Kansai International Airport 1 hr 24
Arashiyama (27 min)
Winding, lush venue showcasing a host of monkeys plus a scenic bamboo forest & water vistas. Nijō Castle (33 min)
Built in 1603, this cyprus-wood castle with extensive gardens was a home for the shogun Ieyasu. Yasaka Shrine (32 min)
This Shinto shrine was erected in 656 A.D. & is home to one of the most famous festivals in Japan. Tenryuji Temple (31 min)
This 1300s Zen temple at the foot of mountains features teahouses & serene, expansive gardens. Toji (23 min)
Historic Buddhist temple with a 5-story wooden pagoda & sculptures of dieties from the 8th century. Fushimi Inari Taisha (24 min)
Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D. featuring a path with hundreds of traditional gates. Kiyomizu-dera (32 min)
Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda. Gion (30 min)
Geisha district featuring high-end shops & restaurants, a Zen garden & women in colorful kimonos. Kyoto Tower (27 min)
Tower with an observation deck offering binoculars & touch-screen guides, plus a food court. Ryōan-ji (38 min)
On the scenic grounds of this 15th-century temple is a famous Zen rock garden & a yudofu restaurant. Kinkaku-ji (42 min)
Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond. Heian Shrine (35 min)
Classic Shinto shrine complex built in 1895, with a giant gate & museums of modern & municipal art. Kyoto Imperial Palace (31 min)
Palace complex & former Imperial family residence reconstructed in 1855, with gardens & gates. Nishiki Market (25 min)
400-year-old iconic market studded with stalls offering all manner of Japanese edibles. Katsura Imperial Villa (23 min)
The grounds of this 17th-century imperial villa feature a scenic Japanese garden with teahouses. | 
