I am doing the Golden Route in Japan next month via Hakone and looking to see what I could realistically slot in to my first afternoon/evening in Kyoto. I’m concerned my Kyoto leg is already stacked (thoughts appreciated?) so it would be killing two birds with one stone if I was able to comfortably move something to do after arriving in Kyoto.
I have both a JR pass and a Hakone Free Pass. I am also travelling with only a carry on back pack so moving around is pretty simple.
My hotels are:
Hakone – Right by Gora station
Kyoto – Right by Nishiki Market
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1. What is my best option to get from Hakone to Kyoto?
2. How much time do I realistically have after the train journey from Hakone and what could be added as a pleasant evening activity?
3. Are there any suggestions on the rest of my Kyoto itinerary?
At the moment, my itinerary for that period of my journey is:
**Monday**
* Wake up at hotel right by Gora station
* Travel to Kyoto
* **Open plans for however long is realistically left of this day**
**Tuesday**
* Early morning to Nara for morning and lunch
* Visit Uji on train back for afternoon
**Wednesday:**
* Kiyomizu-dera
* Nishiki Market
* Higashiyama
* Hokan-ji
* Kenninji
* Kodaji
* Walk around Gion
**Thursday**
* Arashiyama – Tenryuji and Togetsukyo Bridge
* Kinkakuji
* Ryoanji
* Ninnaji
**Friday**
* Fushimi Inari
* Travel on to Osaka
* Osaka castle
* Walk via Tsutsenkaku
* Shinsekai for food
2 comments
1. train/bus to Odawara station, then Shinkansen to Kyoto. I would aim to catch the 10:07 Hikari (covered by JR Pass) which requires leaving the hotel at 9am – ryokan breakfast starts around 7/7:30 so this should be enough time.
2. If you catch the aforementioned 10:07 train you’ll arrive at Kyoto station at 12:12pm, probably 1pm by the time you get to hotel and drop off the bag (early check in is not really a thing in Japan) which leaves the entire afternoon and evening free.
3. Shift Nishiki Market (= lunch), at least one of Kodaiji/Kenninji/Hokanji/”Higashiyama”, and “walk around Gion” to Monday afternoon and evening.
> other suggestions
* Doing both Nara and Uji in the same day is tight unless you get a very early start. May I suggest one of the two paired with Fushimi Inari instead (moved from Friday). The reason is because Fushimi Inari is 24/7 which facilitates getting an early start or late finish thus lengthening the available touring day, whereas the others are somewhat confined by temple opening hours (9-5). Then move whichever you didn’t do to Friday.
* Wednesday is also a prime day for an early start because Kiyomizudera opens very early and is vastly more peaceful before 8am. By the time you finish Kiyomizudera and walk down the streets the other temples should be open by 9.
Actually, your Kyoto days look okay in my opinion. They are full and you’ll be tired but you can do them. I’d put in Sanjusangendo on your first day. Also, it looks like you can go from Gora back to Odawara and then catch the Shinkansen to Kyoto.