Hello! My family and I will be visiting Japan in June, and I made an overall “musts” to do within the few days that we’re in Kyoto. I was wondering if this plan seemed too ambition or too general (plus I’m not too familiar with Japan’s transportation, so I may need some guidance on the bus and subway system). Thank you for your help!
Day 0: Arrival to Kyoto
* Transportation: Arrive to Kyoto via Tokaido Shinkansen Line (bullet train)—approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.
* Planning to book the bullet train via Klook.
* Check into the ryokan (traditional hotel) and hopefully have dinner there. We’re planning on staying Arashiyama.
Day 1: Arashiyama
* Transportation: bus rise to Riverboat Departure Center for the Hozugawa River Cruise. *I’m not sure how the bus system works here nor the transportation time.*
* 10:00 AM Hozugawa River Cruise—approximately 2 hours.
* From there, here are possible places to go: Bamboo Forest, Monkey Park, Okochi Sanso Villa, and Kimono Forest (lights up at night). *I’m wondering how I should order them and whether I should have all four places. If there’s any other “must-see, please let me know!*
Day 2: Nara & Uji
* Transportation: JR from Saga-Arashiyama Station to Nara Station—approximately 45 minutes.
* 10:00 AM Nara Park for the deer! Perhaps Todaiji Temple if time allows.
* *Anything else I should be looking to do in Nara?*
* Transportation: JR from Nara Station to Uji—approximately 30 minutes.
* Tea House Taihoan—approximately 40 minutes.
* Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu, Nakamura Tokichi Honten, Tsuji Rihei for matcha-based desserts.
* *Anything else I should be looking to do in Uji?*
* Transportation: JR from Uji to Kyoto—30 minutes.
* Possible workshops including Kyo-Yuzen Workshop Studio (dying fabric for 1 hour 30 minutes) or Kanshundo Higashimise (wagashi sweets workshop for 1 hour 15 minutes)
* Nishiki Market
Day 3: Kurama-Kibune & Departure
* Transportation: Taxi from Arashiyama to Kurama Station—approximately 30 minutes according to Rome2Rio but I’m not sure how accurate that is.
* Transportation: Kokusai Kaikan-mae bus stop take the Kyoto Bus No. 52 to Kurama. *Should we go directly to Kurama via Taxi? Also unsure about the transportation time here.*
* Kurama to Kibune Trail—approximately 3 hours for 5km.
* Lunch at the Kawadoko restaurants.
* Kifune shrine
* Transportation back to Arashiyama—approximately 30 minutes.
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