Kansai International Airport 1 hr 25
Kinkaku-ji (38 min)
Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond. Kyoto Tower (18 min)
Tower with an observation deck offering binoculars & touch-screen guides, plus a food court. Kiyomizu-dera (22 min)
Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda. Tofukuji Temple (12 min)
Large Buddhist temple established in 1236 on scenic grounds with gardens known for fall foliage. Fushimi Inari Taisha (9 min)
Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D. featuring a path with hundreds of traditional gates. Toji (16 min)
Historic Buddhist temple with a 5-story wooden pagoda & sculptures of dieties from the 8th century. Gion (21 min)
Geisha district featuring high-end shops & restaurants, a Zen garden & women in colorful kimonos. Yasaka Shrine (26 min)
This Shinto shrine was erected in 656 A.D. & is home to one of the most famous festivals in Japan. Heian Shrine (26 min)
Classic Shinto shrine complex built in 1895, with a giant gate & museums of modern & municipal art. Kyoto Imperial Palace (29 min)
Palace complex & former Imperial family residence reconstructed in 1855, with gardens & gates. Maruyama Park (23 min)
Popular green space with an outdoor music hall, bronze statues & colorful, seasonal cherry blossoms. Nijō Castle (25 min)
Built in 1603, this cyprus-wood castle with extensive gardens was a home for the shogun Ieyasu. Arashiyama (35 min)
Winding, lush venue showcasing a host of monkeys plus a scenic bamboo forest & water vistas. Nishiki Market (25 min)
400-year-old iconic market studded with stalls offering all manner of Japanese edibles. Rengeoin Sanjusangendo (17 min)
This iconic Buddhist temple is known for its 1,001 life-sized wooden statues of the goddess Kannon. | 
