Day 5: 25th December 2019

1. Osaka → Fushimi Inari Taisha @ Kyoto

To depart from Airbnb at 9am

Estimated arrival at Fushimi Inari Taisha to be around 10.42am

2. Fushimi Inari Taisha @ Kyoto → Arashiyama Bamboo Groves

To depart from Fushimi Inari Taisha at 12.30pm

Before visiting Arashiyama Bamboo Groves, lunch at Saga Tofu Ine 

Established since 1984, specialising in tofu cuisine. Must try Kyo-Ine when you are in Arashiyama.

Estimated arrival at Saga Tofu Ine to be around 1.35pm

After lunch, proceed to Arashiyama Bamboo Groves

What else can we do at Arashiyama?

– Visit Adashino Nembutsu-ji Temple (with more than 8,000 stone statues)

3. Adashino Nembutsu-ji Temple→ Gion, the geisha district

To depart from Adashino Nembutsu-ji Temple at 4.30pm 

Estimated arrival at Gion to be around 5.38pm (May consider to dinner first. Refer below for dinner recommendation) 

Take a walk around Gion District

Geishas are companion ladies. You immediately might be thinking of a prostitute but that is not what they are. The role of a geisha is limited to entertaining people with conversations, art, singing, and dancing. Before one can become a geisha, one must undergo heavy training and maybe that is why the services of a geisha are reserved only for the Japanese elite.

What to eat at Gion?

– Chidoritei

This is a small family-owned restaurant, and the current owner-chef is the third generation. The mackerel is marinated and seasoned just perfectly, and it goes well with the sushi rice. They serve other types of sush,i such as authentic chirashi (not the typical chirashi with a lot of seafood outside Japan) and eel sushi.

Menu

Note:Restaurant closes at 8pm

– Tsujiri Gion 

This shop is relatively new (from 1978) compared to other green tea shops, but it gained popularity serving various kinds of sweets such as shaved ice, cake, parfait, and green tea noodles.

Website (though it’s in Japanese, you can see the pictures of the food)

Note:Restaurant closes at 8pm

Weather Forecast