4 Days in
Kyoto
The day-by-day plan from the video, ready to take with you. Every stop in order, how to get between them, what to eat, what to skip, and what it really costs.
Your Kyoto itinerary is on its way. If it isn't there in a few minutes, look in your spam or promotions folder.
Everything from the video, on paper
Tap through it on your phone, or print it and write on it. Every place name opens in Google Maps.
What to wear and pack
What the two of them wear and carry in the video, picked for Kyoto's cold mornings and colder light-up evenings, long walking days on stone and steps, and temple halls where your shoes come off.
The trip kit · his
Dockers Quilted Flight Bomber, Forest
Insulated, water-resistant and hooded: zip it up for the 6 a.m. starts and the light-ups after dark.
Pendleton Shetland Crewneck, Stone Heather
Pure wool, warm on a cold evening and fresh enough to wear all four days.
prAna Brion Pant, Dark Iron
Stretch for long walking days and kneeling on tatami, smart enough for dinner.
Merrell Jungle Moc, Gunsmoke
Off and on in seconds at every temple hall, with grip for stone steps and wet leaves.
Osprey Daylite, Black
Room for a sweater, a scarf, water and a paper map, and small enough for a train seat.
Samsonite Winfield 2 Spinner, Charcoal
A hard shell on four wheels for the airport and the long station concourse.
Zojirushi Stainless Mug, 16 oz, Black
Hot tea from the hotel for the dawn starts, when nothing on the lane is open yet.
The trip kit · hers
Tahari Elliot Wrap Coat, Camel
Long, warm and belted at the waist, for cold mornings and the light-ups, and modest in temple halls.
v28 Ribbed Fitted Turtleneck, Ivory
A fine, fitted knit that sits smoothly under a coat and keeps your neck warm at dawn.
Levi's Ribcage Straight Ankle, dark indigo
High-rise and straight, with stretch for steps, low tables and a rowboat.
Thursday Duchess, Cognac Suede
Pull-on boots that come off in seconds at temple halls, and warmer than flats on cold mornings.
befen Leather Crescent Crossbody, Black
Worn across the body in crowded lanes, with a zip and card slots for cash and a transit card.
DELSEY PARIS Chatelet Air 2.0, Angora
A light hard shell on double spinner wheels, with a TSA lock and a USB port.
NEOSAN Chunky Cable Knit Scarf, Wine Red
For the evenings, when the light-ups start and the cold sets in.
Always in the bag
Soundcore Space 2 Pro
The headphones we travel with. Noise cancelling for the flight and the airport train.
Apple AirPods Max 2, Starlight
Our pick. Noise cancelling, and Live Translation now covers Japanese with a supported iPhone.
Anker Power Bank, 20,000 mAh, 87W
Our pick for keeping two phones charged through a day of maps and photos. About 72 Wh, under the airline limit. Power banks go in hand luggage, and some airlines ban using them on board.
Epicka 70W Universal Travel Adapter
Japan uses Type A sockets at 100 V; this adapter fits them and charges three USB-C devices at once.
Capture the trip
Panasonic Lumix L10
The best photos from a camera that fits a coat pocket: lit maples after dark, the timber stage at dawn.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo
Smooth video while you walk the torii tunnel, the bamboo grove and the Philosopher's Path.
DJI Osmo Action 6
For the rowboat and the wet days: waterproof and tough.
K&F Concept 20L Camera Backpack
For a camera and a laptop: quick side access to the camera, and a rain cover.
ULANZI MT-44 Tripod
A steady night shot of the lit maples, or the sunset from a temple veranda.
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Four days on Kyoto's other clock
Most first-timers see the famous temples between ten and four, with every tour group in the city. This plan runs on the other clock: the big sights at opening time, and the red maples lit up after dark.