Hello everyone! I am going to visit Kyoto with my partner soon (our first time there) and am hoping for advice/feedback on our itinerary.
Specifically, we want to avoid trying to do too much and becoming exhausted. Also we hope to minimize our time spent in crowds.
For context, we have lived in Japan for a year and speak basic Japanese, (can ask for directions, make reservations, etc.) For those of you who have visited Kyoto, I would appreciate learning from your experiences and feedback.
Here’s the plan:
**Kyoto Itinerary**
Day 1 (*Kyoto, Ikimasho!*) Saturday
Shinkansen
Sendai -> Tokyo Station
Tokyo Station -> Kyoto Station (1:00pm->3:15pm)
Kyoto Station -> Tambaguchi Station (4 minutes)
Check-in to hotel
Unpack/Relax
Takeout Dinner (Yakitori)
Buy konbini breakfast/lunch/drinks for following day
Rest
Day 2 (*Fushimi Inari and Philosopher’s Path*) Sunday
Wake up early
Take a taxi to [Fushimi Inari](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fushimi+Inari+Taisha+Senbon+Torii+(Thousands+Torii+Gate)/@34.9669357,135.7726466,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x60010f14384c5a19:0x5d22970f58bfde17!8m2!3d34.9669357!4d135.7748406!16s%2Fg%2F11bzq2vczc)
5km Hike/Breakfast Picnic
Brunch at [Vermillion Cafe](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vermillion+-+cafe./@34.9684193,135.7719583,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x60010f1593ae5eed:0xd0046a592d23ed7!8m2!3d34.9684193!4d135.7741523!16s%2Fg%2F11by__q_67)
Take a train to Sanjo Station (10-minute ride)
Walk the [Philospher’s Path](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Philosopher’s+Path/@35.0214532,135.7921061,17z/data=!4m16!1m9!3m8!1s0x60010908ae94f057:0x917af331a75280f4!2sPhilosopher’s+Path!8m2!3d35.0214532!4d135.7942948!14m1!1BCgIgARICGAI!16s%2Fg%2F11n065ssgc!3m5!1s0x60010908ae94f057:0x917af331a75280f4!8m2!3d35.0214532!4d135.7942948!16s%2Fg%2F11n065ssgc)/Surrounding Area (3+ km)
Take a taxi back to our hotel
Relax
Dinner (Vietnamese restaurant)
Rest
Day 3 (*White Heron Castle*) Monday
Sleep-in/Bath
Breakfast at: [A Happy Pancake](https://www.google.com/maps/place/A+Happy+Pancake+Kyoto/@35.0065913,135.7640335,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x6001089158b08f19:0x1e0aa7925ae9faef!4m6!3m5!1s0x6001089158d0b1cd:0xf1c3296c6820c088!8m2!3d35.0065913!4d135.7662275!16s%2Fg%2F11c5z_9rcm)
Take a train to Himeji Station (1 hour, 30 minutes)
Explore [Himeji Castle](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Himeji+Castle/@35.007397,135.7685524,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x3554e003a23324b3:0x7a4f8c2f6eba81b1!8m2!3d34.839449!4d134.6939047!16zL20vMDE4bmN4)
Hanami Picnic
Steak Dinner in Himeji (or) in Kyoto???
Take a train back to hotel
Rest
Day 4 (*Sacred Temples and Ancient Streets*) Tuesday
Wake up early
Take a taxi to [Gion](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gion,+Higashiyama+Ward,+Kyoto/@35.004453,135.7745114,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x600108c3c1c67b67:0xdcb04aa1398efb4!8m2!3d35.0037816!4d135.777245!16zL20vMDN5NXNj)
Walk around Higashiyama/[Kiyomizudera Temple](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kiyomizu-dera/@34.9965785,135.7828156,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x600108d385dcfb07:0x62af658650c434ba!8m2!3d34.9948561!4d135.7850463!16zL20vMDJ5bjNn)
Breakfast at [Machiya Starbucks](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Starbucks+Coffee+-+Kyoto+Ninenzaka+Yasaka+Chaya/@34.9983013,135.7786072,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x600108c576734771:0xe4825fbf3b1b9a79!8m2!3d34.9983013!4d135.7808012!16s%2Fg%2F11dftw3cwy)
Taxi to Daijo station from Gion (20 minutes)
[Daigo ji](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Daigoji/@34.9510512,135.8179864,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x60010e0d9ddd76b9:0x90f274040b6cfb3a!8m2!3d34.9510512!4d135.8201804!16zL20vMGMxeXRz) Temple Hike (3 miles)
Taxi to hotel
Relax/bath
Conveyor belt sushi dinner ([Sushiro – Gojo Shichihommatsu](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sushiro+-+Gojo+Shichihommatsu/@34.9957651,135.7377936,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x6001063babfaf041:0x16088212cffad0f0!8m2!3d34.9957651!4d135.7399876!16s%2Fg%2F1thvy51y))
Rest
Day 5 (*Trek to Nara*) Wednesday
Sleep in/relax
Check out (11am)
Lunch at [Korean Restaurant AYAN](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Korean+restaurant+AYAN/@34.9955971,135.7372548,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x60010626654b2cef:0x7b7fa1684c0962aa!8m2!3d34.9955971!4d135.7394488!16s%2Fg%2F11hczkpzfd)
Shinkansen to Nara (1 hour)
Hotel Check-in
Explore [Nara Park](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Nara+Park/@34.685047,135.840818,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x60013996bd8c6061:0xf96cacf357447456!8m2!3d34.685047!4d135.843012!16s%2Fm%2F02pwmjl)/Temples
Takeout Dinner ([Sakura Burger](https://www.google.com/maps/place/SAKURA+BURGER/@34.6848958,135.8287638,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipMVK6wbugrnL7Pn3Ku_ALENTKJ_73plMGjiP9Xg!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMVK6wbugrnL7Pn3Ku_ALENTKJ_73plMGjiP9Xg%3Dw203-h152-k-no!7i4032!8i3024!4m12!1m2!2m1!1sRestaurants!3m8!1s0x600139877748d473:0x937957fa1ebb3730!8m2!3d34.6848958!4d135.8287638!14m1!1BCgIYIA!15sCgtSZXN0YXVyYW50c1oNIgtyZXN0YXVyYW50c5IBFGhhbWJ1cmdlcl9yZXN0YXVyYW504AEA!16s%2Fg%2F1tgz0hkp))
Rest
Day 6 (*Yoshino* *Sakura*) Thursday
Sleep-in/Relax (or) Wake-up early
Breakfast at [Café Wakakusa](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cafe+Wakakusa/@34.685361,135.826705,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x600139876de58431:0x5a83e9ed96eddf39!8m2!3d34.685361!4d135.828899!16s%2Fg%2F1thlm_1b) or Starbucks
Take a train to [Mt. Yoshino](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mount+Yoshino/@34.356433,135.8618623,15z/data=!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x6006c7b2a3a994d3:0xd8ab9041137873a0!2sMount+Yoshino!8m2!3d34.356433!4d135.870617!16s%2Fm%2F076w919!3m5!1s0x6006c7b2a3a994d3:0xd8ab9041137873a0!8m2!3d34.356433!4d135.870617!16s%2Fm%2F076w919) (1 hour 45 minutes)
Spend the day exploring Mt. Yoshino ([Shimo Senbon to Kami Senbon](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4152.html))
Take a train back to our hotel (1 hour 45 minutes)
Rest
Day 7 (*Homeward Bound*) Friday
Slow morning
Breakfast and a final stroll through Nara Park
Check-out by noon
Lunch in Tokyo???
Travel back to Sendai
​
A few notes:
I did not include Arashiyama. It was a difficult decision, but we want to visit on our next trip to Kyoto! Is not visiting in April a mistake?
According to a few different sources, hanami draws massive crowds into Kyoto. That is why we want to wake up early (around 5:30am-6am) on certain days.
I’m really grateful to anyone who can give feedback and advice, thank you so much!!!!