Two days in Kyoto: Arashiyama or Uji?
For Nijo's paintings and carvings and an Arashiyama garden, compare Nijo on day 1 and Arashiyama on day 2. For Byodo-in's pond and exhibits, choose first-day Uji and prepare near Kyoto Station tomorrow. Avoid Arashiyama returns for an early day 2 departure.
Choose a 2 days, 1 night itinerary
Nijo Castle and Arashiyama
See the palace wall paintings and carved decorations at Nijo Castle, then walk Arashiyama's garden the next day. Stay one night near Kyoto Station. Day 2 needs time for return JR travel and your booked departure afterwards; omit Arashiyama for an early departure.
Nijo Castle and Arashiyama →2 days, 1 night BUji's Byodo-in and Kyoto Station
Compare this route for an unhurried look at Byodo-in's pond and Hoshokan exhibits. Stay one night near Kyoto Station, visit Uji on day 1 and remain near the station building on day 2. Phoenix Hall interior visits depend on same-day registration; omit the Skyway for departures before 10:00.
Uji's Byodo-in and Kyoto Station →Nijo Castle and Arashiyama
See the palace wall paintings and carved decorations at Nijo Castle, then walk Arashiyama's garden the next day. Stay one night near Kyoto Station. Day 2 needs time for return JR travel and your booked departure afterwards; omit Arashiyama for an early departure.
Day 1 · Nijo Castle return trip
This one-night route visits Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace on arrival day, then Arashiyama tomorrow. You need enough time for the subway from Kyoto Station before castle last admission.
- Kyoto Station → Nijojo-mae Station
Take the Karasuma Line from Kyoto towards Kokusaikaikan to Karasuma Oike. Change to the Tozai Line towards Uzumasa Tenjingawa for Nijojo-mae.
Official Nijo Castle access mapKyoto City transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Nijojo-mae Station → Ticket office beside the East Main Gate
Leave Nijojo-mae Exit 1 and walk towards the castle's ticket office beside the East Main Gate.
Official Nijo Castle access mapKyoto City transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Ticket office beside the East Main Gate → Ninomaru Palace and garden
Buy the ¥1,300 ticket including Ninomaru Palace at the East Main Gate ticket office, then see the palace and garden. Castle entry ends at 16:00; palace closures are separate.
- Ninomaru Palace and garden → Same departure station and hotel
Eat outside the castle, return to Nijojo-mae and change at Karasuma Oike to the Karasuma Line towards Takeda for your Kyoto Station hotel. Search subway fares and services for your date separately.
Official Nijo Castle access mapKyoto City transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map
Castle entry ends at 16:00 and closing is 17:00. On Ninomaru Palace closure days, check tickets for the areas available. Move the visit after a late arrival and check operations for the replacement date.
Day 2 · Return from Arashiyama and depart
First decide whether to see only the garden or add the buildings.
- JR Sagano Line at Kyoto Station → JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
Take a JR Sagano Line train towards Sonobe that stops at Saga-Arashiyama.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano/Biwako Line stop map (revised 2024-03-16)
- JR Saga-Arashiyama Station → Tenryu-ji
The official walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama to Tenryu-ji is about 13 minutes. Follow on-site signs to the ticket desk for your chosen garden, buildings or Dharma Hall.
Tenryu-ji accessTenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspensions
- Tenryu-ji → Tenryu-ji garden
Buy the ¥500 garden ticket at its desk. Garden hours are 08:30–17:00, with admission until 16:50. Buildings cost another ¥300 and are unavailable during partial closures.
Tenryu-ji accessTenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspensions
- Tenryu-ji garden → Departure from Kyoto Station
Eat lunch in Arashiyama and return to JR Saga-Arashiyama. Take the Sagano Line to Kyoto, then continue to your booked departure. JR, meals and accommodation are excluded from the ¥1,800 facility subtotal.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano/Biwako Line stop map (revised 2024-03-16)
Garden hours are 08:30–17:00, with admission until 16:50. Check return Sagano Line trains for your date. Omit Arashiyama if too little time remains before your Kyoto Station departure.
Included: Nijo Castle/Ninomaru Palace ¥1,300 and Tenryu-ji garden ¥500.
Separate costs: Subway, JR, one hotel night, meals, Tenryu-ji buildings/Dharma Hall, Honmaru Palace, separate exhibitions and travel to/from Kyoto.
On Ninomaru Palace closure days, check tickets for the available areas. Adding Tenryu-ji's buildings costs ¥300 extra.
Nijo Castle admissionTenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspensions
Uji's Byodo-in and Kyoto Station
Compare this route for an unhurried look at Byodo-in's pond and Hoshokan exhibits. Stay one night near Kyoto Station, visit Uji on day 1 and remain near the station building on day 2. Phoenix Hall interior visits depend on same-day registration; omit the Skyway for departures before 10:00.
Day 1 · Byodo-in in Uji
This one-night route visits Byodo-in on day 1 and stays near Kyoto Station on day 2. If the Phoenix Hall interior is a priority, check same-day registration as soon as you reach Uji.
- Kyoto Station → JR Uji Station
Take a JR Nara Line train towards Uji/Nara that stops at JR Uji.
Official Byodo-in access mapOfficial Byodo-in visitor informationSummer operating exceptions
- JR Uji Station → Byodo-in
The official walk from JR Uji to Byodo-in is about 10 minutes. Distinguish it from Keihan Uji.
Official Byodo-in access mapOfficial Byodo-in visitor information
- Byodo-in → Byodo-in garden and Hoshokan
Buy the ¥700 garden/Hoshokan ticket. For the Phoenix Hall interior, check first-come, same-day registration and sessions, then pay ¥300 separately. If registration has ended, see the garden and exhibits and eat in Uji.
Official Byodo-in visitor informationSummer operating exceptions
- Byodo-in garden and Hoshokan → Same departure station and hotel
Return from the same JR Uji on a Kyoto-bound train to your hotel. Distinguish it from Keihan Uji. Check date-specific JR fares/services and Phoenix Hall sessions.
Garden hours are 08:45–17:30, admission until 17:15; Hoshokan 09:00–17:00, admission until 16:45. Phoenix Hall interior visits use first-come, same-day registration. Check official notices for sessions, capacity and suspensions. Return from JR Uji towards Kyoto.
Day 2 · Station building before departure
Choose the plazas or Skyway to suit your departure time.
- Hotel near Kyoto Station → Chosen building passage
Explore the fourth-floor Muromachi Koji Square and Grand Stairway. Both open 06:00–23:00; the tenth-floor Skyway opens 10:00–22:00.
Plaza and passage operating informationRooftop suspension notice
- Chosen building passage → Departure from Kyoto Station
After your visit and meal, go to the gates and platform for your booked Kyoto departure. Allow time within the building. Separate paid exhibitions, purchases and meals are excluded from facility costs.
Plaza and passage operating informationRooftop suspension notice
The fourth-floor square and Grand Stairway open 06:00–23:00, and Skyway 10:00–22:00. Skip Skyway for an early departure. Limit the visit to the square and Skyway before your train.
Included: Byodo-in garden and Hoshokan ¥700.
Separate costs: Return JR to Uji, one hotel night, meals, purchases, Phoenix Hall interior ¥300, separate station-building exhibitions and travel to/from Kyoto.
Phoenix Hall interior visits require first-come, same-day registration and a separate ¥300. Including the interior brings facility costs to ¥1,000.
Passes, fares and pre-departure checks
Which line should you take from Kyoto Station?
Use JR Sagano for Arashiyama, JR Nara for Uji and the subway via Karasuma Oike to Nijojo-mae for Nijo Castle. Check each day's line and return separately even from the same hotel.
JR West Sagano/Biwako Line stop map (revised 2024-03-16)Official Nijo Castle access mapOfficial Byodo-in access map
How much of Kyoto Station can you see before departure?
Fourth-floor Muromachi Koji Square/Grand Stairway open 06:00–23:00; tenth-floor Skyway 10:00–22:00. For early departures, choose just the fourth floor. Rooftop Ozora Square is scheduled to close from late November 2026 until around winter 2031; check access for your date.
Plaza and passage operating informationRooftop suspension notice
What are return fares from Kyoto Station to the attractions?
Ordinary adult subway Kyoto–Nijojo-mae fares are ¥260 one way/¥520 return. JR Kyoto–Saga-Arashiyama and Kyoto–Uji each cost ¥240/¥480; Kyoto–Inari ¥150/¥300. JR figures are ordinary-seat fare tickets from the official 2026-10-08 search, excluding reserved-seat products with supplements. Returns add two one-way tickets for the same section. Recheck actual-date trains and latest fares.
Official JR timetable/fare search (2026-10-08)Kyoto City transport bureau subway fare table
Frequently asked questions
Should you omit day 2 Arashiyama for an early train?
You need time for return JR, garden admission and your booked Kyoto departure. Compare first-day Uji and a final day near the station for an early departure. Skyway opens after 10:00, so add it only if timing fits.
Tenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspensionsPlaza and passage operating information
Does the ¥700 Byodo-in ticket include Phoenix Hall interior?
It includes the garden and Hoshokan. The interior adds ¥300 after same-day first-come registration, bringing admission to ¥1,000. Early registration closure may prevent an interior visit.
Official sources and dates checked
- Tenryu-ji access ·
- Official Nijo Castle access map ·
- Nijo Castle admission ·
- Nijo Castle operations and closures ·
- Official Byodo-in access map ·
- Official Byodo-in visitor information ·
- Summer operating exceptions ·
- Plaza and passage operating information ·
- Rooftop suspension notice ·
- Kyoto City transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map ·
- JR West Sagano/Biwako Line stop map (revised 2024-03-16) ·
- Tenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspensions ·
- Official JR timetable/fare search (2026-10-08) ·
- Kyoto City transport bureau subway fare table ·
- JR Kyoto Line stop map (revised 2026-03-14) ·