Kyoto city, Uji and the north: where should I start?
Consider Kyoto station as a base for the city and Uji. Arashiyama and Uji use different railway lines and suit separate days. For an Amanohashidate overnight stay, check the return train to Kyoto and Monju-side accommodation together.
Palaces, gardens or a seaside path: where should I start?
Consider Nijo Castle for palace wall paintings and carved decoration, or Tenryuji in Arashiyama for a garden walk. Choose Byodoin in Uji for Phoenix Hall across the pond and cultural-treasure exhibitions. Compare Fushimi Inari for worship along red torii paths or northern Amanohashidate for pines between the waters. The attraction guide explains admission areas and access.
Itineraries by trip length
Decide first whether to keep one Kyoto station base for city and Uji visits or spend a night in northern Monju. Choose viewing areas, then compare admission separately from railway and subway costs.
2 days / 1 night
Visit Nijo Castle on day 1 and Arashiyama on day 2, or visit Uji first and prepare for departure near Kyoto station next day. Choose around your return time.
3 days / 2 nights
Give Nijo Castle, Arashiyama and Uji a day each, or leave time on day 2 to wait for Phoenix Hall interior viewing. Check whether the final day allows enough time to return from Uji.
4 days / 3 nights
Split three areas from one Kyoto base, or stay two Kyoto nights then one Monju night. Your northern return day needs enough connection time for final departure.
5 days / 4 nights
With a continuing Kyoto stay, visit Fushimi Inari on a separate day. For northern accommodation, return from Monju for a final Kyoto night and leave the following day.
Where to stay
Kyoto station
Kyoto City · 京都市 (Kyoto Prefecture · 京都府)
Use the JR Sagano line for Arashiyama, the Nara line for Uji and the subway for Nijo Castle.
Check your accommodation’s station exit and the walk to its entrance.
Tenryuji accessNijo Castle official access mapByodoin official access map
Arashiyama
Consider accommodation here if you want to stay into the evening after exploring gardens and the river.
JR, Randen and Hankyu Arashiyama stations are in different locations. Check the walk from your accommodation to the station you will use.
Around Amanohashidate station
Consider station-area accommodation for a sandbar walk and one night in northern Kyoto.
Distinguish the southern Monju side beside the station from the opposite side of the sandbar. Check whether reaching your accommodation needs a boat or bus.
Separate visiting days from Kyoto station
Nijo-jo Castle · 元離宮二条城
Use a day for palace and gardens. Distinguish Ninomaru-inclusive admission from a separate Honmaru ticket and check the walk from subway Nijojo-mae to the entrance.
Arashiyama · 嵐山
Plan Tenryuji garden and a meal nearby on the same day. From Kyoto, take the JR Sagano line to Saga-Arashiyama. Similar Randen and Hankyu station names have different arrival locations.
Uji · 宇治
Group Byodoin garden, exhibitions and meals in one day. To see Phoenix Hall’s interior, allow time for same-day first-come reception. Interior viewing costs extra beyond basic admission.
Amanohashidate · 天橋立
Choose one northern night and a pine-path walk. This guide assumes southern Monju accommodation; northern accommodation and hilltop observation decks require separate travel.
JR West Sagano and Biwako line stops, revised 16 March 2024Byodoin official access mapAmanohashidate access
Choose the line from Kyoto station
Nijo Castle
Take the Karasuma subway line and change at Karasuma Oike to the Tozai line for Nijojo-mae. Check station exits and the castle entrance.
Tenryuji
Take a JR Sagano line service stopping at Saga-Arashiyama and walk to Tenryuji. Distinguish garden and building viewing hours.
Byodoin
Take a JR Nara line service stopping at Uji and walk to Byodoin. To see Phoenix Hall’s interior, check same-day reception first.
Amanohashidate
Take Hashidate to Amanohashidate and continue to Monju accommodation. Check return reserved seats and the actual accommodation route.
Nijo Castle official access mapByodoin official access mapTenryuji accessJR Hashidate guide
Related guides
Check city transport tickets separately from JR reservations. For Lake Biwa Museum, search for a bus from Kusatsu. Open the restaurant guide for Kyoto city days and northern rail-pass guidance to compare your actual covered routes.
Eat in the neighbourhood you are visiting
Choose a Kyoto city meal
For Kyoto food, consider tofu dishes and obanzai. Eat near Arashiyama on its visiting day or near Kyoto station on a train-departure day. Check menus, prices and booking conditions by restaurant.
Uji and northern overnight days
After Byodoin, choose a Uji restaurant on your day’s route. For a Monju night, check whether dinner is included in the booking and the required arrival time. Find Uji and Monju restaurants within their respective visiting areas.
Kyoto Tourist Information Center food guideByodoin official access mapAmanohashidate access
Compare admission separately from transport
Itinerary subtotals are for the listed facility admission. Add accommodation, meals, JR and subway fares separately. Optional viewing changes the admission subtotal.
Nijo Castle
Castle and Ninomaru-inclusive admission is JPY 1,300. Honmaru needs a separate ticket and reservation.
Byodoin
Basic garden and Hoshokan admission is JPY 700. Phoenix Hall interior requires same-day first-come reception and another JPY 300.
Hashidate return journey
The October 2026 fare table gives a regular-season ordinary-class reserved-seat return of JPY 10,000 when both dates are regular season. Recheck seasonal fares and seats for your actual dates.
Kansai Wide
The adult pass costs JPY 12,000 for five consecutive days. Against the JPY 10,000 regular-season return above, the northern journey alone does not make it cheaper. Check eligibility, coverage and seat reservations together.
JR Kansai Wide conditions in JapaneseJR Kansai Wide coverage, eligibility and validityJR October 2026 fare table, page 15
Nijo Castle admissionByodoin official visitor guideJR official timetable and fare search, 8 October 2026JR October 2026 fare table, page 15JR Kansai Wide conditions in Japanese
See the bridge-area camera before Arashiyama
This Kyoto tourism association camera shows the area near Togetsukyo’s north end. It does not show Tenryuji interiors or all Arashiyama. Check the operator’s original feed for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same line for Uji and Arashiyama?
From Kyoto, take the JR Sagano line to Saga-Arashiyama for Arashiyama, or the JR Nara line to Uji for Uji. Separate visiting days make return trips from the same accommodation easier on these different lines.
JR West Sagano and Biwako line stops, revised 16 March 2024Byodoin official access map
Does a northern night change my Kyoto accommodation plan?
The three-night northern plan has two Kyoto nights followed by one in Monju south of Amanohashidate’s sandbar. The four-night plan adds a final Kyoto night. Monju and Fuchu across the sandbar have different access, so choose your accommodation location and return Hashidate trains first.
Official sources and dates checked
- Tenryuji access ·
- Amanohashidate access ·
- Nijo Castle official access map ·
- Nijo Castle admission ·
- Byodoin official access map ·
- Byodoin official visitor guide ·
- Kyoto city Arashiyama guide ·
- JR Hashidate guide ·
- JR October 2026 fare table, page 15 ·
- e5489 ·
- Facility access ·
- City transport tickets ·
- JR West Sagano and Biwako line stops, revised 16 March 2024 ·
- JR official timetable and fare search, 8 October 2026 ·
- JR Kansai Wide conditions in Japanese ·
- JR Kansai Wide coverage, eligibility and validity ·
- Kyoto Tourist Information Center food guide ·
- Kyoto city tourism camera locations ·