Kyoto
This itinerary was built for three full days in Kyoto, including a day trip to Nara (Day 2) and a morning excursion to nearby Arashiyama (Day 3).
Detail 1
Early train from Osaka to Kyoto (1 hour)
Drop off bags at Kyoto Kamanza Hotel
Or we can use the luggage delivery service at the shinkansen station: https://www.eonet.ne.jp/~kamanzahotel/deliveryserviceenglish.pdf
Central Kyoto
Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine: Myriad tori (shrine gates) at this vast shrine complex
Nintendo Corporate Headquarters
Toji Buddhist temple
Rengeoin Sanjusangendo: Buddhist temple with 1,001 statues
Explore Higashiyama Ward (entertainment district with authentic teahouses, craft shops, and pottery shops)
Sanneizaka (Sannenzaka): traditional shopping zone on a hill
Fukubukuros = lucky bags?! Check out Pokemon Center Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera
Kasagiya
This fine little teahouse near the top of Sannen-zaka, a short walk from Kiyomizu-dera Temple, is almost too quaint for words. It’s rickety, cramped and oozing with old-Japanese flavor. There’s an English menu and their tea, sweets and shaved ice treats (in summer) are delicious. It’s the perfect way to power yourself through an afternoon of sightseeing in Southern Higashiyama.Ryozen Kannon Statue
Kodaiji Temple
Dinner at 7:30 PM: Gion Tempura Kappo Hasegawa
Detail 2: Nara
Afternoon: back in Kyoto
Pokemon Center Kyoto
Nishiki Market and Shopping District
Get the tofu donuts in Nishiki Market street
Teramachi Street (shopping)
Shijō Kawaramachi (shopping district with boutiques)
Explore Gion area: entertainment districts with authentic teahouses, craft shops, and pottery shops
Have to go to Tsuriji Honten in Gion for matcha parfaits
Tea: Kagizen Yoshifusa
Located on Shijo-dori, in the heart of Gion, this esteemed Kyoto sweet shop has a beautiful tearoom hidden in back. The tearoom overlooks a small garden and it’s almost always blissfully quiet. There’s an English menu and they’re quite comfortable with foreign tourists. You can choose from a variety of classic Japanese sweets to go with your tea. This is highly recommended when you need a break in Southern HigashiyamaNew Year’s soba (tradition) at Honke Owariya
https://honke-owariya.co.jp/en/whatisowariya/ for their history and more information about this tradition
If line is too long, check out the other NYE soba options: https://sharing-kyoto.com/Eat-Drink/magazine/re007261
Or sample special Japanese New Year’s cuisine (New Year’s feast), known as o-sechi ryori, by stopping by one of the department stores and purchasing a ready-made assortment that you can eat at your lodgings.
Takashimaya, Daimaru and Isetan department stores are all good places to pick up some o-sechi ryori.
Joya-no-kane
After feasting on New Year’s Eve, many Kyotoites head to their local temple to perform joya-no-kane, a sacred bell ringing ceremony. Here, people line up to ring the giant temple bells and wish for good fortune in the New Year (and to get rid of bad karma from the old). Technically, the bells are supposed to be rung 108 times, a number symbolizing the sins to which the flesh is heir, but many temples will allow everyone a chance to ring the bell even if it exceeds this number. Here are some good spots to participate in or observe joya-no-kane:
Chion-in: This vast temple houses Kyoto’s largest temple bell in a special enclosure above the main precinct. The bell is rung by a team of 17 monks, who fall with all their weight on ropes to swing the massive log-like clanger into the bell. If you want to see this, you’ll have to go very early and stand in line.
Nanzen-ji Temple: If you’re willing to stand on line, you can take a turn ringing the bell at the atmospheric bell tower of this fine Zen temple.
Kurodani Temple: Located on a hill above the city, the night view alone here is worth the trip. If you get here about an hour before midnight, you’ll have a chance to ring the bell with the locals.
Shinyodo Temple: This lovely temple in Sakyo-ku is very popular with Kyoto’s expat community as a place to ring in the New Year. The monks here serve hot medicinal tea to visitors, who then stand on line to ring the bell. I once spent a magical New Year’s Eve here waiting to ring the bell in deep snow
Visit Kyoto shrine or temple at midnight: Hatsumode (New Year’s First Visit)
After ringing the bell at the local temple, many Kyotoites head to their local shrine or one of the city’s grand shrines to perform hatsu-mode, the all-important first shrine visit of the New Year. Those who don’t visit a shrine on the evening of December 31st will almost always go on January 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Once at the shrine, Kyotoites will stand on line to ring the bell and say a prayer for a good New Year. Foreign visitors are more than welcome to join the queue and say a prayer. Some shrine-goers will also draw an omikuji (fortune) by shaking a numbered stick out of a special container and telling the number to the waiting attendant who will hand over the corresponding fortune (this costs Y100). Some shrines serve special sweet alcohol-free sake called amazake to their guests on New Year’s Eve, and this is a great way to beat the chill.
Yasaka-jinja Shrine: Sitting on a hill overlooking the Gion geisha district, bustling Yasaka-jinja is easily one of the most atmospheric places to ring in the New Year.
Near Yasaka, can also go to Chion-In, Shoren-In, Kodaiji, and Kiyomizu-dera
Detail 3: Arashiyama
Hop on a train to Arashiyama
Mountains of Kyoto
Arashiyama Station
Monkey Park Iwatayama (open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
Togetsu-kyō Bridge: landmark bridge with a scenic footpath
Tenryu-ji Temple
Arashiyama Bamboo forest
Okochi Sanso Villa, Garden
Walk north into the mountains to:
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
Hatsumode (New Year’s first visit)
Head west to Omuroouchi area (30-minute train/bus ride)
Lunch?
Ryōan-ji with Zen rock garden
Kinkakuji temple
Take a bus (25 min) into north-central Kyoto
Shimogamo-Jinja: 2,000-year-old shrine in a serene forest
Head down to central Kyoto
Maybe Nijojocho (Nijo Castle) is open? Website says closed Dec 29-31
Ippodo
Located on Teramachi-dori Street, a short walk north of downtown, this is my favorite tea shop in Kyoto. It’s the perfect place to pick up some Japanese tea to take home with you. And, next door to the shop, there’s a small café where you can sample some of the shops excellent matcha and leaf teas like gyokuro and senchaDinner?