Looking for the best autumn leaves in Japan? Kyoto comes to mind! When one thinks of Kyoto, its temples and beautiful nature come to mind, made even more resplendent when dyed in autumn colours.
This 3-Day Kyoto Itinerary is especially tailored for catching Kyoto autumn leaves. Originally written in Burmese by our WeXpats Team member who lived in Kyoto.
Table of Contents
- Kyoto in Autumn
- Preparation & Public Transportation for This 3-Day Kyoto Itinerary
- Day 1: Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, Gion area, Kiyomizudera, Sanjusangendo Temple
- Day 2: Geinou Shrine, Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Jojakkoji Temple, Togetsukyo Bridge, Tofukuji Templ, Nanzenji Temple
- Day 3: Demachiyanagi, Rurikoin Temple, Kifune Shrine, Kurama Temple, Sanjo area
Kyoto in Autumn
Autumn in Japan is characterised by the changing of leaf colours, aka autumn leaves. Japan’s autumn leaves can be seen across the country, but in Kyoto, temples and traditional Japanese culture provide a different atmosphere and experience that cannot be felt elsewhere. Not just overseas visitors, many domestic tourists choose to visit Kyoto in autumn.
There are so many sightseeing spots to see Kyoto autumn leaves that it cannot be completed in 1-day. This is where our 3-Day Kyoto Autumn Leaves itinerary comes in handy.
This itinerary was prepared by our WeXpats Team member, Hein-san, who has lived in Kyoto for 1 year as an international student. He not only knows famous places in Kyoto, but also lesser-known hidden gems, as well as ways to save on travel costs. This itinerary will also introduce events that are held during the autumn season.
Kyoto Autumn Leaves Season & Timing
Autumn leaves season in Japan is from late October to early December, but the exact timing for each area in Japan differs. Before your trip, check the autumn leaves forecast for Kyoto.
According to past forecasts, Kyoto’s leaves start to change from the beginning of November to the beginning of December. In Kyoto city, it depends on the location, but usually by mid-November, almost the entire city will have autumn colours. Therefore, it can be said that mid-November is the best time to visit.
Furthermore, night-time autumn leaves illumination, called ライトアップ (Raito Appu) as in Light-Up, usually starts in mid-November at many places.
Writer's Pick
Preparation & Public Transportation for This 3-Day Kyoto Itinerary
After confirming your travel dates, it is advisable to book accommodations as soon as possible. Because it is the peak travel season, it can be quite difficult to book a hotel and prices can be higher than usual. Therefore, by booking an accommodation in advance, you have a better chance of getting a good accommodation at a cheaper rate.
In this part, Hein-san has recommended public transportation services and tickets that are convenient for this itinerary.
Subway, Bus One-Day Pass
- Adult : 1100 Yen
- Child : 550 Yen
This ticket is a one-day pass for buses and subways running in Kyoto. Tickets can be purchased in Kyoto at bus and subway information centres, and subway stations. The advantage of this ticket is that you can use both buses and subways, saving more time. Find out more at this link.
※ This pass is recommended for Day 1 on this itinerary.
Kyoto Subway・Randen One-Day Pass
- Price : 1300 Yen
This ticket is a one-day pass for the Kyoto subway and the Randen train. The Randen is the main train line to Arashiyama, which is one of the best places to visit in autumn. Find out more at this link.
※ This pass is recommended for Day 2 on this itinerary.
Kyoto Bus・Eiden Kurama・Kibune Day Trip Ticket
- Price : 2000 Yen
This ticket is a one-day pass for Kyoto buses, the Keihan Railway and the Eiden train. The Eiden railway line allows you to visit beautiful autumn leaves spots that cannot be reached by other railway lines, so this ticket is highly recommended. In addition, you can receive discounts at designated shops along the Keihan Railway line, which goes to many parts of Kyoto, as well as along the Eiden train line. Find out more at this link.
※ This pass is recommended for Day 3 on this itinerary.
いい古都 Ticket
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Price depends on the departing station.
This ticket has connections to Kobe and Osaka, which are close to Kyoto. It is a useful and economical ticket for those coming from Osaka and Kobe to visit Kyoto. Usage of Kyoto’s subways and buses (designated sections) are covered by this ticket. Find out more at this link.
If you haven’t taken the bus in Japan before, you may want to read up about How to Ride Buses in Japan beforehand.
Day 1: Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, Gion area, Kiyomizudera area, Sanjusangendo
On the first day, the above-mentioned Subway, Bus One-Day Pass will be used. Our starting point for each day will be Kyoto Station. Depending on the nearest hotel to your accommodation, you may want to adjust the sequence of destinations.
Kinkakuji → Ginkakuji → Gion area (optional) → Kiyomizudera → Kiyomizumichi (optional)→ Sanjusangendo Temple
Kinkakuji 金閣寺
- Entrance Fee : 500 Yen
- Opening Hours : 9:00 ~ 17:00
The first destination from Kyoto Station is Kinkakuji. At Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Subway Line to Kitaoji Station, then take the bus (no. 101, 102, 204, or 205) to Kinkakuji Michi Station.
Kinkakuji is a popular temple to visit among tourists, and is a beautiful place in any season. In autumn, the golden temple framed by red momiji in a tranquil environment is especially stunning.
Ginkakuji 銀閣寺
- Entrance Fee : 500 Yen
- Opening Hours : 8:30 to 17:00 (March to November); 9:00 to 16:30 (December to February)
Next stop is Ginkakuji. Take Bus No. 204 from Kinkakuji. It will take about 35 minutes.
Ginkakuji is another famous temple in Kyoto that is popular to visit all year round. The temple’s moss garden and zen garden are renowned for their beauty.
Gion 祇園
If you haven’t visited Gion in Kyoto before, you can stop by for a quick visit. From Ginkakuji, take Bus No. 11 to Gion.
The Gion area in Kyoto has many sights to see and is nice for a stroll. There’s Yasaka Shrine which is adjacent to Maruyama Park, which is also beautiful in autumn. You may also catch sight of Geishas as they make their way to appointments. There are many shops and restaurants in Gion so you can have a lunch or tea break. Don’t spend too long here though if you want to complete the day following this itinerary.
Kiyomizudera 清水寺
- Entrance Fee : 400 Yen
- Opening Hours : 6:00 ~ 18:00
From Gion, you can head to Kiyomizudera via bus (no. 80 or 207). Get off at Kiyomizumichi Stop or Gojozaka Stop. Kiyomizudera is a very popular spot to visit during autumn, so it can be very crowded. At night, there is a special light-up programme. For those who want to witness the light-up, it is recommended to visit other places first and leave Kiyomizudera for last.
Kiyomizumichi 清水道
Kiyomizudera is also famous for its alley shops. Have a stroll and check out the shops along Kiyomizumichi. For a view of the famous Yasaka Tower, walk down the stairs at Sannenzaka (産寧坂) to Ninenzaka (二年坂). This route is recommended for those visiting Kyoto for the first time, as it is especially memorable.
Sanjusangendo 三十三間堂
- Entrance Fee : 600 Yen
- Opening Hours : 8:30 to 17:00 (April to mid-November); 9:00 to 16:00 (mid-November to March)
Sanjusangendo is a Buddhist temple with many pagodas. You can enjoy the atmosphere and sights of autumn within its premises during autumn.
It is within walking distance, about 20 minutes from Kiyomizudera. It is also reachable by bus (no.100. 206. 208) departing from Gojozaka Stop until Higashiyama Nanajo Stop. From Sanjusangedo, you can return directly to Kyoto Station by bus.
This completes the first day’s itinerary. Visiting all these spots would normally take almost 1,600 yen in public transportation fees, but with the recommended Subway, Bus One-Day Pass, you can save 500 Yen.
Day 2: Kurumazaki & Geinou Shrine, Tenryuji, Arashiyama Bamboo Path, Jojakkoji, Togetsukyo Bridge, Tofukuji, Nanzenji
For the second day, we will use the Kyoto Subway・Randen One-Day Pass introduced above. It costs 1300 Yen.
Kurumazaki Shrine・Geinou Shrine → Tenryuji → Arashiyama Bamboo Path (optional) → Jojakkoji → Togetsukyo Bridge → Tofukuji → Nanzenji
Kurumazaki Shrine 車折神社 ・Geinou Shrine 芸能神社
Kurumazaki Shrine and Geinou Shrine are reachable by using Kyoto subway lines and the Randen train line. From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Subway Line to Karasuma Oike Station, transfer to the Tozai Line to Uzumasa Tenjingawa Station, then transfer to the Randen line to Kurumazakijinja Station. The journey takes about 40 minutes.
Both shrines are only 1 minute walking distance from each other, so you can admire the autumn leaves at both places. Geinou Shrine is particularly interesting as a place for people of the entertainment world to offer prayers. You can see many fence boards, called tamagaki (玉垣), with celebrities’ names offered for prayers here.
Tenryuji 天龍寺
Tenryuji is a short walk from Arashiyama Station, which is about 5 minutes from Kurumazaki Shrine and Geinou Shrine. Tenryuji is a temple listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The photo above speaks for itself as to its beauty during autumn.
Arashiyama Bamboo Path 竹林の小径
Only an 8 minutes walk from Arashiyama Station is Arashiyama Bamboo Path, a popular tourist destination in Kyoto. It is also frequently depicted in anime, especially on Kyoto school trips. If you haven’t been, this is a good opportunity as it is along the way.
Jojakkoji 常寂光寺
- Entrance Fee : 500 Yen
- Opening Hours : 9:00 ~ 17:00
Jojakkoji is a 13 minutes walk from Arashiyama Station. It is a famous spot for autumn leaves in Kyoto. So beautiful is the temple that it has been described in several ancient poems.
Togetsukyo Bridge 渡月橋
Togetsukyo Bridge is a 4 minutes walk from Arashiyama Station. Sit along the river and enjoy the beauty of nature, or take a riverboat ride. The mountains, rivers, and red momiji - it makes for an absolutely breathtaking view.
Tofukuji 東福寺
After visiting the spots around Arashiyama Station, it’s time to move on. From Arashiyama Station, take the Randen to Randen-Tenjingawa Station, transfer to the Tozai Subway Line to Sanjo Keihan Station, then transfer to the Keihan Main Line to Tofukuji Station. The Keihan Main Line is not covered by the 1-Day Pass and will incur 220 Yen. It will take about an hour.
If you don’t want to incur additional cost, you can take the Tozai Subway Line to Karasuma Oike Station, and then switch to the Karasuma Line to Kujo Station, but it will be a 20 minutes or so walk to Tofukuji.
Tofukuji is also a super famous Kyoto autumn leaves spot. At night, they have light-up programmes too. If you are interested in that, then visit Tofukuji last. Do keep in mind that reservation for the event is required, and an additional fee of 3,000 yen will be incurred.
Nanzenji 南禅寺
If you still have time and are not too tired, or are leaving Tofukuji’s light-up event for last, then you can visit Nanzenji. Nanzenji is a beautiful temple with many momiji. It is reachable using the Keihan Line (not covered by the pass) and the Tozai Subway Line. From Tofukuji Station, take the Keihan Main Line to Sanjo Station, transfer to the Tozai Line to Keage Station. Nanzenji is about 10 minutes walk from the station.
The area around Nanzenji has many beautiful autumn leaves spots you can visit for free. So take your time and enjoy the view.
This completes the second day’s itinerary. Normally it would cost more than 2,300 yen to cover all these locations, but using the Kyoto Subway・Randen One-Day Pass, you will be able to save around 1,000 yen.
Day 3: Demachiyanagi, Rurikoin, Kifune Shrine, Kuramadera, Sanjo area
For Day-3 of this Kyoto Autumn Leaves itinerary, we will be using the Kyoto Bus・Eiden Kurama・Kibune Day Trip Ticket that costs 2,000 Yen.
Demachiyanagi → Rurikoin → Kifune Shrine → Kuramadera → Sanjo
Demachiyanagi 出町柳
To start, let’s take Bus No. 17 from Kyoto Station to Demachiyanagi Station.
Demachiyanagi Station is close to Kyoto University, which is one of the best universities in Japan; if you are interested in Kyoto University, you can visit. Also, near Demachiyanagi Station is Kyoto’s famous Kamogawa River (鴨川). During autumn, trees along the river change into autumn colours.
Rurikoin 瑠璃光院
- Entrance Fee : 2,000 Yen
- Opening Hours : 10:00 ~ 17:00
Next stop is Rurikoin, a temple that is especially famous during autumn, and one of the best spots for Kyoto autumn leaves. To reach Rurikoin, take the Eiden to Yase-Hieizanguchi Station and walk 10 minutes to the temple.
Rurikoin is open to visitors for certain periods during the year, mainly spring, summer and autumn. Reservations are required from November 1 ~ December 3, 2023. It is best to check their official website for the exact dates they are open to visitors. For autumn this year, they are open from October 1, 2023 to December 11, 2023 only (reservations required for the period mentioned above. Outside this period, you can go directly without a reservation).
Kifune Shrine 貴船神社
- Opening Hours : 6:00 to 20:00 (May to November); 6:00 to 18:00 (December to April)
Take the Eiden From Yase-Hieizanguchi Station to Kibuneguchi Station, then take Bus No. 33 to Sambonsugi Stop, and walk about 17 minutes to Kifune Shrine. If you are unable to get the direct train to Kibuneguchi Station, you may need to transfer to the Kurama Line at Takaragaike Station.
Kifune Shrine is free to enter. It is famous for its stairway that is covered by maple leaves. During autumn, there is special illumination that starts from sunset till 20:30.
Kuramadera 鞍馬寺
- Entrance Fee : 500 Yen
- Opening Hours : 9:00 ~ 16:30
Kuramadera is right next to Kifune Shrine making it our next step. Kuramadera is famous as a temple located above Kurama Town on a steep mountainside. The top of the mountain, and Kuramadera, can actually be reached by cable car. In autumn, the temple surrounded by trees and secluded in the mountains becomes brilliantly bright as it becomes enveloped in red. A contrast to its usual tranquil almost mysterious vibes.
Sanjo 三条
As the day gets dark, it’s time to head back to Kyoto City. The last stop on this 3-Day Kyoto itinerary is the Sanjo area. Sanjo is located in the middle of Kyoto City and is quite a crowded place at night. It is a good place to have dinner and enjoy the city vibes while enjoying the beauty of Kyoto’s nightlife. After Sanjo, you can take a bus back to Kyoto Station.
To Close
Kyoto City has many wonderful places to visit. Especially in autumn, it becomes even more beautiful than it already is. We hope that this article prepared by Hein-san helps you get the most out of your Kyoto 3-Day trip, and we hope you enjoy Kyoto’s autumn leaves.
Here are some other ideas to incorporate into your itinerary for Kyoto autumn leaves if you're planning to stay longer or want to switch out some activities.
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Posted by WeXpats on Friday, September 22, 2023
