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.
Bucket list experience:
One of Japan’s better-known sake brands, Gekkeikan was founded in Kyoto’s Fushimi district in 1637, and while they now produce most of their sake on a large scale in Fushimi.
Their Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum is the perfect primer for anyone interested in Japan’s national tipple. Housed in a renovated wooden brewery dating from 1909, the museum’s exhibits document the history of sake, its varieties and how it’s made. Better still, at the adjoining Sakekobo mini-brewery, visitors can see small-batch sake being brewed with traditional methods. If that triggers a thirst, no problem – the tasting area has several Gekkeikan’s brews for sampling.
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Destination Guide >Several train lines connect Kyoto Station to the Fushimi area, but the easiest option for visiting Gekkeikan is to take the Kintetsu Kyoto Line 10 minutes to Momoyama-Goryomae Station. From there it’s a 10-minute walk.
Once at the museum, the tours are self-guided and there’s no need for a reservation. The only exception is the Sakekobo mini-brewery – to visit, make a reservation at least one day before going.
The museum and mini-brewery are open all year round, seven days a week.
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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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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[7.1 miles]
Japanese and Scandinavian sensibilities combine at this mellow hotel north of Kyoto Station.
Official star rating:
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[7.8 miles]
An affordable hotel offering modern Japanese simplicity and hospitality in the historic Gion geisha district. A great base for sightseeing.
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Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[7.9 miles]
One for art aficionados – a minimalist boutique that’s a living art gallery. All rooms are created by local artists.
Official star rating:
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[8.6 miles]
Old-Kyoto meets contemporary Japan at this centrally located boutique hotel geared to budget-conscious travelers.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Kansai, Japan
Ancient temples and shrines, sublime cuisine, manicured gardens, colourful geishas and living history in spades – Kyoto is traditional Japan at its best.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[4.3 miles]
One of Japan’s most sacred shrines, Fushimi Inari’s thousands of torii gateways also make it one of the country’s most Instagrammable sights.
Best for ages: 6+ | £2
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[8.6 miles]
Kyoto’s historic Gion quarter is the place to see Japan’s mysterious and enigmatic geisha. Dressed in colourful kimonos, complimented by elaborate hairstyles and oshiroi make-up, they’ve been entertaining Japan’s wealthy and well-connected for centuries.
Best for ages: 10+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[12.6 miles]
The stunning, gilded temple of Kinkakuji, casting its golden reflection onto an islet-studded pond, is the iconic Kyoto image. A UNESCO World Heritage site.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[12.8 miles]
The towering stalks and soft light of Arashiyama’s much-photographed bamboo grove make this iconic Kyoto sight an almost otherworldly experience.
Best for ages: 4+ | £3
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[8 miles]
Established in 1202, this temple at the southern end of Hanami-koji has traditional Zen gardens and incredible ceiling murals of dragons (added in 2002). It claims to be the oldest temple in Kyoto.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[8.4 miles]
The shrine that protects the Gion geisha district is one of Kyoto’s most distinctive sights. Entered through a roofed gateway painted a vivid vermillion, its grounds include a striking dance stage—used for performances during festivals—that’s adorned with several hundred lanterns lit each evening.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[8.4 miles]
Stretching along five shop-lined blocks, Kyoto’s oldest food market immerses visitors in Kyoto’s culinary heritage. Over 100 stalls and restaurants offer all and anything food related.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Kyoto, Kansai, Japan[10 miles]
A Buddhist Zen temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site best known for its unusual, atmospheric moss garden that circles a symbolically-shaped golden pond. Just getting in is an experience – you’re given a written sutra to copy it out onto another piece of paper to ensure you are pure enough to enter!
Best for ages: 13+ | Free