Hi!
Please see my below itinerary – I’m travelling with my sister for about 10 days around Japan. One thing I’m mindful of is that we aren’t able to spend too much time in Kyoto and I’m tossing up between going to Kinkakuji+Ginkakuji Temple OR sticking with my original plan of Arashiyama? As we will be seeing quite a few temples & shrines throughout the trip so I’m not sure if Kinkakuji is worth the hassle of the bus ride but at the same time, I have heard that it’s a beautiful temple and I’m not tied to the idea of going to Arashiyama. My sister and I are keen to see some unique sights. Alternatively, I’m happy to put our luggage in a coin locker on the second last day and spend the afternoon going to Kyoto instead of spending it in Osaka but am unsure if extra afternoon in Kyoto > extra time in Osaka (note: we are going to Seoul for a couple of days before heading to Japan).
Thanks!!
**14/11/2023 Tues**
“Explore Tokyo:
Wake up to go to Team Labs at 9:30am (would take around 40 mins and costs around 570yen/pp)
Explore till about Lunch Time
(HAVE LUNCH)
Around 1pm go from Shin-Toyosu station to Harajuku Station (would take about an hour)
Explore Harajuku
See Meiji Shrine and Harajuku Park
Evening:
Visit Tokyo Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku
See Akihabara (travel about 20 mins) 180yenpp
Akihabara to Shimokitazawa
Bed Time”
**15/11/2023 Wed**
Visit Tokyo Disneyland
Return to hotel
**16/11/2023 Thurs**
“MORNING:
Wake up in the morning and take the 8:15am bus from Bus Terminal Shinjuku (South Exit) TO Kawaguchi-ko station (arriving approx 10am) – NEED TO RESERVE BUS IN ADVANCE
1. Take the trip one way to the top of the mountain using the Mt Fuji Panoramic Ropeway taking the red line bus OR walk 15-20mins
Tip: Walk along a 10-min trail beyond the swing, which takes you to a secluded small observation tower with a higher vantage point of Mount Fuji as well as Lake Kawaguchiko.
2. Walk down the mountain (around 30 mins) and then take the Green Line sightseeing bus
AFTERNOON:
1. Travel to Iyashi no Sato Stop 68 using the Green Line (TAKES ONE HOUR)
2. Eat Soba here
2. Visit a Sato-no-Iyashi
3. Kimono Rental
EVENING:
Go to hotel in Kawaguchiko”
**17/11/2023 Fri**
“MORNING:
Wake up in the morning and go to Fuji Q Highland and take the Takeshiba rollacoaster
Take the bus back to Kawaguchiko station
Travel back to hotel, pick up bags and then go back to Kawaguchigo Station
Travel at 9:30am from Kawaguchiko station to Kyoto (arriving 13:37) – NEED TO RESERVE BUS IN ADVANCE
Travel from Kyoto station to Hotel (\~15 mins) and then leave luggage to go
AFTERNOON 3pm onwards:
Travel from Hotel to Kiyomizudera temple (about 30 mins travel total). Walk up Gojo-zaka, which is the main street that leads east, up the hill, to Kiyomizu-dera Temple
OR ALTERNATIVELY: you can take the train from Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-Gojo Station. This will take approximately 15 minutes. YOU CAN FOLLOW THIS MAP AND GO THE OTHER WAY AROUND as an alternative:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1EiHSuP\_iB4G092F5aJyrifZfSn7T\_b6O&ll=35.00008018821815%2C135.77958999999996&z=15
Here are some of the highlights of the walking route through Higashiyama and Gion:
\- Kiyomizu-Dera
\- Kodaiji Temple
\- Yasaka Pagoda .
\- Shirakawa:
EVENING:
visit one of the temples in the evening to see the illumnination (between 500-1000yen/pp)”
**18/11/2023 Sat**
“Wake up at 6am, check out of hotel and visit Fushimi Inari by walking to fushimi inari (HAVE TO VISIT EARLY IN THE MORNING) which is close to JR Inari Station
Explore Fushimi Inari (about 2hrs unless we decide to do the whole hike and also see the hidden bamboo forest by taking THIS below route:
LATE MORNING:
Travel to arashiyama station (about 40 mins travel from fushimi inari)
Go through Arashiyama Town and travel to Tenruji temple and Sogenchi Garden (800yen/pp). Then take north gate and left turn to the end of the bamboo forest
Walk through the bamboo forest
Walk to Togetsukyo Bridge
Walk to Hogon-in Temple (300yen/pp)
Walk back to Saga-Arashiyama station FROM 2:49 to arrive at the station for the 3:05pm train (arriving at 3:30pm)
Walk from Kyoto station to pick up bags and then head back to the hotel
LATE AFTERNOON (4:25 – 6pm)
Travel to Hiroshima from Kyoto station
EVENING:
Roam around Hiroshima in the evening ”
**19/11/2023 Sun**
“MORNING:
Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi and it takes just under half an hour. From the station it’s a short 3-minute walk to the ferry terminal.
Then explore Miyajima and take the ferry home”
**20/11/2023 Mon**
“MORNING:
Travel from Hiroshima station at 7:58 to Hakata station
Take the Yufuin no Mori train at 10:11am – NEED TO BOOK THIS IN ADVANCE – BOOK ON FIRST DAY
Arrive at noon around 12:27pm
LUNCH:
Eat lunch at Yufuin no mori and explore around the town
EVENING:
Take the Yufuin no Mori home from 5:11pm to 7:28pm and stay in Hakata
Eat Dinner at Gyukatsu motomura Japan, 〒810-0001 Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, Tenjin, 2 Chome−9−18 福岡パルコ新館B2階 B202区画”
​
**21/11/2023 Tues**
“MORNING:
Chill in Hakata
Take train from Hakata to Kinosaki Onsen (10:45 to 3:08pm) – 4.5 hours
EVENING:
Purchase the Onsen passport and try all the onsens + kaiseki dinner”
**22/11/2023 Wed**
“MORNING:
Have breakfast at Ryokan
Bring some snacks/food from convenience store
LUNCH:
Travel from Kinosaki onsen to Osaka (11:33am – 2:23pm) OR KYOTO in case we want to cover some things in Kyoto that we missed last time OR go to minoh falls”
**23/11/2023 Thurs**
Spend day in Osaka and then take flight home
10 comments
I would do the temples. Arashimaya is okay for the bamboo forest but the monkey park is overrated and kinda exploity.
I would do Arashiyama. It’s a beautiful area, although the bamboo forest itself is quite underwhelming. While I understand the concerns of the other commenter, I personally really enjoyed the Monkey Park and it was probably my favorite Kyoto attraction tbh, esp with the nice view of Kyoto at the top.
I really like the Arashiyama temples, my favorite is Jojakkoji.
IMO Kinkakuji is overrated, yes it’s unique because of the gold exterior but there is a reason everyone only takes pictures of That View (so much jostling around) and the foliage there is mid compared to other temples.
Furthermore, you are going there on a Saturday during foliage season. I would not dream about the buses being on time or even being able to board the first bus to Kinkakuji (unless you start at Kyoto station at 8am). Everywhere in Kyoto is going to be a mass of humanity and the buses are going to be increasingly crowded and late as the day goes on.
I personally love Arashiyama’s atmosphere, although I don’t really care for the monkey park. Altogether it’s pretty different from East-Kyoto and the beautifully lush views are incredible.
If you’re not gonna do the bamboo forest at Fushimi Inari in the morning, I would suggest taking a taxi from the station in Arashiyama to Adashino Nenbutsuji, where they also have a small and less crowded bamboo forest, and walk south from there through Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street to central Arashiyama. You might avoid some of the major crowds that way and still enjoy the beautiful sights.
Hi!
I know strictly speaking this is not your question, but I think November 17th is going to be tight. You want to go to Fuji Q highland, which I suspect doesn’t open until 9 and go on a popular roller coaster and then make it back to your hotel to get suitcases and then make it back in time to catch a bus at 9:30? I think that is going to be very challenging.
This is ignoring the fact that the rest of your day in Kyoto looks very full.
Good luck!
I would do arashiyama, the route from Tenryuji to bamboo forest to Togetsukyo bridge and then the monkey park is very nice. On the other hand I thought Kinkakuji was a bit overrated the area is quite restricted so everyone basically takes the same photos and then leaves.
I think there’s a lot more to do and see in Arashiyama. Even when it is crowded, it is so beautiful with the mountainous landscape and the river that runs through the whole town. There’s a lot of mini shops and eateries to explore, regardless of whether or not you do the bamboo forest and monkey park. There’s also a beautiful garden/tea house in the bamboo forest that takes you to a path that overlooks Arashiyama.
We saved our final day (day we were traveled to Kinosaki) for Kinkakuji since you literally see the temple, take pictures, and walk out. It wouldn’t take more than an hour tbh. It was beautiful but if you’re short on time, I don’t think you’ll miss too much by not seeing it.
I agree that Arashiyama is a great choice. The town is quaint and cute and nice to just walk around and grab lunch if you don’t have much time to hike to the monkey park.
Arashiyama is really nice; would skip the monkey park unless you’re really into feeding Japanese monkeys. The bamboo grove is a magical experience and the bridge (leading up to the monkey park) is beautiful. Shops along the street are amazing too!
Have to admit we skipped Kinkakuji because I watched a Kyoto stroll video and realized how small it was. The garden looked lovely, it might be nice in fall, but the temple itself is very, very small. Kiyumizu-dera and Kodaiji were much more worth spending an hour or two each just strolling (and Kodaiji has a bamboo grove that isn’t thronged with tour groups). If you want iconic views, Ginkaku will have one. If you’re already templed out, both are very easy to skip.