Secrets of Kansai

Empty Japan - (Empty.Japan)
Itinerary created by
Empty Japan
What you’ll do

Four-day plan that's all about hidden treasures – the stuff you won't find in regular guides.

Day 1 - Explore one of Japan's holiest places with over a thousand years of history including one of my favorite Temples of all time.

  • Travel time (from Kyoto Station): 35 min (JR train + bus) or 40 min by car

Day 2 - Discover a charming village frozen in time as you explore the north of Kyoto. Uncover ancient temples, their secrets, traditions, flavors, and stories that will transport you to a different era.

  • Travel time (from Kyoto Station): 1 hour and 10 minutes by subway and bus or 50 minutes by car.

Day 3 - Venture off the beaten path in Arashiyama, avoiding crowded tourist spots. Explore hidden and atmospheric locations that are rarely visited, offering a unique perspective on this beautiful area.

  • Travel time (from Kyoto Station): 40 minutes by subway and train or 30 minutes by car.

Day 4 - Discover the essence of Japan's charm on this day trip while wandering through historic streets lined with traditional homes, savor some of the best Wagyu in Japan, and unwind with serene views of the lake Biwa. From scenic mountain vistas to peaceful boat rides, this itinerary promises an unforgettable adventure.

  • Travel time (from Kyoto Station): 50-60 minutes by train + bus or 1 hour by car.

And, of course, if you've been following my Instagram for long enough, you know that these itineraries include absolutely delicious restaurants and cafes where you can savor some of the best dishes of local cuisine.

  • All of the locations are accessible by public transport.

  • Mentioned travel time is approximate and may vary depending on your departure time and traffic conditions.

  • If you plan to spend less than 3 days in Kyoto, choose those day-trips that you are interested in the most.

  • These day trips are not interconnected and may be experienced in any order

1

About this day trip (Hiei)
About this day trip (Hiei)
About this day trip
Category
Sightseeing

14.4 km (9 mi)

25 min

2

How to get to Mt. Hiei
How to get to Mt. Hiei
Read before your trip
Category
Public Transport
Est. Price
$
Transport Type
bus

1.5 km (0.9 mi)

4 min

3

Hieizan-Sakamoto JR Station
Hieizan-Sakamoto JR Station
JR station (skip it if you travel by car or taxi)
Category
Public Transport

1.5 km (0.9 mi)

4 min

4

Cable Sakamoto Station
Cable Sakamoto Station
Cablecar station
Category
Public Transport

13.8 km (8.6 mi)

24 min

5

Cable Enryakuji Station
Cable Enryakuji Station
Retro Cablecar ride
Category
Public Transport
Est. Price
$
Transport Type
other

1.1 km (0.7 mi)

3 min

6

Ticket Booth
Ticket Booth
Entry to the Temple complex
Category
Public Transport
Est. Price
¥1,000

6 m (0 mi)

7

Bell of Luck
Bell of Luck
Legendary Bell tower
Category
Sightseeing
Est. Price
¥100

20 m (0 mi)

8

Daikodo (Grand Lecture Hall)
Daikodo (Grand Lecture Hall)
Temple's Lecture Hall
Category
Culture

266 m (0.2 mi)

1 min

9

Amidado Hall
Amidado Hall
Beautiful Temple Hall
Category
Culture

317 m (0.2 mi)

1 min

10

Kokuho-den Japanese National Treasure Museum
Kokuho-den Japanese National Treasure Museum
National Treasure Museum
Category
Culture
Est. Price
¥500

596 m (0.4 mi)

2 min

11

比叡茶寮 (Hiei saryō) Cafe
比叡茶寮 (Hiei saryō) Cafe
Perfect rest with sweets and tea
Category
Café
Est. Price
¥600

6 m (0 mi)

12

Enryakuji bus centre baiten (souvenir shop)
Enryakuji bus centre baiten (souvenir shop)
Local Souvenirs and sweets shop
Category
Shop
Est. Price
¥1,000

78 m (0 mi)

13

Enryaku-ji Temple
Enryaku-ji Temple
Iconic Buddhist Temple
Category
Culture

494 m (0.3 mi)

2 min

14

Monju-ro
Monju-ro
Temple of Bodhisattva of Wisdom
Category
Sightseeing

63 m (0 mi)

15

Reiho
Reiho
Stunning view (cafe)
Category
Café

1.2 km (0.8 mi)

4 min

16

Cable Enryakuji Station (return)
Cable Enryakuji Station (return)
Funicular station
Category
Sightseeing
Est. Price
$$

13.4 km (8.3 mi)

22 min

17

Cable Sakamoto Station (return)
Cable Sakamoto Station (return)
Funicular station
Category
Sightseeing
Est. Price
$$

389 m (0.2 mi)

2 min

18

Fuyōen
Fuyōen
Authentic Japanese Cuisine
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
¥1,800

323 m (0.2 mi)

2 min

19

Hashirii Bridge
Hashirii Bridge
Sacred bridge
Category
Sightseeing

102 m (0.1 mi)

20

San-nou Torii
San-nou Torii
Unique Torii Gate
Category
Sightseeing

227 m (0.1 mi)

1 min

21

Hiyoshi Taisha
Hiyoshi Taisha
Sacred Mountain Sanctuary
Category
Culture
Est. Price
¥300

378 m (0.2 mi)

1 min

22

Great Golden Rock
Great Golden Rock
Secret Shrine on a clif
Category
Hike
Est. Duration
1-2h

861 m (0.5 mi)

3 min

23

East Sanctuary
East Sanctuary
Peaceful Shrine surrounded by nature
Category
Culture

535 m (0.3 mi)

2 min

24

Shigain Monzeki Temple
Shigain Monzeki Temple
Hidden Temple gem
Category
Culture
Est. Price
¥500

697 m (0.4 mi)

2 min

25

This one is optional

Notes Mt. Hieizan
Notes Mt. Hieizan
Read before the next activity
Category
Sightseeing

18.8 km (11.7 mi)

30 min

26

This one is optional

Kitsune No Yomeiri
Kitsune No Yomeiri
Top Wagyu Restaurant in Kyoto
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
¥20,000
Kanazawa Maimon Sushi - Kyoto Porta
Kanazawa Maimon Sushi - Kyoto Porta
Kaiten sushi in Kyoto
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
¥2,500
Ippudo - Kyoto Porta
Ippudo - Kyoto Porta
Satisfying Ramen
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
¥1,500

627 m (0.4 mi)

3 min

For this day trip, I recommend staying in one of the hotels in Kyoto where I personally enjoyed my stay the most.

These hotels are listed as the next locations on this itinerary (three of them are listed here).

If, for any reason, you are unable to book any of these three hotels, you can find my other hotel recommendations (which are equally great) on my map or under the "things to do" list by selecting the option to show only hotels.

All of my recommended hotels cater to a wide variety of preferences for every type of traveler, including different budget ranges, modern or traditional options, and more. They are especially perfect, considering their location right in the heart of Kyoto and their convenience for one-day trips (due to their 5-minute walking distance to either Subway or JR stations).

27

This one is optional

Renka-no-Yu On-Yado NONO Kyoto Shichijo
Renka-no-Yu On-Yado NONO Kyoto Shichijo
Hotel with a hot spring
Category
Hotel
Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jokyoji
Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jokyoji
Modern hotel in the heart of Kyoto
Category
Hotel
Ace Hotel Kyoto
Ace Hotel Kyoto
One of the best hotels in Kyoto
Category
Hotel

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