Kyoto Sightseeing

Higashiyama daytime + biking by the river to the Nintendo headquarters

Morning / midday (walkable loop in Higashiyama)

• Start your trip off strong with an early-morning trip out to Kiyomizu-dera. You'll walk through the major shopping street Sannenzaka to get there, but don't stop too long. The earlier you get to Kiyomizu-dera(I recommend 6:30 AMor earlier), the better an experience you will have.
• On your way back, check out the stores along Sannenzaka. It is fairly touristy, but you may enjoy watching the folks at Mochi mochi as they do the traditional Mochi pounding!

Lunchtime:

• Explore Higashiyama, a beautiful neighbourhood right by Kiyomizu-dera. If you want a break from the craziness, drop by % ARABICA Kyoto Higashiyama for a quick coffee break. There's a great shopping street filled with cool boutiques - if you want you can also rent a kimono and get photos taken. Yes, it's tourist-y, but I wish I'd done it last time I was there!
  • One boutique I really enjoyed was 大塚呉服店 (Otsuka Gofukuten) which is a contemporary kimono shop. It's quite expensive but the materials are amazing.
• And if you're not too burnt out from shrines, you can also check out Yasaka Shrine. It's really big and calm and peaceful!

Afternoon/evening:

• Golden hour reset: rent a bicycle and cruise the river path along Kamo River. (Don't rent an e-bike or you will have a hard time carrying it up and down the stairs!)
• Optional: stop by Marufukuro, which used to be the old Nintendo office but has now been turned into a hotel! And if you want you can even go all the way down to the actual Nintendo & Co., Ltd. headquarters.

Arashiyama morning + Gion/Pontocho night (must)

Morning/Afternoon:

• As always, head out as early as you can to the major tourist site of Arashiyama! You can spend the whole day in the neighbourhood, especially enjoying Tenryu-ji and taking a photo at Togetsukyō Bridge.
• One way in particular to appreciate Japanese Buddhist culture is to eat lunch at Shigetsu, a Bib Gourmand-rated, traditional vegan restaurant. Book ahead!

Evening:

• Watch lanterns light up at sunset in the old Geisha districts of Gion and Pontocho Alley.
  • Gion is more famous, but Pontocho Alley is just as beautiful and close by on the other side of the river.
  • Just watch out as the food in this area tends to be expensive and tourist-y! You can head out to the major 2nd Street Shijo-Kawaramachi commercial area for better food.

North Kyoto (gold pavilion) + central shopping/crafts

Morning tourist attraction:

• This is your last big tourist day! Depending how you feel, go out either to:
  • Kinkaku-ji , the Golden Temple
  • or Fushimi Inari Taisha, for the classic and amazing temple gateway hike.

Then spend the midday and afternoon exploring the city:

• Nishiki Market is very famous, but a little overrated in my opinion. That said, you can have a good time wandering the stores just a few blocks around it.
• There's plenty of amazing shopping to do in the area. Kyoto has a plethora of cute little boutique craft stores.
  • My favourites are Zohiko Lacquer Shop (very close to Teramachi) + Kyoto Handicraft Center
  • The Kyoto Handicraft Center in particular looks like just a shopping mall, but is filled with craft treasures from all across the area!
• You can also wander through Teramachi-dori & Teramachi + Kyoto Shinkyogoku Shopping Street to do any last souvenier shopping - they're far less tourist-y than Nishiki.

Dinner

• Head home to drop off any shopping, then as before grab dinner somewhere in the shopping malls around 2nd Street Shijo-Kawaramachi.
• Or if you have time to plan ahead, book one of the fancy restaurants in the Gion district like Sushi Rakumi(you can use reservation services like Tableall or Pocket Concierge). If you can get a reservation, try the 3-star Gion Sasaki!