We took a day trip from Osaka and visited Katsuo-ji Temple, Miyama thatched-roof village, and Arashiyama all in one day. Although the itinerary was packed, each place had its own unique charm, and the overall arrangement went very smoothly.
Our first stop was Katsuo-ji Temple, where the numerous Daruma dolls were incredibly cute. You could see Daruma dolls of various sizes and expressions everywhere, giving the entire temple a distinctive character. Next, we headed to Miyama Thatched Village, where seeing the traditional thatched-roof houses against the backdrop of the mountains truly gave us a taste of rural Japan.
Finally, we arrived at Arashiyama. The scenery of the bamboo grove path was as beautiful as ever. Strolling along and taking photos, we quickly immersed ourselves in Kyoto's relaxed atmosphere.
The biggest bonus of this trip was our excellent tour guide. They were very friendly and informative when introducing the sights along the way, patiently answering any questions we had, which made it easier for first-time visitors to these places to enjoy themselves. Although visiting three attractions in one day was a bit rushed, not having to figure out transportation ourselves made the whole experience very enjoyable!