Tokyo & Kyoto · Japan

Tokyo to Kyoto, the Civilised Way

Three days of city, two of temples, and the fastest, calmest train in the world between them.

8 min read · Updated September 2026

Japan makes the journey easy, so the only real decision is how to split your time. Three nights in Tokyo and two in Kyoto is the ratio that works for most first visits.

Tokyo rewards evenings; Kyoto rewards early mornings. Build the trip around that and the crowds mostly disappear.

Day 1 — Tokyo, Otemachi calm

15:00 · Stay
Aman Tokyo
The lobby is on the 33rd floor; go up before dark for the view towards the palace gardens.
21:00 · Nightlife
Golden Gai
Most bars seat six. Check for a cover charge at the door and move on freely if a room is full.

Day 2 — Tokyo, temple morning

07:30 · Do
Sensō-ji
The temple grounds are open and almost empty before the market stalls set up.

Day 3 — Kyoto, arrive and climb

16:30 · Nature
Fushimi Inari-taisha
Late afternoon thins out sharply; walk twenty minutes past the first gates and you will be alone.

Day 4 — Kyoto at first light

07:00 · Nature
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
This only works early. By nine the path is a queue rather than a walk.

Know before you go

— Reserve shinkansen seats if you travel with luggage — oversized bags need a booked space.
— An IC card covers subways, buses and convenience stores in both cities.
— Many temples close by 16:30 or 17:00 even when the grounds stay open.