Kyoto 5-day Itinerary
Japan
Where to go and what to see in Kyoto to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and Japan travel writer Rob Goss.
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Overview >Bucket list experience:
Bullet Train
Japan
Last updated: 02 March, 2023
Whizzing around Japan at up to 320 km/h, Japan’s world-famous ‘bullet train’ (shinkansen in Japanese) isn’t just quick, convenient and incredibly punctual – a journey on one is a bucket list experience in and of itself.
From the regimented cleaning crews who whip through the train before boarding to make the carriages spotless, through to bowing conductors, it’s a very Japanese affair. It’s very safe too; in 50 years, carrying over 10 billion passengers, there has not been a single injury.
With comfy reclining seats and, in most cases, regular trolley services selling snacks and drinks, it’s also very relaxing – especially if you watch Japan go by from the window while tucking into a bento and sake. Just as importantly, the shinkansen can get you across large parts of Japan’s main island, Honshu, but also connects to Kyushu out west and Hokkaido up north. It connects Toyko and Kyoto, if you are planning to visit both, make the Bullet Train part of your itinerary.
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Price from: £90
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 4+
When: All year around
Duration: 2+ hours
Getting there & doing it
A single ticket for the shinkansen can be pricey – think 14,000 yen (£90) one way between Tokyo and Kyoto. But if you are going to use the trains a lot, a Japan Rail Pass, which is available only to non-residents, offers such big savings on the shinkansen and other trains that it pays for itself even just using it for a return trip between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Usually, you can get tickets from station ticket offices on the day, so there’s no need to book in advance unless travelling at peaks times. If you are heading west from Tokyo to Nagoya, Kyoto or Osaka, ask for a seat on the right side to get great views of Mount Fuji, which appears about an hour into the trip.
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Kyoto
Kansai, Japan
Ancient temples and shrines, sublime cuisine, manicured gardens, colourful geishas and living history in spades – Kyoto is traditional Japan at its best.
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Tokyo
Kanto, Japan
A dizzying mixture of old ways and modern style, crowds and calm, and arguably the best food scene on the planet.
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Overview >Round-ups that include this experience
20 World’s best train rides (< 1 day)
Multiple countries
Be it jaw-dropping scenery, a rich historical significance, the tradition and atmosphere of the train itself – or a combination of all three – here’s our round-up of the world’s best.
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