Three days in Kyoto: can I visit Uji on the final day?
Give Nijo Castle, Arashiyama and Uji a day each. Check first whether you can return from Uji to Kyoto before departure on the final day. For more interior-viewing time or an early departure, compare day 2 Uji and a final day near Kyoto station.
Choose an itinerary for 3 days / 2 nights
City castle and garden, then Uji
Choose separate days for Nijo Castle’s palace, Arashiyama’s garden and Uji’s Phoenix Hall. Stay two nights at the same Kyoto station accommodation and travel to each area. This suits a final day with time to return from Uji before departure.
City castle and garden, then Uji →3 days / 2 nights BByodoin interior and Kyoto station architecture
Choose this for Nijo Castle followed by a relaxed Uji day for Phoenix Hall and exhibitions. Stay two nights near Kyoto station, spend day 2 in Uji and stay near the station on departure day. Arashiyama is excluded.
Byodoin interior and Kyoto station architecture →City castle and garden, then Uji
Choose separate days for Nijo Castle’s palace, Arashiyama’s garden and Uji’s Phoenix Hall. Stay two nights at the same Kyoto station accommodation and travel to each area. This suits a final day with time to return from Uji before departure.
Day 1 · Nijo Castle
Start with Nijo Castle to put the castle, Arashiyama and Uji on separate days. Your final day must allow time to return to Kyoto station from Uji and depart.
- Kyoto station → Nijojo-mae station
Take the Karasuma subway line from Kyoto towards Kokusaikaikan. Get off at Karasuma Oike, change to the Tozai line towards Uzumasa Tenjingawa and get off at Nijojo-mae.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Nijojo-mae station → Ticket office beside the East Gate
Use Nijojo-mae exit 1 and walk towards Nijo Castle, going to the ticket office beside the East Gate.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Ticket office beside the East Gate → Ninomaru Palace and garden
Buy a ticket including Ninomaru Palace at the East Gate ticket office. See the palace and garden, then eat outside the castle. Castle admission ends at 16:00, so move the visit to another day after a late arrival.
- Ninomaru Palace and garden → Original station and same accommodation
Return from the same station via Karasuma Oike to Kyoto station and your accommodation.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map
Castle admission ends at 16:00 and closing is 17:00. On Ninomaru Palace closure days, choose a ticket matching the available areas. After a late arrival, move the visit to another day and check operations for the replacement date.
Day 2 · Arashiyama
- Kyoto station → JR Saga-Arashiyama station
Take a JR Sagano line train towards Sonobe from Kyoto and get off at Saga-Arashiyama.
Tenryuji accessJR West Sagano and Biwako line stops, revised 16 March 2024
- JR Saga-Arashiyama station → Tenryuji garden
Walk about 13 minutes to Tenryuji, visit with a garden ticket and have lunch in Arashiyama. After a riverside walk, plan your return around JR Saga-Arashiyama, distinguishing it from Randen and Hankyu Arashiyama stations.
Tenryuji accessJR West Sagano and Biwako line stops, revised 16 March 2024
- Tenryuji garden → Original station and same accommodation
Take a Kyoto-bound JR train and return to the same accommodation as day 1. Building viewing costs an additional JPY 300; on suspension days, choose the garden only.
Tenryuji accessJR West Sagano and Biwako line stops, revised 16 March 2024
Check your date’s JR services and garden, building and Dharma Hall operations separately. If your chosen area is closed, decide whether to see only the garden or change the date.
Day 3 · Visit Uji and depart
- Accommodation near Kyoto station → JR Uji station
Take a JR Nara line train from Kyoto towards Uji and Nara that stops at Uji. Get off at JR Uji.
- JR Uji station → Byodoin
The official walk from JR Uji to Byodoin is about ten minutes.
- Byodoin → Byodoin garden and Hoshokan museum
Buy the JPY 700 garden and Hoshokan ticket. Phoenix Hall interior reception is first come on the day; avoid waiting for a session when your departure cannot be delayed. After visiting, eat in Uji only if there is enough return time.
- Byodoin garden and Hoshokan museum → Departure service from Kyoto station
Return to the same JR Uji station and take the Nara line towards Kyoto. At Kyoto, go to the gates and platform for your booked departure. For an early departure that makes the Uji return impractical, move Uji to day 2 and leave out Arashiyama.
Byodoin garden opens 08:45–17:30, reception until 17:15; Hoshokan opens 09:00–17:00, reception until 16:45. Phoenix Hall interior reception is first come on the day. Check official date-specific notices for sessions, visitor limits and suspensions. Return on a Kyoto-bound train from JR Uji.
Included: Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace JPY 1,300; Tenryuji garden JPY 500; Byodoin garden and Hoshokan JPY 700.
Extra costs: Subway and JR fares, two nights’ accommodation, meals, Tenryuji buildings and Dharma Hall, Phoenix Hall interior, Honmaru Palace and separate exhibitions, airport and onward-destination travel.
Phoenix Hall interior and Tenryuji buildings each cost an additional JPY 300 if chosen.
Nijo Castle admissionTenryuji Japanese hours and viewing suspensionsByodoin official visitor guide
Byodoin interior and Kyoto station architecture
Choose this for Nijo Castle followed by a relaxed Uji day for Phoenix Hall and exhibitions. Stay two nights near Kyoto station, spend day 2 in Uji and stay near the station on departure day. Arashiyama is excluded.
Day 1 · Start with Nijo Castle
Visit Nijo Castle on day 1 and try same-day Phoenix Hall interior reception in Uji on day 2. Stay near Kyoto station on departure day to prepare for your booked service.
- Kyoto station → Nijojo-mae station
Take the Karasuma line from Kyoto towards Kokusaikaikan. Change at Karasuma Oike to the Tozai line towards Uzumasa Tenjingawa and get off at Nijojo-mae.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Nijojo-mae station → Ticket office beside the East Gate
Use Nijojo-mae exit 1 and walk towards Nijo Castle, going to the ticket office beside the East Gate.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Ticket office beside the East Gate → Ninomaru Palace and garden
Buy a ticket including Ninomaru Palace at the East Gate ticket office, then visit the palace and garden.
- Ninomaru Palace and garden → Original station and same accommodation
Eat near the castle afterwards, then take the same subway route to your Kyoto station accommodation. If arriving after last admission or on a palace closure day, swap with day 2 Uji, checking Byodoin operations for that date.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area mapNijo Castle admissionNijo Castle operations and closures
Castle admission ends at 16:00 and closing is 17:00. On Ninomaru Palace closure days, choose a ticket matching the available areas. After a late arrival, move the visit to another day and check operations for the replacement date.
Day 2 · Uji with time for interior reception
- Kyoto station → JR Uji station
Take a JR Nara line train from Kyoto towards Uji and Nara that stops at Uji. Get off at JR Uji.
- JR Uji station → Byodoin
The official walk from JR Uji to Byodoin is about ten minutes. This is a different station from Keihan Uji.
- Byodoin → Byodoin garden and Hoshokan museum
For Phoenix Hall interior viewing, check same-day reception and sessions first. If accepted, arrange garden, Hoshokan and lunch around your session; if reception has ended, finish with the garden and exhibitions. The interior costs JPY 300 beyond basic admission and is not an advance-reserved place.
- Byodoin garden and Hoshokan museum → Original station and same accommodation
Return to JR Uji after the visit and take a Kyoto-bound train to the same accommodation. Check official Phoenix Hall operations for your date.
Byodoin official access mapByodoin official visitor guideSummer operating exceptionsChanges from 16 October
Byodoin garden opens 08:45–17:30, reception until 17:15; Hoshokan opens 09:00–17:00, reception until 16:45. Phoenix Hall interior reception is first come on the day. Check official date-specific notices for sessions, visitor limits and suspensions. Return on a Kyoto-bound train from JR Uji.
Day 3 · Explore the station building and depart
- Accommodation near Kyoto station → Kyoto station plaza on Level 4 and Grand Stairway
Explore Muromachikoji Square on Level 4 of the station building and the Grand Stairway.
- Level 4 of Kyoto station building → Optional visit · Skyway on Level 10
After 10:00, follow signs to the Skyway on Level 10 only if there is time before departure. This 185-metre walkway connects the east and west sides.
- Station building viewing area → Departure service from Kyoto station
After your visit and meal, go to the gates and platform for your booked Kyoto departure. If there is insufficient time to reach the platform, skip the Skyway and prepare for departure first.
Level 4 Muromachikoji Square and the Grand Stairway open 06:00–23:00; the Skyway opens 10:00–22:00. Skip the Skyway for an early departure. Keep the visit to the plaza and Skyway before boarding your onward service.
Included: Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace JPY 1,300; Byodoin garden and Hoshokan JPY 700.
Extra costs: Subway and JR return fares to Uji, two nights’ accommodation, meals and shopping, Phoenix Hall interior JPY 300, Honmaru Palace and separate paid exhibitions, airport and onward-destination travel.
With same-day Phoenix Hall interior reception and viewing, add JPY 300 for a JPY 2,300 facility subtotal.
Transport tickets, fares and pre-departure checks
For a separate Lake Biwa Museum visit
Distinguish Uji on the JR Nara line from Kusatsu south of Lake Biwa on the JR Biwako line. Check trains via Kyoto and the museum bus from Kusatsu’s West Exit. The adult museum bus costs JPY 480 one way or JPY 960 return; JR fares are separate.
Facility accessBus operatorJR West Sagano and Biwako line stops, revised 16 March 2024Byodoin official access map
Frequently asked questions
What is admission for Nijo Castle, Tenryuji and Byodoin?
Basic facility admission for the three totals JPY 2,500. Adding both Tenryuji buildings and Phoenix Hall interior adds JPY 300 each, for JPY 3,100. Tenryuji’s Dharma Hall, Honmaru Palace, subway, JR, accommodation and meals are excluded. Check building operations and first-come interior reception on your date.
Nijo Castle admissionTenryuji Japanese hours and viewing suspensionsByodoin official visitor guide
Is day 2 Uji better than the final day for waiting for Phoenix Hall’s interior?
The day 2 Uji course allows visiting time and stays near Kyoto station on the final day. Arrange garden, exhibitions and meals around reception availability, though your preferred session is not guaranteed. Check official sessions, visitor limits and suspension notices for your date.
Byodoin official visitor guideSummer operating exceptionsChanges from 16 October
Official sources and dates checked
- Tenryuji access ·
- Nijo Castle official access map ·
- Nijo Castle admission ·
- Nijo Castle operations and closures ·
- Byodoin official access map ·
- Byodoin official visitor guide ·
- Summer operating exceptions ·
- Changes from 16 October ·
- Facility access ·
- Bus operator ·
- Plaza and walkway operating guide ·
- Rooftop closure notice ·
- Kyoto transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map ·
- JR West Sagano and Biwako line stops, revised 16 March 2024 ·
- Tenryuji Japanese hours and viewing suspensions ·