Southern Higashiyama
The temple-dense east.
- 08:00
Kiyomizu-dera
Entry ¥500; arrive at opening to walk the wooden stage in peace.
- 10:00
Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka lanes
Free; preserved slopes of teahouses and craft shops down to Yasaka.
- 12:30
Nishiki-style lunch
'Kyoto's kitchen'; tofu, pickles and skewers ¥200-600.
- 16:00
Gion at dusk
Free; respect the no-photo lanes. You may glimpse a geiko heading to work.
Arashiyama
Bamboo, monkeys and river.
- 08:00
Bamboo Grove
Free; go before 09:00 to have the path almost to yourself.
- 09:00
Tenryu-ji temple & garden
Entry ¥500 garden; a Zen masterpiece backed by the hills.
- 11:00
Iwatayama Monkey Park
Entry ¥600; 20-min climb to wild macaques and a city panorama.
- 14:00
Riverside soba
Soba sets ¥1,000-1,600; boat rides on the Hozugawa optional.
Fushimi & northwest
Shrine gates and the Golden Pavilion.
- 07:30
Fushimi Inari shrine
Free; thousands of vermilion torii. Climb early; full loop ~2h.
- 11:00
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Entry ¥500; gold-leaf temple over a reflecting pond.
- 13:30
Ryoan-ji rock garden
Entry ¥600; Japan's most famous Zen dry garden, a short walk away.
- 18:30
Kaiseki or yakitori dinner
Set courses ¥3,000+ or budget yakitori ¥1,500; riverside in summer.
Tea & crafts
A gentler last day.
- 09:30
Matcha experience in Uji
30 min by train; tea-tasting ¥1,000-2,000 at historic tea houses near Byodo-in.
- 11:00
Byodo-in (¥10 coin temple)
Entry ¥600; the Phoenix Hall on the ¥10 coin.
- 14:30
Kyoto Handicraft Center
Free entry; quality souvenirs and craft demos.