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bsparks276 Jan 31st, 2024 04:44 PM

Need suggestions for visiting Kyoto
 
We will be visiting Kyoto in end of April. It is small time window, so I am trying to gather idea and creating itinerary. We are 2 adults and one 7 years old. Please see, if you can suggest on this.

Day-1 : Reach Kyoto around 6 PM. Hotel is near station. By 7 PM, go out after dropping bags in hotel. As this is late evening/night, my focus is not to go inside any shrine/temple, but night photography of street or architecture outside. Based on few old posts, many suggested Hanami-koji, Kiyomizudera and Gion. Would you suggest other places, as I am going to this side anyway on Day-3? or should I keep it as it is?

Day-2 : Nara day - Leave hotel around 9 AM. First visit Fushimi Inari Shrine. After an hour or so, go to Nara via train and take a walk from the Kintetsu station (use Kintetsu on the way) to Todaiji, Nigatsudo, Kasuga Shrine, and finish off with Ukimido. Walk back to the JR station from here and see Nakatanidou on the way. Is it a whole day trip ?

Day-3 : Kyoto day - Leave hotel around 9 AM. Kinkaku-ji in the morning, and then take buses to Ginkaku-ji and walk down to Higashiyama from there. Philosopher's Walk between the Silver Pavillion Ginkaku-ji and Nazen-ji. Is it feasible route for whole day? Or after spending some time in this area, reach back to hotel and see places around Toji Temple ?

Day-4 : Check-out from hotel around 8 AM. Visit Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. We need to get on 15:00 train for Tokyo, from Kyoto station. So we will have time from morning till 14:30. I assume we may have more time, after seeing Arashiyama. Any suggestions, what can we do and see, which can give some different experience? Sagano Romantic train ?
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We have little time in this area, so it is difficult to decide, what to leave and what to see. So trying to make it fast paced. We will be there in last week of April, but before Golden week. Depend on the time, would you recommend to change/add/remove from what I have in rough plan ?

Please advice.

Thanks

mrwunrfl Feb 1st, 2024 08:50 AM

1 - maybe Pontocho would offer good shots at night (in the alley / by the bridge)
4- what is your luggage plan after you check out? I thought Sagano train was ok, YMMV. You could just stay in Kyoto that last day as you only have Day 3 there and there is more.

I highly recommend attending Miyako Odori. It is in Gion in April

(ok, i guess bamboo forest is not that far from Kyoto eki)

bsparks276 Feb 1st, 2024 09:01 AM


Originally Posted by mrwunrfl (Post 17531531)
1 - maybe Pontocho would offer good shots at night (in the alley / by the bridge)
4- what is your luggage plan after you check out? I thought Sagano train was ok, YMMV. You could just stay in Kyoto that last day as you only have Day 3 there and there is more.

I highly recommend attending Miyako Odori. It is in Gion in April

(ok, i guess bamboo forest is not that far from Kyoto eki)

Day-1 : I can consider Pontocho for first night.
Day-4 : After checkout, either I will ask hotel to keep my bags, as we are staying very near to station, or will else will drop bag at Kyoto Station Lockers, as we will leave from Kyoto to Tokyo at 15:00.

We are not determined on train or even any other attraction/temple/shrine. I grabbed some ideas from old spots and tried to make a reasonable plan for my short time in Kyoto

fodavidors Feb 22nd, 2024 06:02 PM

If you are looking for some places to see in Kyoto, I recommend checking out the Nijo Jo Castle, Kinkakuji Temple, and the lively Nishiki Market.


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