Hello! My partner and I will be visiting Japan for 2 weeks this autumn from the US. We are fairly seasoned travelers who find the most satisfaction from a packed itinerary (within reason haha).
This will be our first time in Japan, so we will probably be doing the basic/touristy things but would love to find some hidden gems as well. Most of our trip is already planned, but we have 4 days in Kyoto and we are struggling to understand timelines with the limitations on public transit how crowded it can be.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
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TUESDAY: Fushimi Inari & Sake Museum
Up at 6am cab to Fushimi Inari
Hike to Inari summit, 6:30AM-9:00AM
Hike down alternative path to Tofuku-ji Temple, 9:00AM-11:00AM
Tofuku-ji, 11AM-12PM*
*If done at Tofuku-ji temple before noon, go to Sennyu-ji. Otherwise, take our time at Tofuku-ji
Train from Tofuku-ji station to Chushojima Station, 7 min walk to Sake Museum
Gekkeikan Okura Sake museum
-I am getting conflicting information about the tours- do they have English speaking tours?
Dinner/drinks at Sake Village
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WEDNESDAY: Arashiyama
Train from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station early
At Arashiyama by 8:00ish
Walk through Kameyama park monument path and walkway & Arashiyama Bamboo grove and end at Okochi Sanso Garden 8:00AM – 9:00AM
Check out Okochi Sanso Garden – 9AM – 11AM
Back track through Bamboo Grove &
Kameyama Park (quickly) 11 AM – 11:30AM
-is there a better way to get from Okochi Sanso to Saga-Arashiyama station?
Get quick food around the station 11:30AM – 12:00PM
Saga-Arashiyama Station to Kameoka Station 12:00PM – 12:30PM
Walk from Kameoka Station to Hozugawa River
Boat Ride Launch – Get ticket for next available boat ride 1-1:30 PM – 3-3:30 PM (2 hr boat ride)
Walk to Hogon-In Temple and check out gardens 3:30 – 5:00PM
Grab dinner in the area 5:00 – 7:00PM
Check out Hogon-in Temple Night Illumination 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
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THURSDAY: Philosopher’s Path & Shopping
Cab from old airbnb to hotel in Gion, drop off luggage at front desk
Cab to Honen-in Temple – Check out cool buddha 9:00AM – 9:30AM
Walk along Philosopher’s path checking out cool shrines + lunch (Otoyo shrine, Eikan-do Zenrin-ji, ???) 9:30AM-12:00PM
-anywhere else you would suggest in this area?
Walk to & explore Nanzen-ji 12:00PM-2:30PM
Walk from Nanzen-ji to hotel (30 mins + exploring time), shower/nap
Gion District Shopping, dinner, drinks (suggestions?)
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FRIDAY: Kiyomizu-dera & Nijo Castle
Up at 6am, cab to Sannenzaka St for pictures
Walk to Kiyomizu-dera- arrive 7:30AM
Kiyomizu-dera 7:30AM – 9:30AM
walk along Sannenzaka st to Ryozen Kannon (giant buddha), done by 11am
lunch in Gion district, stop at hotel to change clothes, 1 pm train from Sanjo Keihan station to Nijojo-mae Station (Tozai line, 9 min)
Nijo Castle 1:30pm – 3:30pm
4pm dinner/drinks in Gion District
night illumination at Kodai-ji Shrine
TLDR/Question Recap:
1. How long should we plan to spend at Tofuku-ji?
2. Does the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum have tours in English?
3. Is there a quick path from Okochi Sanso to Saga-Arashiyama station without going through the Bamboo Forest?
4. Suggestions along Philosopher’s Path?
5. Restaurant/bar recommendations in Gion district?
Thank you!! 🙏🙏
5 comments
It can be quite tiring to go all the way up to the summit of Fushimi Inari Shrine. I went there yesterday and got quite tired, so I couldn’t visit other places. Today, my legs and lower back are sore. :)
At the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, there is an “Indoor Guide” available in English that you can view on your smartphone. The “Sake Brewery Guided Tour” with reservations requires a guide and is conducted only in Japanese.
Welcome to Japan! Have a great trip! :)
okay, high heat, getting the pan. let the roasting begin.
first, formatting. horrible. Its a glob of words, hard to read.
day 1: fushimi inari start, okay. tofukuji okay, sake museum, okay. the sake museum does not have like people leading you around in english or japanese, its self guided and not too long. you will be fine without japanese. the highlight is probably being able to taste a variety of their products (3 for free, but you can get more for 100yen per taste)
day 2: looks good. not sure walking up and hoping for a boat ride ticket works. do they sell them at the boats? I dont know…
day 3: thats fine but you will need more time than you planned for, so expect to head back later than 2.30
day 4: also fine
Q/A:
– path in arashiyama: not really. but that doesnt matter, no?
Holy heck! We’re going to Kyoto for around the same time and all we have on the itinerary is: “check out fall foliage”.
That’s it. Legit those are our written plans.
You have committed TIMES already! I don’t know whether I’m impressed or repulsed, lol!
Friday: Careful for 4pm dinner and drinks, most good stuff opens at 5
You might want some time to shower and change after Fushimi inari. I was drenched in sweat when I finished.