Kyoto rewards an early start, but it rewards a slower pace even more. This route keeps each day to one side of the city and leaves room for the unplanned tea room or garden.
DAY ONE · NORTHERN HILLS
Begin at Daitoku-ji before the tour groups arrive, then walk west through residential streets toward Kinkaku-ji. Stop for lunch before continuing to the smaller temples around Kinukake Road.
Practical note
Carry cash for temple entries and small cafés. Shoes that slip on and off easily make the day much more comfortable.
Carry cash for temple entries and small cafés. Shoes that slip on and off easily make the day much more comfortable.
DAY TWO · EASTERN PATH
Take the first bus to Ginkaku-ji and follow the canal south. Leave the path at Keage for the old incline, then finish in Okazaki around the museums.
DAY THREE · UJI
A short train ride opens a gentler final day: riverside paths, Byōdō-in, and tea shops that are quieter after mid-afternoon.