Darker cells are stronger weather or travel-fit months. The second row is crowd pressure.
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Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to go?
Start with March, April & November. Choose August only with a written reason.
Is this a good honeymoon pick?
Romance score 96/100 sits next to crowd 92/100 — read both.
How crowded does it get?
On red months, empty midday or change region.
What should I budget per day?
Use bands in JPY. Mid is the baseline. Not a live fare.
Do I need a visa?
Many passports enter visa-free for a short stay — verify yours.
How many days do I need?
Countries breathe at 7–12 days, honeymoon islands at 5–8. Continents: pick one region.
Read Kyoto as regions such as Gion / Higashiyama, Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, not as a pin.
Kiyomizu-Gion-Pontocho is the spine.
Regions
- Gion / Higashiyama — Gion / Higashiyama is stop 1 in a Kyoto map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Arashiyama — Arashiyama is stop 2 in a Kyoto map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Fushimi Inari — Fushimi Inari is stop 3 in a Kyoto map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Philosopher Path — Philosopher Path is stop 4 in a Kyoto map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Ohara — Ohara is stop 5 in a Kyoto map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
- Uji — Uji is stop 6 in a Kyoto map. Give it a night, not a cameo.
Routes
- Kiyomizu-Gion-Pontocho — Kiyomizu-Gion-Pontocho — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Arashiyama-Bamboo-Tenryu-ji — Arashiyama-Bamboo-Tenryu-ji — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Fushimi Inari sunrise — Fushimi Inari sunrise — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
- Uji tea day — Uji tea day — budget a day for the transfers, not a half-day fantasy.
Icons
- Gion / Higashiyama — Why Gion / Higashiyama photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Arashiyama — Why Arashiyama photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Fushimi Inari — Why Fushimi Inari photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Philosopher Path — Why Philosopher Path photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
- Ohara — Why Ohara photographs well, and why it closes in the afternoon.
Pairings
- Slow pair — Pair Gion / Higashiyama with Arashiyama; drop a third stop before you add one.
- Weather pair — Do not force a wet coast and a dry highland into the same week.
- Honeymoon pair — Two city nights plus three quiet nights recover better than a trophy circuit.
Dropping the third city is usually a gain.
When to goPlacesHow to travelCultureCostHoneymoon notesToday