【Kyoto】1 Day Trip|Let’s walk around Higashiyama, Kyoto to see the autumn leaves!

KYOTO

The Higashiyama area, home to many of Kyoto’s most famous temples, shrines, historic sites, and scenic beauty spots, is also a popular spot for viewing autumn foliage. Here are some recommended walking tours that will give you a sense of fulfillment as you enjoy the beautiful autumn colors of the ancient city under clear autumn skies.

START

8:30

Hankyu Karasuma station

Approx. 1-minute walk

8:35

Kyoto Municipal Subway Shijo station

Approx. 2-minute by train on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line

8:40

Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Oike station

Approx. 10-minute by train on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line

8:50

Kyoto Municipal Subway Keage station

Approx. 15-minute walk

9:05

Eikando Zenrinji

Eikando Zenrinji

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Eikando is known as the “Eikando of maple trees” since olden times. The sight of approximately 3,000 maple trees coloring the entire precincts of the temple and the tallest pagoda is a fantastically beautiful sight. Enjoy the various expressions of the autumn leaves on the rocks and on the surface of the pond.

10:00

Eikando Zenrinji

Approx. 10-minute walk

10:10

Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Café

Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Café

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A modern café renovated from a traditional Kyoto machiya over 100 years old. While retaining many of the good old features, the large glass windows and high vaulted ceilings give the space a sense of openness. Enjoy a special moment with flavorful coffee carefully brewed by skilled baristas and side dishes.

10:50

Blue Bottle Coffee Kyoto Café

Approx. 7-minute walk

11:00

Nanzen-ji Temple

Nanzen-ji Temple

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The vast grounds of the temple are one of the best spots in Kyoto for autumn foliage coloring. The temple is also home to the Tenju-an Hermitage, the Suijikaku, an aqueduct over the Lake Biwa Canal, the Sanmon Gate, famous as the stage on which Ishikawa Goemon performed the great performance, the Hojo Garden, said to have been created by Kobori Enshu, and Nanzen-in, the pagoda temple of Nanzenji, all of which are of outstanding beauty.

12:00

Nanzen-ji Temple

Approx. 15-minute walk

12:15

Kyoudon Kisoba Okakita

Kyoudon Kisoba Okakita

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Established in 1982, this restaurant offers udon and soba noodles made with dashi (Japanese soup stock). The dashi broth, which is the lifeblood of Kyoto udon, is a unique and gentle taste made using traditional techniques. The restaurant also offers a lineup of flavorful soba noodles made from carefully selected buckwheat flour, as well as a menu featuring fu and yuba, which are unique to Kyoto, and donburi.

13:15

Kyoudon Kisoba Okakita

Approx. 13-minute walk

13:30

Shoren-in temple

Shoren-in temple

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The temple began as a residence for monks including Saicho on Mt. Enryaku-ji on Mt. Hiei, which was founded by the founder of the Tendai sect of Buddhism in Japan, Dengyo Daishi Saicho. The entire temple grounds are designated as a national historic site. The autumn foliage scenery is a must-see, as the elegant pond garden turns beautiful colors!

14:20

Shoren-in temple

Approx. 8-minute walk

14:30

Maruyama Park

Maruyama Park

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A vast park that leads to the grounds of Yasaka Shrine, it is designated as a national place of scenic beauty. The garden, designed by Jihei Ogawa VII, features a pond garden with a view of Higashiyama (Mt. Higashi), and visitors can enjoy the autumn leaves while strolling through the garden. There are also bronze statues of Ryoma Sakamoto and Shintaro Nakaoka.

15:00

Maruyama Park

Approx. 20-minute walk

15:20

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

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This temple is one of the representative temples in Kyoto and is recognized as a World Heritage Site. The three-story pagoda, one of the largest in Japan, is the symbol of the temple, and the majestic “Kiyomizu-no-butai”, which extends out from the wooden main hall built on a cliff, is famous. The view of the city from the 13-meter-high stage with the bright red autumn leaves spreading out below is a sight to behold only in autumn!

16:10

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Approx. 3-minute walk

16:15

KUMONOCHA Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Store

KUMONOCHA Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Store

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Take a break at this modern and spacious tea lounge on Sanneizaka, a street with a Japanese atmosphere. The menu offers a variety of cute-looking and gently tasting dishes such as “Kumono Mousse” and “Kumono Matcha Latte”. Enjoy a relaxing and happy moment.

16:55

KUMONOCHA Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Store

Approx. 1-minute walk

17:00

Itoken / SOU・SOU Shimizu shop

Itoken / SOU・SOU Shimizu shop

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This fashionable store is also located on Sanneizaka, a street lined with traditional buildings, and offers a wide variety of cute, pop-up sweets. The sweets are made in collaboration with a long-established Japanese confectionary store and taste authentic, and the small packages are perfect as souvenirs. Be sure to try the store’s limited-edition takeout sweets, whose colors and shapes are picture-perfect!

17:30

Itoken / SOU・SOU Shimizu shop

Approx. 8-minute walk

17:40

Kodai-ji Temple

Kodai-ji Temple

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It was built in 1606 by Nene, the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The vast garden with Higashiyama in the background is exceptionally beautiful when dyed in autumn colors. The remains of Fushimi Castle and the halls arranged in the Kodaiji Garden (designated as a historic site of scenic beauty) can be seen reflected on the surface of Garyu Pond and the glossy colors of the autumn brocade.
Special nighttime viewing and lighting from 10/21 to 12/11. *17:00 to 22:00 (reception closes at 21:30)

18:40

Kodai-ji Temple

Approx. 9-minute walk

18:50

Yasaka Shrine

Approx. 15-minute walk

19:05

Ponto-cho Robin

Ponto-cho Robin

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Located in the back alley of Ponto-cho, Kyoto’s representative Hanamachi, this restaurant is like a hideout for adults. In a tasteful space in a renovated 150-year-old machiya (traditional Kyoto townhouse), you can enjoy a variety of sumptuous dishes such as fresh seasonal fish sashimi purchased at the market every morning, famous kamameshi (rice cooked in a pot with seasonal ingredients carefully selected from all over Japan), and Kyoto duck in a hot pot.

*Hankyu Tourist Pass preferential service is available.

20:30

Ponto-cho Robin

Approx. 6-minute walk

20:40

Hankyu Kyoto-kawaramachi station

END

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