Kyoto Prefecture attractions: what would you like to see?
For a look inside a shogun's palace, see Ninomaru Palace's paintings and carved decoration at Nijo Castle, then walk through the gardens. Consider Tenryu-ji for more garden time in Arashiyama, or Byodoin in Uji for Phoenix Hall across the pond and cultural treasures in the exhibitions. Fushimi Inari offers shrine visits along red torii paths. For Amanohashidate's sandbar and pine path, also check return travel time to the north.
Attraction prices, hours and directions
Nijo Castle
Nijo-jo Castle元離宮二条城
What did a shogun's palace look like? At Nijo Castle, explore Ninomaru Palace's paintings and carved decoration, then walk through the gardens. Choose a ticket including Ninomaru Palace to see inside. Honmaru Palace requires a separate ticket and advance reservation.
- AdmissionAdult general admission is JPY 800, or JPY 1,300 including Ninomaru Palace. Honmaru Palace and the exhibition storage hall cost extra.
- HoursCastle admission is 08:45–16:00, with closing at 17:00. Ninomaru Palace admission continues until 16:10, but you must enter the castle by 16:00. Year-end castle closures and palace closure dates differ.
- Getting thereLeave Nijojo-mae through Exit 1 and walk towards Nijo Castle. Buy tickets beside the East Main Gate. From Kyoto Station, change at Karasuma Oike. Search date-specific services and fares separately.
- Additional visit conditionsChoose Honmaru Palace separately with an advance dated, timed reservation. When Ninomaru Palace is closed, check the ticket for your accessible areas rather than buying the combined ticket unchanged.
Nijo Castle official access mapNijo Castle admissionNijo Castle operations and closuresKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area mapNinomaru Palace paintings, carvings and gardens
Tenryu-ji
天龍寺
Choose Tenryu-ji for a leisurely garden visit in Arashiyama. Decide whether to enter the buildings after checking extra admission and the day's operations.
- AdmissionGarden admission is JPY 500 for high school age and above, or JPY 300 for primary and junior high school pupils. Buildings cost JPY 300 extra; the Dharma Hall's cloud dragon painting costs JPY 500 separately.
- HoursGarden hours are 08:30–17:00, with last admission at 16:50. Buildings open from 08:30 to 16:45, with last admission at 16:30.
- Getting thereWalk about 13 minutes from JR Saga-Arashiyama, five minutes from Randen Arashiyama or 15 minutes from Hankyu Arashiyama. From Kyoto Station, compare the JR Sagano Line route.
- Additional visit conditionsThe garden ticket excludes buildings and Dharma Hall admission. Check official notices for building and Dharma Hall suspensions and early garden opening on your date. Check garden operations separately even when the buildings or hall are closed.
Tenryu-ji accessTenryu-ji Japanese hours and visit suspension notices
Byodoin
平等院
Choose Byodoin for a pond-side walk with views of Phoenix Hall. Look at the building from the garden, then explore cultural treasures in Hoshokan. The basic ticket includes the garden and Hoshokan; Phoenix Hall interior admission needs same-day first-come registration and a separate fee.
- AdmissionGarden and Hoshokan admission is JPY 700 for adults, JPY 400 for junior and senior high school pupils and JPY 300 for primary school pupils. Phoenix Hall interior admission costs JPY 300 separately. These individual rates follow official visiting guidance checked on 2026-10-08.
- HoursThe 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. Same-day first-come interior registration starts at 09:10.
- Getting thereWalk from JR Uji or Keihan Uji. Official guidance gives about ten minutes from either station, but their locations and routes across the river differ. Check the official access map.
- Additional visit conditionsPhoenix Hall interior admission uses same-day first-come registration. From 16 June to 15 October 2026, each session admits 30 people, with no sessions at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30 or 15:30. From 16 October, each session admits 35 people. This differs from garden capacity restrictions. If registration closes early, you cannot visit the interior.
Byodoin official visiting guidanceByodoin official access mapSummer operating exceptionsChanges from 16 OctoberByodoin pond, Phoenix Hall and Hoshokan
Amanohashidate
天橋立
A pine-lined path follows the long sandbar between Miyazu's waters. Consider Amanohashidate for a walk among the pines with close views of the sea. Sandbar walks are free. Miyazu · 宮津
- AdmissionSandbar walks are free. Observation decks, lifts, boats and bicycle hire are excluded.
- HoursWalking access is unrestricted by fixed hours, with no regular closure day. Choose your walking area around the weather and local access restrictions.
- Getting thereWalk about five minutes from Kyoto Tango Railway's Amanohashidate Station to the sandbar entrance. Crossing the whole sandbar takes about 50 minutes one way, separate from station-to-entrance access. The four- and five-day Monju overnight itineraries explore only the southern section and return the same way.
- Additional visit conditionsFor a return by boat, check that boat's operations, fares and boarding location separately. The September 2026 Daiten Bridge notice concerns restrictions on boats passing underneath and explicitly states that walking is unaffected. Check official notices and local signs again for works and access on your date.
Amanohashidate accessSeptember 2026 Daiten Bridge works notice
Fushimi Inari Taisha
伏見稲荷大社
Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha if you want to walk a path lined with red torii gates. Pay respects at the main shrine, then continue towards Senbon Torii. General shrine visits are free.
- AdmissionGeneral shrine visits are free. JR return fares, prayers and shrine items cost extra.
- HoursShrine visits have no fixed visiting hours or regular closure day. Check hours for the shrine item counter and prayer registration separately.
- Getting thereFrom Kyoto Station, choose a JR Nara Line train stopping at Inari; the shrine is directly in front of the station. Official guidance gives a ride of about five minutes and the second station from Kyoto. Waiting, travel from your hotel and the walk to the main shrine are extra. Keihan Fushimi-inari is a different station.
- ReturningAfter the main shrine and torii area, return to Inari Station and take a Kyoto-bound train back to the same hotel. Eat outside the shrine grounds. Do not block narrow paths for photographs, and respect areas where photography is prohibited.
- Additional visit conditionsThis itinerary visits the main shrine and torii area without hiking to Mount Inari's summit. Check JR return fares and services for your date separately.
Shrine visit fees and operationsShrine transport guidanceVisitor rulesFushimi Inari's Senbon Torii
Frequently asked questions
Does Nijo Castle's JPY 1,300 ticket include Honmaru Palace?
JPY 1,300 covers the castle and Ninomaru Palace. Honmaru Palace needs a separate ticket and dated, timed reservation. When Ninomaru Palace is closed, choose a ticket matching your visiting areas rather than buying the combined ticket unchanged.
Is an Amanohashidate walk the same visit as the observation deck?
Walking on the sandbar differs from looking down from a mountain observation deck. The four- and five-day Monju overnight itineraries cross the revolving bridge and Daiten Bridge, walk the pine path and return the same way. Observation decks, lifts and boats are excluded. The full sandbar crossing is described as about 50 minutes one way; distinguish it from a southern-section walk and return.
Amanohashidate accessTourism association walking map, page 2
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 ·
- Changes from 16 October ·
- Shrine visit fees and operations ·
- Shrine transport guidance ·
- Visitor rules ·
- Tourism association walking map, page 2 ·
- September 2026 Daiten Bridge works 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 Kyoto Line stop map, revised 2026-03-14 ·
- Ninomaru Palace paintings, carvings and gardens ·
- Byodoin pond, Phoenix Hall and Hoshokan ·
- Fushimi Inari's Senbon Torii ·