Can I just chip in here with a sightseeing recommendation? I was in Kyoto earlier this month (cold, crisp, clear blue skies) and visited several temples, including the world famous zen garden at Ryoan-ji. However, the best temple we saw was Daitoku-ji, an enormous complex, like a city within a city, with wondrous architecture, zen gardens, a bonsai garden and a lot more. I don't believe it's on the regular tourist beat.