During your hectic Japan Itinerary, you may only have time for one day in Kyoto; it’s not enough, but here are the attractions you must visit on a day trip.
Download the PDF version of the top things to see in Kyoto – Japan!
One day in Kyoto, I can’t fathom why you’d want to have a single-day Kyoto tour, but in a world where we are rushed and continuously on the move, these things are hard to avoid during a hectic Japan trip.
My Kyoto Itinerary consisted of four days, I wish it were longer, to be truthful, but I can tell you this, I chalked up around one-hundred-thousand steps on the old Fitbit because I didn’t want to miss a beat of all the things to do in Kyoto.
I saw many unique Kyoto attractions; most were mesmerising and even inspiring to be in the vicinity of such history. It was apparent from the get-go why a Kyoto trip comes highly recommended for all tourists visiting the country; it is one beautiful city.
It also made me realise why many travellers are rushing around the country to catch a glimpse of everything because this incredible country is one big tourist attraction after another.
If I had to spend one day in Kyoto, what would be the must-see attractions in such a short amount of time? This list is hard to do because, quite honestly, you will miss out on a fair bit if you don’t advance the Kyoto sightseeing tour a little further. However, I gave it my best shot for those crazy enough to be here for a single day.
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Get excited about your one day in Kyoto.
One Day in Kyoto – Top Tourist Attractions You Must Visit in a Day
Enjoy a Kyoto City Tour with Klook
Travel tour company Klook has a fabulous Kyoto Day Tour Package, where you can get picked up from Osaka or Kyoto and enjoy a scenic Kyoto Sightseeing Tour in a single day.
You’ll stop at plenty of the best landmarks and discover the famous ancient sites in Kyoto. You’ll see the best temples and shrines in the package, including Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Kinkakuji Temple. You’ll also visit Arashiyama and the renowned Bamboo Grove, meaning you are not missing any of the best bits during your brief Kyoto tour.
You can click here to check out the prices and conditions of a Kyoto Day Tour Package with Klook!
The streets of Gion in your Kyoto Day tour are a must-see for a cultural experience.
Transportation in Kyoto
As one would expect, transport in Kyoto is well-organised and runs like clockwork. Not only that, it’s a terrific walking city with plenty of footpaths and crossing lights to get from point A to point B.
Walking won’t suffice during your one-day tour in Kyoto, the city is too large and spread out for that, but with affordable trains and buses to catch using your ICOCA card, you’ll get to most attractions quickly with minimal spending. If all else fails, you can see a taxi which is everywhere. However, that’ll hurt your budget a lot more.
Start the Kyoto Day Trip with Higashiyama District in Eastern Kyoto
A whole line of Kyoto attractions make up the Higashiyama District, and the famous area has many tourists and locals out and about for sightseeing.
It is an excellent area to try fabulous Japanese cuisines, drink your favourite tea from a fancy Japanese tea house and admire the many temples and shrines associated with the District.
Let’s look at the must-see attractions in the Higashiyama District of Eastern Kyoto and get your single-day Kyoto Itinerary off on the right foot.
Yasaka Shrine: Yasaka shrine is worth your attention and the first place to start when visiting Eastern Kyoto. Yasaka shrine has dazzling colours and impressive structures, and the culture is alive with many people wandering around in their Kimono dresses and creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Kyoto Sightseeing at its best – Yasaka Shrine.
Kodai-Ji Temple: The picturesque Kodai-Ji Temple, established in 1606, will grab your attention during your Kyoto one-day tour as the beauty of the temple rises to breathtaking levels.
The temple has unique structures that blend perfectly with the gorgeous landscapes that shadow the temple grounds.
Check out my main feature on the Kodai-Ji Temple with this link here!
The Kodai-Ji temple.
Ninenzaka: A Popular street thoroughfare, Ninenzaka is full of culture, tradition and much Japanese-style housing containing retail outlets, tea houses and restaurants.
Like any attraction in Kyoto, the crowds gather along the main street, with people enjoying the area’s vibrancy and taking in a positive atmosphere.
Ninenzaka.
Kiyomizudera: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiyomizudera is a wonderfully structured temple that means “pure water” and is said to be the most attended in Kyoto.
The common thing to do at Kiyomizudera, besides admiring the surrounding beauty, is to go to touch the special water at one of the waterfalls. It’s meant to give you magical powers by contacting the water, so what have you got to lose.
Kiyomizu-Dera Temple.
Move on Quickly to Kinkakuji Temple
You don’t have to spend a significant amount of time at Kinkakuji Temple, but it’s a must-see tourist place you must check out when visiting Kyoto.
The Golden structure of the Kinkakuji Temple is spectacular, with the mountains appearing in the backdrop. There isn’t much else to do at Kinkakuji other than to gaze your eyes over the incredible golden structure, which is worth the admittance price.
Enjoy an Arashiyama, Kinkakuji and Fushimi tour with Klook!
Kinkaku-Ji temple.
A trip to Arashiyama is compulsory.
Arashiyama is a gold mine for tourists, and any trip to Japan is not complete without a visit to the popular tourist spot situated a little outside of Kyoto.
There are many attractions to visit with an abundance of temples, gardens, tea houses, a monkey park, and of course, the world-famous Bamboo Grove walk, which is a real hit for all visitors.
However, the enormous appeal of Arashiyama is its natural beauty; it’s gorgeous to walk through the breathtaking attractions and take in the surroundings and nature around you.
Main attractions to quickly squeeze in at Arashiyama:
The Bamboo Grove: Thousands of bamboo trees are lined up as far as the eye can see as you walk down the path through the middle of the Bamboo tree. It is a beautiful place, even with all the crowds hanging around.
The Bamboo Grove.
Ten-Ryu Temple: A stunning temple of Arashiyama, but the big eye-opener of the attraction will be the abundance of natural beauty surrounding the temple.
It makes for a great photo opportunity at the picturesque temple.
Tenryu Temple.
Okochi Sanso Garden: It’s the best walk-in Arashiyama, with beautiful gardens, Japanese buildings and mesmerising views over Kyoto from some unique vantage points on the hills.
It’s quite an admission fee for entry into the garden but more than worth it once you try the Green Tea and sweet cake in the picturesque tea house.
A Japanese house inside Okochi Sanso Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan.
A quick stroll down Katsura River: A beautiful riverside walk down the Katsura River is the tonic you need. It makes for an ideal chance to enjoy ramen at a riverside restaurant or enjoy a boat ride on the river.
Before making your way back to the bustling town centre,catch a train to the next major attraction in your Kyoto Day Trip.
View the stunning Katsura River of Arashiyama in Kyoto.
The Fushimi Inari Shrine
The very last stop of the Kyoto places of interest during your one day trip is the world-famous Fushimi Inari Shrine.
The main Shrine of the Fushimi is a stunning feature with beautiful Japanese decorated buildings in splendid bright colours that have all tourists gathering for the best possible photo shoot in amongst the large crowds.
Once you disperse from the crowds at the main buildings of the entrance, you go further into the Shrine until you reach the famous orange torii gates, which is the number reason you visit the iconic attraction.
The Torii gates are meant to represent the staple of all holy Shinto sites, and the Fushimi Inari Shrine has thousands of them, which ultimately leads to a short hike through the bushlands as you follow the row of Torii Gates.
The length to hike through the Torii gates is approximately 2.4km kilometres in total, and in the process, you’ll pass through grave sites and religious relics, before walking down the hill and finding more incredible views that overlook Kyoto City. One final look over the region before you depart the city.
The Orange Torri Gates at Fushimi Irani Shrine.
If time remains, explore the city area
You would have exhausted all your energy before you finally head back by train to your hotel in Osaka, or even Tokyo. Perhaps you are catching the overnight bus to another destination in Japan, for another busy day tomorrow.
With that in mind, you may have a little extra time to explore the area near Kyoto Station and relax in a café for coffee, eat a delicious Japanese meal for dinner or unwind with a cold beer at a nearby bar.
Whether the energy levels allow you to keep moving, I am not quite sure; one thing is for certain, your one day in Kyoto would have been a day full of fond memories that you’ll never forget.
I do not doubt for a moment that you’ll be coming back for a more extended stay, someday in the future.
Want to visit Kyoto and the many temples of the city? Book a hotel with Booking.com and save!
Wandering through Nishiki Market in Kyoto City.
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