A short 1-day trip to Kyoto

I have only about a day to visit Kyoto from Osaka city end of September. There are 3 places that I must visit in Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kinkaku-ji Temple & Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine. If time permits, I would like to have a short stop at Gion. I will have to return to Osaka for dinner in the evening.

Due to time constraint, I will have to give Kiyomizu-dera a pass.

What is the most efficient way to travel to all the above places?

Appreciate your help.

HI
Hmm ...several choices and most depends how soon you want to head out.

You could:

Pathway 1:
6 -7am Arrive at Fushimi Inari (its always open, you can get there earlier)
Kinkaku-ji Temple
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Tenryuji (my add in suggestion)
JR Sagano back to Kyoto Station to Osaka

Pathway 2:
Kinkaku-ji Temple
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Tenryuji (my add in suggestion)
JR Sagano back to Kyoto Station
Fushimi Inari

Pathway 3:
8am arrive at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Tenryuji (my add in suggestion)
Kinkaku-ji Temple
Fushimi Inari

Gion, like Kiyomizu-dera, in my opinion, may just be too far away from the other 3 things you wish to see. Plus Gion is a place to see in the evening around 5pm and you mentioned you had a dinner.

These are just suggestions. Pathway 2 may be the best as kinkaku-ji can get very busy and arriving early will = less crowds.

thanks so much! I will be leaving for Japan in 2 days. This really helps.