Kyoto temples before the crowds arrive

The famous temples of Kyoto are quiet for about two hours after they open. Plan the morning around that window and the city feels very different.

An early route

1. Fushimi Inari: the gates are open all day and night. Arrive at sunrise and walk up past the first viewpoint.
2. Kiyomizu-dera: take a bus or taxi across town and arrive when the gates open.
3. Higashiyama lanes: walk down through the old streets to Yasaka Shrine before the shops open.

Then rest

By ten the lanes fill with groups. Stop for coffee, then spend the middle of the day in a museum or a garden with an entry fee, where it stays calmer.

Getting around

City buses reach most temples, and a day pass pays for itself after a few rides. Taxis are worth it for the first leg at sunrise.