Kyoto Itinerary 5 Days

5 Days in Kyoto - Perfect Vacation Guide

A bustling city deeply influenced by traditional Japanese culture, Kyoto is a picturesque place full of Buddhist shrines, lush forests, craggy peaks, and traditional wooden houses. A great place to experience some of Japan’s oldest traditions like kaiseki dining and geisha, a visit to Kyoto indeed promises to be a soul-stirring experience. Plan a memorable trip to this city with the help of this Kyoto Itinerary 5 Days-

What to see in Kyoto in 5 days?

Day 1 In Kyoto

Begin the first day of your trip with a visit to the Bamboo groves and gardens at Arashiyama. Amble along the Togetsukyo Bridge, which is Arashiyama's well-known attraction. In addition to numerous shops and restaurants that this area houses, the famous Tenryuji Temple, also known as the Golden Temple is also be found here. Sagano, which starts from the northern end of Togetsukyo Bridge, is also a beautiful region worth exploring. You can rent a bicycle and explore the quaint wooden temples, rural residential areas and lush green fields here.

Day 2 In Kyoto

On the second day of your trip, take a stroll through downtown Kyoto and explore the city’s famous food markets. Places like Nishiki Market, which is a 14th-century market covered arcade lined with shops, is one market worth exploring if you are interested in the Japanese food culture. It is often considered as one of the best markets on the island if you want to gorge on and shop for traditional Japanese fares like octopus and quail eggs. Gion and the Higashiyama, just a short walk away from Nishiki Market, can be the next stop of your day. Kyoto’s most famous hanamachi, Gion is the place where you have a good chance of spotting geiko (as geisha are known in Kyoto).

Day 3 In Kyoto

Begin the third day of your travel with Uji, an area which is renowned for having Japan’s best green tea. Upon completing your visit to the fascinating tea garden, head to Byodo-in temple, a beautiful temple that was originally built in AD 998. In the afternoon, pay a visit to the lovely Fushimi Inari shrine, a 1,300-year-old inari shrine which now headquarters for 30,000 smaller inari shrines across Japan. Fushimi Inari shrine gorgeously showcases the culture and traditions of Japan and is renowned throughout the globe for the fabulous view of the row of 10,000 red torii gates, which are the icon of Kyoto. Walking through the tunnels of vibrant torii gates is an unforgettable experience!

Day 4 In Kyoto

Housing one of the most magnificent temples in Japan, Kinkakuji, Northwestern Kyoto is an area worth exploring. Kinkakuji is a World Heritage Site, and the best part about this attraction is the beautiful Kyokochi Pond which mirrors the molten gold shrine. This Zen Buddhist temple is a picturesque 2-storeyed structure. From here you can head to the Ryoan-Ji, another Zen Temple and UNESCO World Heritage site in Kyoto. The dry landscape garden, consisting of large rock formations atop small, smooth pebbles, housed in the premises of this temple is visited by thousands of tourists every year.

Day 5 In Kyoto

Nestled in the idyllic Hiroshima Bay, Miyajima, also known as the Shrine Island, is perfect for a day-trip from Kyoto on your last day of the vacation. The colorful shrines stand amidst the serene waters of the bay supported by raised columns, thus creating an illusion of being afloat on the waters.