Kyoto might have been my favorite place we visited during our family trip to Japan. Between the beautiful temples, peaceful bamboo forests, historic streets, and little shops tucked around every corner, it felt like such a perfect mix of history, nature, and exploring.
We spent two full days in Kyoto with our four kids (ages 4, 7, 9, and 11). There is so much to see here, and I loved that we could spend the morning exploring centuries-old temples and the afternoon doing something completely different, like visiting a ninja park.
We started both days pretty early, and while that's definitely not required, I highly recommend it if you're traveling with kids. If this is your first city you're visiting on your trip, chances are your kids will wake up early due to jet-lag, and since some of Kyoto's most popular sites are open 24/7, it definitely works to your advantage to get up and go when the kids are up and awake early. Some of Kyoto's most beautiful places are also its most popular, and experiencing them before the crowds arrive makes a huge difference.
Here's our two-day Kyoto itinerary, including our favorite stops, what we'd skip next time, where we stayed, and everything I'd recommend knowing before you go.
Itinerary Day 1: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera & Historic Kyoto
Our first day was all about exploring some of Kyoto's most famous sights, walking through beautiful historic neighborhoods, and ending with an activity the kids were really excited about.
We actually started the morning in Osaka and traveled to Kyoto, so if you're already staying in Kyoto, you'll have an even easier time getting started early.
Note: We walked a LOT this day. Between the temples, hills, and historic streets, this is definitely a day when I'd recommend bringing a stroller for younger kids.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
(How long we spent there: 1.5 hours)
This was easily one of my favorite places in all of Japan. Fushimi Inari is famous for its thousands of bright orange-red torii gates that wind up the mountainside. Walking through them is such a beautiful and unique experience, and it's one of those places that really does live up to the pictures. We visited on a Japanese holiday, so it was pretty crowded, but I still absolutely loved it.
A few things to know:
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Go early if you can. The shrine grounds are open 24 hours, so you can visit before the big crowds arrive. Visiting closer to sunset would also be beautiful because everything is lit beautifully.
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You don't need to hike the entire mountain. The full hike can take several hours, but we just walked through the famous torii gate sections and continued until we were ready to turn around. However, don't stop at the first turnaround. You'll be glad you kept going a bit. See the next bullet...
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Keep walking past the first crowded sections! This is probably my biggest tip. So many people stop near the beginning for pictures, but the farther you go, the more the crowds thin out. We found much better photo opportunities farther along. And it just felt more peaceful the further you go.
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Bring a stroller if you need one. There are stroller parking places to leave it near the lower shrine area. Drop it off here. The mountain paths include lots of stairs, so you won't be able to use it for the full walk.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
(How long we spent there: 1 hour)
From Fushimi Inari, we headed to Kiyomizu-dera, one of Kyoto's most famous temples. The temple is built into the hillside and has an incredible wooden viewing platform overlooking Kyoto. The architecture is beautiful, and the views alone make it worth visiting. We spent about an hour exploring the temple grounds, taking pictures, and enjoying the views before making our way down into the surrounding neighborhood. Make sure you try the temple strength challenge which involves lifting the Spear of Benkei as well as other weapons. It's shockingly difficult!
Absolutely Worth It: Take a taxi from Fushimi Inari to the Kiyomizu-dera area if your budget allows. Public transportation is an option, but it can involve additional walking, including a pretty significant uphill stretch. With four kids, we were happy to save some steps.
The temple grounds are also stroller accessible, although the surrounding streets can be steep and crowded.
Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka & Yasaka Pagoda
(How long we spent here: 1-2 hours)
After visiting Kiyomizu-dera, you can walk downhill through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, two beautiful historic streets lined with traditional Japanese buildings, little souvenir shops, restaurants, and snack stands. You don't need to plan a bunch of separate stops here. These streets all connect, so you can just wander, explore, and stop whenever something looks interesting. We loved looking through the shops, finding fun Japanese treats, and exploring the little side streets along the way.
Some Japanese treats to look for:
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Matcha-flavored desserts and drinks
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Mochi and other traditional rice sweets
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Mitarashi dango (rice dumplings with a sweet soy glaze)
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Yatsuhashi (a traditional Kyoto sweet)
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Warabi mochi (a soft, jelly-like Japanese dessert)
- Chestnut soft serve
You'll also pass the famous Yasaka Pagoda, one of Kyoto's most recognizable photo spots. It's especially beautiful surrounded by the traditional buildings and narrow streets.
Gion & Yasaka Shrine
(How long we spent here: 45 min-ish)
After exploring the streets around Kiyomizu-dera, we continued toward Gion, Kyoto's famous historic district.
Gion is known for its traditional wooden buildings, teahouses, and beautiful streets. It's also one of Kyoto's most famous geisha districts. Walk through the neighborhood, explore the shops, and take in all the beautiful architecture. You can also visit Yasaka Shrine, a large and colorful Shinto shrine at the edge of Gion.
If you have time, walk along Hanamikoji Street to see more of the traditional buildings that make this area so special. Just remember that some of the smaller lanes are private, so pay attention to posted signs and photography restrictions.
Samurai Ninja Museum
(How long we spent here: 1 hour, book tickets in advance)
After a full day of temples and sightseeing, we wanted to end with something a little more interactive for the kids. The Samurai Ninja Museum was a fun way to introduce them to another part of Japanese history. Instead of just walking through a museum and looking at exhibits, the experience includes learning about samurai and ninja history along with hands-on activities. Depending on the experience you book, kids can try activities like throwing ninja stars. This was a great change of pace after spending most of the day walking around Kyoto.
Remember: Reserve your experience ahead of time, especially if you want a specific afternoon time slot. Double-check which activities are included in the ticket you choose, since they offer different experiences.
Samurai Ninja Museum — Tickets & Information
Extra Stops for Day 1
If you have extra time or want to swap something out, here are a few other Kyoto experiences worth considering. We didn't do these but I've heard lots of great things about each of these activities and based on your family's interests, these might be something you want to look into:
Nishiki Market: A covered shopping street filled with food vendors, snacks, and shops. This would be a great option if the weather isn't cooperating or your family loves trying different foods.
Traditional tea ceremony: A fun way to learn about Japanese culture. Look for a family-friendly experience that welcomes younger children.
Kimono rental: Kyoto is such a beautiful place for family pictures in traditional Japanese clothing! If you want to do this, I'd recommend booking something early in the morning before the streets get crowded. Have a professional photographer take some family photos! Personally, I wouldn't plan to wear kimonos all day with younger kids. I'd do the photos and then change into comfortable clothes for exploring.
Itinerary Day 2: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park & More Ninja Adventures
Our second day in Kyoto was a really fun mix of nature and activities for the kids. We started the morning exploring Arashiyama, one of Kyoto's most beautiful areas, before heading to a hands-on Japanese dessert class and finishing the day at a ninja-themed movie park.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
(How long we spent here: 45 minutes)
If there's one place in Kyoto that I'd recommend getting up early for, it's the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. We arrived around 7:30 AM, and I'm SO glad we did. Walking between the towering bamboo stalks with hardly anyone around was such a peaceful and beautiful experience. It's easy to understand why this is one of Kyoto's most popular attractions. The bamboo grove itself doesn't require a huge amount of time, so it's a great first stop before the rest of the area opens.
A few things to know:
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The bamboo grove is open 24 hours and is free to visit.
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Go early if possible. By late morning, this area can become very crowded.
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If you're visiting Japan with kids, this is a great activity for the first few days of your trip when everyone is still waking up early because of jet lag.
If you have extra time after walking through the grove, you can spend some time exploring Arashiyama, grabbing snacks, and enjoying the surrounding scenery. We pretty much went straight to Tenryu-ji after.
Tenryu-ji Temple & Gardens
(How long we spent here: 45 minutes)
Right next to the bamboo grove is Tenryu-ji, a beautiful Zen Buddhist temple surrounded by landscaped gardens. This is a great stop to combine with the bamboo grove because the two attractions are so close together. The gardens have a beautiful pond, mountain views, and traditional Japanese landscaping. It's a peaceful place to walk around and enjoy some of Kyoto's natural beauty.
Tenryu-ji opens at 8:30 AM, making it an easy stop right after the bamboo grove.
My tip: If you visit the bamboo grove first, look for the north entrance to Tenryu-ji so you don't have to walk all the way back around to the main entrance. Bring cash! You need cash to pay for entry.
Iwatayama Monkey Park
(How long we spent here: 2 hours, including the hike)
This was such a fun experience with the kids! Iwatayama Monkey Park is home to wild Japanese macaques that roam freely on the mountainside overlooking Kyoto. Getting to the monkeys requires a major hike uphill, and this is definitely something to know before you go. Once you enter the park, it's about a 20-minute uphill walk to reach the main monkey area, although it can take longer with younger kids. The kids loved seeing the monkeys up close, and the views over Kyoto were beautiful. There's even a little playground at the top that our kids really enjoyed!
A few things to know:
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Wear comfortable walking shoes because the hike is uphill.
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Bring water and a few snacks for the kids. A little treat can be great motivation when everyone starts complaining about the climb.
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Don't approach, touch, or feed the monkeys outside the designated feeding area.
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Plan extra time if you're hiking with younger children.
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This isn't a stroller-friendly activity because of the steep trail. Leave it at the bottom of the stairs in the stroller parking spot.
The park is near Togetsukyo Bridge, another beautiful Arashiyama landmark. You can walk across the bridge and enjoy the river views before or after visiting the monkeys. After the park, we grabbed lunch in Arashiyama before heading to our next activity.
Japanese Cooking or Cultural Class (here's what we did and why I'd find a different family-friendly class next time)
(Recommended time: 1–2 hours, depending on the experience)
One thing I really wanted to include during our trip to Japan was a hands-on cultural experience for the kids. We ended up booking a wagashi-making class, where we learned to make traditional Japanese sweets. The class itself was interesting, and it was fun to see how the desserts were made, but this was one of the few activities from our Japan trip that I wouldn't book again. Traditional wagashi often contains sweet red bean paste, which our kids really didn't enjoy. And for what we paid for a family of six, it just didn't feel worth it.
Alternatively, I'd still book a hands-on experience, but I'd choose something a little more kid-friendly.
A few ideas I'd look into instead:
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Ramen or noodle-making class: A fun cooking experience with food the kids will probably be more excited to eat.
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Sushi-making class: A chance to learn a Japanese food tradition together.
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Mochi-making experience: Another Japanese sweet that might be more appealing to kids.
If your family enjoys traditional Japanese sweets, a wagashi class could still be fun! I just think there are better choices for families with younger or picky eaters.
TOEI Kyoto Studio Park
(How long we spent there: 3 hours (the lines were long the day we went due to it being a holiday))
We finished our second day at TOEI Kyoto Studio Park, and this was such a fun way to end our time in Kyoto! It's a bit out of the way compared to everything, so it's not a MUST-DO place, but if you have kids who are in a big ninja phase like we do, this was a really fun stop and I'm glad we went.
TOEI is a movie-set theme park designed to look like old Japan, complete with traditional streets, buildings, live performances, and interactive attractions. We didn't know much about the Japanese movies and television shows associated with the park, but that didn't matter. We were mainly there for the ninja activities, and the kids had a great time.
Depending on what's available during your visit, activities may include:
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Ninja shows and performances (my kids loved the show!)
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Ninja trick houses and mazes (this was so fun for the whole family)
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Ninja-themed challenges
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Shuriken (ninja star) throwing
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Exploring traditional Japanese movie-set streets
If you go, it's important to know that many of the ninja attractions cost extra. You'll purchase admission tickets to enter the park, but several of the interactive ninja experiences require separate tickets. If you want to do multiple ninja activities, check whether they offer a discounted attraction pass. It's usually a better value than purchasing each experience individually.
We visited during a Japanese holiday, so the lines were pretty long for some of the activities, but the kids still really enjoyed it.
My tips:
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Check the ninja show schedule before arriving so you don't miss it, and arrive early, especially if visiting on a crowded day.
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Budget for the additional ninja activities when planning your visit.
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Allow at least 2–3 hours, especially if your kids want to try several attractions.
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Check the park's hours and operating calendar because schedules and attractions can change.
TOEI Kyoto Studio Park Official Website
Where We Stayed
We have a big family, and most hotels in Japan won't fit us (or we have to spend more and get two rooms). Sometimes hotels work, but as a bigger family, we tend to look at Airbnbs or places on Booking.com. This is the place we stayed while in Kyoto and it worked out great. There was enough space for everyone, and it had a washer and dryer, which helped us pack lighter on the trip (a major bonus when you're trying to travel with 6 people).
What We'd Do Differently in Kyoto & Things to Know
Overall, I absolutely loved our two days in Kyoto, but there are a few things I'd change if we were planning the trip again.
- Skip the wagashi-making class. It wasn't a bad experience, but it wasn't the best fit for our kids. I'd choose a noodle-making class or another hands-on activity that everyone would enjoy a little more.
- Check for Japanese holidays before planning your visit. We happened to be visiting during a Japanese holiday, which made some of the popular attractions especially crowded. If you have flexibility, check the Japanese holiday calendar and try to visit major attractions on regular weekdays.
- Getting around: Kyoto is very walkable within individual neighborhoods, but its major attractions are spread across the city. We used public transportation and taxis to get around. Having a Suica or another compatible IC card makes using trains much easier. Don't be afraid to use a taxi occasionally if it saves your family a long walk or complicated transfer.
- Bring a stroller: If you're traveling with younger kids, I definitely recommend one. Kyoto involves a LOT of walking, and even though there are places where you'll need to park or carry your stroller, it's still worth having. We traveled with our four-year-old and were glad to have that option.
- Wear comfortable shoes: Between the hills, temple stairs, and long walks through historic neighborhoods, you'll be on your feet a lot.
- Plan your days by area: We grouped Fushimi Inari and eastern Kyoto into one day, then spent our second day exploring Arashiyama and western Kyoto. This helped reduce unnecessary travel time.
- Start early when you can: Fushimi Inari and the Bamboo Grove are both open 24 hours, so take advantage of those early morning hours before the crowds show up.
- Book activities ahead: Experiences like the Samurai Ninja Museum and cooking classes are worth reserving in advance, especially if you have a larger family or need a specific time.
- Don't feel like you need to see every temple: Kyoto has so many beautiful shrines and temples, but with kids, I think it's important to balance sightseeing with activities they'll find exciting. That's why we mixed in things like Monkey Park and the ninja experiences.
- Keep some flexibility: Weather, crowds, and tired kids can change your plans quickly. It's helpful to have a few optional stops you can add or skip depending on how everyone is feeling.
Is Kyoto Worth Visiting with Kids?
Absolutely! Kyoto was one of my favorite places from our entire Japan trip, and I would recommend it to any family planning a first visit to Japan. What I loved most was how different it felt from Tokyo and Osaka. There were so many beautiful historic buildings, peaceful nature areas, and interesting little streets to explore. It felt like we were discovering something new around every corner. And while you might not immediately think of temples and historic neighborhoods as exciting for kids, there are plenty of ways to make Kyoto fun for the whole family. Between seeing wild monkeys, exploring ninja attractions, trying Japanese snacks, and walking through the incredible bamboo forest, our kids had so many fun experiences mixed in with the sightseeing.
If you're planning a family trip to Japan, I'd recommend giving Kyoto at least two full days, and even longer if you have the time.
Planning a trip to Japan with kids?
Be sure to check out our other Japan family travel guides, including our Tokyo itinerary, one-day Osaka guide, and Japanese Alps adventure. We share the places we loved, what we'd skip, and all the tips we learned traveling through Japan with four kids!