I think your definition of "hour" is different than the one in common usage.

As has been mentioned - I have recommended Mr. Doi as a driver in another thread. I had a friend of mine use him last month. His van broke down the day before her plans with him - and he personally made arrangements for another English speaking guide to take her around. She didn't miss a beat in terms of her travel - and had a great time. So he isn't only good - he's conscientious.

Considering your schedule - I would do some very serious reading about exactly what you want to see in Kyoto - noting the opening and closing times/dates of various places. If you arrive after noon at KIX - I don't think you'll be in Kyoto until almost 3 (if you're lucky with immigration and traffic - those who know more about this than I do can correct me if I'm wrong). Many places close at 5 or 6 (and I don't know when they open). Map out the places - so you won't be criss-crossing the city 5 times. Mr. Doi (and I'm sure others) are good guides - but you will save a lot of time if *you* know in advance what you want to do/see and where the places are in relation to one another.

For your limited time the day you arrive - I have a perhaps unusual suggestion. Explore the train station. It is a masterpiece of modern architecture. And you can be there at rush hour - which is an amazing sight. There is an entire city of stores and restaurants beneath it. The large department store in the station (Isetan) has wonderful food basements - where you can try samples of lots of Japanese foods. Or buy and nibble on a bit of this or that. There is an excellent eel restaurant on the 6th floor (or so) of the department store. Food basements in department stores are one of the most terrific things in Japan - and they will give you an excellent introduction to Japanese food - everything from food people take home to eat - to $500 melons. You probably won't have time to explore them in Tokyo - so this is a good place to do it. Robyn

When we asked at the Granvia about using the Takkyubin to get our luggage to Narita - we were told that they needed 2 days (instead of the usual 1) to make sure our luggage would be there in time for our flight. So we took it on the train with us. Robyn

This should be ample time for the OP. They are will be staying in Kyoto for one night, and staying in Tokyo for two nights before heading to NRT.

But it might be worth stressing that to have the Takkyubin service guarantee delivery of your luggage to NRT in time, it would perhaps be best to request this service either at KIX itself or on the day of arrival at your hotel in Kyoto (rather than at checking out time).

Whilst I agree with everything else you have posted, I'm not so sure I could bring myself to recommend this as a good idea. Mrs NU only has one full day in Kyoto and I find it really hard to imagine that the architecture, momentum and depachika of Kyoto station is what she's really aiming for. never-up has implied that they view this trip as a 'taster' and will return with more time depending on this initial visit.
Although very different (and I agree that Kyoto station is spectacular and well worth exploring - there's even a garden on the rooftop with views out over the city and surrounding mountains) perhaps the suggestions you made can be best experienced somewhere like Shinjuku. Most of the 'ingredients' of the Kyoto station itinerary you described can also be savoured at Shinjuku station. Even with only two days in Tokyo, I'm confident that Mr & Mrs NU will make it to this extraordinary location.

As robyng mentioned, most of the temples close at around 5 or 6, and stop letting people in slightly before then, but assuming you're not delayed, you should be able to squeeze in one of the ones close to your hotel the day you arrive.

Also, several of the temples in Kyoto are as they say in Japanese, "light up," where they're night lit, and reopen from around 7-10 at night. Probably easiest to get a recommendation from your concierge when you arrive, but I went to Kyomizadera after dark when I was in Kyoto a couple of weeks ago, and it was crowded, but very cool at night and very different than during the day.

When I was there last fall, I went to a different, much smaller and less crowded, temple at night, and that was also very memorable as you were given a paper lantern with candle to carry as you walked around the grounds. I can't remember the name of that temple right now, but the first Kanji in it's name means blue and it's quite close to Gion. It wasn't open at night a couple of weeks ago, but was going to be reopening again sometime soon.

Alex

I couldn't easily find any great info about the "light up" in English, but here's a site in Japanese:
http://like.o-oku.jp/n_kyoto_tokubet...2007_haru.html

If you run it through something like Google Translate, you should be able to get out most of the important information. From this list, I'm pretty sure the temple with the lanterns that I mentioned earlier is Shorenin which unfortunately doesn't open again until the 28th.

Alex

I think it's all a matter of timing. During our days in Kyoto - I found myself allowing an hour for this or that - and spending two or more. I don't like to rush things. I think Mrs. NU will have to decide for herself depending on her likes and dislikes. I wouldn't pass up a masterpiece of modern architecture for anything. Or great food fun. Not to mention that the Isetan in the train station has wonderful high end boutiques (I'm not above a little shopping now and then ). But she will have to read - and decide for herself. If there is one thing I've learned traveling for (I refuse to say how many) decades now - it's that different people like different things. Robyn

True enough

On the morning of April 10th we arrived at Tokyo Station about 745am to take the NEX but not having the good sense to prebook seats to find the next two trains the 800am and 900 am sold out ( our flight was 1130am)
It almost turned out to be the very expensive taxi option but the JR clerk told us we could get standing room only tickets on the 900 am, which we did.

Was' nt the most comfortable train-ride I ever took.

mike

JR East's Timetable from Shinjuku:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/nex/e_TimeTa...2_u/index.html

2 times an hour (by my definition, 60 minutes).

That link seems to bring up the timetable from Narita ... not the timetable to Narita.

Trains from Shinjuku to Narita are here:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/nex/timetabl...uku/index.html

I'd hate for someone to show up at Shinjuku and expect to see "2-4 departures per hour." Between 7am and 1pm, there's only one N'EX per hour from Shinjuku.

Yep! And there are anomalies even within this fairly accurate generalisation that can trip up travellers - for instance after the N'EX that leaves Shinjuku at 8:03am, the next one departs at 9:40.

duplicate

Absolutely right.

It boils down to the fact that the N'EX from Shinjuku to NRT is not so frequent. It is wise to check the timetable and make reservations in advance.

OTOH - If you do find yourself in Shinjuku station having just missed a N'EX and you see no more N'EX trains for an hour or more, it's not fatal. You can get on the Yamanote line to Nippori and jump on the Skyliner. (Or take Chuo line to Tokyo and get a N'EX from there). These options can work out as quick as the N'EX (which takes a very long route from Shinjuku to Tokyo before going on to Narita airport).