Kyoto one day itinerary: Arashiyama in a day

How to travel Kyoto in a day? A handy Kyoto one day itinerary that brings you all the popular Kyoto attractions for a first-timer traveller to Kyoto!

Usually, first-time travellers travelling to Japan would tend to prefer visiting Osaka than Kyoto. Many travellers would highly prefer to spend a day in Kyoto. As Osaka and Kyoto are approximately 15 mins away by Shinkansen.

To complete Kyoto one day itinerary, highly recommend hiring a private driver to drive you between itineraries to itineraries to save transportation time so you may cover more itineraries in Kyoto.

Kyoto 1 day itinerary & Kyoto Attractions

#1 Stroll at Kyoto Arashiyama bamboo forest

We started our morning by visiting Kyoto Arashiyama bamboo forest.  Take a gentle stroll through the Arashiyama bamboo forest to admire these magnificent views of soaring bamboo stalks while listening to the soothing rustling sound of the leaves.

You may also visit Nonomiya Shrine which is inside of the Arashiyama bamboo forest.  Nonomiya Shrine is well known for helping women finding love or smooth childbirth delivery for pregnant woman. If you touch the Kame-ishi (turtle rock), your dream might come true.

Explore the mysterious yet fun-filled Kyoto, bringing you along for a day trip in Kyoto [Eng Sub]

Even we came here early in the morning, there are plenty of people already! As it gets later, the crowd started oozing in the bamboo forest. It’s really difficult to take a perfect backdrop without any photobomber for a memorable photo.

✦Travelereve Kyoto travel pro tip: Start your day early to avoid crowds and photobomber in your picture. Kyoto day trip itinerary is perfect for you if you are staying short in Kyoto. It still allows you to explore popular Kyoto attractions just in a day!

#2 Take an Arashiyama Tsusen boat near Togetsukyo Bridge

Another top Kyoto attraction and things to do in Kyoto are hopping on a boat and cruise along the river to appreciate Kyoto’s beauty.  Take a chance to spot the blooming pinkish Sakura in the spring or watch the red autumn leaves in the autumn. Experience the boat ride rowing by a Japanese boatman with a bamboo stick.

If you are packed with itineraries, you may consider taking Arashiyama Tsusen boat which is right beside Togetsukyo Bridge. The boat ride duration takes only 30 mins.

During the boat ride, you can also experience buying your snacks from a convenience shop taxi boat. They sell everything from drinks to oden to Dango. Indulging on some light snacks while enjoying your boat ride.

Besides the alluring scenery, you might come upon a flock of an uninvited duck.  Prepare to allure the ducks with bits of bread! They will be prepared to perform by chasing, swimming and even flying just to eat your bread! The boat ride is definitely more delightful with the flock of ducks.

✦Travelereve Kyoto travel pro tip: Planning to spend more days discovering Kyoto? Then, you should not miss out the spectacular scenery of rich nature regardless of any season of the year, from taking the Sagano Romantic train to the exciting Hozugawa River Boat ride. However, expect to spend 2hrs for Hozugawa River Boat ride as it is going to be a beautiful cruising journey. 

Highly recommend this itinerary during autumn, the train will swift through along the autumn leaves and it’s a perfect way to watch autumn leaves!  

#3 Traditional Japanese sweet at Ichimonjiya Wasuke 

Next up, taste Kyoto traditional Japanese sweet from Ichimonjiya wasuke which has more than 1,000 years of history. Preserving the most authentic way of making the best-roasted aburi mochi in Kyoto! From the handmade dough to grilling the aburi mochi over the charcoal with slight toasty aroma as you indulge.

This shop only served roasted aburi mochi made with glutinous rice and glaze with sweet white soyabean sauce served on bamboo skewers. Roasted aburi mochi is my most favourite traditional Japanese sweet that I tasted in Kyoto!

The texture of toasted aburi mochi is kind of sweet, chewy but not overly chewy and definitely not burnt! Something really worthy to try in Kyoto and this shop is a hidden gem in Kyoto, not at a too touristy attraction.

#4 Taste Kyoto traditional Tofu Hotpot at Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya 

If you are in Kyoto, you should try Kyoto’s speciality traditional tofu cuisine. Apart from soybeans are homegrown in Kyoto. Kyoto has also lush greenery landscape and mountainous area therefore it is blessed with high-quality water in Kyoto, perfect to make fresh traditional tofu. In the process of making tofu, it requires 90% of water so the water quality is an extreme factor.

In Kyoto, there are many tofu restaurants. Our private driver recommended Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya which is near Kiyomizu Temple. At Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya, they served several kinds of tofu cuisine such as boiled tofu hotpot (Yudofu), tofu skin hotpot (Yuba) & different kinds of tofu side dishes.

Even though traditional tofu cuisine is slightly expensive in Kyoto, it is still certainly worth a once a lifetime experience tasting the original sweetness of the tofu.

#5 Visit Kiyomizu Temple

Kiyomizu temple is one of the popular shine in Kyoto. While leading your feet to this wondrous Kiyomizu temple, it started with a stretch of old street with Kyoto traditional houses that you can start shopping for your souvenirs on the way.

✦Travelereve Kyoto travel pro tip: If time allows, highly recommend renting a kimono and take a picture-worthy photo with the stunning backdrop of Kyoto traditional houses! Advisable to start your day early if you want to avoid the crowd. The whole street was so crowded that we aren’t able to properly mesmerized Kyoto’s beauty.

#6 Walk through the Torii gates at Fushimi Inari 

Finally, coming to the last Kyoto attractions for the day! One of the must-visit places in Kyoto, Fushimi inari. Fushimi Inari is the headquarter shine to pray for a good harvest and business prosperity! The highlight of Fushimi inari is walking through the Torii gates to take an insta-worthy photo.

The torii gates are donated by a person or company to respect the god and also pray for good business prosperity so their names are engraved on the Torii gates in return as an acknowledgement of their generous donation too. It’s amazing how torii gates became a popular tourist attraction in Kyoto!

I would recommend hiring a private driver if you are taking a flash in Kyoto or planning for a day trip from Osaka. By hiring a private driver to bring you around Kyoto attractions are less time consuming and help you to discover Kyoto more~

Read More About Japan Travel Guide:

• Ryokan kyoto Airbnb: Kyoto Machiya Accommodation

• Where to Stay in Tokyo, Japan for the first night?

• What to do in Ginza Tokyo with less than 24 hours?

• 3 First Impressions Of Japan: Tokyo City

 

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