Last Updated: April 14, 2025
<aside> 📎
Content
</aside>
<aside> <img src="/icons/bookmark-outline_gray.svg" alt="/icons/bookmark-outline_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Key Facts
✈️ How long to stay - 5 nights at the minimum, better 7 with an added day trip to Nara
</aside>
We used Kyoto as our base to travel to the other surrounding cities for day trips, for example to Osaka, Himeji Castle. You can also add Nara if you have time to visit it.
To visit Kyoto, we split the map into sections so to have enough time to explore each attraction.
As Kyoto was our base to travel to other cities nearby, our hotel was close to the Kyoto Station so to be able to take early/late trains.
Map of Kyoto
You need around a day to explore the area and visit the temples here. Before you go, save the temples you want to visit ahead so that you limit the walking.
Arashimaya - Bamboo Forest
https://maps.app.goo.gl/npDegfcd1Rmb6Pzh7
Try to get here as early as you can so that you can avoid the other tourist crowds.
Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
https://maps.app.goo.gl/p8hamaXjJLnim8Zu9
This temple is really worth a visit, due to its impressive collection of over 1,000 stone statues of the Jizo Bosatsu and its own mini bamboo forest.
Nijō Castle https://maps.app.goo.gl/U5QW1EB3Dcr7CQfi6
This Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must visit when in Kyoto. One of the most interesting facts is that it has nightingale floors that chirp when walked upon. The floor was designed this way to alert against intruders. Really smart!
The castle also has beautiful gardens that you can visit.
☕️ If you need a coffee break, there’s a great coffee place just in front of the Castle: https://maps.app.goo.gl/m2maJSXuZyqo9uEP6
Other spots worth a visit (if you have time)