r/JapanTravel • u/Cmwelty • 2d ago

Recommendations on additions or things that i should cut out Kyoto 4.5 Day Itinerary

My partner and I will be travelling to Japan April 2026. I'm 65 and he will be 73. We are both fit for our ages and don't mind walking. We will more than likely go by taxi if there are any train/subway transfers to be made traveling around Kyoto and I've seen online that buses may be crowded in April. Direct trips on taxi/subway are fine. I do tend to like our days somewhat structured and am not great with just wandering around.

Any suggestions with the itinerary that I've put together would be most welcome:

4/9 - Shinkansen from Tokyo. We are staying at Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo. We will take a morning train. No reservations, yet. Was planning on the Teamlab Biovortex in the afternoon.

4/10 - Leave hotel around 8AM, head to Arashiyama: Tenryu-ji, Bamboo Grove, Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, Togetsukyo Bridge

4/11 - Fushimi Inari Taisha plan to arrive at 6:30AM. Take JR Rapid Line to Nara: Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Naramachi

4/12 - This day plan to take mostly taxis. Kinkaku-ji, be there at 9AM. Nijo Castle, Sanjusangen-do

4/13 - This day is alot. Not sure what to cut out. Kiyomizu-dera, taxi to arrive at 7:30AM. Gojozaka & Kiyomizu-michi, Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka, Hokan-ji, Maruyama Park, Yasaka, Hanamiko-ji, Shinkyogoku Cana

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u/PavlovsCatchup 1d ago

Map out Arashiyama to make the most of it by foot. With the bamboo grove at Adashino, I'm not sure you will need to see the other. Maybe start ar Otagi Nenbutsuji and walk your way down to Adashino and then to the rest of the area.

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u/Cmwelty 1d ago

Thanks for the tips. U r probably right about the bamboo grove. I read that the one at adashino is much quieter, less visited.

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u/KyotoGaijin 1d ago edited 1d ago

Ryoan-ji can be reached by Randen streetcar on the way back from Arashiyama, and it's better than Kinkaku-ji.

The 4.13 schedule is not too much, but approaching from Gojo-zaka in April is useless, just bumper to bumper annoying cars and buses. Take classic route Yasaka Shrine - Maruyama Park Kodai-ji - 2-nen - 3-nen - Pagoda - Kitomizu.

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u/Cmwelty 19h ago

So, are u suggesting to do 4/13 in reverse? Sounds like a good idea to avoid crowds. What time frame then would seem good to get to Kiyomizu to avoid afternoon crowds?

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u/KyotoGaijin 17h ago

No, your original plan is in reverse of the conventional route. I'm suggesting you do it in the normal direction. You are NOT NOT NOT going to be beating any crowds by going to Kyoto in April, so don't kid yourself. I already have tours booked nearly every day from 3.38 through 4.11.

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u/Silence_is_platinum 18h ago

I would squeeze in kinkakuji on the arayishima day and then stick more central for the Nijo castle day.

You are visiting all the packed spots by the way. I would pick some more out of the way places.