Me and my father are going to Japan for the first time towards the end of this month. Due to our schedule we can only have a day trip to Kyoto and we would like to see as much as possible without feeling rushed. I have this rough itinerary so I would like to know if it’s feasible.
1. Take the first Shinkansen to Kyoto out of Shin-Osaka (6:11 AM)
2. Take the JR San-In line to Arashiyama
3. Go to Tenryu-Ji temple and Bamboo Grove
4. Go to the Monkey Park (only if time permits)
5. Take the Randen tram and Hankyu-Kyoto Line to downtown and have lunch at Nishiki Market
6. Geisha Tea Ceremony
7. Fushimi Inari Taisha (only if time permits)
9. Pass by Yasaka Jinja on the way to Gion
10. Walk around Gion (Ninenzaka, Sannezama)
11. Kiyozumi-Dera Temple for sunset
12. Walk down to Pontocho valley and eat dinner at Kichi Kichi Omurice (reservation)
13. Go back to Kyoto Station and check out Kyoto tower if it’s not to late.
Additionally, we are thinking of skipping Kichi Kichi Omurice. If you guys have any restaurant recommendations, preferably in Pontocho valley, please let me know. We do not eat seafood.
17 comments
OP, this is way too much.
The Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama is just a short walkway with bamboo and frankly not worth the hype. If monkey Park is optional, I’d skip the Arashiyama area entirely, and focus on the other parts in your itinerary.
Depending on where you are staying in Osaka, the Shinkansen out of Shin-Osaka might not be the best option. Local trains (JR, Hankyu or Keihan) might be better, and drop you off at a more convenient location than Kyoto station. For example, the Keihan line stops at Fushimi Inari (and that’s a great one to do before the crowds really get packed).
You are absolutely trying to cram too much in a day though. It’s impossible to do everything in your list. Pick your top attraction, do things in that area on your list.
There are millions of bamboo trees in Japans, and a lot of bamboo groves. You can pass on Arashiyama and get your bamboo grove fill somewhere else.
If you’re going early in the morning at sunrise, spend that time to go to Fushimi Inari Shrine early in the morning instead.
It took us a good part of 3 days to do what you are trying to fit into one. Less is more. Pick the experiences that matter most and prioritize them. Fushimi is open at night, so you could do that after dinner. Like others have said, I’d drop the monkey Park and Grove. This will be a very tiring day if you try to get it all in. The market was described as not worth it by our guide so we skipped it. You can always take an earlier local train instead of the Shinkansen if you want to gain more time. The distance is not long.
“see as much as possible w/o feeling rushed”, that to me is contradictory already. Go and do all these things, report back to us how much you accomplished and if you felt rushed. When itineraries like these are shared, I like to answer back in saying. Imagine you set out to do 10 things in your own city, do you think it would be managable to do not only for yourself but for someone who’s never been there before and doesn’t speak the native language? I can’t even do 4-5 things in a single day let alone the core 6 thing you have here at any destination.
An option could be to skip Arashiyama. You go straight to Fushimi. From Fushimi it’s not far to Kyoto, and the things you want to do there are at least closer together and more manageable. Maybe the Tea Ceremony might be too much, since you have to book something like that and be there on a specific time? It’s not the same but an alternative idea might be to have matcha tea at good cafe. I’d lunch just about anywhere in Kyoto that looks good to you and walk through Nishiki Market instead of having to have lunch there.
This is way too much. When I went a month ago, I did a whole day in just Arashiyama. Kyoto is a big city
Unless you don’t intend to do more than check out the base, you might need to cross off Fushimi Inari, that’s like 2 hours to get to the top.
How about hiring a private tour?
Fushimi inari in the morning before crowds is amazing. I would pick that a million times over the bamboo grove.
Cut 2/3 out of your plan or hire an actual guide.
You’re not going to see Kyoto much like this, just the clock on your phone.
Wish people would stop treating Kyoto like a theme park.
I do like arashiyama, but for your trip, I’d do fushimi inari early in the morning. You can probably finish up before 8 or 9am.
Then back to gion, and south Higashiyama area, finish up at 12 to 1.
Then you have all afternoon to explore the city area and do your tea ceremony.
Was just there. Fushimi Inari Tasha and Kiyozumi Dera are musts. Love the bamboo forest but rate it lower than the Kinkakujo (Golden)Temple. Must walk along Gion and toward Yasaka Pagoda. Have a nice dinner in the area. google KOBE beef if you have the funds.
Your itinerary insanely packed and if you attempt it it you probably won’t have a great time.
If I could do it over again I would have breakfast and shop in Nishiki market. Then I would spend the day in Arashiyama. Contrary to what everyone here says I found that to be the most picturesque and beautiful place of my trip. There’s tons of hiking, sightseeing and shopping to do. Take the scenic train ride and if you can do the rowboat tour.
Arashiyama is like something out of a storybook.
Kyoto can’t be done in a day. I wouldnt even try lol
I am going end Nov. I split kyoto into 2 days.
One day (mainly Kyoto West) highlights include Arashiyama, Otagi Netbutsuji, saga torimoto street, togetsuko bridge, Nishiki market optionals are Tenryuji, Railway museum…
The other day (Kyoto East) highlights are Fushimi Inari, Tofukuji, Kiyomizudera, Gion… others depends on time availability and preferences family members.
That’s way too much. One day would be enough for Fushimi Inari, Nishiki Market, Kiyomizu-dera, and Pontocho Alley. Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji are on the western part of Kyoto whereas Kiyomizu-dera is on the eastern part. Fushimi Inari is on the south-east.
I appear to be in the minority of people who enjoyed Arashiyama. The Bamboo Grove itself was not mind blowing, but it’s the autumn foliage and hues leading up to it such as the Togetsukyo Bridge and nearby attractions such as Okochi Sanso Villa that made it a worthwhile half-day trip.