Weekend in Kyoto
A visual guide from the Kyoto travel guide — see all posters in Visual Guides.
Two days is enough for Kyoto if you accept that you will see a fraction of it. The city runs on early mornings, since Fushimi Inari's gates are empty at seven and a slow-moving queue by ten, and the Arashiyama bamboo path behaves exactly the same way. Afternoons belong indoors, in museums, market arcades and department-store basements. Evenings belong to the Kamo River, where the Pontocho alley is barely wide enough for two people and the summer terraces run out over the water. Plan around that rhythm and a weekend goes a long way.
Two-day shape
Saturday: JR Nara line to Inari, five minutes from Kyoto Station, on the platform before seven, then walk the gates up to the Yotsutsuji viewpoint and back. Late morning at Nishiki Market, the Okazaki museums in the afternoon, and a finish along the Philosopher's Path or at Nanzen-ji's brick aqueduct. Dinner in Pontocho, booked ahead. Sunday: the Sagano line to Saga-Arashiyama for the bamboo path at opening, then the Hozugawa river boat or the scenic railway if the weather holds, and back to Kyoto Station for its own architecture, the grand staircase and rooftop Skyway, plus a basement bento.
Getting around and where to base
Buses look convenient on the map and are the slowest thing in Kyoto at weekends. The Karasuma and Tozai subway lines cross the centre, the Keihan line runs fast up the east bank to Gion-Shijo and Demachiyanagi, and Hankyu heads west under Shijo to Katsura where the Arashiyama branch peels off, with an ICOCA or Suica card covering all of them without any thought about fares. Base yourself between Kyoto Station and Shijo-Karasuma for the best access; Gion is atmospheric but adds walking to everything else. Book Saturday dinner well ahead, particularly in cherry-blossom season and through the November leaves, when the whole city is fully committed.