Day 1 in Kyoto

Welcome to Kyoto! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the city, take a Hop-on, Hop-off sightseeing tour offered in the city by K`Loop. Hop off and explore the many World Heritage Sites the city has to offer including the National Museum, Nijo Castle, Imperial Palace and Kinkakuji Temple. The Kyoto Station is one of the stops and places where the tour originates, be sure to hop off at the station and check out over 70 different dining options, 20 of which are located on the 11th floor of the building at the Isetan department store.

Another stop along the way is the Ginkaku-Ji Temple, The Silver Pavilion with spectacular gardens, The Sea of Silver Sand Zen garden and temples. The temple is situated at the start of the Path of Philosophy or the Philosopher`s walk, a pleasant stroll through this area with shaded trees and a narrow path that leads down the side of the canal. This area is especially popular during cherry blossom season in the spring as the path is covered with the canopies of the cherry trees and their spectacular blooms.

From here make your way to Nanzen-Ji Temple, this is one of the most important Zen Buddhist temples in Japan where the grounds are filled with temples and sub-temples with lush green surroundings and large pine trees, in a Zen-like paradise. See the 2 story Sanmon gate, Hojo, a famous rock garden, fusuma paintings and a secret waterfall.

For your first evening in the city make your way to the Gion District, explore the quaint side streets with traditional wooden buildings that date back to the Edo period. Many of these old Japanese style houses `machiya` are now `ochaya` (teahouses) where the Geisha`s entertain. Gion is best around dusk as you are sure to catch a glimpse of a beautiful Geisha or two hurrying down the alleyways on route to the ochaya, dressed in their gorgeous kimono`s, wooden slippers with their faces painted white and their hair pinned up, they are truly a spectacular sight to see in Japan`s original capital.

Grab some dinner at one of the many restaurants on the lantern-lit streets; Gion Corner is home to the Yasaka Hall Theatre where you can catch a show. There are galleries, shops, and bars to explore as well as beautiful streets like Shimbashi which are perfect for an event stroll.

Day 2 in Kyoto

Begin your second day with a visit to one of Kyoto`s most famous landmarks, the Kiyomisu-Dera Temple (Pure Water Temple) nestled on the side of a mountain providing visitors with impressive views over the valley below, the views can be enjoyed from the huge wooden stage that stands 42 feet high towering over the cherry and maples trees below. Visitors can enjoy the spectacular vibrant colors of the cherry blossoms in the spring and the fall colors in the winter. Visit the popular `love stones` on the property where you can try to walk through a gap between two large stones (with their eyes closed) to determine if you will find love or true love.

From here make your way to Maruyama Park, another great viewing point during cherry blossom season. Here you can find shops, restaurants and cafes, the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and enjoy a picnic in the park.

After lunch, make your way to the Higashiyama ward where you can visit the Chishaku-in Temple, The Sanjusangen-do Temple, and the National Museum all within walking distance of each other. Wander around these three historic landmarks, take in the beauty of the temples and the Japanese gardens and soak up the history of Kyoto.

Make your way to the Nishiki Market in downtown Kyoto, a traditional food market filled with hundreds of stalls and plenty of dining options. Grab some traditional cuisine, either sit down at one of the stalls or eat on the go and explore the five blocks the market fills and do some shopping. Not far from here is the Nijo Castle, one of the most impressive sights in Kyoto, wander the castle and its grounds surrounded by a moat and filled with elegant gardens and a plum orchard with over 400 cherry trees, during cherry blossom season the castle, pathways, and trees are lit up making this a spectacular spot in the evening times.

A short walk away from the castle is Pontocho, this popular nightlife area is also the number two spot where Geisha`s fill the streets around dusk. These magical streets are beautifully decorated with lanterns and the neighborhood is filled with a variety of restaurants, some with outdoor dining (during the summer), bars and shops. Stroll around the narrow streets and enjoy the exotic atmosphere.

Day 3 in Kyoto

Begin your last day in Kyoto with a trip to the Arashiyama district, this renowned area is filled with temples, shrines, museums, and parks surrounded by breathtaking scenery with the famous Togetsu-Kyo Bridge that crosses over the Katsura River. The Tenryuji Temple features the famous bamboo forest which is definitely worth a visit. There are restaurants and shops here where you can grab some food and refreshments. Then take a bike ride out in the countryside past the fields and stop at temples along the way.

After lunch, you can take a train from Arashiyama and make your way south to the Fushimi Inari Taisha, Japan`s most famous shrine and the head shrine in Inari located at the base of the Mountains, standing at 764 feet above sea level. The shrine is known for the thousands of red and orange colored torii gates lining 2.5-mile long path up the mountain. There are almost 30,000 sub-shrines in the area, stone fox statues line the paths and are thought to be Inari`s sacred messenger. There are restaurants and tea houses located along the way for food and a refreshing cup of Matcha tea.

From here head over to the Kyoto Tower, located across from the Kyoto Station. This is the tallest landmark in the city, head up to the observation deck and take in the spectacular panoramic views of the city below as well as the Higashiyama Mountains. There are restaurants and shops located in the tower as well as a Spa. Enjoy some fine Kyoto cuisine, shop for some last minute souvenirs or enjoy a traditional Japanese spa treatment.

As the evening approaches take a Japanese cooking class, a great way to spend your last evening learning about the traditional Kyoto cuisine such as such as shojin ryori and Kaiseki Ryo.

Additional Days in Kyoto

If you are able to spend additional days in Kyoto take the time to visit some of the other spectacular temples and shrines, the city features over 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines, and 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites! Just to list a few, The Ryoan-Ji Temple, The Kinkaku-Ji Temple, The Shimogamo Shrine, The Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Katsura Imperial Villa.

Be sure to visit Kyoto during `Ume`, the cherry blossom and plum blossom season. Kyoto is one of the most popular destinations to enjoy these breathtakingly beautiful blooming trees. During the early spring (Plum early February to late March and cherry end of March, beginning of April) as the city is known for its spectacular collections of cherry trees that can be seen in full pink and white blooms during this time of year. With many places lit up at night providing spectacular evening viewings.

Your Last Day in Kyoto

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.