During an upcoming trip to Kyoto from February 4th to February 12th, I’ll be joined by a group of twelve family members, spanning ages from 25 to 80. In this group, there are three vegetarians, and while some of the group have visited Kyoto before, this will be the first time in Japan for the majority. Any and all suggestions appreciated.
Our itinerary is as follows:
February 4th
We are scheduled to arrive around 4 pm.
After checking in at the machiya where we will be staying, our first stop will be Nishiki Market and the food floor at Daimaru department store. Our main objective is to gather some breakfast items for the next few days.
For our evening meal, we have a reservation at Tousuiro Kiyamachi, where we will savor a tofu-centered dinner.
February 5th
Our day will begin with a visit to the Kiyomizudera temple and Maruyama Park.
In the evening, have dinner at Kyoto Sushi Ookini, a restaurant that caters to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diners, offering a variety of sushi options.
February 6th
We’ll embark on a day trip to Arashiyama to explore the bamboo groves and visit the Katsura Imperial Villa.
Our dinner reservation is at Shouraian, known for its tofu dishes.
February 7th
Today, we’ll journey to Nara, where we’ll not only encounter the deer population but also explore the Nara National Museum. Additionally, we will try fresh-pounded mochi at Nakatanidou.
For our evening meal, we’re thiniking of dining at Junpei, a yakitori restaurant that also caters to vegetarians.
February 8th
We’ll set our sights on Nijo Castle for the day’s exploration.
In the evening, we’ve made a reservation at Hamacho, an izakaya that specializes in fish and vegetable-based dishes.
February 9th
We’ll take a day trip to Osaka, with visits planned for the Osaka Museum of Living and Housing and the Kaiyukan aquarium.
Our dinner spot is Rokukakutei, a kushiage restaurant.
To cap off the night, we’ll enjoy the Tombori River Cruise.
February 10th
We’ll kick off our day with a traditional Japanese breakfast at Choshoku Kishin.
The morning will be spent strolling along the Philosopher’s Path and visiting the stunning Ginkakuji (the Silver Pavilion).
Our dinner venue is Hyoto Shijo Karasuma, a shabu-shabu restaurant offering vegetarian shabu-shabu as an option.
February 11th
We’ll explore Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) during the day.
For our final dinner in Kyoto, we’ve chosen Sumibi to Wine, a charcoal grill restaurant, offering a variety of meat, fish, and vegetable dishes.
February 12th
Time to depart from Kyoto. Will leave by 10am.
We hope to keep the itinerary light and enjoyable, allowing for lots of chatting in addition to some exploration.
3 comments
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Many of the activities you have listed are not going to last you the full day:
* Nijo is cool, but it’s not an all-day thing. Maybe 2-3 hours?
* Similarly – the Philosopher’s Path + Ginkakuji is perhaps a 2-hour expedition, you should plan something for the afternoon as well.
* The bamboo groves and the Katsura Villa will not take all day on your Arashiyama day. Consider adding a trip up to the monkey park for people who like to climb. Also, note that the Katsura Villa requires a timed tour slot that you must arrange with the Imperial Family Agency in advance, and getting a tour for 12 people may be a significant challenge. Online slots are limited, so if you cannot get those you will need to visit the agency location by the Imperial Palace and request a reservation in person as soon as you can.
* Kinkakuji is absolutely not something that will take all day – if you’re taking your sweet time you might stretch it to an hour.
The most obvious missing thing on your list is Fushimi Inari, which is the famous mountain shrine with hundreds of red Torii gates. With 12 days in Kyoto and some people who are new to the region, I would absolutely make time for it; it is one of the most famous sites in Japan for a reason. You will want to get there early (not sure when it gets light out in February, but I’d aim for 8am-ish? dress warm!). Plan to split the group into the people who want to hike (it’s about 3 miles and has substantial stair climbing) and the people who just want to enjoy the area at the base.
You’re scheduled to arrive in Kyoto at 4 pm on the first day? Or your flight lands somewhere at 4 pm? Either way, every stall in Nishiki is different, but most – if not all – will be closed by around 5 pm. You’d almost certainly have to go there on a different day if you want to experience all it has to offer. Not sure which part of the city you’re staying in, but doing Nishiki at brunch time then going to Nijo Castle after would work out well since that day is fairly open. Or Nijo Castle in the morning, then Nishiki at lunch (it will likely be packed) since your dinner reservation is very close to Nishiki.