Kyoto
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Kyoto is the former capital of Japan, but remains one of the major centers of traditional Japanese culture. Much of the city’s historical beauty has been preserved over the years through the multitude of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, as well as parks and gardens. You could spend years getting lost in Kyoto’s alleyways and shops, making it the perfect city to wander around to experience a more traditional side of Japan.
Places of Interest
Fushimi Inari Taisha: One of the more popular shrines in Kyoto, Fushimi Inari attracts thousands of visitors every day. It’s one of the most important Shinto shrines in Kyoto and is dedicated to the god of rice. Foxes are supposedly the rice god’s messengers, which is why there are fox statues and paintings throughout Fushimi Inari. Fushimi Inari is composed of thousands of sacred red torii gates, which dot various trails behind the main buildings at the shrine’s base. Read more about Fushimi Inari and hiking Mount Inari here.
Kinkaku-ji: (金閣寺 “Temple of the Golden Pavilion”) is officially named Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺 “Deer Garden Temple”). It’s a Zen Buddhist temple and one of the most popular buildings in Japan. It costs 400 yen to enter the temple grounds and take a self-guided tour. The temple itself is truly magnificent–it glitters in the sunlight! The temple grounds are absolutely beautiful, too–serene, lush, and super zen. Kinkakuji is in the northern part of Kyoto and its best reached by bus or taxi.
Arashiyama: Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove is incredibly stunning. The bamboo forest is calming and an amazing sight to see. Moreover, the serenity it creates as the sunlight pokes through the shoots is amazing and makes you feel so at ease. I would suggest carving out a few hours to spend in the bamboo grove and the surrounding area. There are lots of shops and places to eat, as well as a couple temples. Arashiyama is a ways outside the city center on the western side of Kyoto, but can be reached by train and bus.
Higashiyama: The Higashiyama district is truly beautiful and captures the traditional essence of Kyoto. It’s one of my favorite places I’ve visited in Japan because of its historic charm and well-preserved wooden buildings. There are lots of shops and cafés in this area, including a Hello Kitty store and café that specializes in Kyoto-centered items (Kimono Kitty), as well as a Ghibli store that sells goods from the various animated films.
Gion: While here, I was lucky enough to spot a pair of Geishas (“geiko” in Kyoto dialect) walking along the streets. If you’re looking to see one of these beautiful women while in Kyoto, Gion is the place to go, as it’s Kyoto’s most famous Geisha district.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple: Unfortunately, Kiyomizu was under construction and I didn’t get to see it when I visited. Rather, I wandered around the historic, traditional streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka in the foothills of Higashiyama near Kiyomizu-dera. This area is stunning with its stone-paved streets and wooden buildings. It’s definitely worth the visit and you could spend a good part of your day exploring here.
Travel tip #1: If you plan on doing lots of sightseeing within Kyoto, figure out what forms of transportation will best suit your itinerary. Sometimes taxi is best for a small group, as it can cost the same per person as taking public transportation (depending on distance, of course). If you plan on using the bus lines throughout the day, investing in a one-day pass for 1,200 JPY may be a smart decision, as the bus in Kyoto has a flat price of 230 JPY no matter where you travel. It really depends on your itinerary and where you plan on going in a single day.
Food
Konnamonja Soya Milk Donuts: Soya milk donuts are popular throughout Kyoto, but Konnamonja’s are especially tasty! They do not disappoint: light, fluffy, warm, and sweet. I tried the original plain donuts, paying 300 JPY for ten mini donuts—perfect for sharing between a of couple people. They make them fresh and fry them up to order.
Menbakaichidai: This restaurant is famous for their fire ramen. They literally set your bowl of ramen on fire right in front of your face! It was something different and worth experiencing in Kyoto, as I don’t know of anywhere else that performs this culinary stunt. View a short video here.
Tatami Starbucks: Typical drinks and coffees are served at this Starbucks cafe, but it’s housed in a traditional-style building. The sitting area is on the second floor and has various tatami rooms where you can enjoy your drinks. I would recommend going during the week, as it is a very popular destination and seating is limited.
Matcha ice cream: A little street-side shop in the Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka area sells homemade ice cream with fresh matcha mixed in. It’s delicious and creamy, and the matcha adds just the right amount of bitterness to the ice cream. Other than being very tasty, it’s also Instagram-worthy. Any foods or sweets with matcha are a must in Kyoto!
Travel tip #2: These are some of the foods I tried while in Kyoto, but if you’re looking to indulge in more Kyoto-specific cuisine, check out this article from Inside Kyoto. Kyoto is a tad expensive and some of the more sought-after cuisine tends to come with a higher price tag, so be prepared.
Accommodation
Due to Kyoto’s popularity and traditional Japanese charm, it can be rather expensive to stay in the city itself. Both times I visited Kyoto, I did one-day trips from Osaka. This allowed me to save money on accommodation and I didn’t have to pack and unpack my belongings multiple times. If you’re planning on doing multiple days in Kyoto, which you definitely should as there’s so much to experience, I recommend checking booking.com or using Airbnb if you’re on a budget.