A day-trip from Tokyo to Kyoto

On my trip to Tokyo, I ended up taking a day-trip to Kyoto to experience this historical city, which was once the capital of Japan and the emperor's residence (from 794 - 1868).

The day was quite intense, so I'd definitely recommend staying there overnight so that you get to rest. While it's doable to see Kyoto in a day, keep in mind you'll need to pick what you want to do (you won't be able to see everything). Planning is key for a short day-trip!

Getting from Tokyo to Kyoto: Shinkansen

You can board the Shinkansen from different stations. I'd recommend reserving your seats and getting on one of the early 7-8 am slots (you still need to make a reservation, even with a JR pass).

Tip: You can purchase a JP Rail Pass, which gives you access to the bullet train and JR lines for 7, 14, or 21 days. We bought our passes directly at the station (you need to find one of the official offices, and make sure to bring your passport) the day before. If you're purchasing online, make sure to buy it from the official website only.

The experience of riding in the bullet train itself is pretty cool and you can even get a glimpse of Mount Fuji on the way to Kyoto (make sure to get a seat by the right side of the train).

Rent an e-bike to get around

Here's my advice: Take the city in while getting around by bike. However, don't make the same mistake as me and rent an e-bike, rather than a regular bicycle. You'll be much faster and will keep your dignity when going up the hills.

We went to Kyoto Cycling Tour Project, which is a short walk from the Kyoto Station.

From there, we put together the route that made the most sense for us, based on the few places we wanted to see the most. Again, we didn't get to see a lot of other spots we would've loved to, but we knew we had limited time.

Higashi Hongan-ji Temple

Just a short walk or bike ride away from the station, this temple is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, with a 76-meter long hall. I was impressed by the sheer size of the temple, and bonus points for having free entrance.

Tenryu-ji & Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

I think we took about an hour by bike to get there, it was a little long but mostly flat. We parked our bikes around Togetsukyo Bridge (which has beautiful views) and grabbed a bite at one of the street shops before heading over to the temple.

These are some of the classic stops if you're visiting Kyoto. We first purchased tickets for Tenryu-ji Garden (around $5) and walked around a bit. At the end of the garden, we headed over to the Bamboo Grove. While I enjoyed it, it was obviously quite busy so the overall experience wasn't amazing.

Tip: Always have some cash and especially 100-yen coins on you. There are many drink machines available, and they'll come in handy when you're in the heat!

Kinkaku-ji

We took under an hour to bike there, but we were slowed down by some hills on the way. I seriously regretted my poor decision making of not getting an e-bike.

This was one of my favourite spots, with a gold-leafed temple and serene gardens surroundings. We paid about $5 entry fee and it was well worth it.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

This was a short 15-20 minute ride. The former Imperial family residence offers free entrance and won't disappoint you with its many halls and gardens.

Higashiyama Ward

Full disclosure, we were so tired that we ended up not stopping by Higashyiama. However, I'd highly recommend not skipping it. Here's a brief summary about it:

Higashiyama-ku preserves the look and feel of feudal-era Japan in a wood-built historic quarter of narrow lanes lined with traditional pottery stores, tea houses, and restaurants for multi-course kaiseki meals.

And there you have it! If you have a chance to spend a couple of days in Kyoto, that would probably make your trip more comfortable and less rushed; but if you don't have a lot of time, like me, I'd still recommend going to Kyoto even for just a day.