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Think Kyoto is just about seeing temples? I did too—until I visited. Yes, the temples are stunning, but this city is also home to secret cocktail bars, serene gardens, and the kind of fall foliage that literally made my jaw drop.

If you’re planning a 2 day Kyoto itinerary and want a mix of culture, incredible food, and tucked-away gems, you’re in the right place. We did this exact trip and I’m sharing our full itinerary, including what we loved (and what we’d skip), where to eat as a vegetarian, and the best spots to relax after a long day of exploring.

Whether it’s your first time in Kyoto or you’re returning to dive deeper, this itinerary is designed to help you experience the heart of the city, not just the tourist checklist.

The juxtaposition of tradition and modernity, Geishas scurrying along quiet streets at dusk, and hidden cocktail bars in nondescript buildings. Who knows what else is tucked away in this enchanting city?

Top Pick

Hotel Musse Kyoto

Location: Nakagyo Ward district

Looking for where to stay in Kyoto? This hotel is a great option that’s well priced and centrally located. We loved our stay there!

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2 day Kyoto Itinerary at a Glance

📍 Day 1 – Bamboo Forest, Temples & Natural Wine

Morning: Stroll through Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Midday: Visit Jōjakkōji Temple for stunning fall foliage
Afternoon: See the Kimono Forest art installation
Evening: Sip natural wine at Sons Wine Bar and enjoy a vegan tasting menu at Little Heaven

📍 Day 2 – Temples, Gion & Sake Tasting

Morning: Explore Kenninji Temple and admire the twin dragons
Midday: Traditional matcha at Kashoan Tea House
Afternoon: Wander Gion District, enjoy vegan ramen
Later: Stroll along the Philosopher’s Path and relax in Shoren-in’s gardens
Evening: Sample sake at Jam + Sake and end the night with cocktails at Apotheca

Day 0: Hidden Cocktails & Late Night Gyoza

Get to your hotel, relax and settle in. If you’re arriving late, it’s a good idea to get a good night’s sleep. You don’t have to be up early for the first day in Kyoto but it is a full day and you will be walking a lot.

If you happen to get in by late afternoon or early evening, then your first stop is going to be Bar Kaktel. This is one of those bars that is hidden away in a residential looking building. In fact, when we walked inside the bartender asked us how we even found the place.

So how did we find it? By zooming in on Google Maps and clicking the different cocktail bar symbols aka one of my favorite ways to discover spots right around us.

The bartender is dedicated to the craft and is mixing up some really interesting cocktails. We grabbed a few and he even made my fiance an excellent tiki off menu.

In this 2 day Kyoto itinerary, you’ll visit three temples, sip cocktails and sake at hidden bars, nibble delicious (vegetarian-friendly food) and so much more!

After Bar Kaktel, you’re going to head to Gyoza ChaoChao for dinner. There will be a line but it moves quickly. This is a great spot for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike. Vegetarian and vegan options are clearly marked on the menu.

It doesn’t look like they cook the gyozas in separate oil so just note that some cross contamination can occur. If you’re plant-based, be sure to check out my tips for eating in Japan as a vegetarian.

Don’t forget to have dessert! We had a chocolate gyoza with ice cream that was truly heavenly.

Day 1: Wandering Bamboo Forests & Chasing Fall Colors in Arashiyama

Rise and shine! Today we are heading to the iconic Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. It’s pretty easy to get here. We took a bus until almost the entrance of the forest. I recommend using Google Maps to get exact directions.

You can use your Suica card to pay for the bus. If you want more details about the Suica card, I have a full guide with essential Japan travel tips.

Walk around Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

You’ll spend the next hour or so walking through the bamboo forest. Take your time! There’s no need to rush. Make sure you watch how the bamboo sways in the wind. I found it to be really mesmerizing and almost meditative.

The best 2 day Kyoto itinerary for anyone short on time but still wants to experience all that this incredible city has to offer!

Grab a snack and/or lunch

Grab matcha and a snack from Musée et café. We got this little snack with wafer cookies and a red bean paste that you spread on it. If you’re hungry for lunch, they also have some curry options.

Visit Jōjakkōji Temple

As we were walking up to this Buddhist temple, I was wondering if we had missed the peak foliage since I hadn’t seen as much of the vibrant leaves. I got my answer seconds later.

The moment I walked into this temple area, I saw the most stunning foliage I’ve ever seen. The temple itself isn’t massive but the real draw here is the view and the colors during the fall.

It also isn’t the most popular spot in the area so it shouldn’t be too crowded. Also, for all the temple visits, be sure you have cash on you to pay the modest entrance fee.

Check out the Kimono Forest

About a 15 minute walk away from the temple is the Kimono Forest. This art installation is right outside the Randen train station.

If you get there right when the sun is starting to set you’ll see the pillars light up. I love seeing art installations near train stations because I think they’re a great way to bring some beauty to a seemingly mundane part of your day.

Sip wine at Sons Natural Wine Bar

We had dinner reservations in the area and wanted to grab a drink before dinner. In looking at the maps, we couldn’t find any options. All the wine, sake, and cocktail spots were back towards Downtown Kyoto.

Luckily for us, we stumbled upon Sons, a gorgeous natural wine bar. Like most of the bars we went to in Kyoto, she was surprised we had found her. She had actually just opened the wine bar that week and was excited because we were her first international customers.

If you love natural wine, and want to support a woman-owned wine bar, definitely check out Sons.

Dinner at Little Heaven

Next, it’s time for dinner. We checked out Little Heaven, a vegan restaurant. We did their vegan tasting menu which you have to reserve in advance so be sure to shoot them an email if you’re interested in going.

The entire dinner was a really unique twist on some traditional flavors mixed with more modern and international flavors. One of the courses was vegan sushi and it was so realistic I almost felt like I was eating the real deal.

Overall, it was a good dining experience, though not every course was to my liking (as someone who has never eaten meat, the sushi course freaked me out a bit)

If you’re looking for something a bit more casual or are not interested in eating vegan, head back to downtown Kyoto and grab dinner around your hotel.

Day 2: Geishas at Dusk, Sake Tasting, and Kyoto’s Most Peaceful Temple

Ready for an incredible day two in Kyoto?

Marvel at the artwork at Kenninji Temple

After you get coffee and breakfast your first stop is my favorite temple of this itinerary, Kenninji Temple.

This Zen temple is so serene with a beautiful zen rock garden. In fact, I had to sit a moment and just take it all in. There really is something about the temples in Japan that instantly calm your mind and bring you peace.

This temple is also one of my favorites because of the stunning artwork. Don’t miss the twin dragons, painted on the ceiling of Hondō Hall.

There are also some really beautiful temple grounds and the nearby area is also lovely so be sure to walk around!

Matcha at a traditional tea house

Next, it’s time for some traditional matcha at the perfect place, the Matcha Cafe & Bar Kashoan.

We happened to stumble upon this spot and it was absolutely incredible. It’s a traditional teahouse with a beautiful garden.

They also have matcha based cocktails in the evening!

Walk through Gion + get lunch

Wander your way through Gion. The streets are extremely beautiful, though they can get crowded at this time of day.

Grab some lunch before you head to your next temple. We ate at the Gion Soy Silk Ramen spot which was a great, casual option for some good soy-milk vegan ramen.

Stroll through the beautiful gardens at Shoren-in

The main draw for Shoren-in are the beautiful gardens. Part of the temple was under construction but it was worth it to see the part that wasn’t and to walk around the beautiful gardens.

Stroll along Philosopher’s Path

Next you’re going to head to the beginning of the Philosopher’s Path. It’s about a 25 minute walk from the temple. If you get a little tired on the way, or if you just need to rest your feet, just stop at any coffee shop or place selling matcha.

It’s up to you how much of the path you want to walk. There are multiple exit points so you don’t have to walk the whole path or turn around. We did about 15-20 minutes before heading back to Gion.

Spot a Geisha or two

Take the bus from wherever you exit the path back to Gion because now you’re going to see if you can spot a Geisha on her way to work.

The best way to do so is to wander around the smaller, empty alleys as she’s likely to take that path on the way to work. You’re also more likely to see her around sunset. We happened to spot two as we were wandering around Gion.

Just remember, to be respectful. Don’t stare, don’t take photos, and don’t get in their way. They are on their way to their job and you don’t want to be that person that makes their commute stressful.

Spend as much time as you like, wandering around the narrow streets of Gion.

Taste sake at Jam + Sake

When you’re done, it’s time to head to Jam + Sake, a bar run by a husband and wife team. If you’re like me, and you know you like sake but don’t know much else about the different varieties, don’t worry, they will guide you through it.

You can get singular pours or a flight of sake. They were really great about letting us try a variety and helping us figure out what style we liked the best.

They also have some really delicious snacks and appetizers to go along with your sake. The best part? A lot of them were naturally vegan!

Funny story: I loved the sake in the snowman bottle pictured below. When I asked to get a pour of it, I said “I want the cloudy snowman”, which of course was confusing to someone who isn’t a native English speaker…and maybe even to a native English speaker as well.

The poor man nodded confidently and then turned and looked to his wife in bewilderment. She asked me to clarify what I meant by cloudy snowman. I then pointed to the bottle and we all had a good laugh.

Continue the night at Apotheca

Since you’re already buzzed, let’s grab some cocktails. Head to Apotheca where you’ll find the nicest bartender who will craft cocktails to your preferences.

After you leave the cocktail bar and realize that you haven’t eaten dinner, grab some great drunk food. We went to Que Pasa which was only an 8 minute walk from Apotheca because hey, I was craving some Mexican food. Of course, if you want something more local, there are tons of options in the area!

Now it’s up to you, do you continue your night or do you sadly accept that you’re at the end of your Kyoto trip?

Best time to visit Kyoto

Kyoto is a destination you can truly visit year round, with each season providing its own charm.

The most popular times to visit are in the spring as its cherry blossom season and during the fall where you’ll see some of the most stunning fall foliage you’ve ever laid your eyes on. I think my jaw literally dropped at one point. Just be prepared for more crowds and higher hotel prices during both the cherry blossom season and the fall.

If you want to visit a bit more off season, opt for the summer or the winter. I’m a huge advocate of off season travel because it’s a great way to promote sustainable travel and it’s really a win-win as you’re likely to find cheaper prices.

We personally went in November as that’s when I was able to score business class tickets on Japan Airlines with points and again, that fall foliage was probably the best I’ve ever seen!

How to get to Kyoto

Getting to Kyoto is pretty straightforward. One of the best things about Japan is that public transit is extremely efficient and easy to use. If you get confused at any point, simply go to the information desk. We found that they spoke English at the desks and were really helpful whenever we got turned around.

Tokyo to Kyoto

We headed to Kyoto after spending 5 incredible days in Tokyo.

The best way to get from Tokyo to Kyoto is the bullet train which will get you to the Kyoto Station in just 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Pro tip: Do as the locals do and grab a bento box and eat it on the train. Try T’s Tantan in Tokyo Station, one of my favorite vegan restaurants in Tokyo.

This vegan ramen spot has incredible ramen and has vegan bento boxes! It’s located just around the corner of the entrance to the shinkansen (the bullet train) so it’s very convenient.

Osaka to Kyoto

The travel time from Osaka to Kyoto (or vice versa) is around 40ish minutes. A lot of people do a day trip from Osaka to Kyoto or vice versa. I personally think both cities deserve at least a couple of nights and wouldn’t recommend just doing day trips.

Outside of Japan to Kyoto

If coming internationally, you can also fly into Osaka International Airport and then get to Kyoto in about 90 minutes via train or bus.

Where to stay in Kyoto

If you’re anything like me, deciding where to stay in a city can sometimes be the most overwhelming part of planning a trip, especially when it’s your first time visiting. There’s so many different areas to consider and a lot of blogs will give you every option possible. While I appreciate the thoroughness, sometimes I wish someone would just tell me 1-2 neighborhoods to consider and be done with it.

That’s what I’m doing here. I’d recommend either staying in Downtown Kyoto or Gion.

Downtown Kyoto

Downtown Kyoto is one of the best places to stay and where we stayed. We found it centrally located with plenty of nightlife and food options walking distance from our hotel, the Hotel Musse Kyoto. There was also easy access to public transportation and it was a short walk to Gion from our hotel.

Gion District

The other great place for you is to stay in Gion, the Geisha district itself. As half of this itinerary more or less focuses on that area, it also makes for an excellent and convenient home base. Plus, there’s something so magical about this area of Kyoto.

Next Up on Your Japan Journey

Two days in Kyoto is just the beginning of what Japan has to offer. If this itinerary helped you fall in love with Kyoto’s charm, hidden gems, and unforgettable food, you’re going to love exploring more of the country.

Before you book another train or map out your next city, make sure to check out my 23 Essential Things to Know Before Traveling to Japan. It’s packed with tips I wish I had known before my first trip from cultural etiquette to money-saving tricks and transportation hacks.

And if Tokyo is next on your itinerary, I’ve got you covered. Here’s an epic 5-day Tokyo itinerary with everything you need to explore the city’s neighborhoods, cafes, and coolest local spots.