on day trips to Arashiyama, Nara, Himeji, and Osaka.

Day trip to Arashiyama — My absolute favorite place I visited while in Kyoto! A must-see.
Day trip to Nara — The bowing deer are worth the 35-minute train ride to Nara.
Day trip to Himeji — Himeji Castle in autumn and spring is a sight to behold.
Day trip to Osaka — I visited Osaka after touring Himeji Castle but wished I had dedicated a full day (at least!) to Osaka.

Where to Stay in Kyoto

There are a lot of options of where to stay in Kyoto, and in the end I’m glad I chose not to stay in the super touristy areas.

Where I stayed: I stayed at the ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto, which is in a quiet neighborhood, by a major subway station — Nijojo-mae Station — and right across the street from the beautiful Nijo Castle. The hotel is in the process of being renovated, and we were fortunate to be put in one of the newly remodeled rooms (you can request one, too).

Free shuttle service: ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto offers a free shuttle bus service to Kyoto Station. We used it almost every morning for day trips.

This is the most current shuttle bus schedule that matched the one I saw during my visit in November 2024. It may be different today, so call the hotel if the shuttle doesn’t appear. Some of the staff at this hotel also speak English.

Nearby restaurants: During our stay in Kyoto, we did three day trips including the one to Arashiyama, and because of this we often returned late. It was so nice to have a go-to ramen restaurant for dinner and to be staying in such a quiet, safe neighborhood. It’s a fond memory of heading into the warm ramen shop every night, leaving the rain outside, and slurping the best noodles we had in Japan.

Ramen Fukuchian – Nijō-jō Castle: This corner ramen shop is open until 9 p.m. and it is so good. I also tried the famous Ichiran ramen while in Japan, and this ramen shop was way better. For vegetarians, they offer a vegetarian miso ramen!
Colorado Masusan: Just steps away from the hotel is this cute cafe that serves the most delicious egg toast and matcha milk. I am now a huge fan of the thick Japanese toast, and I loved eating here every morning.
7-Eleven: We became obsessed with the smoothie machine at 7-Eleven, and we walked here often, morning and night, to make our daily smoothie.

How to save money: For Americans, I recommend applying for an IHG credit card to receive a sign-up offer that will cover several nights at the ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto hotel. That is what I did, and I was able to cover my entire stay with points.

view from the Ana Crowne Plaza Kyoto hotel which shows the adjacent Nijo Castle lit up at night — View from the Ana Crowne Plaza Kyoto hotel

View from a high-rise building showing rooftops, green trees, and various mid-rise buildings at sunset with a clear sky. — Daytime view from the Ana Crowne Plaza Kyoto hotel

What to Pack for Your Trip to Japan

Comfortable and convenient footwear

You’ll likely walk a lot while visiting Japan, so a good pair of walking shoes is a must. However, one additional recommendation is make sure your sneakers are slip-in.

Why wear slip-in sneakers?

Many traditional places in Japan require guests to remove shoes before entering. Shoes with a lot of laces are hard to get off. But slip-ins? A breeze.

Slip-in sneakers — I wore this pair of slip-in sneakers from Skechers my entire trip to Japan, and it was so convenient! I didn’t even have to sit down to take off my shoes, like everyone else did. My shoes just slipped right off. I also felt comfortable in these shoes despite walking 20,000 steps every single day.
Ankle socks — Be sure to wear ankle-covering socks with your shoes so you don’t get blisters with all that walking. I wore these Hanes ankle socks every day of my trip to Japan and didn’t get a single blister.

Favorite travel essentials

I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized.
I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.