I'm looking for some feedback on my plans so far for Kyoto, mostly our first day. It feels like I'm cramming so much into Day 1 but I just can't find it in my heart to drop any of our planned activities! If you guys can see a way to make it more balanced then please let me know. I've put times on there for Day 1, obviously we won't be sticking to that strictly, I'm not that regimented lol, I've just put them down to give myself a sort of idea of how long things might take. I've not put ideas of timing yet for Day 2-4 and again suggestions welcome.
We are only there for 4 days one of which is the day we arrive and I'm honestly feeling it's not long enough! I wish we'd given ourselves even just one more day there. We are going in October.
Day 1 (Wednesday)
Roughly 09.30am – arrive in Kyoto from Osaka via Shinkansen. Lock up luggage near station.
Travel to Chiikawa Land (my partner is obsessed), expect to get there around 10am and spend between 60-90 minutes. Travel back to Kyoto Tower and Expect to get there around 11.30/12 (I know it's doubling back on ourselves but it's just considering opening times of places we want to eat etc) for lunch and to get a few specific bits I want for family (targeted shopping rather than browsing). Expect to spend about 2.5hrs including a leisurely lunch and be finished up there at 2.30pm. Head to the Kiyomizu-dera area for about 3pm. Have a browse and hopefully get to the temple for 5pm and catch the sunset. We can then head back to pick up our luggage and go to the hotel to check in, we should get there for about 6.30pm. In the evening if we weren't too knackered, we could head over to Gion. I'd like to see the area around the Yasaka-jinja Shrine, particularly the lanterns after dark, and walk down Shinbashi-dori if it's not one of the off limits roads (I've not been able to find a specific map which shows which areas are now off limits if anyone can help with this) just to soak up the atmosphere.
Day 2 (Thursday)
We are planning East Kyoto: walking the Philosophers Path including visiting Eikan-do Temple, Okazaki Shrine, and Nanzenji Temple.
Day 3 (Friday)
We will be off to Western Kyoto: Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (although I could be inclined to skip this if we feel we get our fill of Bamboo at the grove in Adashino – we arent fussed about the monkey park) and surrounding areas such as Kimono Forest, street food areas, and Togetsukyo Bridge
Day 4 (Saturday)
My partner would like to visit Toei Park. This is a must-do activity for him. I'd like to see Kinkaku-ji even if only briefly, too. But it'd be good to have a more chill day. I wouldn't mind a stroll around Kyoto Gardens and the Imperial Palace if we can fit it in.
Does this seem achievable? Is there anything I could move around that would make the days more balanced, flow better, or be more achievable? Anything I've missed that you'd recommend? For me, Kyoto is about cultural atmosphere and I want to capture that as much as possible.
Thank you in advance!
by PoolesPage