Timeline
08:30
Walk through the grounds of Tō-ji. Arriving right at 08:30 lets you see the Kondō and Treasure Hall before the tour groups arrive. The morning light filters nicely through the cherry trees in the garden.
09:15
Walk 4 minutes to Madoi Cafe. It is a quiet spot for coffee in the morning. Note that it closes early on weekdays (12:00), so this is the only time to visit during the week.
10:15
Walk 14 minutes west to Karahashi Saiji Park. It is a small, quiet green space near the temple area. It is a good place to sit and reflect after your coffee before heading back.
Local tip
Tō-ji opens at 08:30. If you go later in the day, the grounds get busy. Madoi Cafe is closed on weekends and public holidays, so check the days if you plan to go then.
Check before you go
- Tō-ji hours: Daily 08:30-17:30 (until 16:30 from mid-September to mid-March).
- Madoi Cafe hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-12:00; Sa-Su 07:00-09:00; PH off.
Worth knowing
- Madoi Cafe is open at 09:15 only on Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Kyoto (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).