Overview
Kyoto rewards people who slow down, so this itinerary gives the city room to breathe — three full days in Kyoto itself, with day trips to Nara and Arashiyama, and a night in a traditional ryokan with kaiseki dinner.
You'll walk Fushimi Inari before the crowds, sit for a tea ceremony with a practising master, and spend an afternoon with a third-generation craftsman in his workshop. Each day is paced so you have time to get lost on purpose.
Trip highlights
- Dawn walk through the 10,000 torii gates of Fushimi Inari
- Private tea ceremony with a Kyoto tea master
- One night in a traditional ryokan with kaiseki dinner
- Day trip to Nara's deer park and Tōdai-ji temple
- Half-day workshop with a Kyoto craft artisan
Day by day
8 days1Day 1Arrival in Kyoto
Arrive by shinkansen from Tokyo or Kansai Airport. Evening orientation walk through the Gion geisha district.
Boutique machiya hotel, Kyoto
2Day 2Eastern temples
Kiyomizu-dera at opening, then the Higashiyama lanes and a private tea ceremony with a Kyoto tea master.
Boutique machiya hotel, Kyoto
3Day 3Arashiyama and the river
Bamboo grove at dawn, Tenryū-ji's garden, and a boat ride down the Hozu river in the afternoon.
Boutique machiya hotel, Kyoto
4Day 4Nara day trip
Day trip to Nara to see Tōdai-ji's Great Buddha and meet the free-roaming deer in the park. Return to Kyoto in the evening.
Boutique machiya hotel, Kyoto
5Day 5Ryokan and kaiseki
Transfer to a ryokan in the hills. Yukata, onsen and a multi-course kaiseki dinner served in your room.
Traditional ryokan
6Day 6Craft and culture
Morning onsen, then back to Kyoto for an afternoon with a third-generation artisan in his workshop.
Boutique machiya hotel, Kyoto
7Day 7Fushimi Inari and free time
Early walk through Fushimi Inari's torii tunnels, then a free afternoon for Nishiki Market and downtown.
Boutique machiya hotel, Kyoto
8Day 8Departure
Transfer to Kansai Airport or onward shinkansen to Tokyo.
What's included
- Hand-picked accommodation as listed
- Private airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Daily breakfast, plus meals shown in the itinerary
- Local English-speaking guides throughout
- All entrance fees for included activities
- 24/7 support from your dedicated travel planner
Not included
- International flights (we can quote these separately)
- Travel insurance
- Visa and entry fees where applicable
- Personal expenses, drinks and gratuities
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Departures & availability
Gallery
Traveller reviews
Write a reviewThoughtful, unhurried and deeply personal
What I appreciated most was how the pace was built for us rather than for a brochure. Two full free afternoons meant we actually got to know a neighbourhood instead of rushing between temples. The ryokan night was extraordinary.
Sofia Marchetti
Milan, Italy
Good to know
Best time to visit
Late March–April (blossom) and November (autumn colour)
Currency
Japanese Yen (JPY)
Language
Japanese
Time zone
Asia/Tokyo (UTC+9)