For a more traditional Japanese experience, Kyoto is the place to visit. The former Japanese capital is surrounded by beautiful scenery and has a number of Buddhist temples worth visiting. Get ready to lose track of time and be at peace as you wander the streets and enjoy the culture.
Things to Do
- Fushimi Inari Shrine: This shrine is a sight to behold, as it is really a collection of about 32,000 sub-shrines. As you hike up the mountain, you’ll get the opportunity to walk under and through many of these sub-shrines. This is a great experience in itself, but you’ll also be treated to a nice view from the top.
- Kinkaku-ji Temple: This beautiful golden temple attracts a huge number of visitors each year, and for good reason. It is incredibly picturesque.
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: This bamboo forest is unlike anywhere else we have been. The bamboo is incredibly tall, so you feel completely immersed. Take some time to wander about and enjoy the shops, food stands, and park next to the grove too.
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple: Another breathtaking site. This complex has a lot to see, ranging from a large wooden temple perched on a hillside to a traditional colorful pagoda. The Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Site includes this temple, along with 16 other locations in and around Kyoto.
- Gion: For nightlife, make your way over to Gion. The narrow streets contain a large collection sake bars to quench your thirst, and you’ll also have the opportunity to see geisha and traditional Kyomai dances.
- Day Trips: If you want to get out of Kyoto for a day, you have a few great day trip options. Osaka, the food capital of Japan, is about an hour away by train. Here you can eat to your heart’s content and walk through the amazing Osaka castle. If you don’t mind traveling a bit further, you can also make it to Hiroshima in about three hours. We decided to do the Osaka day trip – because food – but our friends that did Hiroshima really appreciated the experience.
What to Eat
- Nishiki Market: One of our favorite places in Kyoto. This indoor / outdoor market has so many shops and vendors that you won’t know what to do with yourself. This is a great spot to try a number of local specialties, as the vendors are constantly preparing and restocking a variety of treats that you can snack on while walking around.
- Gyoza Chaochao: The gyoza here are amazing! This cool little bar is also a great spot to grab a drink or late night snacks with friends.
- Bakeries: There are a ton of great bakeries in Kyoto. Our morning routine involved a walk around the city followed by many pastries, so we got to try a number of places. Our favorite spots were CheerUp!, Boulangerie Liberte, and Shinshindo.
- Conveyor-belt Sushi: Not as much of a novelty as you might think, conveyor-belt sushi is exactly what it sounds like. You sit down, grab plates as they come by, and get charged based on how many plates you have at the end of your meal. The sushi is good too! It wasn’t the best we had in Japan, but it still blew away most of what we’ve had in the United States for a much cheaper price.
Other Tips & Tricks
- Cherry Blossoms: While Kyoto is not THE recommended spot to see cherry blossoms, it is still a great option. If you’re visiting the city in late March, you’ll likely find yourself surrounded by tourists hoping to catch a photo of the beautiful flowers. We visited in early March before everything was in full bloom, but we were still able to see a few cherry blossoms and plum blossoms around the city.
- Public Transportation: Like most Japanese cities, Kyoto has amazing public transportation. Everything is fast, convenient, on time, and affordable, so you shouldn’t need any taxis during your trip unless you’re planning to go to a more obscure spot outside the city.
- Closing Times: One thing worth noting is that the temples in Kyoto close a bit early (~5:00 PM). It’d be in your best interest to get early starts to your days to make sure you have time to see everything. Once everything closes, you can spend your evenings enjoying the food and nightlife in the city.
- Where to Stay: We stayed at the Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi-Sanjo while visiting Kyoto. We liked this hotel for its central location, price, and western-style beds. Before booking any hotel in Japan, you should make sure you know what kind of bed you’re signing up for. Many places only have traditional Japanese beds that rest on the floor. We didn’t mind that style when we slept on them in other cities, but we still preferred beds that felt more like home.
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan