Kansai International Airport 2 hr 35
Kurama-dera Temple (32 min)
Historic Buddhist temple set on a mountainside, with access via a cable car or up hundreds of steps. Mount Hiei (1 hr 19)
Scenic, notable peak offering temples, a garden museum, hotel, hiking trails & 2 funicular routes. Mount Kurama (31 min)
Known as the birthplace of reiki, this mountain features a hiking trail with temples & shrines. Mt. Horai (1 hr 15)
Summit with views of Lake Biwa, a cafe & a ropeway, popular for hiking, birdwatching & climbing. Hira Mountains (38 min)
Cluster of peaks popular for hiking & climbing, with summit views of Lake Biwa & fall leaf colors. Kifune Shrine (38 min)
Intimate Shinto shrine with a verdant mountainside setting, reached by a lantern-lined path. Jakko-in Temple (51 min)
Quaint, tucked-away Buddhist temple nestled in a peaceful garden with an intimate vibe. Miyama Kayabuki-no-Sato (56 min)
Historic hamlet surrounded by mountains, known for its houses with traditional thatched roofs. Kamigamo-jinja (48 min)
This historic 7th-century Shinto shrine complex is full of trees & set on the banks of a river. Enryakuji (1 hr 16)
This sprawling Tendai Buddhist monastery dates to the 7th century but was rebuilt centuries later. Kurama Hot Spring (32 min)
Low-key rooms in a relaxed hotel offering open-air hot spring bathing & inclusive meals. Miyamasou (8 min)
Traditional rooms in an informal inn set in a former temple building that has river views. Hosen-in Temple (47 min)
Built in 1012, this Buddhist temple features a blood-stained ceiling, a garden & light refreshments. Sanzen-in Temple (48 min)
Venerable Buddhist temple founded in 784 CE & a garden known for summer hydrangeas & autumn leaves. Ruriko-in Temple (57 min)
Autumn leaf color and temple | 
