Kinkakuji and Arashiyama: two ways to combine them
Kinkaku-ji sits in Kita Ward in the northwest of Kyoto, and Arashiyama lies further west along the Katsura River. Many visitors pair them on the same day. You can join a combined day tour with a guide and transport, or link them yourself by city bus and the Randen, the small private tram line of western Kyoto.
A guided day tour suits you if you want the entry tickets, the transfers and the order of stops sorted out in advance. Going on your own is cheaper and lets you choose how long you stay at each place. Both work as a plan for one day, but they are a plan, not a promise: buses fill up, and the time inside each temple adds up.
Our picks: Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama in one day
The coach tours handle the transfers for you, while the e-bike tour links the bamboo grove and Kinkaku-ji at your own pace. Most of these run nine hours or more, so keep the whole day free.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kyoto in one day by coach: Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera and Arashiyama
- Tickets for four temples incl. Kinkaku-ji
- Guide and coach transport
- Japanese buffet lunch (if selected)
A coach tour for seeing the main temples in one day, with the temple tickets already covered. Lunch is part of it only if you pick that option when booking.
Check availability →
E-bike tour to the bamboo grove and Kinkaku-ji
- Bicycle and helmet
- English-speaking guide
- Bottle of water
Five to six hours on two wheels that link the Arashiyama bamboo grove with Kinkaku-ji. Ask before booking whether temple admission is part of it.
Check availability →Day tour: Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari and Nara
- Kinkaku-ji admission ticket
- English or Chinese-speaking guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Nine to ten hours that cover Kyoto and Nara in one go. The Todai-ji ticket is not included.
Check availability →Day tours with Kinkakuji and Arashiyama
Bus day tours from Kyoto Station, day trips from Osaka or Kyoto with Fushimi Inari and Nara, and an early morning guided tour, with live prices and availability.
Combined tours: what the options include
Four kinds of tour link the Golden Pavilion with Arashiyama. Check what is in the price before you book.
Full-day bus tours from Kyoto Station
These tours take 8.5 to 9 hours and start near Kyoto Station. Besides Kinkaku-ji and the bamboo grove they usually include Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera and Sanjusangen-do, with a guide and an air-conditioned coach. One version includes the temple tickets for Kinkaku-ji, Tenryu-ji in Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera and Sanjusangen-do. Lunch is an option, and there is no hotel pickup.
All Kinkakuji tours →Day trips from Osaka or Kyoto with Nara
Longer coach tours of 9 to 10 hours start in Osaka or Kyoto and add Fushimi Inari and Nara to Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama. The Kinkaku-ji ticket is included in the main version, the Todai-ji ticket in Nara is not. These suit you if you are based in Osaka and want one organised day in Kyoto.
Early morning guided tour by public transport
A 6-hour tour leaves from Kyoto Station early and covers Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji with an English-speaking guide. Here you pay the Kinkaku-ji entry yourself and the fares go on your own IC card. Lunch is not included. It suits travelers who prefer public transport to a coach.
E-bike and walking days
An e-bike tour links the bamboo forest with the Golden Pavilion in about 5 to 6 hours, and a full-day walking tour adds Fushimi Inari and the monkey park. Ask whether temple entry is part of the price.
From Kinkakuji to Arashiyama on your own
The most direct regular route uses a city bus and the Randen. Take a bus from the Kinkakuji-michi stop to Kitano-Hakubaicho, the terminus of the Randen Kitano Line. Ride the tram to Katabiranotsuji and change there to the line towards Arashiyama.
- Ride time: the Randen takes 11 minutes from Kitano-Hakubaicho to Katabiranotsuji and 19 minutes in total to Arashiyama. The time for the change, the walk to the station and the wait come on top.
- Fares 2026: the city bus costs ¥230 for adults and ¥120 for children. The Randen charges a flat ¥250 for adults and ¥120 for children aged 6 to under 12. Together that is ¥480 or ¥240. It is the sum of two single fares, not a combined ticket.
- Paying: on regular city buses you board at the back, leave at the front and pay as you get off. IC cards such as ICOCA and Suica work on the city bus.
Through the Kinukake-no-michi with Ryoan-ji and Ninna-ji
If you have more time, walk the Kinukake-no-michi. The road runs for about 2.5 km from Kinkaku-ji past Ryoan-ji to Ninna-ji. The walk takes about 18 minutes to Ryoan-ji with its rock garden and about 11 more to Ninna-ji, without the visits themselves. From Omuro-Ninnaji station the Randen continues to Arashiyama via Katabiranotsuji.
Stopping at Uzumasa Eigamura
The Randen also passes Uzumasa. From Kitano-Hakubaicho to Satsueisho-mae is a 10-minute ride, and from there it is about 2 minutes on foot to the side entrance of Uzumasa Kyoto Village (Eigamura). Entry at that gate is only until 17:00. In the other direction, from Eigamura to Kinkakuji, add the walk, the wait and the bus ride to the tram time.
From Arashiyama to Kinkakuji by bus
Coming from Arashiyama, you can also stay on the buses. Take bus 93, 63 or 66 from Arashiyama to Nishinokyo-Enmachi and change there to bus 204, 205 or 25 to Kinkakuji-michi. Other connections run with bus 11 via Yamagoe Nakacho and with route 59. Check the direction and the last departures at the stop, as not every line runs all day or all year.
On selected days in late November 2026, the city runs the seasonal bus 109 between Kitaoji and Arashiyama (Togetsukyo Kitazume) via Daitokuji-mae, Kinkakuji-michi, Ryoanji-mae and Omuro Ninnaji. It is scheduled for 21 to 23 and 28 to 29 November 2026, with 9 trips a day from each end, roughly every hour between 8:00 and 16:00. It is a seasonal extra, not a daily line.
Kinkakuji and Arashiyama in one day: a sample plan
One way to fit both in. Times are a guide, not a timetable.
Morning: Kinkaku-ji
The temple opens at 9:00. A model route by the city allows about 40 minutes for the visit, which covers the walk around the pond and past the pavilion. The temple runs a live camera that refreshes about every 3 minutes, so you can check the crowds before you leave. Read about the garden and the route around the Mirror Pond before you go.
Late morning: transfer
Bus to Kitano-Hakubaicho and the Randen to Arashiyama, or the walk along the Kinukake-no-michi with Ryoan-ji and the Randen from Omuro-Ninnaji.
Afternoon: Arashiyama
Spend the afternoon in Arashiyama. Our sister guide has the details on the Arashiyama bamboo forest and on the Togetsukyo bridge.
The reverse order
If you start in Arashiyama, plan to reach Kinkaku-ji well before 17:00, so you have time for the full walk around the pond.
Guided tour or on your own?
The main differences at a glance.
| Bus day tour | Early morning guided tour | On your own | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 8.5 to 10 hours | 6 hours | As long as you like |
| Kinkaku-ji entry | Included in the main versions | ¥500, paid yourself | ¥500, paid yourself |
| Transport | Coach | Public transport, on your IC card | City bus and Randen, ¥480 |
| Other stops | Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera or Nara | Fushimi Inari | Your choice |
| Start | Kyoto Station or Osaka | Kyoto Station | – |
For most first-time visitors with only one day in Kyoto, a bus day tour from Kyoto Station is the easiest way to see Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari together. If you have two or more days, go on your own and give each place more time. For the journey from Kyoto Station to the temple, see how to get to Kinkakuji.
Kinkakuji and Arashiyama: common questions
How do I get from Kinkakuji to Arashiyama?
Take a city bus from Kinkakuji-michi to Kitano-Hakubaicho, then the Randen with a change at Katabiranotsuji. The tram ride takes 19 minutes, and the bus plus tram costs ¥480 for adults (2026). Add time for walking, waiting and the change.
Is there a direct bus between Kinkakuji and Arashiyama?
Only on selected days. The seasonal bus 109 runs on 21 to 23 and 28 to 29 November 2026. On other days you combine bus and Randen, or change buses at Nishinokyo-Enmachi.
Can I see Kinkakuji and Arashiyama in one day?
Yes, many visitors do. Plan about 40 minutes at Kinkaku-ji, then the transfer, then the afternoon in Arashiyama. Kinkaku-ji is open from 9:00 to 17:00, so visit it first or leave Arashiyama in good time.
Do combined day tours include the Kinkaku-ji ticket?
The main bus day tours do. The early morning guided tour does not: you pay the ¥500 entry and your fares yourself. Check the inclusions for each tour before you book.
Can I pay the Kinkaku-ji entry by card?
Since 28 September 2026 the visitor entrance accepts the Omairi Pay service, which takes Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and Diners Club. The card payment covers the entry fee only.