Four days in Kyoto: spend a night in the north?
With the same Kyoto hotel, visit Nijo Castle, Arashiyama and Uji on separate days, then prepare for departure near Kyoto Station. For a northern night followed by a pine-path walk, compare two Kyoto nights and one in Monju south of Amanohashidate's sandbar. On the final day, return to Kyoto on Hashidate before your final departure. Choose the city-based itinerary if connection time is too tight.
Choose a 3 nights, 4 days itinerary
A day each for Nijo Castle, Arashiyama and Uji
Give separate days to Nijo Castle's palace and gardens, an Arashiyama garden and Uji's Phoenix Hall. Stay three nights at one hotel near Kyoto Station. On the final day, remain near the station and prepare for departure.
A day each for Nijo Castle, Arashiyama and Uji →3 nights, 4 days BTwo nights in Kyoto city, then one in Amanohashidate
Compare this for Kyoto's palace, Uji's Phoenix Hall and Amanohashidate's pine-lined path. Spend two nights near Kyoto Station, then one in Monju on the southern side of the sandbar. On the final day, allow enough time to return to Kyoto and continue to your next destination. Hotels in Fuchu across the sandbar have different access and return routes.
Two nights in Kyoto city, then one in Amanohashidate →A day each for Nijo Castle, Arashiyama and Uji
Give separate days to Nijo Castle's palace and gardens, an Arashiyama garden and Uji's Phoenix Hall. Stay three nights at one hotel near Kyoto Station. On the final day, remain near the station and prepare for departure.
Day 1 | Castle and palace
Visit Nijo Castle, Arashiyama and Uji on separate days without changing your Kyoto Station hotel. Start with the castle and palace if you can arrive before last admission on day one.
- Kyoto Station → Nijojo-mae Station
From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Line towards Kokusaikaikan. At 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
Buy a ticket including Ninomaru Palace at the office beside the East Main Gate, then visit the castle and gardens. Honmaru Palace is excluded and requires a separate dated, timed reservation.
- Ninomaru Palace and gardens → Return to your starting station and the same hotel
Eat near the castle, then return to your hotel by the same transfer route. Swap with day two after a late arrival or a palace closure.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area mapNijo Castle admissionNijo Castle operations and closures
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 | Tenryu-ji garden and Arashiyama
- Kyoto Station → JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
From Kyoto Station, take a JR Sagano Line train towards Sonobe that stops at Saga-Arashiyama.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised 2024-03-16
- JR Saga-Arashiyama Station → Tenryu-ji garden
Walk about 13 minutes from the station to Tenryu-ji and start with the garden. If you also want to enter the buildings, check the supplementary ticket and any suspensions that day.
- Tenryu-ji garden → Return to your starting station and the same hotel
After lunch, walk further beside the river or return towards the station for a break. Take a Kyoto-bound train from JR Saga-Arashiyama to return. Randen and Hankyu Arashiyama stations are elsewhere and do not accept JR tickets. Spend the second night at the same Kyoto hotel.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised 2024-03-16
Check your date's JR services and operations for the garden, buildings and Dharma Hall separately. If your chosen area is closed, decide whether to visit only the garden or change the date.
Day 3 | Uji garden and exhibitions
- 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.
- JR Uji Station → Byodoin
Official directions give about ten minutes on foot from JR Uji to Byodoin. For the Phoenix Hall interior, check same-day registration after entering the garden.
Byodoin official access mapByodoin official visiting guidance
- Byodoin → Byodoin garden and Hoshokan
For an interior visit, allow time to wait for your session after first-come registration that day. Arrange the garden, Hoshokan and lunch around that time.
Byodoin official visiting guidanceSummer operating exceptions
- Byodoin garden and Hoshokan → Return to your starting station and the same hotel
Whether you visited the interior or only the garden and exhibitions after registration closed, return from JR Uji on the Nara Line towards Kyoto to the same hotel. Choose any meal in Uji around your return train.
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 4 | Departure preparations and station building
- Your hotel near Kyoto Station → Your chosen building walkway
See the fourth-floor square and Grand Stairway at Kyoto Station Building. Add the Skyway after 10:00 only if your departure leaves enough time.
- Your chosen building walkway → Your departure from Kyoto Station
After your visit, head to the ticket gate and platform for your booked departure from Kyoto Station.
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: Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace JPY 1,300; Tenryu-ji garden JPY 500; Byodoin garden and Hoshokan JPY 700.
Extra costs: The subtotal excludes subway and JR travel, three nights' accommodation, meals, purchases, Tenryu-ji buildings and Dharma Hall, Phoenix Hall interior, Honmaru Palace, separate exhibitions and travel to the airport or next destination.
Adding the Phoenix Hall interior brings attraction admission to JPY 2,800; adding Tenryu-ji's buildings as well brings it to JPY 3,100.
Nijo Castle admissionTenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspension noticesByodoin official visiting guidance
Two nights in Kyoto city, then one in Amanohashidate
Compare this for Kyoto's palace, Uji's Phoenix Hall and Amanohashidate's pine-lined path. Spend two nights near Kyoto Station, then one in Monju on the southern side of the sandbar. On the final day, allow enough time to return to Kyoto and continue to your next destination. Hotels in Fuchu across the sandbar have different access and return routes.
Day 1 | Arrive in Kyoto and visit Nijo Castle
Stay near Kyoto Station for separate Nijo Castle and Uji days, then spend one night in Amanohashidate. Return to your Kyoto hotel after the castle on day one; leave the northern journey for day three.
- Kyoto Station → Nijojo-mae Station
Take the Karasuma Line from Kyoto 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
Buy your ticket at the eastern ticket office, then visit Ninomaru Palace and the gardens.
- Ninomaru Palace and gardens → Return to your starting station and the same hotel
After eating outside the castle, return by subway to your Kyoto Station hotel. If you cannot reach the castle before 16:00 admission closes on day one, swap with the following day's Uji visit.
Nijo Castle official access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area mapNijo Castle admissionNijo Castle operations and closures
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 | Uji return trip and preparations for the north
- 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.
- JR Uji Station → Byodoin garden and Hoshokan
Walk about ten minutes to Byodoin, visit the garden and Hoshokan, then eat in Uji. Phoenix Hall interior admission uses same-day first-come registration and costs JPY 300 separately. If registration has closed, visit the garden and Hoshokan.
Byodoin official access mapByodoin official visiting guidanceSummer operating exceptions
- Byodoin garden and Hoshokan → Return to your starting station and the same hotel
Take the Nara Line towards Kyoto from JR Uji and return to Kyoto Station. Spend the second night at the same hotel before travelling north the next day.
Byodoin official access mapByodoin official visiting guidance
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 3 | Travel north with a reserved seat
On arrival at Amanohashidate, follow your booked Monju hotel's access directions. Leave time for travel and settling in today; plan the southern pine-path walk for the following day around your return train.
- Your hotel near Kyoto Station → Kyoto Station: board Hashidate
Check Hashidate's departure time and platform at Kyoto Station for your date. All seats are reserved, so prepare travel and limited express tickets covering the full route, along with your seat reservation.
- Kyoto Station → Amanohashidate Station
Travel directly from Kyoto to Amanohashidate on the Hashidate limited express, without changing at Fukuchiyama. Search departure and arrival times for your date. Before boarding, prepare full-route travel and limited express tickets and your reserved seat.
All Hashidate seats are reserved. Check outward and return services in the operator's regular timetable and date-specific search, and reserve your seat before boarding. The walk below covers the southern Monju section. Choosing a Fuchu hotel across the sandbar changes your local route.
Day 4 | Southern sandbar walk, then return to Kyoto
- Your Monju hotel → Southern pine path and Monju
From the Monju and Chion-ji side, cross the revolving bridge and Daiten Bridge to the southern pine path. Do not continue to the far end; return across the same two bridges. After walking and eating, head to Amanohashidate Station. Shorten or skip the walk around your return train.
Revolving bridge guidanceTourism association walking map, page 2
- Amanohashidate Station → Kyoto Station
Board your reserved Hashidate at Amanohashidate and get off at Kyoto. Search the return train's arrival time for your date. If continuing straight to the airport or another destination, check that there is enough time after arrival for the connection. If time is too tight, choose three nights near Kyoto Station with city and Uji visits. For another night in Kyoto after returning from the north, compare the five-day itinerary.
After the walk, take your reserved return train from Amanohashidate. If continuing straight from Kyoto to the airport or another destination, search that connection separately. Choose three nights near Kyoto Station if the northern return leaves too little time for your departure. Compare the five-day itinerary separately if staying in Kyoto after returning from the north.
Included: Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace JPY 1,300; Byodoin garden and Hoshokan JPY 700. Amanohashidate sandbar walks are free.
Extra costs: The subtotal excludes all rail and subway journeys, including Hashidate return travel; two nights in Kyoto and one in Monju; meals; Phoenix Hall interior admission of JPY 300; Honmaru Palace; separate exhibitions; boats; observation decks; and travel to the airport or next destination after returning to Kyoto.
Northern rail travel costs extra. The October 2026 JR fare table gives JPY 5,000 one way for an adult ordinary-car reserved seat in the regular season, or JPY 10,000 return if both dates are regular-season dates. Check return trains, seats, fares, your Monju hotel and onward connections after Kyoto together.
Nijo Castle admissionByodoin official visiting guidanceAmanohashidate accessOctober 2026 JR fare table, page 15
Transport passes, fares and checks before departure
For a night in Amanohashidate
All Hashidate seats between Kyoto and Amanohashidate are reserved. Choose return trains and seats, then fit in your southern Monju hotel's location and check-in time. Sandbar walks and mountain observation decks are different visits. The basic walk excludes crossing to the north or visiting an observation deck.
Northern train fare and timetable basis
The October 2026 JR fare table gives an adult ordinary-car reserved-seat regular-season Hashidate fare of JPY 5,000 one way: JPY 2,320 travel fare + JPY 2,680 limited express fare. The return is JPY 10,000 if both dates are regular-season dates, including the Tango section. Search seasonal fares and reserved seats again for your actual dates. Hashidate runs directly between Kyoto and Amanohashidate; the operator timetable shows outward and return departure and arrival times.
October 2026 JR fare table, page 15Regular timetable revised 2026-03-14Outbound PDFInbound PDFJR Hashidate guidance
Do you need a pass for the northern train journey?
You can use Hashidate with ordinary travel and limited express tickets. The October 2026 JR fare table gives JPY 10,000 for an ordinary-car reserved-seat regular-season return; the adult five-day Kansai Wide pass is JPY 12,000. The pass is not cheaper for the northern return alone, so compare other covered journeys within the same validity period. Temporary Visitor and passport conditions apply, and seats need advance reservation. Municipal subway travel, attraction admission, accommodation and meals cost extra.
October 2026 JR fare table, page 15JR Kansai Wide usage rules in JapaneseJR Hashidate guidanceJR Kansai Wide coverage, eligibility and validity period
Frequently asked questions
Can I go straight to the airport after returning from Amanohashidate?
Search the Hashidate return to Kyoto and onward airport journey around your actual departure. If there is too little time after the return train even with a shorter walk, choose three nights near Kyoto Station for city and Uji visits. Compare the five-day itinerary separately for a Kyoto night after the northern return. Hashidate arrival alone does not guarantee a flight connection.
Can I compare the Kansai Wide pass for Hashidate?
Kansai Wide is a five-consecutive-day pass including covered JR limited express and ordinary trains and Kyoto Tango Railway. All Hashidate seats are reserved, so reserve before boarding. A non-Japanese passport and Temporary Visitor status are required. Kyoto's municipal subway, attraction admission, accommodation and meals cost extra. Ordinary tickets are also an option.
JR Kansai Wide usage rules in JapaneseJR Hashidate guidanceJR Kansai Wide coverage, eligibility and validity period
Official sources and dates checked
- Tenryu-ji access ·
- Amanohashidate 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 ·
- Regular timetable revised 2026-03-14 ·
- Outbound PDF ·
- Inbound PDF ·
- JR Hashidate guidance ·
- October 2026 JR fare table, page 15 ·
- Revolving bridge guidance ·
- Tourism association walking map, page 2 ·
- 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 ·
- JR Kansai Wide usage rules in Japanese ·
- JR Kyoto Line stop map, revised 2026-03-14 ·
- JR Kansai Wide coverage, eligibility and validity period ·