3-Day Kyoto Itinerary For Families

This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure

One of our favourite destinations in Japan is Kyoto, so we have put together a 3-day Kyoto itinerary to help you plan your first visit to this beautiful and unique city. We share how to spend 3 days in Kyoto with kids, with family-friendly attractions and must-visit cultural sites.

Kyoto is often referred to as the ancient capital of Japan. It’s a treasure trove of cultural heritage, stunning temples, and breathtaking landscapes, yet with the modern influences that Japan does so well.

This Kyoto 3-day itinerary will help you make the most of your time in this beautiful city.

Planning a Visit to Kyoto

Before you get to the itinerary planning, these tips cover the basics of planning a visit to Kyoto in Japan with your family.

You might also like to read our 3-day Osaka itinerary if you’re planning to visit before or after your time in Kyoto.

Best Time To Visit Kyoto

When you are planning your visit to Kyoto, consider the time of year. Japan’s seasons come with weather extremes with hot and humid summers and cold winters. This can have quite an impact on your visit!

The Spring cherry blossom season in late March to early April is breathtaking with mild temperatures but is especially crowded – prices can be higher too!

Fall, with its stunning foliage, is another popular time to visit for good weather and gorgeous colours.

If it’s Winter sports you’re keen on, of course, Japan is also a popular destination to hit the slopes, making Winter a good choice if that’s what you’re visiting for.

If you’re not good with heat, avoid Summer. Even in September, the heat was extreme and it did impact our ability to explore outdoors. You also want to avoid Golden Week in late April to early May and New Year if you want to avoid the worst crowds.

Stay connected during your Japan trip with an eSim from Airalo. You can set it up before you leave home and have coverage as soon as you land!

How To Get To Kyoto

The nearest international airport to Kyoto is Osaka International Airport (50 minutes by bus) or a little further away is Kansai International Airport (90 minutes by express train).

Kyoto is accessible via the Shinkansen (bullet train) from major cities like Tokyo and Osaka. The train ride is quick and comfy and you might get glimpses of some pretty awesome scenery too, like Mt Fuji, if you’re lucky!

When arriving at Kyoto Station, you can find easy access to public transport to elsewhere in Kyoto.

How Long Do You Need in Kyoto?

Three days in Kyoto is a good amount of time for sampling the main attractions that this beautiful city has to offer, especially if this is your first time in Japan and you only have a few days to spend at each major city.

If you have extra time, you could easily fill another couple of days exploring lesser-known attractions and local culture.

Getting Around Kyoto

The city is well-connected by public transport. A prepaid IC card, such as Suica or Pasma, is a convenient way to pay for trains and buses. You can pick one up at the airport when you land in Japan or at major train stations.

If you have a JR Pass, you can use this on the JR Line to travel between cities from Kyoto, such as Osaka and Nara. Make sure it’s worth it though as it can sometimes be more cost-effective to get single-trip tickets instead of the JR Pass.

Insider Tip: Download Google Maps for easy navigation to popular spots. Not only will it give you walking and public transport directions, but also specifics like exact platforms and carriage to ride in for the quickest exit.

Accommodation In Kyoto

Choose a central location, such as near Kyoto Station or in the Gion district, to maximize your time exploring.

Accommodation right near Kyoto Station will be more expensive, but it could work out more affordable overall if it means you don’t have to catch extra public transport to get to and from the main station.

We stayed a little way from Kyoto Station, approximately a 12-minute walk, at Bon Kyoto Station. It was a nice, modern apartment with good-sized rooms. The nearest metro station was also much closer and it was a 5-minute walk to a huge shopping centre!

Insider Tip: Staying in a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn) can be a fun cultural experience while in Japan too, sleeping on futon mattresses.

---

3-Day Kyoto Itinerary

This is our 3-day Kyoto itinerary, which is family-friendly, in case you are visiting Kyoto with kids during your visit to Japan! This itinerary isn’t perfect for everyone, but it is a great starting point for how to spend 3 days in Kyoto for your first visit.

For reference, it was hot – extremely hot! We visited in September, which turned out to be less than ideal, weather-wise. Next time we visit Japan, we will avoid Summer and the month that follows!

Day 1: Arrival and Exploring Central Kyoto

Bullet Train to Kyoto

Start your adventure by taking the Shinkansen from your starting point to Kyoto. We travelled from Hakone (Odawara Station) to Kyoto, which took just over 2 hours by bullet train.

If you book your tickets via Klook, you can book a seat with Mount Fuji views! Unfortunately for us, it was too cloudy to see but this doesn’t cost you any extra.

Upon arrival, take a moment to admire the modern architecture of Kyoto Station.

The station is enormous so make sure you do take the correct exit or it could end up taking you far longer to reach your hotel than planned. We made this mistake once thinking any exit would be good… not so good!

Check into Your Accommodation

After arriving, check into your hotel or ryokan to drop off your luggage and freshen up. If it’s too early for check-in, most hotels do have a luggage-holding service until check-in time.

Japan check-in times are a little larger than most other places in the world, usually between 3 and 4 pm.

Kyoto Station and Surroundings

Spend the late afternoon exploring the area around Kyoto Station. You can visit the Kyoto Tower for panoramic views or explore the underground shopping mall for souvenirs and snacks.

This area is a great place to grab a bite to eat at one of the local food stalls.

Dinner in Kyoto

For your first dinner, consider trying some local Kyoto cuisine, with restaurants offering kaiseki (traditional multi-course meal) or yakitori (grilled chicken skewers).

---

Day 2: Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama

Morning: Fushimi Inari Taisha

Start your second day early and take the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Inari Station (about 5 minutes).

Fushimi Inari Shrine is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates that lead up the mountain, making it a popular spot for photos.

Allocate at least 2 hours for your visit if you plan to do the full hike up the mountain. It typically takes between 2-3 hours.

The further along the Tori Gate trail you get, the fewer crowds and a better chance to get beautiful photos without strangers in them. So even if you don’t do the full hike, it’s worthwhile doing part of it.

We went maybe just over halfway, but even by 9 in the morning it was already getting so hot!

They have these mini gates you can purchase for 1000 yen and write prayers on them. Don’t look too close at my horrible attempt at writing in Japanese! You can either hang them on a stand and leave them there or take them home as a souvenir.

Insider Tip: Arrive early in the morning to avoid the crowds and experience the serene atmosphere. The light filtering through the gates is particularly beautiful at this time.

Mid Morning: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Next, return to Kyoto Station and transfer to the JR San-in Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station. Once you arrive, make your way to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Stroll through the towering bamboo stalks for an enchanting experience and great photo opportunities.

Lunch and Shopping in Arashiyama

Enjoy lunch at one of the local eateries, perhaps trying yudofu (tofu hot pot) or soba noodles.

After lunch, explore the many souvenir shops in the area, where you can find traditional crafts and snacks. There are quite a few unique places in Arashiyama to pick up some gifts for family and friends.

Early Afternoon: Arashiyama Monkey Park

Continue your adventure by heading to the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama. Hike to the top, where you will find wild monkeys and stunning views of the city.

If it’s a really hot day, this might be something you want to do before lunch because the walk up the mountain is pretty steep! There are a lot of stairs (or ramps).

The hike is moderate and takes about 20-30 minutes. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water, especially during the warmer months.

Just before you reach the very top, there is an air-conditioned room to sit in and cool down. We definitely needed the short break!

When you reach the top, you will see monkeys playing around in the trees and walking around. They get quite close to visitors which is really cool! The monkeys here are Japanese macaques.

You can feed the monkeys by purchasing food bags of fruit or nuts inside the building. There is a caged area to stand so that you can feed the monkeys through the bars. Don’t give them any other food or show food while the monkeys are around.

It’s a really fun experience though. We loved it and could have spent hours watching these cute monkeys!

It costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children to visit. They only accept cash!

Insider Tip: Make sure you have plenty of water before you start heading up. The last vending machine is located next to the ticket booth at the bottom.

Late Afternoon & Evening: Kyoto Shopping

We ended our day by stopping by Aeon Mall Kyoto for extra shopping and to grab dinner from the supermarket. This is a huge shopping mall and the supermarket here is fantastic! So many delicious ready-to-eat meals as well as plenty of restaurants too.

---

Day 3: Temples, Streets, and Gion District

Morning: Kiyomizu-Dera Temple

Start your final day early by visiting Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks.

Arriving in the morning allows you to enjoy the temple grounds and breathtaking views over the city before some of the crowds arrive, however, you will find that many people have a similar idea. It gets CRAZY BUSY!

There are a few options for getting to the temple. We took the hard way, getting off the nearest train station (Kiyomizu-Gojo Station) and walking up the hill. It’s around a 23-minute walk but it’s uphill so it wasn’t our favourite decision of the trip. Especially on a hot day with kids.

Consider taking the bus route instead so that you only have a 10-minute walk, or like many other people did, catch a taxi the extra way!

Take your time enjoying the view from the wooden stage that juts out over the hillside, providing a stunning panorama, especially if you’re lucky enough to visit during cherry blossom season or with autumn foliage.

There are many other shrines and sights of interest throughout the gardens, so you could easily spend a few hours here. Be warned, there are a lot of stairs! 

It’s around 400 yen for adults to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple or 200 yen for kids.

Insider Tip: Visit the Otowa Waterfall at the base of the temple where you can drink from the streams for good luck! The line gets huge though!

Mid Morning: Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka Streets

After lunch, explore the shops along Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets. These 2 charming narrow streets are lined with shops selling traditional crafts, tea, and souvenirs.

They are really picturesque streets before they become completely jam-packed with people, but they are still great for a leisurely walk and shopping.

Lunch: Traditional Cuisine

For lunch, indulge in some traditional Japanese cuisine at a nearby restaurant, perhaps sampling some tempura or sushi.

Afternoon: Visit Yasaka Shrine

From there, head to Yasaka Shrine, a vibrant Shinto shrine surrounded by beautiful gardens, perfect for a serene afternoon.

You will often see tourists wandering around Yasaka Pagoda in hired kimonos since the bright colours of the shrine and lovely temple grounds are a perfect backdrop for photos. 

It isn’t too far to walk to the Gion District from Kiyomizudera, however, we were hot and had already walked up the big hill so we cheated by taking a short taxi ride.

Kyoto is somewhere that is more accessible by bus, while most of Japan is trains so I think this threw us a little with planning our transport.

Gion District

Afterwards, explore the Gion district, known for its historic wooden machiya houses and geisha culture. A lot of streets in this area no longer allow photography, so make sure you pay attention to the signage.

You might catch a glimpse of a geisha or maiko (apprentice geisha) heading to an appointment. We weren’t lucky enough to see any, although late afternoon and evening are the best times.

Late Afternoon & Evening: Nintendo Store and Nishiki Market

End your day by visiting the Nintendo Store, located inside the Takashimaya Department Store on level 7. There are some fun photo opportunities on the rooftop level.

Of course, a stop at Don Quijote for some shopping is always fun.

This discount store is filled with everything from souvenirs to snacks, making it a fun stop to stock up on unique finds – like all the different flavoured Kit Kats! Look for quirky Japanese items and affordable gifts to take home!

You might also like to stroll through Nishiki Market, where you can sample a variety of street foods and local delicacies for dinner.

---

Alternative 1-Day Kyoto Itinerary Ideas

There were a lot of attractions we weren’t able to fit into our 3 days in Kyoto. One of the biggest reasons was the heatwave we had at the time which meant we cut our days a little short.

Also, younger kids can only enjoy so many temple visits! There are a few places left for our next visit.

The attractions I was most disappointed to miss were the Golden Pavillion and the Imperial Palace. We also visited just before the Nintendo Museum opened, so that’s a must for next time too!

---

Additional Tips for Visiting Kyoto

• Timing Your Visits: To avoid crowds, visit popular sites early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
• Dress Appropriately: Wear comfortable shoes, as you’ll do a lot of walking. If you’re visiting shrines and temples, consider wearing modest clothing.
• Try Local Cuisine: Don’t miss trying Kyoto’s specialties like kaiseki and yudofu.
• Respect Local Customs: Be mindful of etiquette, especially at shrines and temples.
• Stay Hydrated: Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it throughout the day.

Kyoto is a city that perfectly blends the ancient and the modern and as such, that made it one of our favourite places to visit in Japan! Kyoto is somewhere I can’t wait to visit again and explore more of, ideally with cooler weather…

With this 3-day itinerary as your starting point, you can experience some of the best Kyoto attractions and cultural experiences! For our full itinerary, check out our complete Japan 2-week itinerary.