Kansai International Airport 1 hr 47
Arashiyama (37 min)
Winding, lush venue showcasing a host of monkeys plus a scenic bamboo forest & water vistas. Heian Shrine (57 min)
Classic Shinto shrine complex built in 1895, with a giant gate & museums of modern & municipal art. Kinkaku-ji (52 min)
Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond. Nijō Castle (50 min)
Built in 1603, this cyprus-wood castle with extensive gardens was a home for the shogun Ieyasu. Kyoto Tower (49 min)
Tower with an observation deck offering binoculars & touch-screen guides, plus a food court. Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama (40 min)
Popular area atop Mt. Arashiyama for viewing wild macaque monkeys & sweeping city views. Kyoto Imperial Palace (54 min)
Palace complex & former Imperial family residence reconstructed in 1855, with gardens & gates. Ryōan-ji (49 min)
On the scenic grounds of this 15th-century temple is a famous Zen rock garden & a yudofu restaurant. Toji (46 min)
Historic Buddhist temple with a 5-story wooden pagoda & sculptures of dieties from the 8th century. Tenryuji Temple (42 min)
This 1300s Zen temple at the foot of mountains features teahouses & serene, expansive gardens. Fushimi Inari Taisha (48 min)
Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D. featuring a path with hundreds of traditional gates. Kiyomizu-dera (54 min)
Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda. Ninna-ji (49 min)
This historic Buddhist temple featuring picturesque gardens & a 5-story pagoda was founded in 886. Nishiki Market (53 min)
400-year-old iconic market studded with stalls offering all manner of Japanese edibles. Gion (53 min)
Geisha district featuring high-end shops & restaurants, a Zen garden & women in colorful kimonos. | 
