Kyoto in one day: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera and Gion
1 dayAugust 2025Kyoto
Of all the places I visited in Japan, Kyoto seemed the most beautiful to me. I went from Osaka in a single day in the middle of summer and this is what I covered. Japan was country 32 of my list, after completing my challenge of 30 countries before turning 30.
Among the torii of Fushimi Inari Taisha.
My strategy, staying in Osaka
I traveled solo through Japan and, instead of changing hotels, I stayed in Osaka, at COGO Tennoji, and from there I took the train to Kyoto. With the JR rapid train the trip takes around 30 minutes, so you can go and come back the same day. What I did at my base and my day in Nara I tell in Osaka and Nara in two days.
I went in the middle of August, on a Japanese summer day with a lot of heat, and even so I managed to cover four places. My route was Higashi Hongan-ji, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera and Gion.
Trip facts
Duration1 day
Trip dateAugust 2025
Approx. temperature~33 °C, very humid
What I loved mostWalking through Gion
Higashi Hongan-ji, the temple to start
My first stop was Higashi Hongan-ji, one of the most important Buddhist temples in the city. It's huge, has spectacular traditional Japanese architecture and its main hall is considered one of the largest wooden buildings in the world.
At Higashi Hongan-ji.
Fushimi Inari Taisha and its thousands of torii
Then I went to one of the most famous places in Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha. You probably recognize it for its thousands of orange torii that form paths through the mountain. These torii are donations from people and companies that present offerings to Inari, the deity traditionally associated with rice, prosperity and business.
My idea was to walk them and keep climbing higher, but I went in the middle of summer and the heat was incredible. There came a point where I felt I was about to faint, so I decided to go down and continue to my next stop.
Kiyomizu-dera at sunset
To end the day I went to Kiyomizu-dera. Its name means Pure Water Temple and it's famous for its enormous wooden terrace. I arrived just in time to see the sunset.
At Kiyomizu-dera.
Gion, the end of the day
I ended the day walking through Gion, the neighborhood of traditional streets and geisha culture. That's where I took the best photos of the whole trip.
A pagoda at sunset, on the way to Gion.
My tips for a day in Kyoto
01
Leave early if you go in summer. In August the heat was so strong that I almost fainted at Fushimi Inari, so it's best to bring water and plan the climbs for the cooler hours.
02
Choose your base in Osaka. From there I reached Kyoto by train and came back the same day, without changing hotels.
03
Leave Kiyomizu-dera for the end of the day. I arrived just in time for sunset and then walked through Gion.
04
Climb Fushimi Inari at your own pace. If the heat gets intense, going down in time also counts.
What I take away from Kyoto
Kyoto is a great destination and, of all the places I went to in Japan, it seemed the most beautiful to me. If you want to see how the trip started, with Mount Fuji and Tokyo, read Tokyo and Mount Fuji.
Custom map
Shall we plan your route through Japan?
If you dream of visiting Kyoto or any other destination in Japan, I'll build you a tailor-made map based on your own travel criteria so every day is sorted out.
Yes. I stayed in Osaka and went by train, which takes about 30 minutes on the JR rapid train.
Which places did I visit in Kyoto in one day?
Higashi Hongan-ji, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera and Gion.
What's Kyoto like in August?
It's very hot and humid, around 33 °C. I felt like I was about to faint climbing Fushimi Inari, so it's best to go with water and at a calm pace.
What does Kiyomizu-dera mean?
It means Pure Water Temple and it's famous for its enormous wooden terrace.
Why are there thousands of torii at Fushimi Inari?
They're donations from people and companies that present offerings to Inari, the deity associated with rice, prosperity and business.
Going to travel solo for the first time? Subscribe and I'll send you my free checklist: what I check before booking, what I always pack and how I build the budget.
