Tokyo and Kyoto in 5 days: two in Tokyo, three in Kyoto
The short trip that still feels like Japan: two days in Tokyo, one shinkansen, and three days in Kyoto. Every stop here is a full, verified day on the site, with a link to its complete route, hour by hour.
The route on a map
From Tokyo to Kyoto
- Stations
- 2
- Days
- 5
- TokyoDays 1-2
- KyotoDays 3-5
Every stop, numbered in day order and coloured by day, with the way from stop to stop. On a phone it opens in the app, and that is what you navigate with in Japan. Pin names on the map are in Hebrew.
Getting there: Land at Narita or Haneda, fly out of Kansai: an open-jaw ticket saves the trip back to Tokyo. There is only one shinkansen ride here (Tokyo to Kyoto ¥14,000), so a one-week JR Pass (¥50,000) does not pay off. In Kyoto, all three days start from Kyoto Station, so it is worth sleeping near it.
Day 1, TokyoMust
Tokyo: Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji Shrine
The first day, after a night of jet lag: Meiji Shrine in its forest in the morning, Takeshita Street, the crossing, and Shibuya Sky for sunset. The full route: Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji Shrine: the first day in Tokyo.
Metro 30 min ↓
Day 2, TokyoMust
Tokyo: Asakusa, Ueno and Skytree
Old Tokyo: Senso-ji before the crowds, the kitchenware street, the National Museum, Ameyoko market, and Skytree at sunset, with dinner at the foot of the tower. The full route: Asakusa, Ueno and Skytree: old Tokyo in one day.
Shinkansen 135 min ↓
Day 3, KyotoMust
Kyoto: arrive by shinkansen, then Fushimi Inari until evening
An early shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto (¥14,000), the suitcase in a locker at the station or at the hotel, and the JR Nara Line to Inari (5 minutes, ¥150). You reach the gates mid-morning rather than at sunrise, so it is busier: if you want them empty, come back at 16:00, when the crowds thin out. From there, continue with the full route: Tofuku-ji, a brewery meal in the sake district, Otesuji street, and yakitori at Torisei. The full route: Fushimi Inari: the torii gates at sunrise, Tofuku-ji and the sake district.
Bus 15 min ↓
Day 4, KyotoMust
Kyoto, Higashiyama: Kiyomizu-dera at sunrise, Sannenzaka, and Gion in the evening
The most photographed day in Kyoto, in an order that beats the crowds: the temple at 06:30, the lanes empty, Kodai-ji, a rest, and Gion as the lanterns come on. The full route: Higashiyama: Kiyomizu-dera in the morning, the Sannenzaka lanes, and Gion in the evening.
Train 15 min ↓
Day 5, KyotoMust
Kyoto: Arashiyama, the bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji and the monkeys
The bamboo grove at sunrise, the Zen garden of Tenryu-ji, the monkeys on the mountain, and the Romantic Train along the river. The full route: Arashiyama: the bamboo grove at sunrise, Tenryu-ji, monkeys and the Romantic Train. The next day: the Haruka from Kyoto Station to Kansai Airport.
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Written as a draft and verified by hand against official sources. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go.