Kyoto– category –

A first-timer's 3-day Kyoto itinerary: Day 1 Fushimi Inari → Kiyomizu-dera → Gion; Day 2 Arashiyama → Kinkaku-ji → Nishiki Market; Day 3 Ginkaku-ji → Nijo Castle → souvenirs (or swap for a Nara day trip). With timings, transport and a per-person budget.

Twelve Kyoto souvenirs sorted into sweets to share, things that keep, and crafts — yatsuhashi, ajari-mochi, matcha, pickles, Yojiya blotting paper, Ichizawa canvas bags — with prices and where to buy (Kyoto Station, Nishiki Market, Kiyomizu-zaka).

Kimono rental in Kyoto costs ¥3,000–8,000 with dressing included and takes 30–45 minutes. Which area to rent in (Kiyomizu/Gion, Kyoto Station, Arashiyama), the booking-to-return flow, hair and hakama options, and tips for walking, stairs and eating in a kimono.

Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) costs ¥500, open 8:30–17:00 (9:00–16:30 in winter), 40 minutes from Kyoto Station by bus 5 or 17. A 2.5-hour walk down the 2 km Philosopher's Path via Honen-in and Eikan-do to Nanzen-ji, with cherry and autumn-leaf timing.

Choosing a Kyoto neighbourhood: Kyoto Station, Shijo-Kawaramachi/Gion, Karasuma-Oike, Higashiyama and Arashiyama compared by price, ease of getting around and who they suit. First visit → Kyoto Station or Shijo; nightlife → Gion; quiet → Higashiyama or Arashiyama.

Kyoto to Nara takes 35 minutes by Kintetsu limited express (¥1,280), 45 by Kintetsu express (¥760) or 45 by JR rapid (¥720). A timed one-day route — Kofuku-ji, the deer, Todai-ji's Great Buddha, Nigatsu-do, Kasuga Taisha, Naramachi — and how to handle the deer.

Nijo Castle costs ¥800 (¥1,300 with the Ninomaru Palace), open 8:45–17:00, right by Nijojo-mae subway station. The 90-minute route (Karamon gate → Ninomaru Palace with its nightingale floors → gardens → Honmaru → Seiryu-en), plus the Tuesday closures in Dec, Jan, Jul and Aug.

Nishiki Market, "Kyoto's kitchen", is a 390 m covered street of about 130 shops. Most open 10:00–17:00, many close Wednesdays. Ten street foods to try (dashimaki omelette, soy-milk doughnuts, yuba, pickles), how to get there, and the no-walking-while-eating rule.

Four ways from Kansai Airport (KIX) to Kyoto Station compared: Haruka express (about 80 min, ¥3,110), limousine bus (about 90 min, ¥2,800), Nankai + subway (about 110 min, around ¥1,700) and taxi (about 90 min, ¥25,000–35,000), with advice by luggage, group size and arrival time.

Kyoto's 15 essential sights sorted into five areas (Higashiyama, Fushimi, North, Arashiyama, Central) plus Nara, with admission, time needed and which ones to combine on the same day. Includes a simple 3-day structure for first-time visitors.

Gion is Kyoto's largest geisha district and free to walk. One minute from Keihan Gion-Shijo Station. An evening route (Kennin-ji → Hanamikoji → Shirakawa → Yasaka Shrine), the rules for photographing geiko and maiko, and the private-lane photo ban.

The Arashiyama bamboo grove is free and open 24 hours, 16 minutes from Kyoto Station by JR. A half-day route (bamboo → Nonomiya Shrine → Tenryu-ji → Togetsukyo → Monkey Park), the hours when the grove is empty, and how to book the Sagano Romantic Train.