Kyoto in 3 days is a temple-heavy itinerary by necessity — there are over 1,600 temples and shrines in the city. This plan covers the iconic ones, balances east and west Kyoto, and reserves one half-day for Arashiyama on the western edge. Pace is moderate; Kyoto rewards slow walking, not sprinting between sites.
Morning at Kiyomizu-dera (open 6am — go early to avoid crowds). Walk down through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka preserved streets. Lunch in Gion. Afternoon: Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park, Chion-in. Evening: Pontocho Alley dinner — narrow lantern-lit alley with kaiseki and izakaya restaurants stacked along the Kamogawa River.
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) early — 8am opening avoids tour buses. Bus to Ryoan-ji Zen rock garden nearby. Lunch in Arashiyama-adjacent Kyoto-style soba. Afternoon: Nishiki Market — Kyoto's 400-year-old food market, narrow covered street with pickle shops and street food. Evening: Kawaramachi for dinner and shopping.
Train to Arashiyama: bamboo grove (go before 9am — by 10am it's tourist-mobbed), Tenryu-ji Temple, walk along Hozugawa River, Tenryu-ji's garden. Late lunch in Arashiyama. Train back via Inari station for Fushimi Inari Shrine — the iconic torii gate path. Climb at least 30 min up the trail to escape the crowds. Sunset back at Kyoto Station for shinkansen onward.
This is a generic plan that works for most travellers. Use Panor's AI Japan trip planner to customise it — adjust pace, add or remove neighbourhoods, swap day trips, account for dietary restrictions, or factor in cherry-blossom or autumn-foliage timing. The planner uses interactive maps and can export the itinerary to your phone.