Kyoto 5-day Itinerary

Day 1

1️⃣ Stroll Along Shirakawa lane & Gion

🌿 Start your day with a peaceful walk along Shirakawa, a picturesque district with traditional houses and small rivers.
⛩️ Visit Tatsumi, Shrine, a charming little temple hidden in the area.
💡 Tip: Come back in the evening to enjoy the illuminated, romantic atmosphere of Shirakawa.
🚶 Continue to Gion, where you’ll see the famous kabuki theater (minami-za).

🚆 Transport: From Kyoto Station, take bus #100 or #206 to Gion Station (~15 min, 230 JPY).

2️⃣ Hanamikoji Street & Kiyomizudera Temple ⛩️ (25 min walk / 10 min by bus)

🌸 Walk along Hanamikoji Street, the heart of Gion, known for its tea houses and occasional geisha and maiko sightings.
🏯 Continue to Kiyomizudera, famous for its wooden terrace offering breathtaking panoramic views of Kyoto.

💰 Kiyomizudera Entrance Fee: 400 JPY
🚶 Transport:

• On foot from Gion (~25 min) to soak in Kyoto’s historic charm.

• By bus: Take bus #100 or #206 to Gojo-zaka (~10 min, 230 JPY), then walk 10 min

3️⃣Ninenzaka Street & Nene no Michi Street 🌸

🏯 Wander through these historic streets lined with traditional tea houses and souvenir shops.

Many Many tourist in this Area !!
☕ Perfect spot for a matcha break or a local snack!

🚶 Transport: Walk from Kiyomizudera (~5 min).

4️⃣ Yasaka Shrine & Kodai-ji Temple 🏯

⛩️ Visit Yasaka Shrine, a vibrant Shinto shrine at the heart of Kyoto.
🌿 Nearby, explore Kodai-ji Temple, renowned for its stunning gardens and bamboo grove.

💰 Kodai-ji Temple Entrance: 600 JPY
🚶 Transport: Walk from Ninenzaka (~10 min).

5️⃣Maruyama Park 🌳

(Best during cherry blossom season! 🌸)

🍁 A must-visit nature spot in Kyoto for a refreshing break!
🚶 Transport: Walk from Yasaka Shrine (~5 min).

6️⃣Chion-in temple, 🏯 (Optional but recommended!) Close at 4PM.

🔔 Explore this grand Buddhist temple, famous for its massive Sanmon gate and spiritual atmosphere.

💰 Entrance Fee: Free for outer areas, some sections require a ticket (~500 JPY).
🚶 Transport: Walk from Maruyama Park (~5 min).

7️⃣ Heian Jingu Shrine 🎎 (Northern Higashiyama District)

⛩️ A peaceful, large shrine with a stunning garden.
🥋 If you’re lucky, watch a Kyudo (Japanese archery) or Kendo class at Butokuden

💰 Entrance Fee: Free
🚆 Transport:

• Walk from Chion-in (~20 min)

• Bus #5 or #100 to Okazaki Koen (~10 min, 230 JPY).

8️⃣ Keage Incline 🌸 (Best in March-April!)

🚂 An abandoned railway track transformed into a beautiful cherry blossom walk.
🚶 Transport: Walk from Heian Jingu (~10 min)

9️⃣ Nanzen-ji Temple & Meiji Aqueduct 🏯 (10 min from Keage Station)

💧 Explore the Meiji Aqueduct, a rare sight inside a Zen temple.
🥾 For hikers, a small trail leads to Daimon-ji Temple (~2-hour hike).

💰 Entrance Fee: Free for the main temple, some sections require a ticket (~500 JPY).
🚶 Transport: Walk from Keage Incline (~10 min).

📌 Day Recap

🕘 9:00 AM | Shirakawa & Gion
🕚 10:00 AM | Hanamikoji Street
🕚 10:30 AM | Kiyomizudera Temple
🕛 12:00 PM | Ninenzaka & Nene no Michi
🕜 12:30 PM | Yasaka Shrine & Kodai-ji Temple
🕑 1:30 PM | Maruyama Park
🕘 2:00 PM | Chion-in Temple (optional)
🕟 3:00 PM | Heian Jingu Shrine & Butokuden
🕕 4:00 PM | Keage Incline (March-April only)
🕘 4:30 PM | Nanzen-ji Temple & Meiji Aqueduct
🌆 6:00 PM | Return to Kyoto Station / Dinner in town

💰 Estimated Budget for the Day

🚆 Transportation (Round Trip from Kyoto Station)

• Kyoto → Gion (bus): 230 JPY

• Gion → Kiyomizudera (bus): 230 JPY

• Heian Jingu → Keage Incline (bus): 230 JPY

• Nanzen-ji → Kyoto Station (bus): 230 JPY
  💰 Total Transport Cost: 920 JPY (~6€)

🎟️ Activity Costs

• Kiyomizudera Temple: 400 JPY

• Kodai-ji Temple: 600 JPY

• Chion-in Temple (optional): 500 JPY

• Nanzen-ji Temple (some sections require tickets): 500 JPY
  💰 Total Activities (depending on choices): 1,500 - 2,000 JPY (~10 - 13€)

🍽️ Food & Drinks

• Tea / matcha break: 500 - 800 JPY

• Traditional lunch: 1,500 - 2,500 JPY

• Dinner (optional, izakaya or local restaurant): 2,000 - 3,500 JPY

💰 Total Food Cost: 4,000 - 6,800 JPY (~26 - 45€)

📌 Final Estimated Budget for the Day

💰 Transport + Activities + Food: 6,420 - 9,720 JPY (~42 - 64€)