What would you like to see in Kyoto Prefecture?
For a shogun's palace, see Ninomaru Palace's wall paintings and carved decorations at Nijo Castle, then walk through the gardens. Choose Tenryu-ji for garden time in Arashiyama, or Byodoin in Uji for Phoenix Hall across the pond and cultural exhibits. For worship along red torii paths, consider Fushimi Inari. If you want Amanohashidate's sandbar and pine path, also compare round-trip travel time to the north.
Attraction admission, hours, and access
Nijo-jo Castle
元離宮二条城
See Ninomaru Palace's wall paintings and carved decorations, then walk through the gardens to explore a shogun's palace. Choose a Ninomaru Palace-inclusive ticket for the interior. Honmaru Palace requires a separate ticket and advance reservation.
- AdmissionRegular adult castle admission is ¥800; admission including Ninomaru Palace is ¥1,300. Honmaru Palace and the exhibition gallery have separate charges.
- HoursCastle admission runs 8:45 AM–4:00 PM; the grounds close at 5:00 PM. Ninomaru Palace reception ends at 4:10 PM, but you must enter the castle by 4:00 PM. Year-end castle closures differ from palace closure days.
- Getting thereLeave Nijojo-mae through Exit 1 and walk toward Nijo Castle. Buy tickets beside the East Gate. From Kyoto Station, transfer at Karasuma Oike; search travel-date trains and fares separately.
- Additional visit conditionsHonmaru Palace is a separate choice requiring an advance date-and-time reservation. When Ninomaru Palace is closed, check a ticket for the available areas instead of buying its inclusive ticket unchanged.
Official Nijo Castle access mapNijo Castle admission feesNijo Castle hours and closuresKyoto City Transportation Bureau: Nijojo-mae exits and area mapNinomaru Palace paintings, carvings, and garden
Tenryu-ji
天龍寺
Choose Tenryu-ji for a relaxed garden visit in Arashiyama. Decide whether to add the building interiors after checking the extra charge and that day's operations.
- AdmissionGarden admission is ¥500 for high school students and older, or ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students. Buildings cost an additional ¥300; the Dharma Hall's Cloud Dragon painting costs a separate ¥500.
- HoursGarden hours are 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, with reception until 4:50 PM. Buildings open 8:30 AM–4:45 PM, with reception until 4:30 PM.
- 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.
- Additional visit conditionsThe garden ticket excludes buildings and Dharma Hall admission. Check official guidance for suspended building or hall viewing and early garden opening on your date. Check garden operations separately even if the buildings or hall are closed.
Tenryu-ji accessTenryu-ji Japanese-language hours and visit restrictions
Byodoin
平等院
Walk around Byodoin's pond to see Phoenix Hall, then explore cultural treasures in Hoshokan. Basic admission includes the garden and Hoshokan; the Phoenix Hall interior requires same-day first-come reception and an extra fee.
- AdmissionGarden and Hoshokan admission is ¥700 for adults, ¥400 for junior high and high school students, and ¥300 for elementary school students. Phoenix Hall interior viewing costs an additional ¥300. These are individual rates from the official October 8, 2026 visitor guide.
- HoursThe 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. Same-day first-come interior reception begins at 9:10 AM.
- Getting thereWalk from JR Uji or Keihan Uji. Both have an official estimate of about 10 minutes, but station locations and river-crossing routes differ; use the official access map.
- Additional visit conditionsPhoenix Hall interior reception is first come, first served on the day. June 16–October 15, 2026 sessions hold 30 people; 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM sessions are suspended. From October 16, capacity is 35 per session. This is separate from garden entry capacity; early reception closure can prevent interior viewing.
Official Byodoin visitor informationOfficial Byodoin access mapSummer operating exceptionsChanges from October 16Byodoin pond, Phoenix Hall, and Hoshokan Museum
Amanohashidate
天橋立
A pine path follows the long sandbar between the waters of Miyazu. Explore Amanohashidate for a walk among the pines and close-up coastal views. Sandbar walks are free. Miyazu · 宮津
- AdmissionSandbar walks are free. Viewpoints, lifts, boats, and bicycle rentals are excluded.
- HoursWalks are freely accessible without regular closing days. Choose your walking extent for weather and on-site access restrictions.
- Getting thereThe sandbar entrance is about five minutes on foot from Kyoto Tango Railway's Amanohashidate Station. Crossing the entire sandbar takes about 50 minutes one way, separate from station-to-entrance access. The four- and five-day Monju overnight courses walk only the south-side section and return the same way.
- Additional visit conditionsFor a boat return, check service, fares, and boarding points separately. The September 2026 Daitenkyo notice restricts boat passage beneath the bridge and states that walking is unaffected. Recheck visit-date construction and access notices officially and on site.
Amanohashidate accessSeptember 2026 Daitenkyo Bridge construction notice
Fushimi Inari Taisha
伏見稲荷大社
Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha for a walk along red torii gates. Pay your respects at the main shrine, then continue toward Senbon Torii. General worship is free.
- AdmissionGeneral worship is free. JR round-trip fares, prayer services, and religious items cost extra.
- HoursWorship is freely accessible without regular closing days. Check separate hours for the religious-item counter and prayer reception.
- Getting thereTake a JR Nara Line train stopping at Inari from Kyoto Station; the shrine is directly in front of the station. Official guidance lists about five minutes on the train and the second station from Kyoto. Waiting, hotel travel, and the walk to the main shrine are extra. Keihan Fushimi-inari is a different station.
- Return journeyAfter visiting the main shrine and torii area, return to Inari and take a Kyoto-bound train back to the same hotel. Eat outside the shrine grounds. Do not block narrow paths for photos, and follow no-photography restrictions.
- Additional visit conditionsThis course covers the main shrine and torii area, excluding a hike to Mount Inari's summit. Check JR round-trip fares and travel-date trains separately.
Worship fees and opening informationShrine access informationVisitor rulesFushimi Inari's Senbon Torii
Frequently asked questions
Does Nijo Castle's ¥1,300 ticket include Honmaru Palace?
The ¥1,300 ticket covers the castle and Ninomaru Palace. Honmaru Palace needs a separate ticket and date-and-time reservation. On Ninomaru Palace closure days, check a ticket for the areas you can visit instead of buying its inclusive ticket unchanged.
Is an Amanohashidate sandbar walk the same visit as a viewpoint?
Walking the sandbar and looking down from a hilltop viewpoint are separate outings. The four- and five-day Monju overnight courses cross the rotating bridge and Daitenkyo Bridge, walk the pine path, and return the same way. Viewpoints, lifts, and boats are excluded. Official guidance gives about 50 minutes one way to cross the entire sandbar; distinguish that from a south-side walk and return.
Amanohashidate accessTourism association walking map, page 2
Official sources and checked dates
- Tenryu-ji access ·
- Amanohashidate 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 ·
- Worship fees and opening information ·
- Shrine access information ·
- Visitor rules ·
- Tourism association walking map, page 2 ·
- September 2026 Daitenkyo Bridge construction 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 ·
- JR Kyoto Line stop map, revised March 14, 2026 ·
- Ninomaru Palace paintings, carvings, and garden ·
- Byodoin pond, Phoenix Hall, and Hoshokan Museum ·
- Fushimi Inari's Senbon Torii ·