Kyoto in 7 Days: Interactive Map
A full week gives you the icons, the hidden gems, and time to leave the city entirely — twice. Days 1–5 mirror our 5-day itinerary; Days 6–7 add Nara and a Kurama & Kibune mountain escape.
Eastern Kyoto — Temples & Geisha District
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Wooden stage with panoramic views. Start early to avoid crowds.
Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka
Historic lanes, tea shops, pottery.
Kodai-ji Temple
Zen garden, bamboo grove. Often overlooked.
Maruyama Park + Yasaka Shrine
Kyoto's most famous park, free shrine.
Lunch in Gion
Affordable kaiseki or udon on side streets.
Explore Gion
Hanamikoji, Shirakawa Canal, machiya houses.
Dinner Pontocho
Lantern-lit alley, riverside restaurants.
Northern Kyoto — Gold, Rocks & Bamboo
Kinkaku-ji
Golden Pavilion at opening, best photos.
Ryoan-ji
Japan's most famous zen rock garden.
Lunch Arashiyama
Soba at Yoshimura or bathhouse cafe.
Bamboo Grove + Tenryu-ji
Bamboo walk then UNESCO garden.
Monkey Park
120+ macaques, city panorama.
Central Kyoto — Sunrise, Markets & Castle
Fushimi Inari Sunrise
Torii gates empty at dawn.
Sake District
Gekkeikan museum, brewery tours.
Nishiki Market
400-year-old market, 100+ stalls.
Nijo Castle
Nightingale floors, painted screens.
Imperial Palace Park
Free guided tours, park walk.
Hidden Gems & Uji Day Trip
Tofuku-ji Temple
Famous zen bridge and moss garden.
Sanjusangendo
1,001 life-sized Kannon statues.
Byodo-in Temple, Uji
The temple on the ¥10 coin. See our Uji guide.
Matcha Experience
Nakamura Tokichi. Matcha parfait, matcha soba.
Ujigami Shrine
Oldest Shinto shrine building in Japan.
Deep Experience — Tea, Path & Aqueduct
Tea Ceremony
Morning session in Gion or Kodaiji. See Tea Guide.
Ginkaku-ji & Philosopher's Path
The Silver Pavilion's sand garden, then the canal walk south. See our Ginkaku-ji guide.
Nanzen-ji Temple
Massive sanmon gate, Meiji-era brick aqueduct.
Lunch near Nanzen-ji
Yudofu (hot tofu), served here since 1635.
Koto-in (Daitoku-ji)
Kyoto's most beautiful moss and maple garden.
Nara Day Trip
Todai-ji
The Great Buddha hall, the world's largest wooden building.
Nara Park & Deer
1,200+ freely roaming sacred deer. Bow and they'll bow back.
Kasuga Taisha
3,000 stone and bronze lanterns along a forest path.
Lunch & Naramachi
Kakinoha sushi, then wander the old merchant quarter.
Isuien Garden
"Borrowed scenery" gardens with views of Todai-ji's roofline.
Kurama & Kibune Mountain Escape
Kurama-dera Temple
Legendary birthplace of tengu folklore, forested mountain approach.
Mountain Trail to Kibune
A 60-90 minute forest hike over the ridge — real elevation change, proper shoes needed.
Lunch in Kibune
Riverside kawadoko dining platforms in summer, indoor soba the rest of the year.
Kifune Shrine
Water deity shrine, water-activated fortune slips.
Kurama Onsen
Outdoor hot spring bath overlooking the forested mountainside — the perfect trip finale.
