START POINT

8am: Kyoto Station

1 Kiyomizu-dera Temple

60 minutes

Tickets included

Inside Kiyomizu-dera, the main hall enshrines a hidden statue of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. Drink from Otowa Falls’ three streams, each believed to grant wisdom, health, or success. Rent a kimono and walk around the lantern-lit streets, and try some takoyaki and matcha!

2 - Sanju-san-gen-do Temple

40 minutes

Tickets included

Sanju-san-gen-do Temple in Kyoto is famous for its 1,001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The long wooden hall, Japan’s longest, feels endless as the golden figures line up in neat rows.

3 Arashiyama

3 attractions

Guided tour

Highlights

1. Japanese style buffet lunch (if option selected)

Lunch

2. Togetsu-kyo Bridge

3. Sagano Bamboo Forest

30 minutes

4. Tenryu-ji Temple

30 minutes

4 - Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)

40 minutes

Tickets included

Kinkaku-ji, or the Golden Pavilion, is a stunning Zen temple in Kyoto, covered in gold leaf and set beside a peaceful pond. Inside, the first floor has a simple Shinden-style hall, while the upper floors feature Buddhist statues and relics.

5 - Fushimi Inari Shrine

65 minutes

Free Admission

Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto is home to the tunnel of endless vermillion torii gates, winding up Mount Inari, with fox statues guarding hidden shrines. Deeper inside, you'll find intricate altars, flickering lanterns, and prayer plaques, where visitors seek blessings from the deity of prosperity.

6 - END POINT

4:30pm: Kyoto Station