Kyoto Guide

[cpuer]

Found this Kyoto specific online resource
Inside Kyoto | Kyoto Travel Guide

It has a handy guide on what to visit in different number of days breakdown:

Kyoto Itineraries

 

[kifo]

Found this Kyoto specific online resource
Inside Kyoto | Kyoto Travel Guide

It has a handy guide on what to visit in different number of days breakdown:

Kyoto Itineraries

Interesting guide. But I guess the authors of the website planned the itineraries so that they can build on it by reusing the the shorter itineraries in the longer ones.

You don't even get to Ginkakuji and Nanzenji until the 3 days version. I would think most regular tourists who spent only 2 days in Kyoto would have gone to those 2 places at least.

But at least it provides those new to Kyoto a sense of the time you would require to explore the place properly.

 

[evilerniex]

great guide!


but like wat kifo mentioned, the breakdown by days isn't really prioritising the key attractions. for example, the 1 day itinerary doesn't include Kinkakuji, which I feel is one of the more iconic attraction there.

 

[cpuer]

I was iffy on Kurama/Kibune, but looks like I will incorporate Kurama into my itinerary now.

 

[punggol12]

Go to Kinkakuji at about 4 pm so that the setting sun provide a reflection of the temple on the pond surface making it very nice photo. I happened to be lucky at this timing when i was there Nov 2014.

 

[punggol12]

I was at Nanzenji on 23 Nov 2014 and the autumn foliage was at its peak. It was beautiful. Better than Kiyomizudera. I sat in the garden for 20 minutes admiring the glorious autumn leaves with the gravel garden and one lone green colour pine tree. Not sure if autumn is over when you go there.

 

[zetsueix]

I was at Nanzenji on 23 Nov 2014 and the autumn foliage was at its peak. It was beautiful. Better than Kiyomizudera. I sat in the garden for 20 minutes admiring the glorious autumn leaves with the gravel garden and one lone green colour pine tree. Not sure if autumn is over when you go there.

I guess 2013 autumn was a bit later, I was able to catch momiji peak at Nanzenji in end Nov last yr! In fact early Dec I was still able to catch momiji in varying fiery hues at some other places of interest in Kyoto too.

 

[thesal]

I was at Nanzenji on 23 Nov 2014 and the autumn foliage was at its peak. It was beautiful. Better than Kiyomizudera. I sat in the garden for 20 minutes admiring the glorious autumn leaves with the gravel garden and one lone green colour pine tree. Not sure if autumn is over when you go there.

how does it compare to the eikan-do nearby?

 

[heguhegu]

I was at Nanzenji on 23 Nov 2014 and the autumn foliage was at its peak. It was beautiful. Better than Kiyomizudera. I sat in the garden for 20 minutes admiring the glorious autumn leaves with the gravel garden and one lone green colour pine tree. Not sure if autumn is over when you go there.

Was at Nanzenji on the same day as you, 23 Nov Sun =). I assume the garden you mentioned is at Tenjuan since I saw the lone pine tree too haha.

The crowds were crazy though >_< Thanks to the national holiday (x2).

Visited Tenjuan again at night for its illumination. The walkthrough configuration changed - could enter the tatami interior this time - the illuminated view of the garden from the interior is really really beautiful

 

[heguhegu]

how does it compare to the eikan-do nearby?

Eikando is equally at its peak when I visited on the same day as Nanzenji. I find Eikando more 'colourful' and it has more to offer in its ticketed area, with a picturesque pond and a pagoda on top of the hill. Was impressed by the blanket of yellow ginkgo leaves surrounded by red maple trees. The only thing I didn't like was the immense crowd of people >_<

Anyway just visit both Eikando and Nanzenji when you go there, since they are so close together. Both are worth visiting during the autumn season.

Visited Arashiyama in 29 Nov and saw a lot of bare maple trees in the temples. I guess by now there is nothing much to see in Kyoto anymore...

 

[Nalgene123]

Eikando is equally at its peak when I visited on the same day as Nanzenji. I find Eikando more 'colourful' and it has more to offer in its ticketed area, with a picturesque pond and a pagoda on top of the hill. Was impressed by the blanket of yellow ginkgo leaves surrounded by red maple trees. The only thing I didn't like was the immense crowd of people >_<

Anyway just visit both Eikando and Nanzenji when you go there, since they are so close together. Both are worth visiting during the autumn season.

Visited Arashiyama in 29 Nov and saw a lot of bare maple trees in the temples. I guess by now there is nothing much to see in Kyoto anymore...

In terms of the colors of the autumn leaves....i would go for Tofukuji....the proximity of the trees and the blast of redness that hit your visual senses is just stunning...was there on 25th Nov and was at Eikan Do and Nanzenji on 26th Nov....the trees around the famous bridge at Eikan-Do was starting to shed its leaves by that time and seems abit off peak at the point in time....by Tofukuji and Nanzenji was still very much at its peak on the 25th

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Tofukuji the crowd is really crazy. much more than both nanzenji and eikando.
To be honest, both three temples i went like 4 times already in the past.

I much prefer a quieter environment with green leaves then a peak koyo with tonnes of people around.

Tofukuji and Eikando are rather empty during off peak Kyoto period.

 

[Nalgene123]

Tofukuji the crowd is really crazy. much more than both nanzenji and eikando.
To be honest, both three temples i went like 4 times already in the past.

I much prefer a quieter environment with green leaves then a peak koyo with tonnes of people around.

Tofukuji and Eikando are rather empty during off peak Kyoto period.

anyhowsaysay bro.....any special reasons why go so many times to the same place..especially we know Kyoto has like 1600 temples and shrines....

 

[anyhowsaysay]

anyhowsaysay bro.....any special reasons why go so many times to the same place..especially we know Kyoto has like 1600 temples and shrines....

I prefer such environment. Quiet, peaceful, sitting in gardens and admiring the beauty.

 

[ilikehandphones]

back from my trip last week...enkoji, kitano tenmagu and otagi nenbutsuji are my favourite...not super big compound but very beautiful and the crowds are not as huge as the other popular temples