4-Day Japan Travel Itinerary: Kyoto & Nara
Are you planning a trip to Japan? This YouTube video provides a four-day Japan travel itinerary that includes time in both Kyoto and Nara.
We’ll spend the next four days exploring some of Kyoto’s best attractions. Plus, we will make a day trip to Nara, where weโll not only feed the deer but also visit a unique museum dedicated to another symbol of the city.
Additional itinerary details and Japan travel tips can be found in this blog post.
I hope you discover new places to visit! ๐
Day 1: Sake Tasting in Kyoto
Fushimi Sake District
Sake is a traditional rice wine and Japanโs most famous drink. The experience took place in the Fushimi District, an area known for its sake production and home to over 30 breweries.
During the experience, we sampled and learned about different sake varieties. We also learned how to read labels and pair foods with each type.
You can book this 1.5-hour sake and food-tasting experience from Klook, Viator, or TripAdvisor.
Mercure Kyoto
When booking hotels or Airbnbs in Japan, I always am mindful of the following:
- Proximity to train stations and bus stops
- Square footage of hotel rooms (Japanese rooms are on the smaller side)
- Central location to main areas I want to visit
This trip, we decided to stay at the Mercure Kyoto because it is close to Kyoto Station (walking distance) and has a cool, modern design.
- Address: 288 Aburanokojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8231, Japan
- Official Website
- Check out hotel room availability here.
Kitada Clam Soup Ramen
For dinner, walk to a cozy ramen shop nearby known for its clam ramen. I honestly think this was the best ramen I had on my trip.
The broth was light and surprisingly did not have an overpowering shellfish taste. Rather, it had a soothing, almost chicken broth flavor.
If you add this place to your list, I highly recommend adding the yuzu condiment provided by each seat. It added so much flavor!
Address: Japan, ใ600-8233 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Kitafudodocho, 522
Day 2: Nara Day Trip Itinerary
How long does it take to get to Nara from Kyoto?
The next day, we took a day trip out to Nara, a city known for its historical importance, temples, and, of course, deer.
You can get to Nara from Kyoto in 30 minutes from Kyoto Station via the Kintetsu Limited Express Train.
How to purchase Limited Express tickets
JR Pass does not cover limited express tickets because Kintetsu, not JR, operates the train.
Kintetsu Limited Express tickets require reserved seats, which can be purchased online in advance or in person at the station.
If you have a Suica card, you can use it to get through the gate, but you will need to purchase a separate express ticket to ride the train.
Purchase tickets through the Kintetsu Railway website.
Nara Deer Park (what to know)
Nara Deer Park is a 10-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. The park is open 24 hours a day and is free to enter.
The deer in Nara were once considered sacred animals and the โhelpers of gods.โ Today, they are still protected and live harmoniously with the people in Nara.
The Nara deer are hard to miss, as youโll see them roaming around all over the place once you get to the park entrance.
Tips for feeding the deer
A few tips I have for feeding the deer are:
Overall, hide the food, stay calm, and remember that they are wild animals.
By the way, deer cannot digest human food, so please do not give it to them and be careful not to leave behind trash or plastic bags.
Giant Buddha Hall at Todaiji
After youโve fed the deer, I highly recommend checking out the Giant Buddha Hall at Todaiji.
Inside the hall is an impressively grand statue of Buddha, weighing an estimated 300 tons.
Tsukihiboshi (pickled food buffet)
Eat at a pickled food buffet and try narazuke (Nara pickled dishes)! Narazuke is Naraโs most famous local cuisine. They are typically a darker brown color and are pickled in a mixture of both sake and mirin.
Address: Japan, ใ630-8213 Nara, Noboriojicho, 59-9 1้
Nara Kingyo Museum
You may know Nara for its deer, but did you know itโs also known for goldfish? Nara is one of the three main goldfish breeding areas in Japan and one of the symbols of Nara prefecture.
So, after feeding the deer, we hopped on a local bus by the park and head to the Nara Kingyo Museum. Thatโs right, a gold fish museum.
- Official Website
- Address: 4th Floor, M! Nara, 1-3-1 Nijo-oji Minami, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan, 630-8012
What youโll find at the Nara Kingyo Museum
The Nara Kingyo Museum is Japanโs largest goldfish museum. Its art installations feature around 3,000 goldfish swimming through them.
The museum is home to seven unique spaces utilizing projection mapping, mirror balls, flowers, and more. All were created by some of Japanโs leading artists.
How much does it cost to go to the Nara Kingyo Museum?
- Adults = 1300 yen
- Elementary school students = 800 yen
- 65 years or above = 800 yen
- 4 years to under elementary school age = 30 yen
- Free admission for kids 3 years or under
How to get to the Kingyo Museum
- Take the Kotsu Bus from Kintetsu Nara Station or JR Nara Station
- Complimentary shuttle bus service from JR Nara Station (West Exit), Kintetsu Nara Station, and Shin-Omiya Station to M! Nara.
Nakatanidou (see mochi making)
After the museum, take the bus back to the main shopping area near the Kintetsu Nara Station.
Located a 5-minute walk south of Kintetsu Nara Station is a shop where you can watch high-speed mochitsuki (mochi pounding) and get fresh mochi for the train ride back to Kyoto.
Nakatanidou were high-speed mochitsuki winners in 2005 and 2006.
The shopโs specialty is yomogi mochi. Yomogi, also known as mugwort, is a Japanese wild plant gives the mochi its natural green color.
Address: 29 Hashimotocho, Nara, 630-8217, Japan
Kyotoโs UNESCO sites, Naraโs deer, and centuries of historyโall in one day. This private car tour with a guide makes it easy to see both cities without the stress of planning.
Day 3: Kyoto Arashiyama Day Itinerary
Arashiyama is one of the most popular Kyoto tourist destinations. It offers bamboo forests, street food, temples, monkey parks, and more.
I suggest setting aside a full day to explore Arashiyama since it is located 30 minutes north of central Kyoto. Plus, thereโs no shortage of things you can do in the area.
Kameyameya
Located alongside the river in Arashiyama is a small restaurant known for its tempura bowls.
Since our group was a little bigger, they sat us in a tatami room in the back with a window overlooking the river and the boats floating by.
For lunch, I had a local Kyoto biru and seafood tempura.
To this day, I still think about the crab tempura and cannot wait to eat it again!
Address: 1 Sagakamenoocho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8386, Japan
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
Most people stay near the central area close to the station, but if you venture up towards the mountain, there are many quiet temples, museums, and preserved historical areas.
What are the moss-covered statues in Kyoto?
While researching Kyoto, you may have seen photos of moss-covered statues at a temple in Arashiyama.
The temple was renovated in 1981, and the head priest at the time was a sculptor who taught visitors how to carve the statues.
There are about 1200 statues covering the hillside and temple grounds, each carved by an amateur artist.
There are so many various facial expressions, poses, and shapes. It is said that if you look closely, you are bound to find one that represents someone you know.
How do I get to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple?
You can get there by taxi or bus.
If you take a taxi, you can tell the driver โOtagi Nenbutsujiโ or show them ๆๅฎๅฟตไปๅฏบ, and they will know where to go.
How much does it cost to go to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji?
Entry fee: 400 yen(under 15 free)
Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street
After exploring the temple, I recommend walking down to the main tourist area through the Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street.
The street is lined with historical houses and buildings preserved in the style of the Meiji Period (1868-1912), with many of the traditional buildings now serving as shops and restaurants.
Itโs an incredibly peaceful path to take back to the main tourist area.
Sagano Bamboo Forest
Before arriving on the main road, I recommend walking through the Sagano Bamboo Forest.
I was pleasantly surprised at how empty the forest was, considering it was late afternoon.
It may be because this wasnโt the main โArashiyama bamboo forestโ area. But who knows?
Again, this is another reason why you should always leave room in your itinerary to wander around off the beaten path in Japan.
Rilakkuma Honey Stand
This is where I got the bear-shaped ice cream! Itโs located along the main Arashiyama shopping street.
Grab an eki stamp at the JR station
You can read more about collecting eki stamps in Japan in this blog.
Taste Kyoto like a local & bring the whole family along! This Kyoto foodie night tour is a relaxed way to explore Gion and Pontocho while trying authentic local dishes together.
Book a Kyoto Foodie Night Tour Here
Day 4: Kyoto Historical District & Shopping Day
Yasaka Jinja
The next day, we started at the Yasaka Shrine, also known as the Gion Shrine.
Itโs located between two of the most popular neighborhoods in KyotoโGion and Higashiyama.
The shrine is one of the most famous in Kyoto because of the Gion Matsuri, a summer festival celebrated every July.
It also sits in front of one of the popular cherry blossom spots in KyotoโMaruyama Park.
Higashiyama Ward
A quick bus ride or 10-minute walk away is one of Kyotoโs most popular tourist destinations and best-preserved historical districtsโHigashiyama Ward. Here, the buildings retain their traditional design, and you can experience โold Kyoto.โ
The small, narrow streets are lined with a variety of cafes, small shops, and restaurants.
Itโs a great place to find traditional Japanese souvenirs and try Kyoto’s local specialties.
The area is not very big, but you could easily spend half a day exploring the streets and the neighboring areas.
How to get to the historic shopping district in Kyoto
The Higashiyama Ward is located between Kiyomizudera and Yasaka Shrine.
If you are coming from Yasaka Shrine, I recommend entering the โPark Hyatt Kyotoโ as your next destination when routing directions.
The Park Hyatt is located at the very end of the main shopping street and is a great place to start your journey through.
A few Kyoto photography tips
Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya
If youโre in the area, I recommend stopping by the Starbucks Yasaka Chaya. Itโs the first Starbucks located in a traditional Japanese house.
The Starbucks is tucked away and easy to miss because even the sign blends with the traditional buildings and stores surrounding it.
Once inside, you order your drinks on the first floor and can enjoy your coffee on the second floor, which has tatami-floor seating options and a few tables.
It has a smaller seating area, so it would not be ideal for big groups unless youโre lucky, like us, and can grab the large private tatami room.
Arashiyama Shopping Street
After a full day of shopping, we head back to Arashiyama for a foot bath appointment. Because when you travel to Japan, expect to walkโฆa lot!
We had some time to kill before our appointment, so we walked around the Arashiyama shopping street, which has a variety of historic Kyoto shops, restaurants, and street food vendors.
The shopping street is located outside the Randen Arashiyama Station.
Ex Cafe
We eventually found our way to one of my favorite cafes, tucked away off the main road. Thankfully, it is located right across the road from the foot bath spa.
Here, you can cook your own dango, drink tea, and rest your feet after a day of walking around.
Arashiyu Foot Massage & Spa
I highly recommend looking into a foot bath and massage in Japan. I made these appointments online through Klook a couple of days prior, and it was amazing!
They give you snacks and a drink while you soak your feet in a flower or matcha bath. Then, depending on the package, they give you a 30-minute to an hour foot massage.
You can book your time reservation here in advance.
Address: 35-40 Sagatenryuji Tsukurimichicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8384, Japan
Kimono Forest
Located next to the Randen Arashiyama station, the installation includes 600 cylinders, each with kimono fabric design examples displayed within it.
Itโs free to enter the Kimono Forest, and it lights up after sunset every day.