Going around Kyoto for a family of four

We'll be in Kyoto from January 1 to 3, 2015. Our itinerary would be:
Day 1
- Ryoanji
- Kinkakuji
- Ginkakuji
- Sanjusangendo
- Kiyomizudera
- Gion
Day 2
- Fushimi Inari

Would like to know which is best mode of transport in terms of comfort and cost in going to these places. We are a family of four (2 children aged 8 and 4).

Appreciate your response.

Thanks

ADD74

I prefer taking the train as it is faster. but for certain locations, bus stops are the near and trains are far.

If I were you, I would take the bus to golden pavilion, then walk to ryoanji, then train to Arashiyama. Take the train to Gion. Dinner there. Take train to Fushimi Inari Station.

Second day explore Higashiyama: Kiyomizudera, Yasaka, Nanzenji, Chionin, Silver Pavillion

Do sanjusangedo with Kyoto Station mall

The first day is going to be big. With 4 of you, and trying to keep young kids happy, I'd take taxis. Usually you don't pay more than 2000JPY for any trip, most of the time 1000JPY and you'd walk from Kiyomizudera to Gion.

Train to Fushimi Inari, though.

Thanks Joshua and Lazy Pious. Would most probably take the taxi except that going to Fushimi Inari.

As a follow-up, would the itinerary below be better.

Jan 2 (whole day)
Ryoanji
Kinkakiju
Ginkakiju
Kiyomizudera
Gion

Jan 3 (USJ)

Jan 4 (am only as need to go back to Tokyo in the pm)
Sanjusangendo
Fushimi Inari

Thanks again

That would be better. Some people love sanjusangendo (sp?) but when I went it was full of people and it was hard to appreciate it. The grounds are ordinary, too. So I'd knock it over first thing in the morning before lots of people get there. Then on to the JR station and on the train to Fushimi Inari. If you have some time after Fushimi Inari, pop down to Uji which is a really lovely town, with the best green tea ice cream ever (worth eating even when it is freezing). I think it is on the same line.