JapanLiveNowLIVE
EN

3 days in Kyoto: visit Uji on the last day?

Give Nijo, Arashiyama and Uji separate days. Check that your departure leaves time to return from Uji to Kyoto Station first. For more interior-viewing time or an early departure, compare Uji on day 2 and a station-based last day.

Show moreShow less

Choose a 3 days / 2 nights itinerary

3 days / 2 nights A

City castle, gardens and Uji

Choose this route to give Nijo's palace, Arashiyama's garden and Uji's Phoenix Hall separate days. Stay 2 nights at one Kyoto Station hotel. It suits a departure leaving time to return from Uji on the final day.

City castle, gardens and Uji →3 days / 2 nights B

Byodoin interior viewing and Kyoto Station architecture

Choose this route for a leisurely Phoenix Hall and exhibition visit in Uji after Nijo Castle. Stay 2 nights near Kyoto Station, spend day 2 in Uji and remain near the station on departure day. Arashiyama is excluded.

Byodoin interior viewing and Kyoto Station architecture →
3 days / 2 nights A

City castle, gardens and Uji

Choose this route to give Nijo's palace, Arashiyama's garden and Uji's Phoenix Hall separate days. Stay 2 nights at one Kyoto Station hotel. It suits a departure leaving time to return from Uji on the final day.

Day 1: Nijo Castle

Start with Nijo Castle to give Nijo, Arashiyama and Uji separate days. Your departure must leave time to return from Uji to Kyoto Station on the final day.

  1. Kyoto Station → Nijojo-mae Station

    From Kyoto Station, take subway 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

  2. 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

  3. Ticket office beside the east main gate → Ninomaru Palace and gardens

    At the east-gate ticket office, buy a ticket including Ninomaru Palace. See the palace/gardens, then eat outside the castle. Castle admission closes at 16:00, so move the visit to another day after a late arrival.

    Nijo Castle pricesNijo Castle hours and closures

  4. Ninomaru Palace and gardens → Return to your arrival station and the same hotel

    Return from the same station via Karasuma Oike to Kyoto Station and your hotel.

    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: Arashiyama

  1. Kyoto Station → JR Saga-Arashiyama Station

    From Kyoto Station, take JR Sagano Line towards Sonobe and get off at Saga-Arashiyama.

    Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano/Biwako stopping-pattern map, revised 16 March 2024

  2. JR Saga-Arashiyama Station → Tenryu-ji garden

    Walk about 13 minutes to Tenryu-ji and visit with a garden ticket, then eat lunch in Arashiyama. After riverside walks, return via JR Saga-Arashiyama. Distinguish it from Randen/Hankyu Arashiyama stations.

    Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano/Biwako stopping-pattern map, revised 16 March 2024

  3. Tenryu-ji garden → Return to your arrival station and the same hotel

    Take a Kyoto-bound JR train to the same hotel. Buildings add 300 yen; choose the garden alone on building-closure dates.

    Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano/Biwako stopping-pattern map, revised 16 March 2024

Check date-specific JR services and garden, building and Dharma Hall operations separately. If your chosen area closes, decide between garden-only viewing and another date.

Day 3: visit Uji and depart

  1. Your hotel near 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 map

  2. JR Uji Station → Byodoin

    Official guidance gives about 10 minutes on foot from JR Uji to Byodoin.

    Byodoin official access mapByodoin official viewing information

  3. Byodoin → Byodoin garden and Hoshokan

    Buy the 700-yen garden/Hoshokan ticket. Phoenix Hall interior admission is first come on the day; avoid waiting for a session when you cannot delay departure. Eat in Uji afterwards only if there is enough return time.

    Byodoin official viewing information

  4. Byodoin garden and Hoshokan → Your departure from Kyoto Station

    Return to JR Uji and take Nara Line towards Kyoto. Go to your booked departure's gates/platform. For an early departure that prevents a Uji return, move Uji to day 2 and omit Arashiyama.

    Byodoin official access mapByodoin official viewing information

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.

Confirmed costs and conditions: 2,500 yen: basic facility-admission subtotal for 1 adult

Included: Nijo Castle/Ninomaru Palace 1,300 yen; Tenryu-ji garden 500 yen; Byodoin garden/Hoshokan 700 yen.

Additional costs: Subway/JR, 2 nights' accommodation, 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 add 300 yen if selected.

Nijo Castle pricesTenryu-ji Japanese hours and viewing-closure informationByodoin official viewing information

3 days / 2 nights B

Byodoin interior viewing and Kyoto Station architecture

Choose this route for a leisurely Phoenix Hall and exhibition visit in Uji after Nijo Castle. Stay 2 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 Castle on day 1 and try same-day Phoenix Hall interior admission in Uji on day 2. Stay near Kyoto Station on departure day to prepare for your booked service.

  1. Kyoto Station → Nijojo-mae Station

    From Kyoto Station, take Karasuma Line towards Kokusaikaikan. At 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

  2. 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

  3. Ticket office beside the east main gate → Ninomaru Palace and gardens

    At the east-gate ticket office, buy a ticket including Ninomaru Palace and see the palace/gardens.

    Nijo Castle pricesNijo Castle hours and closures

  4. Ninomaru Palace and gardens → Return to your arrival station and the same hotel

    Eat near the castle afterwards and return to your Kyoto Station hotel by the same subway route. If you miss admission or the palace closes, swap with day 2's Uji visit, checking Byodoin's operations too.

    Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area mapNijo Castle pricesNijo Castle hours and closures

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: leave time for Uji interior admission

  1. 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 map

  2. 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

  3. Byodoin → Byodoin garden and Hoshokan

    For Phoenix Hall interior viewing, check same-day availability and sessions first. If admitted, arrange the garden/Hoshokan visit and lunch around your session. If admission has ended, finish with garden/exhibitions alone. Interior viewing adds 300 yen to the basic ticket and is not a reserved place booked in advance.

    Byodoin official viewing informationSummer operating exceptions

  4. Byodoin garden and Hoshokan → Return to your arrival station and the same hotel

    Return to JR Uji after viewing and take a Kyoto-bound train to the same hotel. Check official date-specific Phoenix Hall interior operations.

    Byodoin official access mapByodoin official viewing informationSummer operating exceptionsChanges from 16 October

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 3: station-building visit and departure

  1. Your hotel near Kyoto Station → Kyoto Station building floor 4 plaza and Grand Stairway

    Visit floor 4 Muromachi-koji Square and the Grand Stairway in Kyoto Station building.

    Plaza and passage operations

  2. Kyoto Station building floor 4 → Optional: floor 10 Skyway

    After 10:00, if there is enough time before departure, follow signs to the floor 10 Skyway. This 185-metre passage connects the east and west sides.

    Plaza and passage operationsRooftop closure notice

  3. Station-building viewing areas → Your departure from Kyoto Station

    After viewing and eating, go to your booked departure's gates/platform. If platform access leaves insufficient time, omit Skyway and prepare for departure first.

    Plaza and passage operations

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.

Confirmed costs and conditions: 2,000 yen: basic facility-admission subtotal for 1 adult

Included: Nijo Castle/Ninomaru Palace 1,300 yen; Byodoin garden/Hoshokan 700 yen.

Additional costs: Subway, JR Uji returns, 2 nights' accommodation, meals, shopping, Phoenix Hall interior 300 yen, Honmaru Palace, separate paid exhibitions and airport/onward travel.

Adding same-day Phoenix Hall interior viewing costs another 300 yen, making facility costs 2,300 yen.

Nijo Castle pricesByodoin official viewing information

Passes, fares and pre-departure checks

For a separate Lake Biwa Museum trip

Distinguish JR Nara to Uji from JR Biwako to Kusatsu south of Lake Biwa. Check trains via Kyoto Station and museum buses from Kusatsu's west exit. Adult museum buses cost 480 yen one way/960 yen return; JR costs separately.

Facility accessBus operatorJR West Sagano/Biwako stopping-pattern map, revised 16 March 2024Byodoin official access map

Frequently asked questions

What do Nijo, Tenryu-ji and Byodoin admissions cost?

Basic facility admission totals 2,500 yen. Adding Tenryu-ji buildings and Phoenix Hall interior costs 300 yen each, making 3,100 yen. Dharma Hall, Honmaru, subway, JR, accommodation and meals are excluded. Check building operations and first-come interior conditions for your date.

Nijo Castle pricesTenryu-ji Japanese hours and viewing-closure informationByodoin official viewing information

Is day 2 better than the last day for waiting to see Phoenix Hall inside?

The day 2 Uji route leaves viewing time and keeps the last day near Kyoto Station. Arrange garden/exhibitions and meals around interior admission, but your preferred session is not guaranteed. Check date-specific sessions, capacities and suspensions.

Byodoin official viewing informationSummer operating exceptionsChanges from 16 October

Official sources and check dates