Kyoto 4-Day In-Depth Itinerary

Day 1 · From Fushimi Inari to Kiyomizu-dera Fushimi & Higashiyama

1. 1. Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社)
   Fushimi Inari-taisha is the head shrine of the kami Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Wikipedia
   Best time: Early morning or late afternoon · Admission: Free — Open 24 hours — the gates near the entrance are busiest by day / The summit takes 2–3 hours round trip; crowds thin out past the Yotsutsuji junction, which has a city view
2. 2. Tōfuku-ji Temple (東福寺)
   Tōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku in Kyoto, Japan. Wikipedia
   Best time: Morning · Admission: Paid (Tsutenkyo bridge, gardens) — A famous autumn-leaf spot — very crowded in November, go at opening / Close to Fushimi Inari, easy to pair
3. 3. Sanjūsangendō Temple (三十三間堂)
   Sanjūsangen-dō is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, Japan. Wikipedia
   Best time: Morning · Admission: Paid — The long hall with over a thousand Kannon statues is the highlight / No photos inside the hall
4. 4. Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺)
   Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple located in eastern Kyoto, Japan. Wikipedia
   Best time: Early morning (opens around 6 am) · Admission: Paid (main hall area) — Tour groups arrive after about 9 am / Special night openings with lights in spring and autumn
5. 5. Sannenzaka (産寧坂（三年坂）)
   Best time: Early morning (photos) or morning · Admission: Free to browse — Shops open around 9–10 am — earlier is quiet and great for photos / Links Kiyomizu-dera and Yasaka Shrine on foot

Day 2 · A day in Arashiyama Arashiyama

1. 1. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (嵐山竹林の小径)
   Best time: Early morning (before 8 am) · Admission: Free — By late morning the path is packed / Connected to Tenryu-ji's north gate
2. 2. Tenryu-ji (天龍寺)
   Best time: Right after opening (around 8:30) · Admission: Paid (garden) · buildings extra — The pond garden is the main draw — the garden alone is enough / The north gate leads straight into the bamboo forest
3. 3. Togetsukyō Bridge (渡月橋)
   Best time: Sunset · Admission: Free — Best with spring blossoms or autumn leaves on the hills behind / Rowboats can be rented by the river
4. 4. Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama (嵐山モンキーパークいわたやま)
   Best time: Morning · Admission: Paid — About a 20-minute uphill walk — wear comfortable shoes / Don't stare at the monkeys or feed them outside the hut

Day 3 · From Kinkaku-ji to Kyoto Tower at night Kitayama, Nijo & Kyoto Station

1. 1. Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺)
   Kinkaku-ji, officially named Rokuon-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan and a tourist attraction. Wikipedia
   Best time: Right after opening, ideally a sunny day · Admission: Paid — The reflection in the pond is best on a sunny day / A one-way route — about 30–40 minutes
2. 2. Ryōan-ji (龍安寺)
   Ryōan-ji is a Zen temple located in northwest Kyoto, Japan. Wikipedia
   Best time: Early morning · Admission: Paid — The rock garden is laid out so you can never see all 15 stones at once / A place to sit quietly — go when it's less crowded
3. 3. Nijō Castle (元離宮二条城)
   Nijō Castle is a flatland castle in Kyoto, Japan. Wikipedia
   Best time: Morning · Admission: Paid — The Ninomaru Palace corridors 'sing' when walked on (nightingale floors) / No photos inside the palace; closing days vary by season — check first
4. 4. Nishiki Market (錦市場)
   Nishiki Market is a marketplace in downtown Kyoto, located on the east end of Nishikikōji Street, one block north and parallel to Shijō Street and west of Teramachi Street . Wikipedia
   Best time: Around lunchtime · Admission: Free to browse — Most stalls open around 10 am and close by 5–6 pm / Many ask you to eat at the stall rather than while walking
5. 5. Nidec Kyoto Tower (ニデック京都タワー) Wikipedia
   Best time: Sunset to night · Admission: Paid (observation deck) — Right outside Kyoto Station — good on arrival or departure day / Kyoto has few tall buildings, so the view is wide

Day 4 · From Ginkaku-ji to an evening in Gion Ginkaku-ji, Okazaki & Gion

1. 1. Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺)
   Ginkaku-ji, officially named Jishō-ji is a Zen temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan. Wikipedia
   Best time: Morning · Admission: Paid — Despite the name there's no silver — the moss and sand gardens are the draw / At the north end of the Philosopher's Path
2. 2. Philosopher's Path (Tetsugaku no Michi), North End (哲学の道)
   Best time: Morning or late afternoon · Admission: Free — About 2 km along a canal — walk down from Ginkaku-ji toward Nanzen-ji / Most beautiful (and busiest) in cherry-blossom season
3. 3. Nanzen-ji (南禅寺)
   Nanzen-ji, or Zuiryusan Nanzen-ji, formerly Zenrin-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Wikipedia
   Best time: Morning · Admission: Grounds free · gate and gardens paid — The brick aqueduct (Suirokaku) on the grounds is free / Climb the Sanmon gate for a view over the city
4. 4. Heian-jingū Shrine (平安神宮) Wikipedia
   Best time: Morning · Admission: Grounds free · garden paid — The giant red torii is a photo spot / The garden is especially pretty in cherry-blossom season
5. 5. Kōdaiji Temple (高台寺)
   Kōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple located in the Shimogawara neighborhood of Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Wikipedia
   Best time: Afternoon or special night openings · Admission: Paid — Lit-up night openings in spring and autumn / The quiet stone lane in front (Nene-no-michi) connects to Sannenzaka
6. 6. Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社)
   Yasaka Shrine, once called Gion Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Wikipedia
   Best time: Evening (lanterns) · Admission: Free — Open 24 hours, with lanterns lit in the evening / At the end of Gion — pair it with an evening walk there

Sources

• Google Places — 장소 이름·위치
• Wikipedia — 장소 소개 (CC BY-SA 4.0)