Stroll
The Kyoto Trail – 5 Days
JapanKyoto

The Kyoto Trail – 5 Days

5 Days
Easy to Moderate

Overview

Immerse yourself in the ancient heart of Japan on this walk through the forested hills and sacred sites surrounding Kyoto. The Kyoto Isshu Trail winds away from the tourist flow and into a quieter, more contemplative version of Japan's imperial capital, connecting its greatest temples and shrines through mountain forest and hidden valleys. Walk from Fushimi Inari through the Imperial family's graveyard, trek to the sacred complex at Kurama and the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, and take time to visit the Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace. Few walks in Japan reveal this depth of history and culture in such a compact and rewarding experience.

Highlights

  • Discover the magic of Kyoto and its magnificent temples, beautiful mountains and waterways
  • Chion-in Temple, with its massive Tori Gate and gorgeous manicured Japanese gardens
  • Traverse ancient paved paths, through well-preserved Japanese towns
  • Soak up the cypress and cedar forest, alongside peaceful rural Japanese scenery
  • 4 nights stay in a Japanese Hotel in Kyoto with breakfast each morning
  • Walks that weave up forested hillside and grand mountain views
  • Visit the Golden temple, Kiyomizu-dera to Gion, Yasaka Shrine

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What's Included

Accommodation

Hotel (4 nights)

Transfers

  • Train
  • Private Vehicle Transfers

Meals

4 breakfasts, 0 lunches, and 0 dinners

Guidance & Support

  • Itinerary & Walk Notes
  • Walking App for Navigation
  • 24/7 on-trip support

How We Rate This Walk

2

Stroll Walking Grade

Easy to Moderate

Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.

Mostly flat terrain with some gentle inclines. Suitable for anyone with basic fitness who enjoys walking.

View Fitness Guide

3

Days on the trail

11-13 km

Average per walking day

388-443 m

Gain per day

3/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

Nights in Kyoto are spent in centrally located Japanese-style lodgings and hotels, chosen for their comfort, facilities and quiet setting away from the busiest parts of the city. Several days allow you to walk directly in and out of your accommodation, keeping the experience as immersive as possible. An upgrade to Thousand Kyoto is available at additional cost — speak to your destination consultant for details.

What You'll Eat

Breakfast is included each morning. Kyoto's extraordinary dining scene is yours to explore independently each evening, from intimate kaiseki restaurants to casual izakayas and everything in between.

More About This Trip

The walk starts and finishes in Kyoto. The easiest option is to fly into Osaka Kansai Airport, from where a direct train to Kyoto departs from the station at the airport — English-speaking staff are available at the ticket office.

If flying into Tokyo, a 2.5-hour bullet train connects directly to Kyoto. On arrival in Kyoto, a taxi to your accommodation is recommended rather than navigating with luggage.

Day trips during the walk are made by train, with all details outlined in your information pack sent six weeks before departure. Japan's train network is seamless and easy to navigate, and reserved seats are recommended for longer journeys to guarantee both a seat and luggage storage.

Spring and autumn are the finest times to walk in Kyoto, with comfortable temperatures, lower humidity and the city at its most spectacular — cherry blossoms in late March and April, and vivid autumn colour through October and November. Summer is possible for those who enjoy the heat, but Kyoto in July and August averages around 33 degrees with high humidity, making early morning starts essential. The good news is that early starts come with the added bonus of experiencing the temples and trails before the crowds arrive — a reward at any time of year.

This walk covers over 50km across Kyoto's forested hills and sacred sites, graded moderate to challenging. Daily distances average around 15km with five to eight hours of walking, with the option to extend most days to around 20km for those wanting to push further. Almost all days can also be shortened if a more relaxed pace is preferred. The terrain moves between mountain forest tracks, stone-paved temple paths and urban streets, with some elevation on the hillside sections.

Travel insurance is required for all Stroll walking holidays, covering cancellation costs, loss of luggage and injury. For international trips, your policy must also include medical evacuation coverage. A cancellation fee applies if you cancel after your holiday has been confirmed. See the FAQ section for full details.

A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.

For your safety and well-being, we are unable to accept bookings for solo walkers on this itinerary. The remote nature of some tracks and limited mobile reception mean that walking alone presents a higher risk in case of emergencies.

Entry fees to temples, shrines and gardens are not included and can add up to approximately 2,500 yen (around $25) per day. Pre-booking is not possible for most sites.

Two or three taxi rides are recommended over the subway on certain days, with fares of up to 2,000 yen ($20) each — taxis in Japan are efficient, plentiful and easy to flag down, though priced at Western rates.

Private transfers are not recommended as they are expensive and unlikely to add to the experience. All of the above is straightforward and explained in detail in your walk notes.

Note: Cash is necessary for some purchases throughout the walk. Japan is a very safe country, and carrying cash presents no concerns.

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Start Date

Pick any available date — this is your trip, your schedule

August 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
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Sun
Available
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Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.

Notes

Available August onwards. For High Season Charges, see the More About This Trip section.

Kyoto reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Osaka (Kansai International Airport) is the most convenient gateway — it has excellent connections from most of Australia's major cities and regular international routes worldwide. From Osaka, Kyoto is easily reached by train in around 75 minutes. Tokyo is also an option, with the Shinkansen connecting to Kyoto in around 2.5 hours.

The Kyoto walks wind through the city's forested foothills, past shrines and temples away from the main tourist crowds, along ancient paths walked by samurai, shoguns, and emperors. The terrain varies day to day — some sections involve gentle riverside and garden paths, others climb through wooded hills to quieter shrines with sweeping views over the city. Daily distances can be varied on most days to suit your pace and energy levels, making this a genuinely flexible itinerary.

Spring and autumn are the most beautiful seasons. Late March and April bring the cherry blossoms, transforming the temple grounds and riverside paths into something otherworldly. October and November see the maple and ginkgo trees turn vivid gold and red — equally spectacular. Summer (July and August) can be boiling and humid in Kyoto, so if you're visiting then, starting your walks very early in the morning is important. The walk is offered in winter too — the city is quieter, the air is crisp, and the temple gardens have a serene stillness that is hard to match. Bring warm layers.

Kyoto has over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, and the walk visits many of them. A few customs to know before you go. Remove your shoes before entering temple buildings — look for the raised floor as your cue. At Shinto shrines, it is customary to bow slightly at the torii gate before passing through. Speak quietly in sacred spaces and be respectful of any ceremonies in progress. Modest dress is generally expected — avoid very revealing clothing when visiting religious sites. Photography is restricted in some inner temple areas — look for signage.

A few things that will serve you well throughout the trip. Remove your shoes before entering homes, ryokans, and many traditional restaurants — indoor slippers are usually provided. Pointing at people is considered rude — use an open hand instead. Don't eat or drink while walking. Blowing your nose in public is frowned upon. On trains and buses, keep conversation quiet and take your backpack off to avoid taking up space. Slurping noodles is perfectly acceptable and actually signals enjoyment. And don't tip — it's not expected and can cause awkwardness.

If you're staying in a ryokan-style accommodation, a yukata (traditional cotton robe) will be provided for the evenings. Wear something underneath, fold the left side over the right — never the other way, as that is reserved for the deceased — and tie the belt firmly. A loose yukata is considered disrespectful. It's perfectly acceptable to wear your yukata around the inn and in some cases in the surrounding streets.

Japan runs largely on cash. While cards are more widely accepted in Kyoto than in rural Japan, many smaller temples, cafés, and local restaurants still prefer cash. The most reliable way to withdraw yen is at 7-Eleven and other convenience store ATMs, which accept foreign cards.

No. Tipping is not customary in Japan and is generally not expected anywhere — restaurants, ryokans, drivers, or guides. Excellent service is simply the standard.

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The Kyoto Experience

Wonder
Stroll from Fushimi Inari through the Imperial family graveyard to Kiyomizu-dera
Chion-in Temple’s massive Torii Gate and manicured gardens at Nanzen-ji
Kurama-dera, Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji’s magnificent riverside gardens
Wellness
Crowd free easy to moderate trails with flexible walking days with seamless city access
Quiet central Japanese lodgings tucked away for restful nights in Kyoto
Soak tired feet in Kifune’s running water beneath cool mountain air
Nature
Cypress and cedar forests, peaceful rural scenery and forested Kyoto hillsides
Climb Mount Daimonji for magnificent views above Kyoto’s temple-dotted basin
Mountains, waterways and riverside strolls around Arashiyama’s preserved old town

From

£815/person