Trying to narrow down plans for 3 1/2 days in Kyoto (a fourth day will be a day trip to Osaka). Suggestions/feedback please.

1. I just saw Kodaji Temple has "night viewing" starting March 14. Worth it? Is this something that sells out?

2. On our first day there, which is a half day, I had thought we would drop our bags off and then go to Chionin Temple (open until 4 PM) and Kiyomizu-dera (open until 6 PM). I saw on the map there is a bamboo park between them. Worth a walk through? Is that enough to do in an afternoon?

3. One of our party really wants to rent a kimono at some point. I have no interest in that for myself but am happy to walk around with her if it makes her happy. Could that be included on the first afternoon in the Gion district? Or should we go back and do that on another day?

4. What I would really like to do is visit Kurama-dera, partly because I have been to Kyoto, although it was many years ago, and I would like to see something outside the city (last time we stayed completely within the city, and it was fabulous and amazing, I just want to do something different and this appeals to me). If we get a good start in the morning, can we get back to Kyoto in time to do some more sightseeing later in the day? I keep seeing references to it as a half-day trip but I suspect it could be longer.

5. If the answer to that is yes, what about trying to visit Arashiyama at the end of the day? Or is that too much to combine with Kurama-dera?

6.. On our last day we have a cooking class in the morning and then a short (3 hour) bike tour that includes Kinkakuji. I was thinking we might go down to Fushimi Inari-taisha at the end of the day. Is that crazy?

Thank you!

1. I have no idea if it would sell out (though I wouldn’t be surprised). If there had been a night viewing when I visited, I would have jumped at the chance. YMMV.

2. Is the bamboo forest you see on the map the one that is part of Kodaiji? I remember a pleasant 5 or 10 minutes walking through Kodaiji's bamboo. I think there was a lovely tea house that I visited on that walk.

4. If you haven’t already seen it, the Japan-guide.com info on Kurama might help you decide: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3933....tion_get_there

6. IMO, visiting Fushimi Inari at the end of a day, around sunset, is a great idea. Again, YMMV.

Hope that helps!

2. You could use this service at Kyoto Station:
Convenient Luggage Delivery Service - Welcome-to-KYOTO .com

Thank you!

1. I'm not sure about the spring night viewing, but I went to the night illumination there in the fall and it was one of the best (of many) night illuminations I saw.

2/3. Most kimono rental shops have you return the kimono by 6pm. You don't say what time you're arriving in Kyoto, but if you're planning to visit Chion-in at 4 and Kiyomizu-dera at 6, you'll need to think about when your friend will return the kimono. I did a Kimono rental with Wakana Kimono, which is very close to Chion-in temple. They are very speedy at getting people dressed, so it would probably only take 30 minutes for your friend to be ready to go. Walking up all of the stairs to Chion-in in the narrow kimono was...not exactly difficult, but I did go much more slowly than I would have otherwise. However, that temple isn't super busy, so it was a great place to get photos.

4/5. What do you plan to do in Kurama? I think it's very possible to do as a 1/2 day trip if you get an early start, but I wouldn't pair it with Arashiyama, they are too far apart. A better option would be to pair with temples/sites in Northern Higashiyama or Northern Kyoto. For reference, I started the day with an 8am temple visit. I visited Enkoji and Sekizan, then rode the train to Kurama about noon. I did the hike from Kurama to Kibune and spent a couple of hours in Kibune and at the Kifune shrine and was back in Gion by about 7pm. I did see that the Kurama onsen recently reopened, in case that is of interest.

6. Fushimi Inari is open 24 hrs and it's supposed to be beautiful at night, so that sounds like a good plan.

Your idea is good! You can visit Fushimi Inari-taisha in the evening.

1. I was just finishing up my itinerary for Kyoto, and we also hope to visit Kodaji during their nighttime illuminations. So would love to hear any info on this. Tho we won't be there until closer to end of April when the cherry blossoms is over, so I'm hoping it won't be so crowded that it sells out.

Can you buy tickets in advance? if so, I would. JMO -- as I understand it, it's a very popular event.

I don't see that as an option
https://www.kodaiji.com/saiji.html

I know the OP has already gone on her trip, but just to report back for future reference, we were able to walk up to Kodaji in the evening (after dinner) and buy our night time illumination tickets. Apart from lighting up the buildings and paths with lights, they also had a "light show" in the garden of the main hall. We really enjoyed it as it gives a different atmosphere than visiting during the daylight hours.

Sounds wonderful! I'm glad that worked for you.