Three days in Kyoto: can I fit Uji on departure day?
You can give Nijo Castle, Arashiyama, and Uji a day each. First check whether you can return from Uji to Kyoto Station in time for your final departure. For more time to try for Phoenix Hall interior viewing, or an early departure, compare Uji on day two and a final day around Kyoto Station.
Choose an itinerary for 3 days, 2 nights
City Castle and Gardens, Then Uji
Choose this course to give Nijo Castle's palace, an Arashiyama garden, and Byodoin's Phoenix Hall area separate days. Stay two nights at one hotel near Kyoto Station. This plan requires enough time to return from Uji before your final-day departure.
City Castle and Gardens, Then Uji →3 days, 2 nights BByodoin's Phoenix Hall and Kyoto Station Architecture
Choose this course to visit Nijo Castle, then give Byodoin's Phoenix Hall and exhibits more time in Uji. Stay two nights near Kyoto Station, spend day two in Uji, and stay near the station on departure day. Arashiyama is excluded.
Byodoin's Phoenix Hall and Kyoto Station Architecture →City Castle and Gardens, Then Uji
Choose this course to give Nijo Castle's palace, an Arashiyama garden, and Byodoin's Phoenix Hall area separate days. Stay two nights at one hotel near Kyoto Station. This plan requires enough time to return from Uji before your final-day departure.
Day 1: Nijo Castle
Start with Nijo Castle to split the castle, Arashiyama, and Uji across three days. Choose this plan only if you can return from Uji to Kyoto Station before your final-day departure.
- Kyoto Station → Nijojo-mae Station
Take the Karasuma subway line toward Kokusaikaikan from Kyoto Station to Karasuma Oike. Transfer to the Tozai Line toward Uzumasa Tenjingawa and get off at Nijojo-mae.
Official Nijo Castle access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Nijojo-mae Station → Ticket office beside the East Gate
Leave through Exit 1 and walk toward Nijo Castle. Head to the ticket office beside the East Gate.
Official Nijo Castle access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Ticket office beside the East Gate → Ninomaru Palace and garden
At the East Gate ticket office, buy a ticket including Ninomaru Palace. See the palace and garden, then eat outside the castle. Castle admission ends at 4:00 PM, so a late arrival requires moving the visit to another day.
- Ninomaru Palace and garden → Your original station and the same hotel
Return from the same station via Karasuma Oike to Kyoto Station and your hotel.
Official Nijo Castle access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map
Castle admission ends at 4:00 PM and the grounds close at 5:00 PM. On Ninomaru Palace closure days, choose a ticket for the areas you can visit. If arriving late, move the visit to another day and check operations for that date.
Day 2: Arashiyama
- Kyoto Station → JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
Take the JR Sagano Line toward Sonobe from Kyoto Station and get off at Saga-Arashiyama.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised March 16, 2024
- JR Saga-Arashiyama Station → Tenryu-ji garden
Walk about 13 minutes to Tenryu-ji and visit with a garden ticket, then have lunch in Arashiyama. If you also walk around the river, plan your return around JR Saga-Arashiyama. Do not confuse it with Randen or Hankyu's Arashiyama stations.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised March 16, 2024
- Tenryu-ji garden → Your original station and the same hotel
Take a JR train toward Kyoto and return to the same hotel. Buildings cost an additional ¥300; on suspended-viewing days, choose the garden only.
Tenryu-ji accessJR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised March 16, 2024
Check travel-date JR trains and the garden, buildings, and Dharma Hall operations separately. If your selected area is closed, choose the garden only or change the date.
Day 3: Visit Uji before departure
- Hotel near Kyoto Station → JR Uji Station
Take a JR Nara Line train toward Uji and Nara that stops at Uji, then get off at JR Uji.
- JR Uji Station → Byodoin
The official walk from JR Uji to Byodoin takes about 10 minutes.
Official Byodoin access mapOfficial Byodoin visitor information
- Byodoin → Byodoin garden and Hoshokan
Buy the ¥700 garden and Hoshokan ticket. Phoenix Hall interior visits are first come, first served on the day, so avoid waiting for a session when your departure cannot be delayed. Eat in Uji after the visit only if your return leaves enough time.
- Byodoin garden and Hoshokan → Your Kyoto Station departure
Return to JR Uji and take a Kyoto-bound Nara Line train. At Kyoto Station, continue to your booked departure's gates and platform. For an early departure that cannot fit a Uji round trip, move Uji to day two and leave out Arashiyama.
Official Byodoin access mapOfficial Byodoin visitor information
Byodoin's garden opens 8:45 AM–5:30 PM, with reception until 5:15 PM; Hoshokan opens 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, with reception until 4:45 PM. Phoenix Hall interior visits are first come, first served on the day. Check visit-date notices for sessions, capacity, and suspended viewing. Return on a Kyoto-bound train from JR Uji.
Included: Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace ¥1,300; Tenryu-ji garden ¥500; Byodoin garden and Hoshokan ¥700.
Separate costs: Subway and JR travel, two nights' lodging and meals, Tenryu-ji buildings and Dharma Hall, Phoenix Hall interior, Honmaru Palace and separate exhibitions, and airport or onward travel.
Phoenix Hall interior viewing and Tenryu-ji buildings each cost an additional ¥300 when selected.
Nijo Castle admission feesTenryu-ji Japanese-language hours and visit restrictionsOfficial Byodoin visitor information
Byodoin's Phoenix Hall and Kyoto Station Architecture
Choose this course to visit Nijo Castle, then give Byodoin's Phoenix Hall and exhibits more time in Uji. Stay two nights near Kyoto Station, spend day two in Uji, and stay near the station on departure day. Arashiyama is excluded.
Day 1: Start with Nijo Castle
Visit Nijo Castle on day one and try for Phoenix Hall interior reception in Uji on day two. Stay near Kyoto Station on departure day to prepare for your booked connection.
- Kyoto Station → Nijojo-mae Station
Take the Karasuma Line toward Kokusaikaikan from Kyoto Station. Transfer at Karasuma Oike to the Tozai Line toward Uzumasa Tenjingawa and get off at Nijojo-mae.
Official Nijo Castle access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Nijojo-mae Station → Ticket office beside the East Gate
Leave through Exit 1 and walk toward Nijo Castle. Head to the ticket office beside the East Gate.
Official Nijo Castle access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map
- Ticket office beside the East Gate → Ninomaru Palace and garden
Buy a ticket including Ninomaru Palace at the East Gate ticket office and visit the palace and garden.
- Ninomaru Palace and garden → Your original station and the same hotel
After the visit, eat near the castle and return by the same subway route to your Kyoto Station hotel. If you miss last admission or the palace is closed, swap with day-two Uji after checking Byodoin's operations too.
Official Nijo Castle access mapKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area mapNijo Castle admission feesNijo Castle hours and closures
Castle admission ends at 4:00 PM and the grounds close at 5:00 PM. On Ninomaru Palace closure days, choose a ticket for the areas you can visit. If arriving late, move the visit to another day and check operations for that date.
Day 2: Uji with time for interior reception
- Kyoto Station → JR Uji Station
Take a JR Nara Line train toward Uji and Nara that stops at Uji, then get off at JR Uji.
- JR Uji Station → Byodoin
The official walk from JR Uji to Byodoin takes about 10 minutes. Distinguish JR Uji from Keihan Uji Station.
Official Byodoin access mapOfficial Byodoin visitor information
- Byodoin → Byodoin garden and Hoshokan
For Phoenix Hall interior viewing, check same-day reception and session times first. If admitted to a session, arrange the garden, Hoshokan, and lunch around it. If reception has ended, finish with the garden and exhibits. The interior costs ¥300 beyond the basic ticket and is not an advance-reserved place.
Official Byodoin visitor informationSummer operating exceptions
- Byodoin garden and Hoshokan → Your original station and the same hotel
Return to JR Uji and take a Kyoto-bound train to the same hotel. Check official visit-date notices for Phoenix Hall interior operations.
Official Byodoin access mapOfficial Byodoin visitor informationSummer operating exceptionsChanges from October 16
Byodoin's garden opens 8:45 AM–5:30 PM, with reception until 5:15 PM; Hoshokan opens 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, with reception until 4:45 PM. Phoenix Hall interior visits are first come, first served on the day. Check visit-date notices for sessions, capacity, and suspended viewing. Return on a Kyoto-bound train from JR Uji.
Day 3: Explore the station building before departure
- Hotel near Kyoto Station → Fourth-floor station plaza and Grand Stairway
Explore the station building's fourth-floor Muromachikoji Square and Grand Stairway.
- Station building fourth floor → Optional tenth-floor Skyway
After 10:00 AM, follow signs up to the tenth-floor Skyway if your departure leaves enough time. This 185-meter walkway connects the east and west sides.
Square and walkway opening informationRooftop closure notice
- Station-building viewing area → Your Kyoto Station departure
After your visit and meal, head to your booked departure's gates and platform. If there is too little time to reach the platform, skip the Skyway and prepare to depart first.
The fourth-floor Muromachikoji Square and Grand Stairway open 6:00 AM–11:00 PM; the Skyway opens 10:00 AM–10:00 PM. Skip the Skyway for an early departure. Limit this visit to the plaza and Skyway before boarding your departure.
Included: Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace ¥1,300; Byodoin garden and Hoshokan ¥700.
Separate costs: Subway travel and the JR Uji round trip, two nights' lodging, meals and shopping, ¥300 Phoenix Hall interior viewing, Honmaru Palace and separate paid exhibitions, and airport or onward travel.
If you secure same-day Phoenix Hall interior admission, add ¥300 for a facility subtotal of ¥2,300.
Nijo Castle admission feesOfficial Byodoin visitor information
Transport tickets, fares, and departure checks
Taking a separate trip to Lake Biwa Museum
Uji is on the JR Nara Line, while Kusatsu on the south side of Lake Biwa is on the JR Biwako Line. Check your trains via Kyoto Station and the museum bus from Kusatsu Station's west exit. The bus costs ¥480 one way or ¥960 round trip per adult; JR fares are extra.
Museum accessBus operatorJR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised March 16, 2024Official Byodoin access map
Frequently asked questions
How much is admission to Nijo Castle, Tenryu-ji, and Byodoin?
Basic facility admission for the three stops totals ¥2,500. Adding both Tenryu-ji buildings and the Phoenix Hall interior costs ¥300 each, bringing the total to ¥3,100. Tenryu-ji's Dharma Hall, Honmaru Palace, subway and JR fares, lodging, and meals are excluded. Check building operations and first-come interior reception for your visit date.
Nijo Castle admission feesTenryu-ji Japanese-language hours and visit restrictionsOfficial Byodoin visitor information
Is day two better than departure day for trying to see the Phoenix Hall interior?
The day-two Uji course leaves time for viewing, with the last day around Kyoto Station. You can arrange the garden, exhibits, and meals around available interior sessions, but your preferred session is not guaranteed. Check visit-date notices for sessions, capacity, and suspensions.
Official Byodoin visitor informationSummer operating exceptionsChanges from October 16
Official sources and checked dates
- Tenryu-ji access ·
- Official Nijo Castle access map ·
- Nijo Castle admission fees ·
- Nijo Castle hours and closures ·
- Official Byodoin access map ·
- Official Byodoin visitor information ·
- Summer operating exceptions ·
- Changes from October 16 ·
- Museum access ·
- Bus operator ·
- Square and walkway opening information ·
- Rooftop closure notice ·
- Kyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area map ·
- JR West Sagano and Biwako Line stop map, revised March 16, 2024 ·
- Tenryu-ji Japanese-language hours and visit restrictions ·