How to Spend 2 Days in Kyoto: The Perfect 48 Hour Itinerary

Last Updated on 2nd November 2024 by Charlotte Nadeau

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With its centuries of history, beautiful temples, old shrines, ancient districts, and stunning gardens, Kyoto should be at the top of every traveller’s Japan itinerary. In this guide, I’m going to break down how to spend 2 days in Kyoto, based on my most recent trip to the city, including where to visit, what to eat, and the best spots you can’t miss! 

Is 2 days in Kyoto enough?

I would personally say that, unfortunately, 48 hours in Kyoto isn’t really enough time to really get to know the city. If possible I would prioritise spending at least 3 days, or even 4 or 5 days in Japan’s ancient capital.

However, if 48 hours is all that your itinerary will allow, you should take the chance to stay in one of Japan’s most beautiful cities! If you only have one day in the city, check out our suggestions for how to spend one day in Kyoto.

Otherwise, for a larger overview, here are the best things to do in Kyoto. If it happens to be raining during your time in the city, be sure to check out our rainy day suggestions for Kyoto.

Suggested Kyoto 2 day itinerary

Over the course of 48 hours, I’ll try and give you a good overview of Kyoto. This itinerary includes a lot of walking so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and pack lots of water! Be sure to fully charge your camera too as every moment is sure to be pretty stunning!

Day one suggestions:

Murmur Coffee

Begin your time in Kyoto by heading to one of the loveliest cafés in a picturesque location which looks as if it has been plucked straight out of an old film. Murmur coffee serves up all kinds of hot and cold beverages. If you’re feeling a little hungry, then you can order a sweet or savoury toast, including melted cheese or butter and honey.

Kinkaku-ji (Kyoto’s Golden Temple)

Kinkanku-ji is the first attraction I recommend visiting and it’s UNESCO world heritage listed. Officially named the  Rokuon-ji, this Buddhist Zen temple was founded in the 14th-century and has previously been ranked No. 85 Most Holy Place on Earth. The highlight of this illustrious temple is the Golden Pavilion, which is surrounded by a tranquil lake and plenty of greenery. 

Overlooking the large Kyoko-chi, or Mirror Pond, the Golden Pavilion stands as a timber frame with a clay tile roof. It’s actually a 1950s replica of a previous one on site which unfortunately burnt down.

After you’ve seen the Golden Pavilion, you’ll carry on the trail through the Temple’s Gardens. Designed like that of a traditional Japanese stroll garden, the space is not only to be enjoyed visually, but it is also a place of reflection.

At the end of this trail, you’ll find a beautiful tea garden with indoor and outdoor space. For around 500 yen per person you can enjoy traditional Japanese sweets and matcha tea. This is one authentic Japanese experience I recommend doing at least once in Japan and there’s perhaps no better time to do so than after you’ve just experienced one of the most beautiful temples in the country.

It’s fairly far from the centre of kyoto and you only need an hour or so to explore, but the beauty and tranquility of the place makes the journey out worth it! While you can take a bus to reach the temple, we took a taxi on the way back to save precious exploration time and make the most of our time in Kyoto.

Nishiki Market

For lunch, head to one of Kyoto’s main foodie hotspots and the one place I recommend everyone visits in Kyoto upon their first trip to the city, the Nishiki Market. The market is a covered market in downtown Kyoto spanning the course of around 390 metres and is just a few metres in width.

There are over 130 vendors and the market is famed all over Japan for its rich variety of foodstuffs and associated culinary products and gadgets. You can sample a variety of street foods here including fried octopus heads, mochi, and fish cakes.

I recommend getting 3-5 different kinds of foods to make up the same size kind of portion that you would eat for lunch. There is one main rule to follow when visiting the market, don’t eat while walking! Consume your food outside of the stand at which you bought it and throw your trash away in the bins provided.

Wander the streets towards Gion

To be honest one of the greatest joys of visiting Kyoto is simply to stroll around the streets and allow the city to reveal itself to you. This way you can soak up the architecture, snap some photos, and be truly amazed by the number of vending machines on pretty much every street corner!

One of the most gorgeous places to visit is the Kamo river, particularly at sunset or during cherry blossom season. I love strolling along the river’s banks as there are often birds of prey swooping above and even street performers singing.

Kiyomizu-dera

From the banks of the Kamo River, you’ll want to wander up to another famous Japanese temple, Kiyomizu-dera, which is known as the “Pure Water Temple”.

This place of worship is UNESCO world heritage listed and is one of the largest temples you can visit in Kyoto. Upon entry, you’ll come across a three storey pagoda, which at 31 metres in height is one of the tallest of its kind in Japan. 

Head further into the complex and you’ll come across the star of the temple; a balcony/ wooden stage that was built entirely without nails! The entire complex gives views onto the maple forest below and the city of Kyoto beyond. As a result of this maple forest, the temple is particularly famous during the fall.

In the Edo period it was believed that people who jumped off the 13 metre high jump from the stage would be granted their wish. Unfortunately, of the 400 or so people who jumped off, there was only an 85% survival rate.

Head into Gion

From here, it’s easy to explore the most famous district of Kyoto, Gion. This area is most closely associated with Geishas (just don’t bother them for photos). It’s also home to countless traditional wooden houses which are truly pretty stunning.

You’ll probably want to spend an hour or two window shopping all of the authentic Japanese gifts for sale at the little boutiques, including fans, tea sets, local street food, and more. Just note that there are an increasing number of streets where photography is forbidden so heed the signs and respect the locals.

Head directly south and you’ll be in southern Higashiyama. Head here for one of the most beautiful and unique buildings in the city, a pagoda that is known as the Tower of Yasaka. 

This five-storey pagoda is all that remains of a 6th-century temple by the name of Hōkan-ji Temple. Now a popular tourist attraction, the pagoda can be spied from all over the district and is best-seen at golden hour.

Kyoto train station

One location in Kyoto which is somewhat of an attraction in of itself is the main Kyoto train station. This is where the Shinkansen (bullet trains depart from) and also all of the buses and subways which will take you all over the city. From here, you can take a subway which will transport you into downtown Kyoto in just a few stops.

Downtown Kyoto

Spend the evening exploring the Kawaramachi district which is a lively area known for its modern buildings, shopping arcades, and numerous bars and restaurants. Some of the most beautiful streets in the area to explore include Pontocho alley and Yanagikoji Street.

We then enjoyed the noodles at Kyoto Engine Ramen. They cater to plenty of dietary requirements (which isn’t always the case in Japan) and even had a spicy vegan option, as well as a gluten-free option.

Day two suggestions:

Fushimi Inari

The next day get up bright and early to make it out to one of the most popular places to visit in Japan; Fushimi Inari. Particularly unique thanks to the presence of over 10,000 Torii gates leading up the mountain, you can walk through them to reach the top of Mount Inari.

The whole climb up takes between an hour to an hour and a half depending on your pace. You’re only supposed to walk in one direction as the whole mountain trail is a closed loop but you can only do a part of the trail if you prefer. For more information, check out our full guide to Fushimi Inari taisha.

Fushimi breweries

After exploring Fushimi Inari head back to the train station which will take you to the central area of the Fushimi district. This area is famous for its sake breweries and you can visit one of the many breweries which have a tasting room. 

We visited Fujioka Shuzo. There you can sit on tatami, sample various sake (just be careful because it’s pretty alcoholic) and enjoy some accompaniments such as fried fish and even sake butter which is a leftover from sake production.

Where to stay in Kyoto

Thanks to its sheer popularity, Kyoto has plenty of places to stay to suit a variety of needs and budgets. I would personally recommend staying in central Kyoto as this will give you the best base from which to explore the other districts of Kyoto, as well as take day trips.

Hotel Tavinos Kyoto: We stayed in this hotel while in Kyoto and found it to be clean and comfortable. The rooms were a little on the small side, but since we were out exploring most of the time, it didn’t really impact on our stay. Check prices and availability here.

Ryokan Mugen: If you’re looking for an unforgettable stay in Kyoto, then you’ll want to book yourself into this traditional Ryokan. Amenities include a bar onsite, and a courtyard with a rock garden. Some rooms have tatami mats. Check prices and availability here.

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