Kyoto
At a Glance
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| Dates | Monday, April 13 - Monday, April 20, 2026 |
| Nights | 7 |
| Focus | Temples, gardens, tea houses, cherry blossoms |
| Status | To Book |
Why Kyoto?
- 1600+ temples — Japan’s spiritual heart
- Cherry blossoms — Peak season, mid-April perfect timing
- Geisha district — Gion’s traditional atmosphere
- Gardens — Zen rock gardens, moss gardens, stroll gardens
- Day trips — Nara, Himeji Castle, Arashiyama
- Food — Kaiseki, matcha, Nishiki Market
Getting There
From Takayama:
- Hida Express to Nagoya (~2.5 hrs)
- Shinkansen Nagoya to Kyoto (~35 min)
- Total: ~4 hours, ~12,000 yen
Accommodation Options
Best Area: Higashiyama/Gion — walking distance to major temples
| Hotel | Price | Notes | Links |
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| Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu | ~$180-220 | Near temples, excellent brand | Map |
| THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA | ~$150-180 | Near Shoren-in, modern | Map |
| Mitsui Garden Kawaramachi Jokyoji | ~$150-200 | Built with temple, has onsen | Map |
Suggested Itinerary
| Day | Date | Activities |
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| 1 | Mon 4/13 | Arrive from Takayama, evening walk Gion, Yasaka Shrine |
| 2 | Tue 4/14 | Fushimi Inari (dawn!), Nishiki Market, Kyoto National Museum |
| 3 | Wed 4/15 | Higashiyama: Kiyomizu-dera, Sannenzaka lanes, Kodai-ji |
| 4 | Thu 4/16 | Philosopher’s Path: Ginkaku-ji to Nanzen-ji |
| 5 | Fri 4/17 | Northwest: Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, Nijo Castle |
| 6 | Sat 4/18 | Arashiyama — Bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji, Tenzan no Yu |
| 7 | Sun 4/19 | Nara day trip — Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, deer |
Temples & Shrines
Eastern Kyoto (Higashiyama)
| Site | Type | Cost | Notes | Links |
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| Kiyomizu-dera | Buddhist | 400 yen | Iconic wooden stage | Map |
| Fushimi Inari | Shinto | Free | 10,000 torii gates — GO AT DAWN | Map |
| Yasaka Shrine | Shinto | Free | Heart of Gion, lanterns at dusk | Map |
Philosopher’s Path Area
| Site | Type | Cost | Notes | Links |
|---|
| Ginkaku-ji | Zen | 500 yen | Silver Pavilion, sand garden | Map |
| Nanzen-ji | Zen | 600 yen | Massive gate, aqueduct | Map |
Northwest Kyoto
| Site | Type | Cost | Notes | Links |
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| Kinkaku-ji | Zen | 500 yen | Golden Pavilion | Map |
| Ryoan-ji | Zen | 600 yen | Famous rock garden | Map |
| Nijo Castle | History | 1,300 yen | Shogun’s residence, nightingale floors | Map |
Arashiyama (West)
| Site | Cost | Notes | Links |
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| Bamboo Grove | Free | Go early to avoid crowds | Map |
| Tenryu-ji | 500 yen | UNESCO, beautiful Zen garden | Map |
Day Trips
Nara (Highly Recommended)
- Distance: ~45 min by train, ~1,500 yen round trip
- Todai-ji — World’s largest bronze Buddha
- Kasuga Taisha — 3,000 lanterns
- Nara Park — 1,200+ sacred deer
Himeji Castle (Optional)
- Distance: ~50 min Shinkansen, ~6,000 yen round trip
- Japan’s finest original castle
Onsen & Sento
| Facility | Notes | Links |
|---|
| Funaoka Onsen | 1933, Cultural Property — worth the trip | Map |
| Tenzan no Yu | Arashiyama, combine with bamboo grove | Map |
| Kurama Onsen | Mountains, 30 min train, outdoor sulfur springs | Map |
Food
- Nishiki Market — “Kyoto’s Kitchen”
- Kaiseki — Multi-course traditional meal (splurge one night)
- Matcha — Tea ceremony or sweets
- Yudofu — Tofu hot pot (Nanzen-ji area)
Jazz
| Venue | Notes | Links |
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| Hello Dolly | Classic jazz bar | Map |
| Jittoku | Oldest live house in Japan | Map |
Budget (Kyoto Leg)
| Category | Estimate |
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| Accommodation (7 nights) | ~$1,050-1,400 |
| Temples/shrines (~10 sites) | ~$50 |
| Nara day trip | ~$15 |
| Onsen/sento (daily) | ~$40 |
| Food (7 days) | ~$300-400 |
| Local transit | ~$40 |
| Subtotal | ~$1,495-1,945 |
Departure: April 20 (Monday)
To Osaka:
- Local train (~30 min, ~600 yen)
- Quick, easy transition
Luggage: No need for takkyubin — Osaka is only 30 min away. Just take your bags on the train.