Kansai International Airport 2 hr 5
Yasaka Shrine (39 min)
This Shinto shrine was erected in 656 A.D. & is home to one of the most famous festivals in Japan. Ryōan-ji (32 min)
On the scenic grounds of this 15th-century temple is a famous Zen rock garden & a yudofu restaurant. Arashiyama (47 min)
Winding, lush venue showcasing a host of monkeys plus a scenic bamboo forest & water vistas. Nijō Castle (32 min)
Built in 1603, this cyprus-wood castle with extensive gardens was a home for the shogun Ieyasu. Kiyomizu-dera (44 min)
Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda. Heian Shrine (35 min)
Classic Shinto shrine complex built in 1895, with a giant gate & museums of modern & municipal art. Nishiki Market (37 min)
400-year-old iconic market studded with stalls offering all manner of Japanese edibles. Higashiyama Jisho-ji (33 min)
This 15th-century Zen temple features picturesque gardens & a sand mound shaped like Mount Fuji. Kyoto Imperial Palace (29 min)
Palace complex & former Imperial family residence reconstructed in 1855, with gardens & gates. Fushimi Inari Taisha (49 min)
Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D. featuring a path with hundreds of traditional gates. Shimogamo-Jinja (25 min)
Legendary 2,000-year-old shrine & excavation site set in a tranquil, riverside forest. Gion (38 min)
Geisha district featuring high-end shops & restaurants, a Zen garden & women in colorful kimonos. Kifune Shrine (2 min)
Intimate Shinto shrine with a verdant mountainside setting, reached by a lantern-lined path. Kinkaku-ji (29 min)
Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond. Mount Hiei (53 min)
Scenic, notable peak offering temples, a garden museum, hotel, hiking trails & 2 funicular routes. | 
