Five days in Kyoto
Japan
Five days, temples
A five-day plan for Kyoto, hour by hour: 25 places, from otsuka's example trips. Every time is a starting point, and every row can move.
Day 1
Kyoto Station, Kamo River, Pontocho
-
Lunch at Kyoto Station
Restaurant floors inside the station building.
-
Kamo River walk
Riverside path from Demachiyanagi down to Shijo.
-
Dinner in Pontocho
Narrow lane of restaurants between Sanjo and Shijo.
Day 2
Kita, Arashiyama, Kiyamachi
-
Kinkaku-ji
Zen temple, top two floors covered in gold leaf.
-
Ryoan-ji
Rock garden of fifteen stones in raked gravel.
-
Lunch in Arashiyama
-
Tenryu-ji
One of Kyoto's five great Zen temples.
-
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Path through the bamboo from Tenryu-ji's north gate.
-
Dinner on Kiyamachi
Restaurants along the Takase canal.
Day 3
Fushimi, Nakagyo, Higashiyama, Gion
-
Fushimi Inari
Torii gates start behind the main shrine.
-
Nishiki Market
Covered market, about a hundred stalls.
-
Kiyomizu-dera
Wooden stage over the hillside, built without nails.
-
Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
Stone-paved slopes lined with old wooden shops.
-
Yasaka Shrine
Lanterns on the dance stage are lit at night.
-
Dinner in Gion
Old teahouse district east of the Kamo River.
Day 4
Nakagyo, Kamigyo
-
Nijo Castle
Palace corridors with floors that chirp underfoot.
-
Honke Owariya
Soba and sweets, in business since 1465.
-
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Home of the emperors until 1869.
-
Kyoto International Manga Museum
Manga library in a former elementary school.
Day 5
Sakyo, Higashiyama
-
Ginkaku-ji
Zen temple whose pavilion was never covered in silver.
-
Philosopher's Path
Canal walk, Ginkaku-ji to Nanzen-ji.
-
Nanzen-ji
Brick aqueduct runs through the temple grounds.
-
Yudofu near Nanzen-ji
Simmered tofu, the dish this temple quarter is known for.
-
Kyoto National Museum
Japanese and Asian art, open since 1897.
-
Sanjusangen-do
Hall of 1,001 statues of Kannon.
If it rains in Kyoto
These are outdoors. On a wet day, It's raining moves them to another day of the trip and brings something indoors forward.
- Day 1: Kamo River walk
- Day 2: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- Day 3: Fushimi Inari
- Day 3: Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
- Day 4: Kyoto Imperial Palace
- Day 5: Philosopher's Path
Indoors on this plan: Kyoto International Manga Museum, Kyoto National Museum and Sanjusangen-do.
Take this plan
A new otsuka opens on four plans to borrow, this one among them. Pick Kyoto, tap your first day, and the whole plan lands on your dates.
iPhone only. A subscription: $39.99 a year, or $7.99 a month with the first month at $0.99 for new subscribers. There is no free version.
