KYOTO:

• Note: hard to find atms so get cash out, and hard to find trash cans, always take off shoes before entering dressing rooms, no tipping except massage and change for cabs, keep your metro and JR line tickets with you to exit stations. You need Kyoto 5-6 days and Osaka 1 day. Lots of food at all the temples and around.
• ✔ Kiyomizu-dera (Large Temple Overlook) - most attractive streets are Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka (22 min walk SE from gion)
• ✔ Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Temple) (5o min by train northwest of gion)
• ✔ Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine - (Red Gates), hike to top about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours (20 mins by train south of gion)
• ✔ Philosopher's path / walk (also called Tetsugaku-no-michi)
  • Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) --beautiful sand gardens and autumn leaves! from here, wander down Philospher's Walk, around the hillsides and get lost finding temples.
• Ride bikes along water canal
• ✔ Gion + downtown (best areas to stay)
  • ✔ Shoren-in Temple (pretty garden, mellow)
    • DOWNTOWN AREA:
      • Note: there is an enormous street lit with lights (Shijo-Dori -- along the Hankyu Kyoto line) It's a shopping arcade that all this branches on and divides the city. Note: shops open at 11 or later! Also go along parallel street Sanjo Dori.
      • ✔ Nishiki Market (pike fish guys - amazing - see big fish painted above shop)
      • ✔ Kyoto Mall (across the street from Takashimaya - cheap clothing - not great)
      • ✔ Takashimaya Dept Store Basement - (pricy dept store)
      • ✔ Daimaru Department Store - (pretty cool)
      • ✔ Pontocho Alley – tons of little restaurants in small alleys (fun in evening!)
        • ✔ Bars: Rub a Dub, Hello Dolly
      • ✔ Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcades -- these two parallel covered shopping arcades are the most popular shopping streets in all of Kyoto. You'll see the entrance signs as you walk down the main avenue. Lots of vintage and basics and gifts.
        • Fav Shop: Mumokuteki (big shop of cute everything), Neo Mart, Three Stars Gallery, Ron Herman Bal Mall, and Kapital
        • Must Eat: Ten'nen Tonkotsu Ramen --so fun to figure out ordering (you can ask for help) Ramen in individualized booths, and it tastes amazing!!!! Unique experience. Near Shinkyogoku arcade. Possibly flaming ramen place?
      • Nijo Castle + Sanjo-kai (near Nijo Station between Horikawa and Sembon Streets)
      • ✔ Gokomachi (by Museum of Gokomachi) -- tiny streets lined with great independant clothing and home decor boutiques.
      • The Kyoto International Manga Museum
      • ✔ The Maiko district of Gion (canals, geisha, teahouses) - Shirakawa-minami Dori Street, Hanami Koji street/ geisha district (kimono rental), and Higashi Oji Dori street by park, Shinbashi Dori Street
• Kyoto Station
  • ✔ Isetan Shinjuku Department Store (15 mins drive southwest of gion)
• Night life

ARASHIYAMA:

• ✔ Arashiyama: Take a full day and do forest and monkey mountain. Also do the boats on the lake.
• ✔ Bamboo Forest (35 by train) Bamboo forest starts small then gets big. Be sure to visit area where you can walk within the forest.
• ✔ Monkey Mountain Iwatayama (35 by train)

OSAKA - Day Trip:

• ✔ Dotonbori
• ✔ Shinsai bashi-suji shop street (few blocks from Dotobori)
  • America Mura area (street shops vintage)
• ✔ Kuromon Market (like Nishiki Market in Kyoto but bigger)
• ✔ Namba Station underground
• Korea Town
• Spa Worlds
• ...tbc

NARA - Day Trip:

• ✔ Deer everywhere up Nobori-oji Street and you can feed them crackers they sell but beware that they are pushy and will nibble you.
• ✔ Isui-en Garden (garden continues around back so be sure to see both sides)
• ✔ Nara-koen Park ( where deer are )
• ✔ Todai-ji Temple with Great Buddha (Daibutsu)
• ✔ Mount Kasuga Primeval Forest: Follow the narrow pathways through the forest to Kasuga-Taisha Shrine.
• ✔ Kofuku-ji Temple

Future Trips:

• Hotel