Kyoto in 4 Days

Kyoto, Japan 

...home to Yatsuhashi, Geishas & Maikos, and some of the most beautiful sights and cultural experiences in Japan 

I will start by telling you that the following trip was intended to be accomplished during the spring cherry blossom season of 2014. With extensive research, prior itinerary planning, and constant monitoring of the cherry blossoms blooming in Kyoto I was certain that I would be able to enjoy this trip with no problems. However, when you want things to happen your way as bad as I do...there is always bound to be a few bumps in the road...and this trip was no different. However...I did learn a a few lessons throughout the process you will be able to see throughout this post.

With that said...we embarked on yet again another road trip but this time to the beautiful city of Kyoto. 

• Lesson 1: Don't have a travel partner? 

Due to my last minute effort to finish my finals and also the unfortunate timing of my travel partners (aka husband) work schedule, my options for a travel companion were limited to basically me. This is when I had to decide whether I wanted to make this venture alone or try finding a travel buddy. I started my search locally asking other wives from the military base if they were interested in a trip to experience the cherry blossoms in Kyoto...I thought this would for sure get some interested....and there were a few, but none serious enough to make the venture with me on such short notice.That is when I expanded my search more "nationally" and I found a website called "Travel Buddies." http://www.travel-buddies.com/ . No luck there either. But just as I was about to give up completely...my husband calls to tell me on a Thursday afternoon how his job miraculously have him both Friday and Monday off giving him a 4 day weekend, and the two of us 4 full possible days of spontaneous vacation time. You can just imagine my excitement, my heart almost leaped out of my chest...until I thought about how we would be getting there, with less than 24 hours to plan.

• Lesson 2: How do you plan on getting there?

Originally I planned on taking the shinkansen to Kyoto. This was supposed to be in itself an experience I have been waiting for but due to the combination of limited travel funds and the time restrictions, again my options were limited. This is when I was introduced to the Willer Express. A  motor coach that travels from Tokyo (and surrounding areas) to further destinations (including Kyoto.) While I didn't actually ended up going with them, I can tell you that their English support is excellent, one round trip ticket is less than half of one roundtrip shinkansen ticket, and retrieving tickets is easy because they send it directly to your email so all you need to do is print it rather than picking it up from a station or travel office.Here is the link for the Willer Express http://willerexpress.com/en/

• I suggest at least 3-4 full days to experience Kyoto. 
• When creating your own personal itinerary it might be helpful to divide each day by which part of the city it is in (as shown in my itinerary) this way you don't double back and waste time. This link will help with some of that planning based on which part of Kyoto you are in. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158_central.html 
• There is so much to do and see in Kyoto, don't only focus on Temples & Shrines. Mix it up a bit to keep it interesting. Try adding a class or two, tea ceremony, cultural shows, experience the shopping arcades and of course the foods!

Kyoto is located on Japan mainland island of Honshu. It is about a 5.5 hours car drive or a 2.5 hour bullet train ride from Tokyo. 

Pre-Planned Itinerary 

Actual Itinerary

Day	Area Time	Itinerary	Est. cost
Day 1 Friday 4/18	Yamato-Kyoto 9:00am-11:15am 11:20am-11:50am 12:05pm-1:15pm 1:30pm-2:45pm 3:15pm-4:05pm 4:45pm 5:15pm-	• Depart for Kyoto ~3am • Arrived in Kyoto  8:30am   Northern & Central Kyoto ·         Chop stick making and Dying class - Kyo Yuzen Workshop   ·         lunch at Café Mayu at the Kyo Yuzen Workshop •  Kyoto Imperial Palace – (Tour was full and gates are closed to any other visitors so we waited until the office opened from lunch to make a reservation for the next day’s tour) ·  Nijo Castle • Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavilion) • Check in hotel • Walked to Nishiki Market from Hotel (Dinner)	3150 each FREE 600 each 400 each
Day 2 Saturday 4/19	9:00am-11:00am 11:15am-11:25am 11:30am-12:00pm 1:30pm 2:40pm  3:45pm 4:15pm 4:30pm  5:10pm 6:20pm 6:25pm 7:30pm 8:20pm	Eastern Kyoto • Geisha Transformation –Yumekoubou – Kiyomizudera shop •  Kiyomizudera temple 6:00 to 18:00 ·         Lunch at one of the restaurants on the pathway leading up to the Kiyomizudera temples ·         Ginkakuji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion ·         Philosophers Path ·         Taxi to Sanjo Station               Shimbashi (Shirakawa St)-Beautiful Street  ·         Izutsu Yatsuhashi Honkan ·         Yasaka Shrine ·         Maruyama Park ·         Kyoto Station ·         Pontocho Alley for dinner	12,500 400 each
Day 3 Sunday 4/20	10:00am 10:45am-12:40pm 1:15am-2:00pm 4:00m 4:50pm 6:00pm	Southern Kyoto ·         Went to Gion corner to buy tickets for the Miyako Odori show later on that evening ·         Fushimi Inari Shrine (Tori gates) ·         Gekkeikan Sake Museum & Tasting ·         late lunch /Early dinner before the show ·         Miyako Odori Performance–Kaburenjo Theatre Gion Corner ·         Gion Corner – Cultural Experience	FREE 300 2000 3150
Day 4 Monday 4/21	10:00am 11:10am-11:30am 11:35pm 12:00pm-1:45pm 1:55pm 2:20pm 8:40pm	Western Kyoto (Araishiyama) Check out of Hotel ·         Sagano Romantic Train to Kameoka Torokko Station ·         Took the bus from the end of the Sagano Train Ride to the loading dock for the Hozu River Boat Ride ·         Hozu River White Water Rafting   o   Landing site: Togetsukyo Bridge over Katsura River ·         Followed the cobblestone path to the Takekaido (Sagano Bamboo Forest/Grove) ·         Depart for Yamato ·         Arrived home	620 each 310 3900 each

Lesson 3: Cherry blossom season happened to land on the same dates as my final semester of grad school (April 13th being the last official day.) I knew I wouldn't have a good time with school work on my mind, so I had originally planned to go the day after all of my finals were due. Whatever you, if you plan on visiting Kyoto for Cherry Blossom season I suggest monitoring the blooming of the cherry blossoms before going...or at least give yourself enough time to enjoy them while they are still on the tree. It is no joke how fast they fall off once they bloom. I couldn't go immediately after my school semester finished so I had to go 5 days later (April 18th.) I knew the cherry blossom season would be long gone by then, but I will was still determined to go so that I could see the Miyako Odori show, which is only held in the month of April.

Use the following website to monitor them:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/sakura/eng/city.php?CI=29

Or this website, if you you happened to just miss it like myself!
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3951_late.html

My Trip Details: 

Departure: Friday, April 18 2014
Return: Monday, April 21 2014
3 nights - 4 days

In my opinion the best time to go to Kyoto would be during cherry blossom season. I've also been to Kyoto once before in the winter, and it was very cold, which makes outdoor sightseeing not as fun (unless of course cold weather does not bother you) not to mention all of the trees are barren. Since I came immediately after the cherry blossoms fell, I was reminded everywhere I went, what it could have been like if I came just 1-2 weeks early. The cherry trees are bare and there is so many of them, that it would have totally enhanced the entire experience. If you cannot plan to make it in the spring, then I would suggest planning a trip during the fall when the trees have the bright autumn foliage. The spring sets things apart from the fall because you can experience the Miyako Odori (as I have mentioned before) and Sakura (Cherry Blossom) flavored desserts such as icrecream and yatsuhashi, which is in great abundance during that season and only during that season.



Why visit Kyoto? It is just an all around absolutely beautiful city. Kyoto has so much to offer, not to mention the people are very friendly and many attractions are English-friendly.You can get the best of everything here: nature, shopping, culture, and so much more. Kyoto is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites which many can cross off of their bucket list. Everyone associates Japan with
geisha's, and the Gion neighborhood in Kyoto is where you will find them. You may spot one or two as your walking throughout the city so you better have your camera ready because they move pretty quick. The cuisine in Kyoto is also one-of-kind. If you try Kaiseki anywhere is Japan, Kyoto would be the place to have the most authentic version of it because Kyoto is well known for it. If your a fan of "The Memoirs of a Geisha," all of the scenes shot in Japan were in Kyoto and only in Kyoto.

Estimated Budget: 

Tolls & Gas: 30,000

Hotel: 40,000

Activities: 45,000

Food & Souvenirs: 25,000

Actual Spending 

Tolls: 9400 & 9700

Gas: 10,000

Parking: TBD

Hotel: 40,996

Activities: TBD

Food & Souvenirs:TBD