I posted here once before and it really helped [(original post)](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/13tbm9h/help_an_overplanner_with_kyoto_leg_of_trip/) but I’m still struggling! I’d like thoughts on my modified itinerary. Especially if you have suggestions of what to remove, it’s still too packed but I’m having a hard time. I have some specific notes for each day in italics and also some other notes/questions at the end. I really appreciate you all!
**Wed 11/15**
* Checkout Fujikawaguchiko by 10 AM **latest**, Head to Kyoto (5-6 hours)
* Check in at Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Kiyomizu Gojo
* (Guessing around 5ish pm??) Wander around Kamogawa River area & Gion and grab food (nothing too elaborate tonight)
* Try to catch cultural show at Gion corner (6 & 7 PM)
* Nishiki Market if still open (open until 6 so maybe not)
* Daimaru Market
*If we end up leaving much earlier than 10, maybe can put Heian Shrine on this day???*
**Thur 11/16**
* Heian Shrine (8:30 -4:30)
* Looks like about 45-1hr public transport?
* Tofuku-ji Temple (9AM – 4PM) (1.5 hr)
* Higashiyama Ward
* Stop at Maccha House
* Photo op: Yasaka Pagoda
* Kiyomizudera Temple (6 AM – 9 PM) (2 hours) for Sunset
* Kodaiji Temple Lightscape at night (5-9:30 PM) – *this looks really pretty . . . but maybe skippable?*
**Fri 11/17**
* Breakfast and/or walk around somewhere
* Philosopher’s path area
* Nanzenji Temple/Tenjuan Temple Gardens (opens 8:40) (1.5 hours)
* Eikan-do Zenrin-ji Temple (1-1.5 hrs)
* Stop for shaved ice at Komichi
* Lunch somewhere
* Shinshō Gokuraku-ji (Shinnyo-dō) Temple (2 hrs)
* Higashiyama Jisho-ji (Silver Pavilion) (500Y/$4-5) (1 hour)
* 30 min bus Back to Hotel (or 17 min taxi)
* Chion-in Temple nightscape (Entry 5:30-9)
* Shoren-in Temple nightscape (Entry 6 – 9:30)
*This is a day that I’m thinking is likely overloaded especially since we’d like to do some wandering around . . . but what to skip?*
**Sat 11/18**
* EARLY but not sure what time yet Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
* Tenryuji Temple (opens 8:30 AM) (1.5 hrs)
* Hogon-in Temple & Garden (opens 9 AM) (1.5 hours??) *or maybe go for night illumination instead?*
* Okochi Sanso Garden (opens 9 AM) (1 hr??)
* Lunch- Probably grab food from train station
* Take the scenic romantic train ride (25 minutes each way)
Dependent on Time/Energy – *bike rental maybe?*
* Gioji Temple
* Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
* Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
*Tenryuji, Hogon-in, and Okochi Sanso seem like a lot. But what to skip? Or could do some morning and some on way back, but then likely skip the further away temples which everyone keeps really selling me on . . .*
**Sun 11/19**
* 6 – 7 AM, depart for Fushimi Inari Shrine
* *Maybe* Hotoji Temple
* Train to Nara (1-2 hrs)
* Nara Park
* Kasuga Taisha Shrine & Garden
* Harushika Sake Brewery
* Train to Osaka
* Check in Sotetsu Fresa Inn Osaka Namba-ekimae
**Other Notes**
* For the majority of the temples, I am interested in seeing the outside architecture and grounds/gardens and will skip going inside of buildings.
* I’m thinking of switching Friday and Saturday
* I’m not planning to do any fancy dinners that will take a very long time while in Kyoto
Thanks! This is by far the hardest part of the trip to plan for me, I have more and more lists and partial itineraries for places that look stunning that are further out, but think in the interest of time it would be better to reduce travel time . . . I’m really tempted to figure out something else to cut to get one more day in Kyoto but I think my husband wouldn’t go for that idea, lol.
3 comments
That’s a lot of temple illuminations – do you really want to do 2 a night?
Keep all those farther out places you like as pins on a google map and give yourself permission to change your mind and switch things up when you actually arrive in Kyoto. For one thing, farther away places are likely to be less crowded than the more accessible ones
11/15 – why grab food and then go nishiki – if still open. skip the food and eat at nishiki – or if its too late, eat someplace else
11/16 – you are a little over the place, but I get it. you want to end the day with nightime illumination.
Kodaiji is awesome, I would not skip it if you dont have to. But. I am not sure you can manage sunset at Kiyomizudera and then still fit in Kodaiji. You can try, but wait times for Kodaiji can be very long. Still worth it though!
11/17 – that sounds okay. but again, two night time illuminations…
11/18 – if you order things right, and get lucky with the train ride, I think this is doable. you may even be able to add more from your optional list. you can see this if you keep the time in check… a bike would help with getting there and back, but it will be in the way doing the stuff from your none optional list
11/19 also seems okay
this is very stuffed, but done right, its doable
about your nighttime illuminations. maybe its not all days like this but for me it was really full, which means crazy long queues to get in. it is very possible you can only manage one. kiyomizu might be a different story, since you can get in, wait for it to get dark, then head to kodaiji
(and there is another secret. ask if you can skip ahead if you already have a ticket. if they still allow you to do this, head to the kodaiji sho museum and buy your ticket there. on a sidenote. you could also go to Entokuin, buy the 3-in-1 ticket there, enjoy Entokuin, and THEN head to Kodaiji)
According to the website, Kiyomizu-dera isn’t starting the nighttime illuminations until Nov 18. Until Nov 17, it closes at 6PM. You might need to switch that one around at least.