Travel – Last week of November
Hotel – Park Hyatt Kyoto
Day 1:
– Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
( will take a taxi from the hotel to Netbutsu-ji)
– Otagi Netbutsu-ji Temple
– Bamboo Groves
– Tenryuji
– Togetsukyo Bridge
– Kinkaku-ji Temple
– Kiyomizu-Dera(Evening)
Day 2:
– Miyajima
– Hiroshima
Day 3:
– Nara
– Fushimi Inari
– Any night shrine?
Day 4:
– Nijo Castle
– Ginkakuji Temple
– Philosopher’s path
– Eikando Temple
– Sanjusangen-do Temple
– Anything more?
Wanted to fit in Himeji castle somewhere. Is there any way we could do that?
How does the itinerary look like? On a scale of 1-10 how exhausting/adventurous it will be? We are a couple in thirties. First time in Japan.
We will mostly be taking Taxi everywhere to save some time. Would love to know some advice/suggestions. Also any recommendations to the above itinerary. Any must do? Or something that can be skipped? Open to all suggestions!
3 comments
Base on the timing, I bet you want to experience Momiji as much as possible. However, given the distance, day 2 seems to be quite too far. Besides, by that time all fare raises for JR national and regional passes should be in place, even with a national pass it would be expensive to go that far (Kyoto to Shin Osaka is only served by the national pass, a big waste if the rest of your trip is within the Kyoto/Nara area).
Maybe swap Hiroshima area for the next time, and fit Himeji or other places in Kyoto-fu instead.
Day 1 is a decent slog, might want to cut Day 2 as Hiroshima is quite a journey.
I’d move Nara to Day 2 and explore the station area, Todaiji, Nara Park, and the Naramachi area at a leisurely pace. There’s a decent amount of good coffee shops and cafes, and an absolutely bomb hamburger place called Monks on the Moon.
I would also cut Hiroshima – you could easily make a full day out of Nara. You could stop in Uji on your way back for Byodoin’s momiji illumination. Uji itself is very beautiful.
You could then use the extra day to do Fushimi and then do some less temple-focused exploration of Kyoto or hit spots you didn’t have time for.
If you’re doing Philosopher’s Path, I’d also recommend Heian-jingu – it has a beautiful garden – and Nanzen-ji for its cool aqueduct (you don’t need to spend too much time there).