Ninna-ji Temple
Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.
The entrance hall and the five-storey pagoda sit near the gate; the garden and the cherry grove are further in and hold most of the space, so keep walking past the first halls.
Morning · 45 minDay 1
Northwest temples, then Nijō Castle
Ryōan-ji Temple
Temple in Kyoto, Japan.
The rock garden asks for sitting, not walking. Choose a spot on the veranda and stay a few minutes before going around to the pond behind the hall.
Morning · 45 min
Kinkaku-ji Temple
Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.
The pavilion is seen from across the water at fixed stopping points rather than walked around; afternoon light keeps the reflection clear on the lake.
Afternoon · 1 hr 15 min
Nijō Castle
Castle in Kyoto, Japan.
Inside the palace halls the floorboards sound at every step. Walk slowly along the edges of the boards and you hear the old warning system at work.
Evening · 1 hr 30 minWalk between Ninna-ji and Ryōan-ji; the lanes between them stay quieter than the main road. Nijō Castle works as the last stop because it is the one that holds the evening.
Day 2
South from Tō-ji to Fushimi
Tō-ji Temple
Building in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.
The five-storey pagoda is the landmark of the grounds. View it from the far side before going into the halls, where the rest of the complex lies.
Morning · 45 min
Kyoto National Museum
Art museum in Japan.
The galleries hold a long span of Japanese art. Coming between Tō-ji and Fushimi, this is the calm middle of the day, so there is no need to rush the rooms.
Morning · 2 hr
Fushimi Inari-taisha
Shinto shrines in Kyoto, Japan.
Wear shoes with grip and carry water; the path climbs steadily from the first gates. The lower half gives the tunnel of torii without the full hike.
Afternoon · 45 min
Fushimi Castle
Japanese castle.
The keep is a reconstruction; the moat and the stone walls around it, and the garden across the water, are the parts that suit the evening light.
Evening · 1 hr 30 minThe 45 minutes at Fushimi Inari cover the lower torii gates; the full ridge loop takes several hours, so decide at the foot of the path whether today is the day for it.
Day 3
The palace, the shrine, the eastern hills
.JPG?width=800)
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Former imperial palace.
Entries run as guided groups with reserved slots, so treat this as the one stop to arrange ahead of the trip and arrive in time for the group.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
Heian Jingū
Shinto shrine in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.
The garden behind the main hall is the quieter half of the visit. In April the weeping cherry beside the pond is the part people walk further for.
Morning · 45 min
Ginkaku-ji Temple
Temple in Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan.
The path climbs through short woodland to a sand garden and a view over the city. The climb is brief, so keep a steady pace and let the view settle in.
Afternoon · 1 hr 15 min
Kiyomizu-dera
Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto.
The approach climbs the Higashiyama slope and the wooden stage faces out over the city. Arriving at the end of the day gives the view in low light.
Evening · 45 minConfirm the Imperial Palace guided tour before the day, and let Kiyomizu-dera be the last stop, reached as the evening settles over the city.
Good to know
Do I need to book the Kyoto Imperial Palace in advance?
Yes. The palace is visited with a guided group and a reserved slot, so arrange that stop before the day. The route builds the morning around it.
Is the full Fushimi Inari hike part of this trip?
The 45 minutes in the plan cover the lower torii gates. The complete ridge loop takes several hours, so treat the lower section as the visit and save the summit for a spare morning if you want it.
What should I pack for Kyoto in April?
Comfortable shoes with grip for the temple slopes and Fushimi's path, a light layer for the evenings, and water on day two. The rest is ordinary city clothing.
Where does this route catch cherry blossom?
April is cherry season in Kyoto. This itinerary passes it at Ninna-ji, in the garden at Heian Jingū, and along the slope up to Kiyomizu-dera.
Plan your own Kyoto trip
Tell Triptic your dates and who is going. It starts from this plan and fits it to you, with real flights and a place to stay.
Start from this trip