Two days in Kyoto: Arashiyama or Uji?
For palace paintings and carved decoration at Nijo Castle plus an Arashiyama garden walk, compare Nijo Castle on day one and Arashiyama on day two. For more time at Byodoin's pond and exhibitions in Uji, visit Uji first and prepare for departure near Kyoto Station the following day. Before an early day-two departure, avoid the Arashiyama return trip.
Choose a 1 night, 2 days itinerary
Nijo Castle and Arashiyama
See the palace paintings and carved decoration at Nijo Castle, then walk through an Arashiyama garden the following day. Stay one night near Kyoto Station. On day two, you need time for the JR return journey and your departure from Kyoto Station after the visit. Skip Arashiyama before an early departure.
Nijo Castle and Arashiyama →1 night, 2 days BUji's Byodoin and the Kyoto Station area
Compare this itinerary for a leisurely look at Byodoin's pond and Hoshokan exhibitions. Stay one night near Kyoto Station, visit Uji on day one and remain near the station building on day two. Phoenix Hall interior admission depends on registration that day; skip the Skyway before a departure earlier than 10:00.
Uji's Byodoin and the Kyoto Station area →Nijo Castle and Arashiyama
See the palace paintings and carved decoration at Nijo Castle, then walk through an Arashiyama garden the following day. Stay one night near Kyoto Station. On day two, you need time for the JR return journey and your departure from Kyoto Station after the visit. Skip Arashiyama before an early departure.
Day 1 | Nijo Castle and back
Visit Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace on arrival day, then Arashiyama the following day on this one-night itinerary. You need enough time to travel by subway from Kyoto Station before the castle's last admission.
- Kyoto Station → Nijojo-mae Station
From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Line towards Kokusaikaikan to Karasuma Oike. Change to the 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
Leave Nijojo-mae through Exit 1 and walk towards Nijo Castle. Head 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
At the ticket office beside the East Main Gate, buy the JPY 1,300 ticket including Ninomaru Palace, then visit the palace and gardens. Last castle admission is 16:00; the palace has separate closure dates.
- Ninomaru Palace and gardens → Return to your starting station and the same hotel
After eating outside the castle, return to Nijojo-mae. At Karasuma Oike, change to the 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
Last castle admission is 16:00 and closing is 17:00. On Ninomaru Palace closure dates, choose a ticket matching the areas you can visit. After a late arrival, move the visit to another day and check operations for the replacement date.
Day 2 | Arashiyama, then return for departure
Decide whether to visit only the garden or add the buildings.
- JR Sagano Line at Kyoto Station → JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
From Kyoto Station, take a JR Sagano Line train towards Sonobe that stops at Saga-Arashiyama, and get off there.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised 2024-03-16
- JR Saga-Arashiyama Station → Tenryu-ji
Official directions give a walk of about 13 minutes from JR Saga-Arashiyama to Tenryu-ji. Check local signs for the admission desk for your chosen garden, buildings or Dharma Hall visit.
Tenryu-ji accessTenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspension notices
- Tenryu-ji → Tenryu-ji garden
Buy the JPY 500 garden ticket at the garden admission desk. Hours are 08:30–17:00, with last admission at 16:50. The buildings cost an additional JPY 300 and cannot be visited on partial closure dates.
Tenryu-ji accessTenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspension notices
- Tenryu-ji garden → Your departure from Kyoto Station
After lunch in Arashiyama, return to JR Saga-Arashiyama. Take the Sagano Line towards Kyoto, then continue to your booked departure. JR travel, meals and accommodation are excluded from the JPY 1,800 attraction admission subtotal.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised 2024-03-16
Tenryu-ji garden opens from 08:30 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:50. Check Sagano Line return trains for your date. Skip Arashiyama if there is insufficient time before your departure from Kyoto Station.
Included: Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace JPY 1,300; Tenryu-ji garden JPY 500.
Extra costs: The subtotal excludes subway and JR travel, one night's accommodation, meals, Tenryu-ji buildings and Dharma Hall, Honmaru Palace, separate exhibitions and travel between your starting point and Kyoto.
On Ninomaru Palace closure dates, choose a ticket matching the accessible areas. Adding Tenryu-ji's buildings costs JPY 300 extra.
Nijo Castle admissionTenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspension notices
Uji's Byodoin and the Kyoto Station area
Compare this itinerary for a leisurely look at Byodoin's pond and Hoshokan exhibitions. Stay one night near Kyoto Station, visit Uji on day one and remain near the station building on day two. Phoenix Hall interior admission depends on registration that day; skip the Skyway before a departure earlier than 10:00.
Day 1 | Byodoin in Uji
Visit Byodoin in Uji on day one and stay near Kyoto Station on day two of this one-night trip. If the Phoenix Hall interior matters to you, check same-day registration availability when you arrive in Uji.
- Kyoto Station → JR Uji Station
From Kyoto Station, take a JR Nara Line train towards Uji or Nara that stops at Uji, and get off at JR Uji.
Byodoin official access mapByodoin official visiting guidanceSummer operating exceptions
- JR Uji Station → Byodoin
Official directions give about ten minutes on foot from JR Uji to Byodoin. Distinguish JR Uji from Keihan Uji Station.
Byodoin official access mapByodoin official visiting guidance
- Byodoin → Byodoin garden and Hoshokan
Buy the JPY 700 garden and Hoshokan ticket. For the Phoenix Hall interior, check same-day first-come registration and session times, then pay JPY 300 separately. If registration has closed, visit only the garden and exhibitions, then eat in Uji.
Byodoin official visiting guidanceSummer operating exceptions
- Byodoin garden and Hoshokan → Return to your starting station and the same hotel
Return from the same JR Uji Station on a Kyoto-bound train, then head to your Kyoto Station hotel. Distinguish it from Keihan Uji. Check JR fares and services for your date, along with Phoenix Hall sessions.
Byodoin garden opens from 08:45 to 17:30, with last admission at 17:15; Hoshokan opens from 09:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:45. Phoenix Hall interior visits use same-day first-come registration. Check official notices for sessions, group sizes and suspensions on your date. Return on a Kyoto-bound train from JR Uji.
Day 2 | Station building, then departure
Choose the plaza or Skyway around your departure time.
- Your hotel near Kyoto Station → Your chosen building walkway
Explore Muromachi-koji Square and the Grand Stairway on the fourth floor of Kyoto Station Building. The square and stairway open from 06:00 to 23:00; the tenth-floor Skyway opens from 10:00 to 22:00.
- Your chosen building walkway → Your departure from Kyoto Station
After your visit and meal, head to the ticket gate and platform for your booked departure from Kyoto Station. Allow time to move through the building. Separate paid exhibitions, purchases and meals are excluded from the attraction admission subtotal.
The fourth-floor Muromachi-koji Square and Grand Stairway open from 06:00 to 23:00, and the Skyway opens from 10:00 to 22:00. Skip the Skyway before an early departure. Visit only the square and Skyway as time permits, then catch your departure service.
Included: Byodoin garden and Hoshokan JPY 700.
Extra costs: The subtotal excludes JR return travel to Uji, one night's accommodation, meals, purchases, Phoenix Hall interior admission of JPY 300, separate paid station-building exhibitions and travel between your starting point and Kyoto.
Phoenix Hall interior admission costs JPY 300 separately after same-day first-come registration. Including the interior brings attraction admission to JPY 1,000.
Transport passes, fares and checks before departure
Which line should you use from Kyoto Station?
Use the JR Sagano Line for Arashiyama and JR Nara Line for Uji. For Nijo Castle, take the subway and change at Karasuma Oike for Nijojo-mae. Even with the same hotel, check each day's line and return service separately.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised 2024-03-16Nijo Castle official access mapByodoin official access map
How much of Kyoto Station Building can you see before departure?
The fourth-floor Muromachi-koji Square and Grand Stairway open from 06:00 to 23:00; the tenth-floor Skyway opens from 10:00 to 22:00. Before an early departure, visit only the fourth-floor square and stairway. Rooftop Ozora Square is scheduled to close from late November 2026 until around winter 2031, so check access for your date.
What are return transport costs from Kyoto Station to the attractions?
Ordinary adult subway tickets between Kyoto and Nijojo-mae cost JPY 260 one way or JPY 520 return. JR Kyoto ↔ Saga-Arashiyama and Kyoto ↔ Uji each cost JPY 240 one way or JPY 480 return; Kyoto ↔ Inari costs JPY 150 one way or JPY 300 return. JR figures are ordinary-seat travel fares from the official 2026-10-08 search, excluding reserved-seat products with supplements. Return totals add two one-way tickets for the same section. Check trains and current fares again for your travel date.
Official JR timetable and fare search, 2026-10-08Kyoto City Transportation Bureau subway fare table
Frequently asked questions
Should I skip Arashiyama on day two before an early train departure?
You need enough time for Saga-Arashiyama and back, the garden visit and your booked departure from Kyoto Station. Before an early departure, consider Uji on day one and stay near Kyoto Station on day two. The Skyway opens only after 10:00; add it only when departure time allows.
Tenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspension noticesSquare and walkway opening guidance
Does Byodoin's JPY 700 ticket include the Phoenix Hall interior?
JPY 700 covers the garden and Hoshokan. The Phoenix Hall interior costs JPY 300 separately after same-day first-come registration, bringing admission to JPY 1,000. Early registration closure may prevent an interior visit.
Official sources and dates checked
- Tenryu-ji access ·
- Nijo Castle official access map ·
- Nijo Castle admission ·
- Nijo Castle operations and closures ·
- Byodoin official access map ·
- Byodoin official visiting guidance ·
- Summer operating exceptions ·
- Square and walkway opening guidance ·
- Rooftop closure notice ·
- Kyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map ·
- JR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised 2024-03-16 ·
- Tenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspension notices ·
- Official JR timetable and fare search, 2026-10-08 ·
- Kyoto City Transportation Bureau subway fare table ·
- JR Kyoto Line stop map, revised 2026-03-14 ·