Hello! Trying to have a good plan in place for our time in Kyoto (and surrounding area). We are visiting in about 3-4 wks. This is what I am planning. I want to have a good plan in place and will be flexible to how we (and our kids) feel as we tour around. Is this too aggressive? My DH and I are traveling with our 9 and 6 year old kids. Any suggestions for a better order or grouping to the sights to be more efficient with travel time between locations? Any must see sights I have left off? I was trying to incorporate seeing the night time illumnations on 2 different nights as you can see. The first day I am expecting us to be jet lagged and possibly up early (since Kyoto is our first stop in Japan) and therefore that is why I chose Fushimi Inari Shrine first on the first day.

Day 1: AM: Fushimi Inari Shrine // Tofuku-ji // Tsutenkyo Bridge // Nishiki Market
PM: Daimaru Basement // Shijo-Dori // end with Eikan-do for night illuminations (could also do on Day 3)


Day 2: AM: Kyoto Tower (near our accomodations) // Ginkakuji // Tetsugaku-no-Micki
PM: Sanneizaka + Nineinzaka // Kiyomizu-dera (8pm)(and Optional: Kodai-ji Temple) for night time illuminations


Day 3: AM: Arashiyama: Bamboo Grove // Okochi-Sanso Villa // Tenryuji Temple // Togetsukyo Bridge // Iwatana Monkey Park
PM: Kinkaku-ji Shrine // Tea Ceremony at En Tea Room

Day 4: AM: Himeji Castle // Koko-en
PM: Wander Around (Optional: Ninja & Samarai museum) // Gion Tour (6pm)

Day 5: Nara

Thank you for your feedback!

Been reading your reports for my upcoming trip to Kyoto.

I can imagine the atmospheric lighting must be great for photography. BTW, are your photographs online?

I will only have four and a half days in Kyoto. My itinerary will try to dodge the November crowds, avoid temples/shrines fatique, and restrain from overeating Kinkakuji and Fushimi Inari are at the bottom of my list, and only if I get bored elsewhere.

Interesting. Many of us consider Fushimi Inari to be among Kyoto's most outstanding gems, and that says a lot, given the number of gems that city holds! To each his/her own.

These Instagram "gems" (in every country) are overrun by the tourists. After forgettable experiences at the Great Wall in China, Sagrada Família and Alhambra in Spain, I swore I will avoid such "gems". Once away from them, I had truly memorable experiences in Beijing, Barcelona and Granada.

Yes, to each his/her own