I will be in Kyoto from November 19-26, and I'm currently working on my itinerary. I've done lots of research, so my dilemma is too many options! In trying to narrow things down, I thought I'd ask about Fodorite favorite night illuminations. I'm looking for suggestions of both temples that are especially spectacular at night and/or night illuminations that are less well-known and won't require standing in line for hours to get in.

How do the night illuminations generally work - are there usually lines to get in, are advance reservations needed/available? Are tripods allowed?

These are some locations on my list specifically for nighttime; obviously I can't do them all, so I'd love advice on which to prioritize. Have I left anything fantastic off the list? (I know this is partly subjective, but I welcome various opinions).

• Kiyomizu-dera - Will definitely visit in the daytime, also planning to visit at night
• Entoku-in
• Kodai-ji
• Chion-in
• Zenriji Eikan-do
• Kurodani/Konkai Kōmyō-ji
• To-ji

Not illuminations, but also planning to visit at evening/night, mostly for photography purposes: Pontocho, Shinbashidori, Gion, Yasaka Shrine, Higashiyama District, Fushimi Inari