2 days in Kyoto: Arashiyama or Uji?
For Nijo's wall paintings/carvings and Arashiyama gardens, compare Nijo on day 1 and Arashiyama on day 2. For Byodoin's pond/exhibitions, visit Uji first and prepare for departure near Kyoto Station the next day. Avoid Arashiyama returns for an early day 2 departure.
Choose a 2 days / 1 night itinerary
Nijo Castle and Arashiyama
See palace wall paintings and carved decorations at Nijo Castle, then Arashiyama gardens the next day. Stay 1 night near Kyoto Station. Day 2 needs time for JR return travel and viewing before your departure from Kyoto Station. Omit Arashiyama for an early departure.
Nijo Castle and Arashiyama →2 days / 1 night BUji's Byodoin and Kyoto Station
Compare this route for leisurely views across Byodoin's pond and exhibitions at Hoshokan. Stay 1 night near Kyoto Station, visit Uji on day 1 and remain near the station building on day 2. Phoenix Hall interior viewing depends on same-day admission; omit the Skyway for departures before 10:00.
Uji's Byodoin and Kyoto Station →Nijo Castle and Arashiyama
See palace wall paintings and carved decorations at Nijo Castle, then Arashiyama gardens the next day. Stay 1 night near Kyoto Station. Day 2 needs time for JR return travel and viewing before your departure from Kyoto Station. Omit Arashiyama for an early departure.
Day 1: Nijo Castle return trip
Visit Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace on arrival day, then Arashiyama after 1 night in Kyoto. You need time for the subway from Kyoto Station before castle admission closes.
- Kyoto Station → Nijojo-mae Station
From Kyoto Station, take Karasuma Line towards Kokusaikaikan to Karasuma Oike. Change to Tozai Line towards Uzumasa Tenjingawa and get off at Nijojo-mae.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Nijojo-mae Station → Ticket office beside the east main gate
Use Nijojo-mae exit 1 and walk towards Nijo Castle, to the ticket office beside the east main gate.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Ticket office beside the east main gate → Ninomaru Palace and gardens
Buy the 1,300-yen ticket including Ninomaru Palace at the east-gate ticket office and visit the palace and gardens. Castle admission closes at 16:00; Ninomaru has separate closure dates.
- Ninomaru Palace and gardens → Return to your arrival station and the same hotel
Eat outside the castle, then return to Nijojo-mae. Change at Karasuma Oike to Karasuma Line towards Takeda and return to your Kyoto Station hotel. Check subway fares and services for your date separately.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map
Castle admission closes at 16:00 and the castle at 17:00. On Ninomaru closure dates, choose a ticket for the areas open. After a late arrival, move the visit to another day and check that day's operations too.
Day 2: return from Arashiyama and depart
Choose the garden alone or add the buildings first.
- JR Sagano Line at Kyoto Station → JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
From Kyoto Station, take JR Sagano Line towards Sonobe on a service stopping at Saga-Arashiyama. Get off there.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano/Biwako stopping-pattern map, revised 16 March 2024
- JR Saga-Arashiyama Station → Tenryu-ji
Official guidance gives about 13 minutes on foot from JR Saga-Arashiyama to Tenryu-ji. Follow on-site signs to admission for your chosen garden, buildings or Dharma Hall.
Tenryu-ji accessTenryu-ji Japanese hours and viewing-closure information
- Tenryu-ji → Tenryu-ji garden
Buy the 500-yen garden ticket at garden admission. Garden hours are 08:30–17:00, last admission 16:50. Buildings cost an additional 300 yen and are unavailable on their closure dates.
Tenryu-ji accessTenryu-ji Japanese hours and viewing-closure information
- Tenryu-ji garden → Your departure from Kyoto Station
After lunch in Arashiyama, return to JR Saga-Arashiyama. Take Sagano Line towards Kyoto, then go to your booked departure. JR, meals and accommodation are excluded from the 1,800-yen facility subtotal.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano/Biwako stopping-pattern map, revised 16 March 2024
Tenryu-ji garden opens 08:30–17:00, last admission 16:50. Check date-specific Sagano return services. Omit Arashiyama if there is insufficient time before your Kyoto Station departure.
Included: Nijo Castle including Ninomaru Palace 1,300 yen; Tenryu-ji garden 500 yen.
Additional costs: Subway/JR, 1 night's accommodation, meals, Tenryu-ji buildings/Dharma Hall, Honmaru Palace, separate exhibitions and transport between Kyoto and your starting city.
On Ninomaru closure dates, choose a ticket for the areas open. Tenryu-ji buildings add 300 yen.
Nijo Castle pricesTenryu-ji Japanese hours and viewing-closure information
Uji's Byodoin and Kyoto Station
Compare this route for leisurely views across Byodoin's pond and exhibitions at Hoshokan. Stay 1 night near Kyoto Station, visit Uji on day 1 and remain near the station building on day 2. Phoenix Hall interior viewing depends on same-day admission; omit the Skyway for departures before 10:00.
Day 1: Byodoin in Uji
Visit Byodoin on day 1, then stay near Kyoto Station for your departure after 1 night. If Phoenix Hall interior viewing matters to you, check same-day admission availability first on arrival in Uji.
- Kyoto Station → JR Uji Station
From Kyoto Station, take JR Nara Line towards Uji/Nara on a service stopping at Uji. Get off at JR Uji.
Byodoin official access mapByodoin official viewing informationSummer operating exceptions
- JR Uji Station → Byodoin
Official guidance gives about 10 minutes on foot from JR Uji to Byodoin. Distinguish JR from Keihan Uji Station.
Byodoin official access mapByodoin official viewing information
- Byodoin → Byodoin garden and Hoshokan
Buy the 700-yen garden/Hoshokan ticket. For Phoenix Hall interior viewing, check same-day first-come admission and sessions, then pay 300 yen separately. If admission has ended, see the garden/exhibitions and eat in Uji.
Byodoin official viewing informationSummer operating exceptions
- Byodoin garden and Hoshokan → Return to your arrival station and the same hotel
Return from JR Uji on a Kyoto-bound train to your Kyoto Station hotel. Distinguish it from Keihan Uji; check date-specific JR fares/services and Phoenix Hall viewing sessions.
Byodoin garden opens 08:45–17:30, last admission 17:15; Hoshokan opens 09:00–17:00, last admission 16:45. Phoenix Hall interior admission is first come on the day; check official date-specific session, capacity and suspension notices. Return on a Kyoto-bound train from JR Uji.
Day 2: station-building visit and departure
Choose the plaza or Skyway around your departure time.
- Your hotel near Kyoto Station → Your chosen building passage
Visit Kyoto Station building's floor 4 Muromachi-koji Square and Grand Stairway. These open 06:00–23:00; the floor 10 Skyway opens 10:00–22:00.
- Your chosen building passage → Your departure from Kyoto Station
After viewing and eating, go to your booked Kyoto departure's gates/platform. Leave time for travel inside the building too. Separate paid exhibitions, purchases and meals are excluded from facility costs.
Floor 4 Muromachi-koji Square/Grand Stairway open 06:00–23:00; Skyway opens 10:00–22:00. Omit Skyway for an early departure. Visit only these chosen areas before taking your departure service.
Included: Byodoin garden/Hoshokan 700 yen.
Additional costs: JR Uji return travel, 1 night's accommodation, meals, purchases, Phoenix Hall interior 300 yen, separate paid station-building exhibitions and transport between Kyoto and your starting city.
Phoenix Hall interior viewing requires first-come same-day admission and another 300 yen. Including it makes facility costs 1,000 yen.
Passes, fares and pre-departure checks
Which line should I take from Kyoto Station?
Use JR Sagano for Arashiyama and JR Nara for Uji. For Nijo Castle, change subway lines at Karasuma Oike and get off at Nijojo-mae. Even from the same hotel, check each day's line and return trains separately.
JR West Sagano/Biwako stopping-pattern map, revised 16 March 2024Nijo Castle official access mapByodoin official access map
What can I see in Kyoto Station building before departure?
Floor 4 Muromachi-koji Square/Grand Stairway open 06:00–23:00; floor 10 Skyway opens 10:00–22:00. For an early departure, visit only the floor 4 areas. Rooftop Ozora Square is scheduled to close from late November 2026 until around winter 2031; check availability for your date.
What are return transport costs from Kyoto Station to the sights?
Adult ordinary tickets: Kyoto–Nijojo-mae subway 260 yen one way/520 return; JR Kyoto–Saga-Arashiyama and Kyoto–Uji each 240 one way/480 return; Kyoto–Inari 150 one way/300 return. JR figures are ordinary-seat base-fare tickets from official searches on 8 October 2026, excluding reserved-seat products with supplements. Returns add two one-way tickets for the same section. Recheck date-specific trains and latest fares.
Official JR timetable/fare search, 8 October 2026Kyoto City Transportation Bureau subway fares
Frequently asked questions
Should I omit Arashiyama for an early day 2 train?
Allow Saga-Arashiyama returns and garden viewing before your booked Kyoto departure. For early departures, compare Uji on day 1 and Kyoto Station on day 2. Skyway opens after 10:00; add it only if departure leaves enough time.
Tenryu-ji Japanese hours and viewing-closure informationPlaza and passage operations
Does Byodoin's 700-yen ticket include Phoenix Hall interior?
It covers garden/Hoshokan. Interior viewing adds 300 yen after first-come same-day admission, making facility admission 1,000 yen. If admission ends early, you may be unable to view the interior.
Official sources and check dates
- Tenryu-ji access ·
- Nijo Castle official access map ·
- Nijo Castle prices ·
- Nijo Castle hours and closures ·
- Byodoin official access map ·
- Byodoin official viewing information ·
- Summer operating exceptions ·
- Plaza and passage operations ·
- Rooftop closure notice ·
- Kyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map ·
- JR West Sagano/Biwako stopping-pattern map, revised 16 March 2024 ·
- Tenryu-ji Japanese hours and viewing-closure information ·
- Official JR timetable/fare search, 8 October 2026 ·
- Kyoto City Transportation Bureau subway fares ·
- JR Kyoto Line stopping-pattern map, revised 14 March 2026 ·