Three days in Kyoto: Uji on the final day?
Give Nijo, Arashiyama and Uji a day each, checking final-day return time to Kyoto before departure. For interior registration time or early departures, compare Uji on day 2 and a final day near Kyoto Station.
Choose a 3 days, 2 nights itinerary
City castle, garden and Uji
Choose this to give Nijo's palace, Arashiyama's garden and Uji's Phoenix Hall separate days. Stay two nights at one Kyoto Station hotel. The final day needs time to return from Uji before departure.
City castle, garden and Uji →3 days, 2 nights BByodo-in interior and Kyoto Station architecture
Choose this for Nijo Castle followed by more time at Uji's Phoenix Hall and exhibits. Stay two nights near Kyoto Station, spend day 2 in Uji and remain near the station on departure day. Arashiyama is excluded.
Byodo-in interior and Kyoto Station architecture →City castle, garden and Uji
Choose this to give Nijo's palace, Arashiyama's garden and Uji's Phoenix Hall separate days. Stay two nights at one Kyoto Station hotel. The final day needs time to return from Uji before departure.
Day 1 · Nijo Castle
Start with Nijo Castle for separate castle, Arashiyama and Uji days. This suits a departure allowing a final-day return from Uji to Kyoto.
- Kyoto Station → Nijojo-mae Station
Take the Karasuma Line towards Kokusaikaikan to Karasuma Oike, then the Tozai Line towards Uzumasa Tenjingawa to 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 a Ninomaru Palace-inclusive ticket beside the East Main Gate, see the palace and garden, then eat outside. Castle entry ends at 16:00; move the visit after a late arrival.
- Ninomaru Palace and garden → Same departure station and hotel
Return through the same station via Karasuma Oike to Kyoto and your hotel.
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 · Arashiyama
- Kyoto Station → JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
Take the JR Sagano Line towards Sonobe from Kyoto to Saga-Arashiyama.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano/Biwako Line stop map (revised 2024-03-16)
- JR Saga-Arashiyama Station → Tenryu-ji garden
Walk about 13 minutes to Tenryu-ji, visit on a garden ticket and eat lunch in Arashiyama. After a riverside walk, plan the return from JR Saga-Arashiyama, separate from Randen and Hankyu stations.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano/Biwako Line stop map (revised 2024-03-16)
- Tenryu-ji garden → Same departure station and hotel
Take a Kyoto-bound JR train back to the same hotel. Buildings cost ¥300 extra; choose garden-only during building suspensions.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano/Biwako Line stop map (revised 2024-03-16)
Check your date's JR services and garden, building and Dharma Hall operations separately. If your chosen area closes, decide between the garden alone and another date.
Day 3 · Uji before departure
- Hotel near Kyoto Station → JR Uji Station
Take a JR Nara Line train towards Uji/Nara that stops at JR Uji.
- JR Uji Station → Byodo-in
The official walk from JR Uji to Byodo-in is about 10 minutes.
Official Byodo-in access mapOfficial Byodo-in visitor information
- Byodo-in → Byodo-in garden and Hoshokan
Buy the ¥700 garden/Hoshokan ticket. Phoenix Hall interior registration is first-come on the day; avoid waiting for a session when your departure cannot move. Eat in Uji afterwards only if return time allows.
- Byodo-in garden and Hoshokan → Departure from Kyoto Station
Return to the same JR Uji for the Nara Line to Kyoto, then your booked gates and platform. For an early departure without time for Uji, move Uji to day 2 and omit Arashiyama.
Official Byodo-in access mapOfficial Byodo-in visitor information
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.
Included: Nijo Castle/Ninomaru Palace ¥1,300, Tenryu-ji garden ¥500 and Byodo-in garden/Hoshokan ¥700.
Separate costs: Subway, JR, two hotel nights, meals, Tenryu-ji buildings/Dharma Hall, Phoenix Hall interior, Honmaru Palace, separate exhibitions and airport/onward travel.
Phoenix Hall interior and Tenryu-ji buildings each cost ¥300 extra when selected.
Nijo Castle admissionTenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspensionsOfficial Byodo-in visitor information
Byodo-in interior and Kyoto Station architecture
Choose this for Nijo Castle followed by more time at Uji's Phoenix Hall and exhibits. Stay two nights near Kyoto Station, spend day 2 in Uji and remain near the station on departure day. Arashiyama is excluded.
Day 1 · Start with Nijo Castle
Visit Nijo on day 1 and try Phoenix Hall interior registration 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 towards Kokusaikaikan, then change at Karasuma Oike 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 Ninomaru Palace-inclusive ticket beside the East Main Gate and visit the palace and garden.
- Ninomaru Palace and garden → Same departure station and hotel
Eat near the castle and return by the same subway route. For late entry or a palace closure, swap dates with Uji, checking Byodo-in operations.
Official Nijo Castle access mapKyoto City transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area mapNijo Castle admissionNijo Castle operations and closures
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 · Uji with time for interior registration
- Kyoto Station → JR Uji Station
Take a JR Nara Line train towards Uji/Nara that stops at JR Uji.
- 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
Check same-day registration and sessions first for a Phoenix Hall interior visit. If registered, fit garden, Hoshokan and lunch around that session; if closed, finish with the garden and exhibits. Interior admission is ¥300 beyond the basic ticket, with no advance seat reservation.
Official Byodo-in visitor informationSummer operating exceptions
- Byodo-in garden and Hoshokan → Same departure station and hotel
Return from JR Uji towards Kyoto to the same hotel. Check official notices for the day's Phoenix Hall interior operations.
Official Byodo-in access mapOfficial Byodo-in visitor informationSummer operating exceptions16 October change
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 3 · Station building and departure
- Hotel near Kyoto Station → Fourth-floor square and Grand Stairway
Explore Kyoto Station's fourth-floor Muromachi Koji Square and Grand Stairway.
- Kyoto Station building, fourth floor → Optional tenth-floor Skyway
After 10:00, use signs to reach the tenth-floor Skyway if departure time allows. This 185 m passage links east and west.
Plaza and passage operating informationRooftop suspension notice
- Station building visitor areas → Departure from Kyoto Station
After visiting and eating, go to your booked departure's gates and platform. Omit Skyway and prepare to depart if platform access time is tight.
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: Nijo Castle/Ninomaru Palace ¥1,300 and Byodo-in garden/Hoshokan ¥700.
Separate costs: Subway, return JR to Uji, two hotel nights, meals, shopping, Phoenix Hall interior ¥300, Honmaru Palace, separate paid exhibitions and airport/onward travel.
Adding a registered Phoenix Hall interior visit costs ¥300, bringing facility costs to ¥2,300.
Passes, fares and pre-departure checks
For a separate Lake Biwa Museum visit
Uji uses JR Nara Line, while Kusatsu south of Lake Biwa uses JR Biwako Line. Check trains via Kyoto and the museum bus from Kusatsu's West Exit. Adult bus fares are ¥480 one way or ¥960 return; JR is separate.
Facility accessBus operatorJR West Sagano/Biwako Line stop map (revised 2024-03-16)Official Byodo-in access map
Frequently asked questions
How much is admission to Nijo, Tenryu-ji and Byodo-in?
Basic admission totals ¥2,500. Adding Tenryu-ji buildings and Phoenix Hall interior at ¥300 each brings it to ¥3,100. Dharma Hall, Honmaru, subway, JR, accommodation and meals are excluded. Check building operations and first-come interior registration for your date.
Nijo Castle admissionTenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspensionsOfficial Byodo-in visitor information
Is day 2 better than departure day for Phoenix Hall registration?
The day 2 Uji route leaves visit time and keeps the final day near Kyoto Station. You can fit garden/exhibits and meals around registration, but no session is guaranteed. Check date-specific sessions, capacities and suspensions.
Official Byodo-in visitor informationSummer operating exceptions16 October change
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 ·
- 16 October change ·
- Facility access ·
- Bus operator ·
- 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 ·