Kyoto Culture Trail — Temples & Tea

Japan without the rush. Seven nights in Kyoto with a machiya townhouse stay, daily neighbourhood walks, and a single-copy Shinkansen day that shows you Hiroshima without living on a train.

Day by day (sample)

Days 1–2 — Higashiyama & Gion: Kiyomizu-dera at opening, Philosopher’s Path at dusk, tea ceremony in a private tatami room, and an evening izakaya map from Hiroshi — we pencil in which alleys stay quiet after 8pm.

Day 3 — Fushimi Inari & Nara: Early Inari hike (6:30am), then deer and Todai-ji in Nara. Evening free for Pontocho riverside.

Day 4 — Arashiyama: Bamboo grove + Tenryu-ji garden, river walk, and an afternoon knife-craft session with a master smith.

Day 5 — Hiroshima & Miyajima: Nozomi Shinkansen (reserved window seats, right side on the way back for Fuji glimpses), Peace Memorial and Miyajima torii at high tide.

Days 6–8 — Slow Kyoto: Fushimi sake breweries, Nishiki market breakfast hop, and a final morning at Ryoan-ji rock garden before the bullet train to Kansai departure.

Excludes: E-Visa fees, most dinners, travel insurance. Best Sep–Nov and Mar–May.