Kyoto for a day - a little help?

Hi, guys! I'll be in Kyoto in late november this year. I only have a day there (unfortunately). I'd like a little help with my itinerary (I'm arriving at Kyoto Station around 9:30 AM). These are the places that I wanna see:

- Kinkaku-ji
- Fushimi Inari
- Gion (early evening)

I know that I can't really avoid the crowds but is it a little less crowded at Kinkaku-ji as soon as it opens?
And what are the best options for transportation between those places? I'll have a JR Pass and was thinking about getting a bus pass but I've heard they're usually slow because of the traffic.
I appreciate any help I can get!

Hi, guys! I'll be in Kyoto in late november this year. I only have a day there (unfortunately).

What exact date?

I'd like a little help with my itinerary (I'm arriving at Kyoto Station around 9:30 AM). These are the places that I wanna see:

- Kinkaku-ji
- Fushimi Inari
- Gion (early evening)

None of these really show off the autumn colours.

I know that I can't really avoid the crowds but is it a little less crowded at Kinkaku-ji as soon as it opens?

You don't arrive at Kyoto Station until 9:30am so that won't help anyway.

Kinkakuji is not that great for autumn colours so it shouldn't be too ridiculously busy, you still may have to queue for a short while to get to the normal viewpoint once inside though.

And what are the best options for transportation between those places?
I'll have a JR Pass and was thinking about getting a bus pass but I've heard they're usually slow because of the traffic.

I'd avoid buses but it depends on the exact date.

Use your JR Pass from Kyoto to JR Inari Station when you arrive. Walk up Fushimi Inari.

After Fushimi Inari I would strongly recommend that you go to Tofukuji. From JR Inari Station go back one station to Tofukuji Station, and then walk to Tofukuji
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3930.html

After Tofukuji take the JR line back to Kyoto Station. (All above covered by JR Pass). At Kyoto Station I guess you may be able to risk taking the bus to Kinkakuji
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3908.html

If it was me I'd take the subway to Kitaoji and then take a taxi to Kinkakuji. Not covered by JR Pass

After Kinkakuji I'd try and see some places with autumn colours.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3953.html

I'd personally go across town to Nanzenji.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3905.html
Go back to Kitaoji, take the subway to Karasuma-Oike and then transfer to Keage Station.

The rest depends on time but I'd either see a night illumination at Eikando or continue south to Kiyomizudera and see a night illumination there. After that walk down to Gion and see Pontocho and Gion in the later evening.

Obviously the above is a fast pace so feel free to drop some places if you prefer. However, with one day I'd see as much as possible.

Don't skip Tofukuji despite the crowds.

Enjoy your trip!

First of all: thank you so much for your help.

I'll be there on November 23rd. I know it's a holiday, I'm doing my best to try to go on the day before.

The Tofukuji tip was great! I'm definitely gonna stop there for a while. And let's say I skip Kinkakuji*... How can I go to Kiyomizudera from Tofukuji?

*Let's say I don't skip it... Are there any english websites with the subway timetable? Specially for the line that covers Kyoto Station - Kinkakuji.

Again: thank you :)

I'll be there on November 23rd. I know it's a holiday, I'm doing my best to try to go on the day before.

Ouch! Hopefully you can make it the day before.

The Tofukuji tip was great! I'm definitely gonna stop there for a while.

It is very nice for sure.

And let's say I skip Kinkakuji*... How can I go to Kiyomizudera from Tofukuji?

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3901.html#jump_access

Take Keihan Railway from Keihan Tofukuji Station to Kiyomizu-gojo Station and then walk.

*Let's say I don't skip it... Are there any english websites with the subway timetable? Specially for the line that covers Kyoto Station - Kinkakuji.

http://www.hyperdia.com/

Use "Kyoto" to "Kitaoji"

You don't really need a timetable as they come every 6-8 minutes, there are 160+ trains a day.

Hey,

I will be there in Nov 23rd too, can I see the peak autumn colors at that time in Nara or Kiyomizu?

I will be there in Nov 23rd too, can I see the peak autumn colors at that time in Nara or Kiyomizu?

Probably not "peak" try and check back on the current blog a day or two before to see the progress:-
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo12/

This is last year (timing may move slightly)
20th Nov, 2011
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo11/111120_kyoto.html
28th Nov, 2011
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo11/111128_kyoto.html
1st Dec, 2011 Nara
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo11/111201_nara.html

Random Flickr stream.

Nara Nov 23, 2011.
Kiyomizudera Nov 22, 2011.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katieandcarsonseurope/with/6441513927/#ph...

"I'll be there on November 23rd. I know it's a holiday, I'm doing my best to try to go on the day before.
Ouch! Hopefully you can make it the day before"

ha! A little bit of serendipity - I'll be seeing Tofukuji and Fushimi Inari on the 23rd!

How bad an "ouch" do you think it will be?
My day is less packed, though. I need to see both Tofukuji and Fushimi Inari before a 1pm lunch @ Tempura Yoshikawa. Then some "relaxing" shopping with everyone else in Kyoto :)

Olguits, I'd do this if I was you;
Fushimi Inari (early, 7am-ish)
Tofukuji (opens 8.30am)
Kinkakuji
Gion, inc Sannenzaka Ninenzaka
Kiyomizudera, pre sunset (btw, sunset is about 5pm)
night illuminations (either Kiyomizudera, Kodaiji, Choin-in, or Shorenin - all close to each other)
Gion and/or Ponto-cho for dinner

If you don't mind a fast pace, I think you could squeeze another site in between Kinkakuji and Kiyomizudera.
I'd seriously recommend Ryōan-ji!

How bad an "ouch" do you think it will be?

Tofukuji will be seriously packed.

I would still definitely go as Tofukuji in Autumn is stunning, but expect to queue a long way before you get to the temple. There will be a long queue to get on Tsutenkyo Bridge, and queues during all main sections inside and in general people will be everywhere.

Oh boy, I just found this photo;
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/32875897?source=wapi&referrer=kh.google...
If only I was 8' tall :)

Thank you all! I'm still working on my itinerary but apparently I'll be able to go there on the 22nd. I know it may not be the peak of autumn colors but I'm hoping it will help with the crowds at least a little bit.

Someone mentioned the sunset time, thanks for the info! I was looking for that :)

I have 2 questions left if you don't mind:

- Are there any sake tasting places near Fushimi Inari or Gion that you'd recommend?

- Is Tokyo (Odaiba, Asakusa, Shibuya) also very crowded during this holiday?

http://openkyoto.com/dining/sake-bar-asakura.html

It's about 800m from Gion, and 700m of that is walking up Ponto-cho (which is something you might be doing anyway)

http://goo.gl/maps/YRJYR