Hello all, we are going to Japan for the first time and would love your opinions on the middle-section of our itinerary. My main questions are:
1. Are we spending “too much” time in Kyoto / seeing too many temples? Would it be better to spend that time doing other things in Kyoto, or perhaps add a day/time elsewhere?
2. The trip from Takayama to Hakone is long (about 5.5 hours by rail I think?). Is there a better way to get from Takayama to Hakone? Should we add a stop somewhere along the way (maybe replacing one of the Kyoto days)? Or should we consider skipping Takayama given how much travel there is?
3. Are we spending enough time in Hakone? We are wanting to enjoy our Ryokan, some Onsen time, and a Kaiseki dinner.
Thank you!
Added: the times are just estimates to help us chunk out the day – we’ll be more fluid as we go.
Days 1-3: Tokyo
Day 4: Kyoto
* Tokyo to Kyoto in the morning
* \- \[11am\] \*\*Ginkaku-ji Temple (1 hour)\*\*
* \- \[12pm\] \*\*Philosopher’s Path (30 min – 1 hour)\*\*
* \- \[1pm\] \*\*Nanzen-ji Temple (1 hour)\*\*
* \- \[2:30/3pm – 5pm\] \*\*Nijo-jo Castle (2-3 hours)\*\*
* \- \[5:30pm\] \*\*Gion Neighborhood (3 hours)\*\*
Day 5: Kyoto
* \- \[8am-9:30am\] \*\*Tenryu-ji Temple (1.5-2 hours)\*\*
* \- \[9:30am-10:30am\] \*\*Bamboo Forest (30 min – 1 hour)\*\*
* \- \[11am-12pm\] \*\*Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama (1 hour)\*\*
* \- \[12:15-1:15pm\] \*\*Okochi Sanso Garden (1 hour)\*\*
* \- \[1:30pm-3pm\] \*\*Lunch in Arashiyama (1.5 hours)\*\*
* \- \[3:30pm-4:30pm\] \*\*Kinkaku-ji Temple (1-1.5 hours)\*\*
* \- \[5pm-6pm\] \*\*Daitoku-ji Temple (1-1.5 hours)\*\*
* \- \[6:30-7:30pm\] \*\*Ryoan-ji Temple — rock garden (30 min – 1 hour)\*\*
* \- \[\~8pm-10pm\] \*\*Dinner downtown\*\*
Day 6: Kyoto
* \- \[8am-9:30am\] Kiyomizudera Temple (1.5 – 2 hours)
* \- \[9:30am-10:30am\] Sannen-zaka Street and Ninnen-zaka Street (1-1.5 hours)
* \- \[11am-12pm\] Maruyama-koen Park (1 – 1.5 hours)
* \- \[12-12:30pm\] Japanese-Style Starbucks / Snack (30 min – 1 hour)
* \- \[12:30pm-2pm\] Chionin Temple (1.5 – 2 hours)
* \- \[2pm-3pm\] Shoren-in Temple and Garden (1-1.5 hours)
* \- \[3:30pm-5pm\] Nishiki Market (1 – 1.5 hours)
* \- \[5:30pm-7:30pm\] Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine – 5000 gates (2-3 hours)
* \- \[8pm\] Dinner downtown
Day 7 & 8 – day trips to Nara and Osaka
Day 9: Kyoto to Takayama
* Depart around 8/9am, arrive around 1130/1230
* Rest of day wandering around Takayama
Day 10: Takayama to Hakone
* Depart Takayama around 10/11, arrive in Hakone around 3/4
* Stay in Ryokan
Day 11: Hakone to Tokyo
* Hakone Round Course
* Depart Hakone around 4/5, get to Tokyo around 6/7
* Dinner at 9pm in Tokyo
Days 12-15 Tokyo & Nikko day trip
2 comments
For day 4 be less rigid with the time. You might find yourself rushing through certain places or or forcing yourself to stay longer at one’s you got through quickly. Also if you plan on taking public transport you need buffer time in case of delays or you get on the wrong bus/train (which happens to me alot, trying to get between osaka/Kyoto was a mess for me)
Same goes for the rest. Your way to rigid with times. Even your snack time is down to the minute. I’d say just focus on the order you do them, not how long.
> Are we spending “too much” time in Kyoto
Not if you are genuinely interested in these temples. In fact, if you are then you would need more time, for example Daitokuji and Ryoanji close to visitors long before you arrive. You’ve also underestimated the time taken at some attractions, for example the Japanese Starbucks is a zoo and you won’t be in and out under 30 minutes as it will take that long to find a seat (you can take out but in that case what is the point)
> Takayama
If it is very late October then the train rides will be very scenic with fall colors and hence worth a trip in itself (if you like trains).
> Hakone
Should be enough, eat kaiseki on Day 10, get an early start on Day 11 to do the loop.
> crowds
Kyoto itinerary is not optimized for crowds. Arashiyama bamboo forest takes 15 minutes to see and should be the very first thing you do that morning if you don’t want to be in a sea of humanity. Kiyomizudera takes longer but is a vastly more peaceful experience if you can get there by 7am.