Kansai International Airport 2 hr 1
Ninna-ji (17 min) This historic Buddhist temple featuring picturesque gardens & a 5-story pagoda was founded in 886. Heian Shrine (36 min) Classic Shinto shrine complex built in 1895, with a giant gate & museums of modern & municipal art. Kinkaku-ji (21 min) Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond. Nishiki Market (35 min) 400-year-old iconic market studded with stalls offering all manner of Japanese edibles. Nijō Castle (26 min) Built in 1603, this cyprus-wood castle with extensive gardens was a home for the shogun Ieyasu. Kyoto Imperial Palace (31 min) Palace complex & former Imperial family residence reconstructed in 1855, with gardens & gates. Tenryuji Temple (21 min) This 1300s Zen temple at the foot of mountains features teahouses & serene, expansive gardens. Kiyomizu-dera (43 min) Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda. Arashiyama (21 min) Winding, lush venue showcasing a host of monkeys plus a scenic bamboo forest & water vistas. Higashiyama Jisho-ji (44 min) This 15th-century Zen temple features picturesque gardens & a sand mound shaped like Mount Fuji. Gion (38 min) Geisha district featuring high-end shops & restaurants, a Zen garden & women in colorful kimonos. Toji (35 min) Historic Buddhist temple with a 5-story wooden pagoda & sculptures of dieties from the 8th century. Ryōan-ji (17 min) On the scenic grounds of this 15th-century temple is a famous Zen rock garden & a yudofu restaurant. Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama (21 min) Popular area atop Mt. Arashiyama for viewing wild macaque monkeys & sweeping city views. Fushimi Inari Taisha (48 min) Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D. featuring a path with hundreds of traditional gates. |