What We Spent in Kyoto: A Real Cost Breakdown

Like our Tokyo , Hakone , Osaka , Miyajima & Hiroshima and Nara breakdowns, this one is short and focused on the numbers. Transit isn't included here, since we tracked transportation trip-wide rather than city-by-city. For a general sense of what transportation costs, check out our full 14-day Japan cost breakdown.

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Kyoto was one of the most affordable stops on our entire trip and one of the most beautiful. Here's exactly what we spent.

Traveled: Late May / Early June 2026. All prices are in USD at the exchange rate at the time of purchase.

Kyoto Subtotal (Hotel + Food + Experiences): $635.81

In a Rush? Here's Where We Stayed in Kyoto

Kyoto · 3 Nights · $390

Hotel Grand Bach Kyoto Select

Best for: onsen, laundry, and about zero real complaints

Click here for rates & availability

Where We Stayed

• Hotel Grand Bach Kyoto Select — 3 nights, $390 total

We wanted a central, walkable base for our Kyoto days, and this hotel delivered exactly that. It was close enough to get to the major sights without relying heavily on transit for every single stop.

Read More: Where to Stay in Kyoto With Kids: Our Honest Take

What We Ate

Kyoto Food: $234.04

We ate at a variety of delicious gluten-free restaurants and cafes throughout Kyoto. Every specific spot is covered in our Ultimate 14-Day Japan Travel Guide-Gluten Free Edition

Amazed by this yummy strawberry kakigōri paired with gluten free mochi!

What We Did

Kyoto Experiences & Attractions: $11.77

Kyoto was surprisingly affordable when it came to paid attractions. Most of what made it memorable was completely free:

• Walking through historic neighborhoods

• Visiting markets

• Exploring temples and shrines

• Wandering traditional streets and scenery

Our only tracked paid attraction was a small admission fee to the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama. This is one of the reasons Kyoto is such a great destination for families since you can experience some of Japan's most beautiful locations, like Fushimi Inari Taisha without a long list of paid tickets.

Book It: Kyoto Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine One-Day Tour

If you’re interested in knowing what we did and what we thought of our Kyoto itinerary be sure to read: Is Kyoto Good for Kids? Our Honest Take

Ready-Made Trip

Your Japan Trip, Already Planned

Every day, hotel, and backup plan is already worked out, built from our real 14-day family trip. All you do is book a few things.

"What an incredibly useful tour book! … I also loved the tips and summary of each day in what to expect as far as walking, transit, kid appeal, and reservations!"

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Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama was definitely a highlight for Jackson!

Where to Next

We left Kyoto on the shinkansen (Japan's bullet train) from Kyoto Station and headed to Hiroshima where we would overnight on Miyajima. Jackson didn't need his own ticket because of his age, so he took turns sitting on each of our laps. Reserved seats are worth it for a family, especially if you're traveling with large suitcases.

We sent our larger bags ahead to Osaka via luggage forwarding and took a small overnight bag to Miyajima.

Read more: Riding the Shinkansen (Japan's Bullet Train)

Book your tickets from Kyoto to Hiroshima: Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Tickets

Next stop: Is Kyoto Good for Kids? Our Honest Take

Ready-Made Trip

Planning Your Own Japan Trip?

Choosing where to stay, what order to go in, and what to book is a lot. We’ve already done the planning, so you can spend your time enjoying Japan instead of organizing it. Our Ultimate 14-Day Japan Travel Guide is a ready-to-follow itinerary from arrival to departure.

✓A day-by-day itinerary in the most logical order

✓Transportation between every stop, including luggage forwarding

✓Hotel and reservation recommendations, and when to book

✓Realistic timing and family-friendly pacing

✓Backup plans if weather or plans change

✓Our exact route: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara, and Osaka

Traveling gluten-free? The Gluten-Free Edition adds gluten-free restaurants, cafés, and bakeries to every day, with backup options in every area.

See the Standard Edition See the Gluten-Free Edition

More From Our Japan Trip

Still planning your Japan trip?

These free resources are a great place to start:

→ Our 14-Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara & Osaka → 10 Tips for Planning a Japan Trip (How I Planned Our 14-Day Japan Itinerary) → How to Get Around Japan: A First-Time Visitor’s Guide to Trains, Suica Cards, Google Maps & More → What Our 14-Day Japan Trip Actually Cost: A Full Family Breakdown → Is Japan Good for Families? What We Actually Thought of Our Trip → & More!

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