A Complete Travel Guide to Kyoto

As a tourist city, Kyoto is one of the most popular destinations for both foreigners and Japanese, you can't take a trip to Japan without visiting Kyoto. In this article, you can find some travel tips for those who have a plan to travel to Kyoto.

Firstly, let's have a quick overview of Kyoto. Kyoto City, which belongs to Kyoto Prefecture, is a city located in the Kansai region, near the center of Japan's main island. Kyoto City, as the administrative center, is located in the southern area of Kyoto Prefecture. Kyoto Station, the gateway to Kyoto, passes trains such as the Tokaido Shinkansen, JR line, subway, and Kintetsu, as well as many fixed-route buses and taxis, so you can go easily travel anywhere in the city.

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years from 794 AD. Wars broke out many times in this area, and each time Kyoto achieved a remarkable recovery. Even after the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1868, it developed as a modern city as we can see now. In terms of culture, the culture that has been developed since the emperor was here, has been passed down in various fields such as architecture, crafts, kimono, and cuisine.

Kyoto is a city with many tourists throughout the year, but the heat in the summer is severe, and the cold in the winter is said to be extremely cold. If you want a comfortable trip, spring or autumn are recommended since the weather is nice. Spring with cherry blossoms and autumn with colorful leaves are the best seasons for sightseeing.

Must-See Attractions in Kyoto

In Kyoto, there are about 3,000 tangible and intangible cultural heritages, including national treasures, important cultural properties, and city-designated cultural properties. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Kyoto is rich in nature, with many temples and shrines hidden inside.

1. Fushimi Inari Taisha

It is said that Fushimi Inari Taisha is the most liked tourist spot among foreigners. The entire mountain that the shrine site is considered a sacred area for Shinto. The most popular photo spot is the "Senbon Torii", which stretches from Okumiya to Okusha. "Senbon Torii" means "One Thousand Torii" but there are actually almost 10 thousand of Torii in Fushimi-inari Taisha. These toriis are dedicated to praying and expressing gratitude for the fulfillment of their wishes.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

2. Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera is a must-see when you are visiting Kyoto. This temple has been very popular among Japanese and foreigners. The "Kiyomizu Stage", which allows you to enjoy the panorama of Kyoto, is so popular that many tourists visit even if it is high season or a busy time of the day. In addition, to visit during the cherry blossom season in spring and the colorful leaves season in autumn, it is also recommended to enjoy a tour during the winter season. In the early hours of the morning, you can enjoy the famous water of "Otowa Falls" without lining up.

3. Nanzen-ji

Nanzen-ji is one of the most popular tourist spots in Kyoto. It is a Buddhist temple located in the Okazaki area. The charming points of this spot are not only the symmetric temple itself but also its surroundings. The majestic rows of trees, cherry blossoms in the spring, green maple leaves in the early summer, autumn leaves in the fall, and the refreshing sound of water flowing through the ancient canal make Nanzen-ji a popular "cool spot" in the summer.

4. Kinkaku-ji

Kinkaku-ji is a place that is crowded with many tourists from Japan and abroad, and it is a must-see spot when visiting Kyoto. Kyoto has 17 World Heritage sites, but Rokuonji (Kinkaku-ji) is a place that overwhelms everyone with its beauty the moment they see it. It. Many people must have seen the images of its astonishing golden pavilion. It is located at the foot of a mountain in the northwestern part of Kyoto.

It is said that the third general of the Muromachi Shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, built this temple in the image of the Pure Land. It is a famous temple known as a symbol of the culture of the early Muromachi period (Kitayama culture).

Kinkaku-ji

5. Arashiyama

Arashiyama is a tourist destination that represents Kyoto. In this area, you can have some intimacy with nature and find out the Japanese way of getting along with nature. It provides various attractions to tourists, such as crossing the Togetsukyo Bridge and riding a trolley train. There are many ways to have fun in this area, so it's an area where you'll want to take some days to fully enjoy it. Walking in the famous grove paths in the bamboo forest and smelling the scent of bamboo is pleasant on the grove paths it makes you feel cool even in summer. Also, in winter, it is lit up with beautiful illuminations for a limited time and is crowded with many tourists.

Best Food in Kyoto

1. In Kawaramachi Area

On the west side of the Kamo River, there are narrow alleys called "Pontocho" and "Kiyamachi". Different types of restaurants are crowded on both sides. Many have a menu board on the front, so you can check the price range at a glance. Many high-class kaiseki restaurants give priority to reservations, but some restaurants allow you to enter even on the day of your visit. There is a wide range of genres, such as Chinese, French, and Italian, and you can enjoy these delicious dishes arranged in Japanese style.

Japanese Kaiseki Dishes

2. In Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market, which has been used by locals for a long time, has recently made various improvements for tourists. You can buy mainly snacks such as yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), pickles, and sweets, so it would be nice when you want to take out and eat in your room.

3. In Arashiyama Area

Around Arashiyama and Sagano, there aren't many restaurants open at night, so try to visit during lunchtime. You can enjoy Kyoto cuisine at a relatively reasonable price in the Arashiyama area.

Must-Have Travel Experience in Kyoto

1. Learn and Practice Japanese Pottery in a Classroom

Pottery(Tougei) is a traditional Japanese craft made by shaping clay while turning it on a potter's wheel. It is very popular among foreigners as an opportunity to experience Japanese traditional crafts. Since this experience is very popular among foreigners, in some of the classrooms, you can find teachers who speak good English.

2. Enjoy the Geisha/Maiko Show and Tea Ceremony

One of the pleasures of foreign tourists who come to Kyoto is meeting gorgeous and cute Geisha or Maiko. In the tea house (Chaya) where the Geisha and Maiko normally perform, you can learn the etiquette of the tea ceremony from a real Maiko and watch a Kyoto dance performance. Even first-time visitors are welcome, and there are places where you can receive explanations in English. There is no doubt that you will become friends with Maiko!

Geisha in Gion

3. Cycling in the City Center or in Nature

The reason why foreigners choose cycling tours is that they can see places and scenery that cannot be seen by car or train. Watching and feeling the city by bicycle is perfect for those who want to take a leisurely view rather than taking the train but don't have time to walk around. Bicycle renting shops can be found everywhere in the central area of the city. Some B&Bs and hotels also provide bicycles to their guests. There are a lot of places where you can go cycling, but you have to check online in which zone it is forbidden.

4. Transform into Ninja and Carry out missions

Ninja experiences and ninja activities can often be found in various parts of Japan. Most of them require players wearing ninja costumes to learn ninjutsu and experience shuriken.

From 2018, tourists can have a real RPG-type ninja experience where they transform into a ninja and carry out missions in the Fushimi Inari area of Kyoto. The name of the activity is "NINJA-RUN". There are more than 100 missions, and they are ranked by difficulty level, and it is suitable for both adults and children. The experience supports multiple languages, including Japanese, English, Chinese, Spanish, etc. There is no doubt that even foreign tourists can enjoy it even if they don't know Japanese.

Accommodations in Kyoto

In Kyoto, there are various lodging facilities, such as small B&Bs, townhouses, inns, and luxury hotels. The facilities and prices vary greatly, so it is recommended to choose according to the place you want to go and the atmosphere of the hotel which you want to enjoy. Prices per person start at around 3,000 yen for a guest house, around 6,000 yen for a rented townhouse, around 7,000 yen for a city hotel, and around 9,000 yen for a Japanese-style ryokan with meals (depending on the season and facilities).

Here are several convenient areas for tourists to stay:

1. Near Kyoto station

Because it is a terminal station, Kyoto station is good for being easy to move to other areas as well as sightseeing in the city. There are a number of hotels within walking distance from both the central exit of Kyoto Tower and the Hachijo exit, which is close to the Shinkansen entrance. Therefore, you can choose one according to your budget. If you stay for more than 3 nights, you can take a leisurely look around Kyoto city, and you can even take a day trip to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture or Osaka for a day.

2. In the Arashiyama area

Known for its scenic beauty, Arashiyama has many relatively small hotels and Japanese-style ryokans. There are famous grove paths in the bamboo forest, and historical temples hidden in nature. Since it is a big area, it is recommended to rent a bicycle, and explore the Arashiyama, Sagano, and Uzumasa neighborhoods in about three days.

Traditional tourist activities such as seeing historical spots allow you to see the past of a city, but don't forget to try some unique experiences as well. Although Kyoto is an ancient city, it has a metropolitan feel, with convenient transportation, restaurants, souvenir shops, and lodging facilities. Also, since Kyoto has many universities, many international students live here, and it can be said that the residents are relatively accustomed to interacting with foreigners. It is s city fully accommodated for tourism, so there's no need to worry about any inconvenience when you are traveling in Kyoto.

If you're planning to visit Japan and explore the amazing Kyoto, please don't hesitate to contact us, and one of our travel experts will create a tailor-made itinerary based on your needs and interests within 24hrs.