Kansai International Airport 1 hr 26
Kinkaku-ji (24 min) Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond. Yasaka Shrine (20 min) This Shinto shrine was erected in 656 A.D. & is home to one of the most famous festivals in Japan. Tofukuji Temple (10 min) Large Buddhist temple established in 1236 on scenic grounds with gardens known for fall foliage. Kiyomizu-dera (17 min) Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda. Toji (5 min) Historic Buddhist temple with a 5-story wooden pagoda & sculptures of dieties from the 8th century. Heian Shrine (20 min) Classic Shinto shrine complex built in 1895, with a giant gate & museums of modern & municipal art. Gion (15 min) Geisha district featuring high-end shops & restaurants, a Zen garden & women in colorful kimonos. Nishiki Market (16 min) 400-year-old iconic market studded with stalls offering all manner of Japanese edibles. Kyoto Imperial Palace (18 min) Palace complex & former Imperial family residence reconstructed in 1855, with gardens & gates. Rengeoin Sanjusangendo (11 min) This iconic Buddhist temple is known for its 1,001 life-sized wooden statues of the goddess Kannon. Maruyama Park (17 min) Popular green space with an outdoor music hall, bronze statues & colorful, seasonal cherry blossoms. Nijō Castle (13 min) Built in 1603, this cyprus-wood castle with extensive gardens was a home for the shogun Ieyasu. Kyoto Tower (8 min) Tower with an observation deck offering binoculars & touch-screen guides, plus a food court. Arashiyama (25 min) Winding, lush venue showcasing a host of monkeys plus a scenic bamboo forest & water vistas. Fushimi Inari Taisha (13 min) Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D. featuring a path with hundreds of traditional gates. |