Days · Kyoto
Kyoto in 4 days
One cluster per morning, afternoons light; the solver keeps each day inside its time envelope.
Days
4
Plan status
draft
Walking
11km
default plan, all days
Book ahead
4
some sell out
More
4 days at a glance
Temples on a slope, then a booked lunch
09:15–13:30
- Walk
- 3.9 km (2.4 mi)2.4 mi (4 km)
- Steps
- ≈ 5,000
- Stairs
- ↑40 ↓380
- Transit
- none (on foot)
Spend: ¥4,000–7,500 (≈ US$30–55)
Best for: First full day, fresh legs
Shrine gates at dawn, long rest after
06:30–10:50
- Walk
- 1.8 km (1.1 mi)1.1 mi (2 km)
- Steps
- ≈ 2,500
- Stairs
- ↑0 ↓0
- Transit
- ¥440 (≈ US$3)
Spend: ¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30)
Best for: Early risers; jet-lag mornings
West Kyoto river and garden
07:00–11:03
- Walk
- 3 km (1.9 mi)1.9 mi (3 km)
- Steps
- ≈ 4,000
- Stairs
- ↑0 ↓0
- Transit
- ¥710 (≈ US$5)
Spend: ¥3,000–6,000 (≈ US$25–45)
Best for: A dry, clear morning
Coffee, bags, airport train
09:30–13:16
- Walk
- 1.8 km (1.1 mi)1.1 mi (2 km)
- Steps
- ≈ 2,500
- Stairs
- ↑0 ↓0
- Transit
- ¥260 (≈ US$2)
Spend: ¥4,500–6,500 (≈ US$35–45)
Best for: Travel day
Walk, stairs and transit come from the solver's default plan; they change when you change the constraints below. Steps ≈ 1,300 per km2,100 per mile.
Walking weather for the week
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Your constraints
Day 1 — Higashiyama, with a 12:30 lunch table
leave byLeave Kiyomizu-dera by 11:20 to keep the 12:30 last seating.Leave Kiyomizu-dera by 11:20 AM to keep the 12:30 PM last seating.
13 min of buffer left; holds while the queue at Kiyomizu-dera stays under 18 min.
- 09:15–09:50Walk via Gojō-zaka
- 09:50–11:10Kiyomizu-dera
- 11:10–11:34Walk down to Gion
- 11:34–12:30Buffer / wander near Your reserved lunch (Gion)
- 12:30–13:30Lunch table 12:30hard
What this plan gives up
- L2Skip Yasaka Shrine (optional) — protects: Lunch table 12:30.Skip Yasaka Shrine (optional) — protects: Lunch table 12:30 PM.
Switches if the ground changes
- rain Kiyomizu-dera → Sanjūsangen-dō (22′, then 16′ p90 to the anchor)
- crowd Kiyomizu-dera → Kennin-ji (18′, then 10′ p90 to the anchor)
- heat Kiyomizu-dera → Kyoto National Museum (18′, then 16′ p90 to the anchor)
- fatigue Kiyomizu-dera → Seated rest near Kiyomizu-michi (6′, then 15′ p90 to the anchor)
Why this route?
DFL 9.3 = PFL 9 + OFL 0.3 · walk 3.9 km (2.4 mi)2.4 mi (4 km) · steps ↑40 ↓380
P_late 3.0% (100 Monte Carlo runs) · margin p90 13′ · relax L2 · yield 9 · option value 1.65
Deadline: last seating 12:30 → latest arrival 12:20, slack 32′
β vs α: time risk 1% → 3%; margin -16 min; -¥3,040.
trace: generated 36 · rejected p50_after_latest_arrival×3, p_late>0.15×8 · frontier 17 · seed 1668423448 · solver 0.2.0 · confidence medium
After: Afternoon: Gion lanes on foot, back to the hotel by 16:00 in heat.
Day 2 — Fushimi Inari at first light
- 06:30–06:52Keihan line from Gion-Shijō to Fushimi-Inari
- 06:52–09:22Fushimi Inari Taisha
- 09:22–09:50Keihan to Sanjō + walk
- 09:50–10:50Inoda Coffee (Sanjō)
Switches if the ground changes
- fatigue Fushimi Inari Taisha → Yotsutsuji teahouses (40′)
- rain Fushimi Inari Taisha → Kyoto Station (10′)
Why this route?
DFL 2.8 = PFL 1.8 + OFL 1 · walk 1.8 km (1.1 mi)1.1 mi (2 km) · steps ↑0 ↓0
P_late 0.0% (fast path: safe) · margin p90 n/a · relax L0 · yield 13 · option value 0.7
trace: generated 16 · rejected none · frontier 4 · seed 1668423448 · solver 0.2.0 · confidence medium
After: Hotel or café rest by 13:00; evening in Gion.
Day 3 — Arashiyama before the crowds
- 07:00–07:42Hankyu to Arashiyama + walk across the bridge
- 07:42–08:12Arashiyama bamboo grove
- 08:12–08:18Walk to the north gate
- 08:18–09:18Tenryū-ji garden
- 09:18–10:03Randen + subway to Sanjō
- 10:03–11:03Inoda Coffee (Sanjō)
Why this route?
DFL 5 = PFL 3 + OFL 2 · walk 3 km (1.9 mi)1.9 mi (3 km) · steps ↑0 ↓0
P_late 0.0% (fast path: safe) · margin p90 n/a · relax L0 · yield 18 · option value 0
trace: generated 24 · rejected none · frontier 4 · seed 1668423448 · solver 0.2.0 · confidence medium
After: Free afternoon; forward bags today if tomorrow is a travel day.
Day 4 — Leave with bags, HARUKA 12:16
leave byLeave Inoda Coffee (Sanjō) by 11:10 to keep the 12:16 boarding.Leave Inoda Coffee (Sanjō) by 11:10 AM to keep the 12:16 PM boarding.
24 min of buffer left.
- 09:30–09:41Walk (bags stay at the hotel)
- 09:41–10:41Inoda Coffee (Sanjō)
- 10:41–11:16Collect bags, subway to Kyoto Station (elevators)
- 11:16–12:16Buffer / wander near Kyoto Station
- 12:16–13:16HARUKA 12:16 to KIXhard
Why this route?
DFL 2.3 = PFL 1.8 + OFL 0.5 · walk 1.8 km (1.1 mi)1.1 mi (2 km) · steps ↑0 ↓0
P_late 1.0% (100 Monte Carlo runs) · margin p90 24′ · relax L0 · yield 4 · option value 0
Deadline: boarding 12:16 → latest arrival 12:01, slack 15′
β vs α: time risk 0% → 1%; margin +4 min; -¥1,540.
trace: generated 6 · rejected none · frontier 4 · seed 1668423448 · solver 0.2.0 · confidence medium
After: Airport check-in; the station has lockers and a baggage counter if the train is later.
Meals, swaps, bookings and questionsHideBook before you go
Where to eat each day
| Day | Time | Meal | Where | Why here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 08:158:15 AM | breakfast | Convenience store or hotel café near Kawaramachi | Eat before the slope; few seats up top before 10:00.Eat before the slope; few seats up top before 10:00 AM. |
| Day 1 | 12:3012:30 PM | lunch | Your booked table in Gion | Walk-in fallback if you have no booking: Gion Okaru before 12:00.Walk-in fallback if you have no booking: Gion Okaru before 12:00 PM. |
| Day 1 | 15:003:00 PM | snack | Kagizen Yoshifusa | Seated kuzukiri break before walking back. |
| Day 2 | 08:308:30 AM | breakfast | Vermillion Café | After the gates, not before. |
| Day 2 | 11:0011:00 AM | lunch | Nishiki Market | Graze standing; leave before the 12:00 crush.Graze standing; leave before the 12:00 PM crush. |
| Day 3 | 11:0011:00 AM | lunch | Arashiyama Yoshimura | Soba at opening beats the lunch queue. |
| Day 3 | 18:306:30 PM | dinner | Ganko Takasegawa Nijoen | Book ahead; a seated kaiseki dinner near the hotel. |
| Day 4 | 09:459:45 AM | breakfast | Inoda Coffee (Sanjō) | Chairs, not tatami; bags fit by the table if you ask. |
| Day 4 | 12:0012:00 PM | lunch | Station bento for the train | Buy it on the concourse before the platform. |
Swap this stop
Day 1
Instead of Kiyomizu-dera
- Kennin-ji — Crowd on the slope past 10:00: a quiet Zen temple 15 minutes downhill.
- Sanjūsangen-dō — Rain: one long indoor hall, flat and covered.
Day 2
Instead of Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Lower gate tunnels only (30 min) — Tired legs or rain: turn back before the steps climb.
Day 3
Instead of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Tenryū-ji — Crowds already in the grove: the garden has a north gate onto its quietest end.
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) — Different side of town; be at the gate at opening.
Book before you go
2 hard bookings still open.
Each day: cost, carry, rain swap
Day 1 — Higashiyama, with a 12:30 lunch table
- Spend
- ¥4,000–7,500 (≈ US$30–55): Kiyomizu-dera about ¥500 (≈ US$4), lunch table ¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30), bus or taxi share ¥230–1,500 (≈ US$2–11), snacks
- Carry
- Cash for the temple counter · Shoes that slip off · Water · Phone light if you stay into dusk
- If it rains
- Sanjūsangen-dō (indoor) and the Kyoto National Museum (check its closed day); keep the 12:30 lunch table.Sanjūsangen-dō (indoor) and the Kyoto National Museum (check its closed day); keep the 12:30 PM lunch table.
Day 2 — Fushimi Inari at first light
- Spend
- ¥2,000–4,000 (≈ US$14–30): Fushimi Inari free, train ¥150–300 (≈ US$2–3) each way, coffee and breakfast ¥1,500–2,500 (≈ US$11–17)
- Carry
- Water (vending machines thin out up the mountain) · Small towel · Light layer for 06:30Water (vending machines thin out up the mountain) · Small towel · Light layer for 6:30 AM
- If it rains
- Walk only the lower gate tunnels (30 minutes), then Nishiki Market's covered street for a late breakfast.
Day 3 — Arashiyama before the crowds
- Spend
- ¥3,000–6,000 (≈ US$25–45): train ¥250–500 (≈ US$2–4) each way, Tenryū-ji garden about ¥500 (≈ US$4), lunch ¥1,500–3,000 (≈ US$11–25)
- Carry
- IC card · Water · A bag for the afternoon's shopping
- If it rains
- Swap with day 1's indoor halls or open the rain preset; the bamboo grove is short and exposed.
Day 4 — Leave with bags, HARUKA 12:16
- Spend
- ¥4,500–6,500 (≈ US$35–45): HARUKA ¥3,640 (≈ US$25), coffee ¥1,000–1,500 (≈ US$7–11), locker ¥500–800 (≈ US$4–6) if needed
- Carry
- Passport · HARUKA ticket or IC card · Bags ready by 09:30 · Leftover yen for station snacksPassport · HARUKA ticket or IC card · Bags ready by 9:30 AM · Leftover yen for station snacks
- If it rains
- No change: the route is covered from the taxi to the platform; leave 10 minutes earlier for the taxi queue.
Whole trip rained out? Open the rain preset.
The solver above does not move these swaps in for you; they are the manual fallback when the forecast turns.
Take it with you
Exports the default plan (β). Re-solved plans in the planner are not exported.
Other versions of this trip
Questions people ask
Is 4 days enough for Kyoto?
Enough for four walking areas at a pace that leaves afternoons light. Add days for Nara, the northern temples or a slow day.
What order should I do the areas in?
Higashiyama on the first full day, Fushimi Inari at first light when jet lag wakes you, Arashiyama early on a dry day, and a short last morning near the hotel.
Do I need to book anything?
Only the lunch table on day 1, the HARUKA seat on day 4 if you want a reserved car, and dinners in peak seasons. The temples on this plan take walk-up tickets.
What if it rains?
Each day has a rain swap in the table below; for a full washout open the rain preset.
Can I do this with a stroller or someone over 70?
Set 'Who' in the planner: it drops stair-heavy stops and adds seated rests. The kids preset is shorter again.