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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Delicious Yakiniku at Hiro Beef, Pontocho

The Pontocho area is one of Kyoto’s go-to spots for food, drink and...

A Fancy Cocktail (Or Two) At Finlandia Bar, Kyoto

Tucked away in a quiet backstreet of Kyoto’s Gion district is the classy...
Shoden-ji Temple

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...

Matcha Pancakes at ‘A Happy Pancake’ Kyoto

Anyone in Japan (or surveying it via Instagram) knows that pancakes are it...
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Backpacking Through Japan – An Overview

In the spring of 2019, my fiancée and I spent three weeks backpacking...
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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...

Sanzen-in: a Place Among The Pines

Ohara village is one of a number of satellite settlements nestled in the...

Ichikawaya Coffee is A Stylish Machiya Cafe in Kyoto

Kyoto seems to excel at cafes in all their variants, ranging from the...

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...

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...

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...

Shimogamo Shrine: One of Kyoto’s Oldest Shrines

Ask anyone where to go for the “really old stuff” in Japan, and...
Egg sandwiches at Smart Coffee

Perfect Egg Sandwiches at Smart Coffee in Kyoto

Japan seems to have perfected the art of great egg sandwiches. Even the...

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.

Where to watch the AFL Grand Final in Japan

Traveling around Japan this finals season? Missing the echo of the siren, the...

Bib Gourmand Ramen at Kyoto’s Menya Inoichi Hanare

Walking past long queues in front of shops and restaurants, my herd mentality...

Exploring The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Arashiyama is a lush, scenic district west of Kyoto which translates directly to...
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Trekking Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of the most globally recognised...

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,...

Down the Rabbit Hole to Kyoto’s Okazaki Jinja!

When Kyoto feels more than ever like a cedar-floored theme park, it's good...

Nature’s Air-Con: Nagashi Sōmen Flowing Noodles Kawadoko Style at Hirobun, Kibune

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Exploring the Oldest Shrine in Japan: Ujigami Shrine

Uji-gami Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Kyoto city of Uji....

Fresh Matcha and Garden Strolls at Okochi Sanso Garden

For those who enjoy a peaceful garden stroll, Japan is certainly the country...

Kiyomizudera: Beyond The Main Hall

As I lower my camera amidst a sea of temple goers at Kiyomizudera,...

Kyoto City Walking Tour: Zen, Books, and Coffee.

View This Walking Tour on Google Maps The historical...

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...

Half-day Kyoto Walking Tour Part 2: Kodaiji Temple to Kiyomizudera

This Kyoto walking tour brings you from the Kodaiji complex to Kiyomizudera. An...

Fabulous Kyoto-style Okonomiyaki at Oagari in Gion

Local and authentic—these are the qualities typically associated with restaurants people want to...

Arashiyama’s Luxury Tofu Kaiseki at Shoraian

Arashiyama is one of the most popular sightseeing areas in Kyoto. The wide,...

Tenju-an: Lost in Reflection in Nanzen-ji’s Hidden Garden

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Choraku-ji and Anyo-ji: Hidden in the Hills, Lost in Time.

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Kyoto’s Most Instagrammable Temple: Yasaka Koshindo

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Love Yokai? Ge-ge-get Yourself to Kitano Ichijo-dori!

Ghosts, monsters and mischievous spirits are a staple of every single human culture...

The Opposite of Chaos at Khaos Spice Diner in Kyoto

There are few things more delicious and comforting than a plate of curry...

How to Ride the Bullet Train in Japan

Riding the bullet train (also known as Shinkansen) is easily the most convenient...

Anonymous pleasures at No Name Ramen in Kyoto

Superlative ramen restaurants are a dime a dozen in Japan. Standing out from...

A Charming Kyoto Lunch Course at Tsuburano in Higashiyama

The rickshaw driver pants as he passes by, breathlessly regaling the couple in...

Kyoto City Walking Tour: Concrete, Jungles and Kyoto’s Oldest Shrine.

View This Tour on Google Maps If you're looking...

Suiba – A Standing Izakaya in Kyoto for Solo Diners

In many places, there's often a little stigma attached to dining alone. Not...

Visiting Koke-Dera, Kyoto’s Moss Temple

Formally known as Koinzan Saiho-ji, or Saihoji for...

Bib Gourmand Zen Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine: Shigetsu in Arashiyama

As I swept aside Shigetsu’s entrance curtain an hour ahead of my reservation,...

Dive Into Kyoto Tower’s Secret Bath House

Can your feet beat the streets of Kyoto no more? Or perhaps you’re...

Contemplating the Mysterious Rock Garden of Ryoanji Temple

Ryoanji Temple is a UNESCO listed Zen Buddhist Temple home to Japan’s most...

A Great Half-Day Hike Near Kyoto: the Kibune – Kurama Hike

Looking for a way to enjoy nature, soak up culture and get some...
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Suntory Yamazaki Whisky Distillery Tours

Whiskey. Ireland and Scotland both claim to have first created it—in fact the...

Kyoto City Walking Tour – Gardens, Gates and Geiko.

View Full Tour on Google Maps As tourism in...

The Kyoto Scramble: Tokyo to Okinawa Day 3

With approximately 1600 temples (Silver Pavilion etc), 400 shrines (Yasaka Shrine), 5 castles...

Check out Asahiyaki: Hidden Gem Pottery Class in Kyoto

As I stared over the Asahiyaki instructor’s shoulder during the pottery wheel demonstration,...

Kifune Shrine: One of Kyoto’s Most Instagrammable Shrines

In a stroke of genius, I decided to make the journey into the...
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Behind the Scenes at the Silver Pavilion

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The 10 Best Foods to Eat at Nishiki Market, Kyoto

Food lovers rejoice, the Nishiki Market in downtown Kyoto is a mecca for...

Bathing in the Buff At Kurama Onsen’s Open-Air Bath

Tired body? Looking for a break from the tourist crowds of Kyoto? A...

Nison-in: Busy Arashiyama’s Secret Mountain of Fire

Visiting Arashiyama in autumn will be one of two things: incredible, or infuriating....

Half-day Kyoto Walking Tour Part 1: Gion to Kodaiji Temple

Looking for a short walking route in Kyoto that will give you real...

The Tranquil Gardens of Kodaiji Temple: A Higashiyama Must

Kyoto’s eastern Higashiyama area is positively packed with beautiful historic temples, shrines, statues,...

Monkeying Around at Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama

There can be no doubt that Arashiyama is one of Kyoto’s most popular...

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...

Daihikaku Senkoji: The Best Views in Arashiyama!

It won't surprise anybody to learn that Kyoto is becoming the centre of...

Ancient Treasures at the World Heritage Byodoin Temple

Of all the beautiful and historic temples in Kyoto, there is only one...
At the entrance to Kawai Kanjiro's House

Kawai Kanjiro’s House: Joy Found in All of Life

One of the most underrated places in Kyoto...

A Tranquil Tea Ceremony at Uji’s Taihoan Tea House

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Café Hassui, Arashiyama’s Luxury Teahouse

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Livin’ It Up at Hotel Intergate Kyoto

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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...

Strolling Around the Famed Tenryuji Temple Grounds in Arashiyama

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Ine Village, Kyoto’s Rustic Fishing Town

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Chion-ji Handicraft Market Kyoto: Handmade Craft Heaven

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Strolling Arashiyama’s Shopping Strip Like a Pro

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Myoshin-ji Temple and Taizo-in’s Garden: Kyoto’s Past, Perfectly Preserved.

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A Thousand Glittering Treasures at Kyoto’s Sanjusangendo Temple

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Kyoto’s Botanical Greenhouse: The Perfect Winter Warmer

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Follow Arashiyama’s Kimono Forest to a Relaxing Foot bath

Arashiyama is perhaps best known for its Bamboo Grove, but there's another forest...

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...

Kyoto Rurikoin Temple’s Green Maple Leaves Are Stunning in the Rain

The Rurikoin Temple Green Maple Leaves June has arrived, and...

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