Itinerary
Kansai's Quiet Frames: Torii, Fog & Empty Temples
6 days · 17 stops · ¥120,000–¥200,000
Wed, Nov 25 – Mon, Nov 30
Six days chasing dawn-lit torii over water, misty mountain shrines and temple gardens before the crowds arrive — all from a Kyoto base with a car.
Days
Nacaru, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kinkaku-ji
Kyoto
Schedule
Day 01 of 06🛬
Arrive 15:00 · first activity from 17:30
2.5h customs + airport transit buffer
Land at KIX · Wed, Nov 25 · from JFK · 1 traveler
Renting a car? Check the license rules
Some licenses (FR/DE/CH/BE/TW) need a JAF translation, not an IDP — 5-min guide.
Stay
Kyoto · 3 nights
Wed, Nov 25 → Sat, Nov 28 · 1 guest
17:30
EXPLORE
金閣寺
Stay ~1h
Kitano Hakubai-Cho Station
Afternoon arrival means golden light hits the pavilion's reflection — arrive before 3pm for the quietest window.
~8 min by car
18:38
EXPLORE
Event紅葉
Stay ~1h 30m
Running Nov 1–Dec 10, this illuminated garden of 1000 maples is a photographer's dream — arrive at dusk for blue-hour shots.
Getting around, region by region
Your route mixes city and countryside — here's the best mode for each leg.
Kyoto · Days 1–3
Dense rail network — trains and the metro beat driving here.
Koyasan · Day 4
Rural — a rental car reaches spots no train or bus serves.
Nara · Days 5–6
Dense rail network — trains and the metro beat driving here.
Getting around
🏮
Koyasan World Heritage Ticket
Round-trip from Osaka + cable car + Koyasan buses — ¥3,140 / 2 days.
View Koyasan World Heritage Ticket →🚄
JR West Kansai Area Pass
Matched to your route — one pass instead of point-to-point tickets on the rail legs.
View JR West Kansai Area Pass →🚗
Rental car recommended
Several stops on this route are in rural areas with limited rail access. A rental car from the nearest city hub gives you the freedom to reach places no bus serves.
Browse rental cars on Klook →01 / 06
Journey map
Trip budget · お見積り
¥22,500–¥36,500 / person / day
¥135,000–¥220,000 total
💴 Carry ~¥6,000/day in cash — many hidden spots are cash-only.
Estimated from 16 travel legs, 5 hotel nights and 2 ticketed events. International flights not included. Typical prices, not quotes.
Before you go
Passes for this trip
✓ Matched to your route
JR West Kansai Area Pass
Covers the rail legs on this route — one pass instead of point-to-point tickets.
View this pass
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