Kansai International Airport 1 hr 37
Kinkaku-ji (14 min)
Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond. Kyoto Tower (13 min)
Tower with an observation deck offering binoculars & touch-screen guides, plus a food court. Yasaka Shrine (20 min)
This Shinto shrine was erected in 656 A.D. & is home to one of the most famous festivals in Japan. Nijō Castle (7 min)
Built in 1603, this cyprus-wood castle with extensive gardens was a home for the shogun Ieyasu. Ryōan-ji (14 min)
On the scenic grounds of this 15th-century temple is a famous Zen rock garden & a yudofu restaurant. Kyoto Imperial Palace (14 min)
Palace complex & former Imperial family residence reconstructed in 1855, with gardens & gates. Toji (11 min)
Historic Buddhist temple with a 5-story wooden pagoda & sculptures of dieties from the 8th century. Nishiki Market (14 min)
400-year-old iconic market studded with stalls offering all manner of Japanese edibles. Maruyama Park (19 min)
Popular green space with an outdoor music hall, bronze statues & colorful, seasonal cherry blossoms. Fushimi Inari Taisha (23 min)
Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D. featuring a path with hundreds of traditional gates. Heian Shrine (18 min)
Classic Shinto shrine complex built in 1895, with a giant gate & museums of modern & municipal art. Arashiyama (19 min)
Winding, lush venue showcasing a host of monkeys plus a scenic bamboo forest & water vistas. Gion (17 min)
Geisha district featuring high-end shops & restaurants, a Zen garden & women in colorful kimonos. Kiyomizu-dera (18 min)
Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda. Higashiyama Jisho-ji (27 min)
This 15th-century Zen temple features picturesque gardens & a sand mound shaped like Mount Fuji. | 
