Famous for its historic temples, colourful shrines, mysterious geisha culture and one of the world's largest collections of UNESCO world heritage sites, Kyoto should definitely be on your bucket list if you're looking for the ultimate #culturetrip.
With over 1600 temples and over 400 shrines, Kyoto is a city full of history. However, it's the natural beauty, richly preserved culture and charm that draw 50.2 million visitors a year to Kyoto. For some, it may just be the matcha soft serve ice cream, cheeky monkeys or sake that is enough to convince them. Whatever intrigues you, jump on the bandwagon and explore Kyoto, you won't regret it!
Top 10 things to do in Kyoto
1. Arashiyama bamboo forest
If you're planning a trip to Kyoto, you’ve probably seen photos of the Arashiyama bamboo grove, along with the famous Golden Temple and the thousands of orange torii gates of the Fushimi-inari shrine. Being one of the most photographed sites in Kyoto, it’s no wonder it's all over your socials but no photo can capture the feeling you get standing amidst thousands of towering bamboo stalks.
How to get there:
You can access the grove from Arashiyama station (15 minute walk). On your walk to the bamboo grove you’ll get to Togetsuyo bridge, which forms the heart of Arashiyama town. Stop here for a photo opportunity as the mountainous backdrop is breathtaking. Here you can enjoy a pleasurable boat ride across the river.
With numerous pathways at the bamboo forest, it’s easy to lose your buddies while gazing up at the green giants. After you’ve dodged your way through the crowds and found the exit, visit the nearby Arashiyama monkey park. Otherwise, Tenriyu-ji temple is not far away either.
2. Iwatayama (Arashiyama) monkey park
Located on Mt Arashiyama, Iwatayama monkey park is inhabited by over 170 Japanese macaque monkeys. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing one of those bright pink monkey butts up close then this is the place to go! With brown to white fur, the red face shows that they have reached adulthood.
After you enter the ticket gate, it is a long and steep trail walk up the mountain and through the forest before you reach the peak where the monkeys roam. Along the way, you'll learn many facts about these snow monkeys such as life span, mating behaviours and rules like ‘Don’t look at them in the eye!’
At the top, you’ll find them bathing in the pond, snoozing in trees, creeping around tourists, seeking shade under benches, playfully wrestling, admiring the view and fighting each other for as much food as they can get from curious visitors. You can feed them through the fence from inside the little shop. Although they keep to themselves, be careful not to get caught in an aggressive monkey brawl!
More commonly known as the snow monkey, Japanese macaque monkeys typically live in colder regions of Japan where snow fall is more common. However, there are plenty here so keep your valuables safe (inside a backpack is fine, don’t hold them in your hands!) If you’ve ever been to Ubud Monkey kingdom in Bali, these Japanese monkeys are much calmer and keep to themselves, a bit like the people! They won’t be jumping on your head to steal your scrunchies like the Balinese ones!
3. Fushimi Inari shrine
Famous for the thousands of torii gates that form a walking trail, there's no doubt you've seen photos upon photos of this famous orange spectacle!
Sitting at the base of Inari mountain, Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of Inari, the god of rice, and when you go to Japan you’ll be thanking this god for all that sushi you’ll be scoffing!
Consisting of 32,000 sub-shrines, Fushimi Inari shrine spans 4km and includes a trail up to many smaller shrines so takes about 2 hours to get to the top. It’s your workout of the day if you visit in May when it’s 31 degrees Celsius so bring plenty of water!
After about 30-45 min, you’ll be treated to an incredible view of southern Kyoto. Be aware that this super popular shrine is visited by massive crowds so I’d suggest going early (it’s open 24 hours) or at least before 10am.
Fun fact: If you’re wondering why there are fox statues all over the place, the fox is the messenger of the God Inari, who carries a key in its mouth. This is the key to the rice store house! #sushifordays
4. Kinkaku-ji temple
Located in northern Kyoto, another popular tourist destination is the zen temple, Kinkaku-ji, where the top two floors are covered in golden leaf. Perhaps the most widely recognised image of Kyoto, the reflection of the golden temple on the water is the perfect postcard, whether it’s capped by snow or set amidst a lush green summer setting.
Overlooking a large pond, the sparkling golden temple has actually burned down many times (this one was resurrected in 1955).
It is not possible to enter the pavilion, but you can stroll along the Japanese gardens and throw coins at statues in the Anmintaku pond for good luck. You can also visit the Sekkkatei tea house, souvenir shops and a cute tea garden where you drink matcha tea and eat Japanese sweets #sokawaii
5. Nishiki market
Rich with tradition, Nishiki market is a super fun, lively, five-block long, shopping street lined with more than a hundred shops and restaurants. Located in downtown Kyoto, this is where hundreds of locals and tourists cluster for Kyoto’s famous food and goods.
Known as ‘Kyoto’s kitchen’, Nishiki market specialises in fresh seafood, cookware, specialty sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi. Don’t forget to try a Japanese crepe, a traditional Japanese matcha soft serve ice cream and the Takoyaki (octopus balls), which are all oishi!
The best part is that all the food here is produced locally and the shop owners are always up for a chat, without pressuring you to buy anything. They’re especially curious about tourists so make some friends (and I’m sure they’ll give you even more free samples!)
As mentioned in my previous blog, 'Top 10 things to do in Tokyo', Japan is the king of free samples so arrive on an empty stomach! Whether it’s Atlantic salmon egg roe mayonnaise, kewpie dressing or soybean sweets you can snack your way through the stalls without a single look of resentment cast your way, rather you’ll be welcomed with more free samples!
If you really want to dive into the culture, my biggest tip is: Don’t be afraid of trying something new! Chances are you’ll enjoy it as Japanese food tastes great! And how many times will you find yourself in the liveliest market in Japan?
How to get there: We rode bikes and parked them a street away from the market. The best way to explore Kyoto is by bike! Otherwise, it can be reached on foot (5 min walk from Shijo station).
6. Bike ride to Nijo castle
We rode our bikes to Nijo castle and there’s bicycle parking next to the castle for convenience. In true Japanese fashion, if you just leave your bike there, a responsible person will sensibly lock your bike into a spot so you have to pay when you come back to collect it. #dontcheatthesystem
Nijo castle is divided into 3 areas:
The Honmaru: main circle for defence
The Niomaru: secondary circle for defence
The gardens
You can choose to buy an English audio guide for 500 yen but we just walked around the castle and read about the history of the first shogun of the edo period.
The coolest part is that that castle corridors are lined with so called ‘nightingale floorboards’, which squeak when you step on them so the guards could hear intruders in the most sneaky but beautiful way!
The palace rooms are covered in tatami mats, elegantly decorated ceilings and extremely detailed paintings of tigers, cranes, leopards, cherry blossom trees and landscapes.
You can walk around to the Ninomaru garden, one of many traditional Japanese landscape gardens found all over Japan. They’re super cute with a little pond and ornamental stones, manicured pine trees, stone lanterns, bamboo and plum trees and mini bridges. Larger stones symbolise mountains, waterfalls and islands while gravel and sand represent water.
If you visit in late march to early April, you can enjoy the 400 cherry blossom trees planted throughout the castle grounds.
7. Bike ride along Kamogawa river
Renting a bike is one of the best ways to explore a new city, especially in Kyoto which is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. Most guesthouses have bikes that you can rent for a few hundred yen a day, which is a bargain!
There are some really scenic bike paths in Kyoto, one of which is along the Kamogawa river. Translating to ‘Duck river’, this is an ideal picnic spot and running path where you can spot swans floating along the mini waterfalls in the river.
We did a few early morning runs along this river to kick start our day! We ran up one side and came back the other, covering about 8km. Read my blog post, ‘5 ways to stay fit while on holiday’ for more tips on exercising while travelling. Running is another great way to explore new surroundings while getting your workout in!
If you’re on the lookout for geisha, you may be lucky enough to spot one walking along this river. Otherwise, head to the nearby geisha district, Gion, where the alley is beautifully lit up by street lights and traditional lamps.
Be aware of bike rules in Japan:
Stick to bicycle lanes on the left hand side. Only children under 13 or oldies over 70 can ride on the sidewalks
You can’t ride side by side
You can’t hold an umbrella while riding
You can’t bring your bike onto the train, there is plenty of parking at all stations
You will get fined if you don’t park your bicycle in a bicycle parking lot (which sometimes you have to pay for)
8. Ryoanji temple
If you are looking to find Zen, or have never found Zen or seek zen again, then here you will become zen...#zen
This is the ultimate Zen temple and hundreds of visitors gather here everyday to pretty much sit in front of the cleanest and tidiest garden ever. It is so peaceful that you’re not even allowed to touch it or walk on it, you have to take your shoes off to sit in front of it and just look at it. #zen
Belonging to the Myōshin-ji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism, Ryoanji temple is the site of Japan’s most famous rock garden. Consisting of a rectangular plot of pebbles surrounded by low walls, there are 15 rocks laid out in small groups on patches of moss.
No matter which viewpoint the viewer stands, at least one of the rocks will always be obscured from view. As the meaning of the garden is not explicit, it is up to each viewer to find their own meaning for him/herself. In an attempt to find zen, I found myself distracted in trying to find strategic ways to view ALL OF THE ROCKS.
9. Imperial Palace
Located in the spacious Kyoto imperial park, Kyoto Imperial palace was home of the emperor of Japan during the Heian period. It consists of several gates, halls and gardens and you can enter the grounds and gardens without joining a tour, although English tours are still available if you want to learn more.
You cannot enter the buildings, just view the outside, however you can also see the Kaninnomiya Mansion in the palace park.
We rode our bikes around the Imperial palace park (and of course, ran around it too!) which is 1300m long and 700m wide, serving as a recreational space for both tourists and residents, featuring broad gravel paths, lawns and tree groves.
10. Kiyomizu temple and shopping strip
If you enjoyed the free samples at Nishiki market then you’ll love this shopping strip! Possibly the most famous sightseeing spot in Kyoto, masses of tourists, locals and beautiful Japanese girls in their traditional kimonos flock to this temple.
There is a long, uphill strip of traditional shops that you can browse through on your way up to the temple, selling everything from traditional fans to finely painted ceramic teacups to intricately decorated chopsticks with your name on them!
Even if you're just walking past, you’ll be handed free matcha cookies, macarons and chilled fruit flavoured tea samples. So many of these shops will provide endless free samples of the traditional Kyoto sweet specialty called 'Nama-yatsuhashi', which is a small sweet crepe made of glutinous rice flour, sugar and cinnamon. Fillings include black sesame, chocolate, strawberry, chestnut, banana…we stuffed ourselves with these and soon found ourselves sprinting up the hill to the temple!
Shop keepers will literally spend the whole day cutting up these mini crepes to hand out as hundreds of people come into their shops and are encouraged to try all the flavours, it's great!
When you get to the top, Kiyomizu temple, meaning ‘Pure Water temple’, is one of the most celebrated temples in Japan. It is best known for its wooden stage that offers visitors a beautiful view of Kyoto city, cherry blossoms and maple trees.
Behind the main hall stands Jishu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking, which explains all the beautiful girls dressed in brightly coloured kimonos, decorated with sea, flower and mountain themes.
So, there's your Kyoto top 10! The city full of temples, shrines, kimonos and free samples! If you're heading to Tokyo, check out my blog post on Tokyo Top 10 too!
Arigato for reading and Sayonara!
