KYOTO
Golden Temple
KYOTO
Kyoto was Japan’s capital for over a thousand years. As such, it is synonymous with traditional culture and cuisine. Due to its significance, Kyoto was thankfully spared from the bombings of World War II. Consequently, there are now over 2,000 shrines and temples to explore, including UNESCO World Heritage sites. The historic sites and peaceful gardens are a window into Japan’s past. Situated in a basin of picturesque mountains, Kyoto is also an outdoor lover’s paradise. There are plenty of excellent hiking trails and several designated National Parks. For the lowdown on the best things to do in Kyoto, check out our articles below.
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Manshuin Monzeki: A Tale of Two Temples
Manshuin Monzeki Temple lies hidden in Kyoto's eastern hills, and is almost entirely overlooked by foreign tourists - solitude guaranteed!
Kyoto City Walking Tour – Gardens, Gates and Geiko.
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As tourism in...
Art, Tranquility, and Synth-playing Monks at Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple
Kyoto’s beauty and charm cannot be denied. However, it has led to a...
Kyoto’s Botanical Greenhouse: The Perfect Winter Warmer
Kyoto city sees its highest visitor numbers in spring, at the peak of...
Follow Arashiyama’s Kimono Forest to a Relaxing Foot bath
Arashiyama is perhaps best known for its Bamboo Grove, but there's another forest...
City Strolling: Meandering to Uji Shrine
Uji City isn't exactly 'unknown' - however, this mini-city retains a quiet charm that’s becoming increasingly hard to find in modern Japan.
Ise to Kyoto in the Cheap Seats: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 2
After a night in the tea fields, our party rose at dawn and...
Check out Asahiyaki: Hidden Gem Pottery Class in Kyoto
As I stared over the Asahiyaki instructor’s shoulder during the pottery wheel demonstration,...
Ancient Treasures at the World Heritage Byodoin Temple
Of all the beautiful and historic temples in Kyoto, there is only one...
Nanzen-ji: Heart of the Five Mountains.
'Temple Fatigue' is one of the most common afflictions affecting foreign visitors to...
Spice Chamber Serves Keema Curry with a Kick in Kyoto
Japanese curry tends not to be spicy. It’s unsurprising, when most Japanese people...
Anonymous pleasures at No Name Ramen in Kyoto
Superlative ramen restaurants are a dime a dozen in Japan. Standing out from...
Myoshin-ji Temple and Taizo-in’s Garden: Kyoto’s Past, Perfectly Preserved.
Although much of Kyoto city's architectural and cultural history has skyrocketed in popularity...
Contemplating the Mysterious Rock Garden of Ryoanji Temple
Ryoanji Temple is a UNESCO listed Zen Buddhist Temple home to Japan’s most...
Choraku-ji and Anyo-ji: Hidden in the Hills, Lost in Time.
Kyoto is abundant in micro-temples which atmospherically melt into forests and hills. Naturally,...
The Opposite of Chaos at Khaos Spice Diner in Kyoto
There are few things more delicious and comforting than a plate of curry...
Beloved by David Bowie: Why Shoden-ji Temple is One of Kyoto’s Hidden Gems
Kyoto is the land of limitless temples and shines. That said, many of...
Perfect Egg Sandwiches at Smart Coffee in Kyoto
Japan seems to have perfected the art of great egg sandwiches. Even the...
Livin’ It Up at Hotel Intergate Kyoto
Touring Kyoto can be tiring business, which is why you need a comfortable...
Nishi and Higashi Hongan-ji: East Meets West in Central Kyoto
Nishi and Higashi Hongan-ji are neighbour temples, hidden in plain sights in the middle of Kyoto city.
Down the Rabbit Hole to Kyoto’s Okazaki Jinja!
When Kyoto feels more than ever like a cedar-floored theme park, it's good...
Delicious Yakiniku at Hiro Beef, Pontocho
The Pontocho area is one of Kyoto’s go-to spots for food, drink and...
A Contemplative Stroll Along Kyoto’s Philosopher’s Path
The Philosopher’s Path, or Tetsugaku no michi, is a 2 km-long pedestrian pathway...
The Tranquil Gardens of Kodaiji Temple: A Higashiyama Must
Kyoto’s eastern Higashiyama area is positively packed with beautiful historic temples, shrines, statues,...
Chinzao: Taiwanese Tea House in Ine Village
Ine, the quaint fishing village in Kyōto’s northwest, is arguably one of the...
Monkeying Around at Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
There can be no doubt that Arashiyama is one of Kyoto’s most popular...
Genkо̄-an: Blooms and Blood in a Quiet Neighbourhood
Genkо̄-an is a beautiful Buddhist temple with a dark secret, tucked away in the quiet neighbourhoods of northern Kyoto.
Bib Gourmand Zen Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine: Shigetsu in Arashiyama
As I swept aside Shigetsu’s entrance curtain an hour ahead of my reservation,...
Behind the Scenes at the Silver Pavilion
Colloquially known as the Silver Pavilion or Ginkaku-ji, Jisho-ji is one of Kyoto’s...
A Charming Kyoto Lunch Course at Tsuburano in Higashiyama
The rickshaw driver pants as he passes by, breathlessly regaling the couple in...
Shо̄sei-en: Kyoto’s Secret Garden
Shо̄sei-en is a tranquil, rolling garden which lies hidden in the heart of Kyoto city. A paragon of good design, be sure not to miss it!
Ine Village, Kyoto’s Rustic Fishing Town
The town of Ine is located approximately 130km north of Kyoto, on the coast of...
A Great Half-Day Hike Near Kyoto: the Kibune – Kurama Hike
Looking for a way to enjoy nature, soak up culture and get some...
Fresh Matcha and Garden Strolls at Okochi Sanso Garden
For those who enjoy a peaceful garden stroll, Japan is certainly the country...
Bib Gourmand Ramen at Kyoto’s Menya Inoichi Hanare
Walking past long queues in front of shops and restaurants, my herd mentality...
Trekking Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine
Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of the most globally recognised...
Kyoto City Walking Tour: Zen, Books, and Coffee.
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The historical...
Zuiganzan Enkoji Temple: Moss, Maples, Modernism
Zuiganzan Enkoji is a traditional Buddhist temple with a modern twist, hidden in Kyoto's eastern Higashiyama hills.
Arashiyama’s Luxury Tofu Kaiseki at Shoraian
Arashiyama is one of the most popular sightseeing areas in Kyoto. The wide,...
Strolling Arashiyama’s Shopping Strip Like a Pro
With gorgeous scenery and impressive temples, shrines and gardens, it’s no wonder Arashiyama...
Shisendо̄: Kyoto’s Rustic Retreat
Shisendо̄, a former hermitage, is tucked away in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, offering a perfect blend of rustic design and subtle beauty.
Half-day Kyoto Walking Tour Part 1: Gion to Kodaiji Temple
Looking for a short walking route in Kyoto that will give you real...
Kyoto After Dark: An Evening Stroll through Pontocho and Gion
Kyoto is the gently lit canal to Tokyo’s fit-inducing neon—part of its charm...
Exploring The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Arashiyama is a lush, scenic district west of Kyoto which translates directly to...
Where to watch the AFL Grand Final in Japan
Traveling around Japan this finals season? Missing the echo of the siren, the...
Nature’s Air-Con: Nagashi Sōmen Flowing Noodles Kawadoko Style at Hirobun, Kibune
Wondering how to cool off in Japan’s humid summer? Perhaps you’re munching your...
Strolling Around the Famed Tenryuji Temple Grounds in Arashiyama
The Bamboo Grove may be the most Instagrammed attraction in Arashiyama, but Tenryuji...
Suiba – A Standing Izakaya in Kyoto for Solo Diners
In many places, there's often a little stigma attached to dining alone. Not...
Café Hassui, Arashiyama’s Luxury Teahouse
Arashiyama is one of Kyoto’s most popular tourist...
Kyoto’s Most Instagrammable Temple: Yasaka Koshindo
It’s easy to forget what century you’re in as you explore the cobbled,...
Fabulous Kyoto-style Okonomiyaki at Oagari in Gion
Local and authentic—these are the qualities typically associated with restaurants people want to...
A Thousand Glittering Treasures at Kyoto’s Sanjusangendo Temple
Not far from Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Taisha lies the temple famously home to...
Nison-in: Busy Arashiyama’s Secret Mountain of Fire
Visiting Arashiyama in autumn will be one of two things: incredible, or infuriating....
Tofuku-ji Temple: Mirei’s Modernism in the Heart of Kyoto
Japan's abundance of breathtaking gardens makes it a promised land for plant lovers...
Kyoto City Walking Tour: Concrete, Jungles and Kyoto’s Oldest Shrine.
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If you're looking...
The Garden of Fine Arts: Tadao Ando’s Quiet Gift to Kyoto.
There's every chance you haven't heard of The Garden of Fine Arts. Almost...
Visiting Koke-Dera, Kyoto’s Moss Temple
Formally known as Koinzan Saiho-ji, or Saihoji for...
Kyoto Rurikoin Temple’s Green Maple Leaves Are Stunning in the Rain
The Rurikoin Temple Green Maple Leaves
June has arrived, and...
The Kyoto Scramble: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 3
With approximately 1600 temples (Silver Pavilion etc), 400 shrines (Yasaka Shrine), 5 castles...
Ichikawaya Coffee is A Stylish Machiya Cafe in Kyoto
Kyoto seems to excel at cafes in all their variants, ranging from the...
Matcha Pancakes at ‘A Happy Pancake’ Kyoto
Anyone in Japan (or surveying it via Instagram) knows that pancakes are it...
How to Ride the Bullet Train in Japan
Riding the bullet train (also known as Shinkansen) is easily the most convenient...
Daihikaku Senkoji: The Best Views in Arashiyama!
It won't surprise anybody to learn that Kyoto is becoming the centre of...
A Tranquil Tea Ceremony at Uji’s Taihoan Tea House
For green tea fans, there’s really no going past Uji—a town with tea...
Tenju-an: Lost in Reflection in Nanzen-ji’s Hidden Garden
Kyoto is awash with picturesque gardens and ponds. Be they dry-stone, botanical or...
Kiyomizudera: Beyond The Main Hall
As I lower my camera amidst a sea of temple goers at Kiyomizudera,...
Hozugawa River Cruise: History, Nature, Rapids and Snacks
For a fun outdoorsy adventure in Kyoto, check out the Hozugawa River Cruise....
Love Yokai? Ge-ge-get Yourself to Kitano Ichijo-dori!
Ghosts, monsters and mischievous spirits are a staple of every single human culture...
Shimogamo Shrine: One of Kyoto’s Oldest Shrines
Ask anyone where to go for the “really old stuff” in Japan, and...
Green Tea Lovers Should Make a Pilgrimage To Uji… Right Now
Listen up green tea lovers! It’s time to get yourself down to Uji,...
Dive Into Kyoto Tower’s Secret Bath House
Can your feet beat the streets of Kyoto no more? Or perhaps you’re...
Ine Bay Sightseeing Boat: Birds and Boat houses
When most people think of Kyoto, they picture famous shrines and bamboo forests....
Suntory Yamazaki Whisky Distillery Tours
Whiskey. Ireland and Scotland both claim to have first created it—in fact the...
Sanzen-in: a Place Among The Pines
Ohara village is one of a number of satellite settlements nestled in the...
Bathing in the Buff At Kurama Onsen’s Open-Air Bath
Tired body? Looking for a break from the tourist crowds of Kyoto? A...
Heat, culture, chaos: the real Gion Matsuri.
Kyoto is a city that many consider to be the perfect embodiment of the truest 'Japanese sensibilities.' Refinement, subtlety and a restrained aesthetic create a type of harmony that permeates all facets of life in Japan. Minimalism, restraint and the beloved 'wabi-sabi' are all forms of a distinctly Kyoto-esque identity. Enter the Gion Matsuri: a night of hot air, cold beer and a touch of ancestral transcendence.
Backpacking Through Japan – An Overview
In the spring of 2019, my fiancée and I spent three weeks backpacking...
Enryaku-ji Temple: Mt Hiei’s Hidden Wonder
Enryaku-ji is a mountain temple hidden plain sight! Deep in the cedar forests of Mount Hiei, it's a place to enjoy nature and tranquility.
Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design: A Rich Artisanal Heritage
Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design is a spectacular showcase of the city's artisanal heritage, housed in a stylish, modern exhibition hall.
Kawai Kanjiro’s House: Joy Found in All of Life
One of the most underrated places in Kyoto...
Half-day Kyoto Walking Tour Part 2: Kodaiji Temple to Kiyomizudera
This Kyoto walking tour brings you from the Kodaiji complex to Kiyomizudera. An...
A Fancy Cocktail (Or Two) At Finlandia Bar, Kyoto
Tucked away in a quiet backstreet of Kyoto’s Gion district is the classy...
Ryozen Kannon Temple: One of Kyoto’s Best Kept Secrets
Kyoto’s Higashiyama district may be jam-packed with countless temples and shrines, but in...
Cool Down With Green Tea Soba, Perched Over A Flowing River
Uji is all about green tea; it's past, present and future are deeply...
The 10 Best Foods to Eat at Nishiki Market, Kyoto
Food lovers rejoice, the Nishiki Market in downtown Kyoto is a mecca for...
Beat The Heat With These Three Kawadoko River Dining Spots in Kyoto
Summers in Kyoto can be surprisingly hot and humid. Luckily, the pragmatic ancient...
Kifune Shrine: One of Kyoto’s Most Instagrammable Shrines
In a stroke of genius, I decided to make the journey into the...
Chion-ji Handicraft Market Kyoto: Handmade Craft Heaven
Love handmade goods? Have a taste for local crafts? If you’re looking to...
Exploring the Oldest Shrine in Japan: Ujigami Shrine
Uji-gami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Kyoto city of Uji....