The Best Of Kyoto, A Journey Through The Historic Capital

It’s your first time in Japan, you’re still wired after the buzz and bright lights of Tokyo, and in much need of some respite from the crowds. I hate to break it to you but the words out on the former capital, and as a result Kyoto at times can feel a little crowded and overwhelming. That doesn’t mean a trip to Kyoto can’t be enjoyable!

Kyoto is full of old charm, and when wandering down the quaint side-streets you’ll feel as though you walked straight into Edo-Period Japan. The scenery is beautiful, there’s stunning temples, sublime gardens and bamboo forests to explore whilst traditional tea houses and restaurants will quench your thirst and satisfy your appetite. In all honesty though it’s the places in-between the main tourist attractions that will surprise and delight you in equal measure!

Best Places To Visit In Kyoto

Regardless of how long you’re staying in Kyoto we recommend some forward planning, and choosing which sights and temples you want to see. There’s so many here and you won’t have time to visit them all but we’ve made a list of our favorite to help you choose.

The first thing we recommend you do is to pick up a bicycle as the metro system is not comprehensive and the buses can be very crowded. The city is mostly flat with the exception of the eastern hills of Higashiyama, and a relaxing cycle along the Kamo River will sooth the soul.

Explore Kinkakuji Temple

First on our list and one of the most famous landmarks in Japan is Kinkakuji Temple.
The temple served as a retirement villa of a shogun named Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, but after his death and according to his will it became a zen temple. The three floors of the temple represent three different styles of architecture and the top two floors are covered in gold leaf.

It’s likely you will have seen this temple in many Japan holiday brochures, but now’s your chance to photograph this golden temple and if the weather is kind you can capture a stunning reflection shot. We recommend you visit here for opening time to avoid the crowds, and it’s worth noting that tripods or mono-pods aren’t allowed.

Spend A Morning Exploring The Picturesque Streets Of Gion

You should plan an early start If you can, around 5:30 am starting from Yasaka Pagoda where you can watch an early sunrise as it starts to illuminate the quiet, picturesque streets of Gion. From Yasaka Pagoda you can explore the rest of the streets and lap up the crowd-free atmosphere whilst the rest of Kyoto sleeps. After you’ve finished exploring the surrounding streets, grab a coffee and take a slow walk, treading the pilgrim’s route, up to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

If you managed to get up early to enjoy sunrise over the streets of Gion, by the time you make it to the temple, you should arrive just in time to beat the masses.

Located in the eastern Higashiyama area, high above the streets of Gion, the Kiyomizu-dera Temple is one of the most famous and celebrated temples in Kyoto. This Buddhist temple dates back as far as the 7th century and the main hall has been designated a national treasure. The famous wooden-stage, complex is cleverly braced on the side of a hill from where you can get panoramic views over Kyoto, giving you a perfect start to your morning.

Photograph Yasaka Pagoda

Yasaka Pagoda is quite possibly one of the most photographed spots in Kyoto and it’s easy to see why! The five-story Pagoda towers above the charming and well-kept streets of the Higashiyama District, and is an iconic part of the areas skyline. The Yasaka Pagoda is a great place to photograph day or night but if you want to capture a great picture without the crowds then head here for sunrise around 6:00 am or late evening, around 9:00 pm.

Visit Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

If you want to avoid the crowds then head here early morning between 6:00 am and 8:00 am, and If you’re lucky you may see the priest dressed in white, as he takes his morning route through the red torii gates, which makes for an epic photo.

The shrine was originally dedicated to the god of rice and sake and dates back to the 8th century. It features thousands of red tori gates, all of which were donated by businessmen or other individuals as a way to impress the God, with the hopes of receiving good fortune. The torii gates are also believed to mark the boundary between our world and the spiritual world.

Making the pilgrimage through the gates to the top of the Mt. Inari-san is a must! Don’t worry it’s only 233 meters high, and it’s even better in the evening where you’ll get sunset views over Kyoto.

As you explore Fushimi Inari-taisha you’ll come across many statues of foxes, they are often found at Inari shrines as they are regarded as messengers. You will see large fox statues near one of the main gates when you enter Fushimi Inari-taisha and many more of all sizes as you climb up the mountain.

Explore Pontocho

Pontocho alley is lined with traditional shops, sake bars, tea-houses and restaurants. It’s a great place to grab a bite, have a drink and spend the evening exploring the atmospheric, narrow lanes. We recommend arriving here just before 17:00 as this is when most bars and restaurants open their doors, it’s also a popular time to spot Geisha that may frequent the area.

Beat The Crowds At Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

As much as we liked visiting this bamboo forest it is very narrow and everybody wants a picture of the same, main section which isn’t that long. So expect it to be crowded unless you visit early.

The forest itself is very pleasant to stroll through, and there’s something calming about hearing the sound of crackling bamboo from the towering shoots overhead. If your goal is to get photographs then try playing around with different angles, and use your subject to block out some of the people. After you have finished exploring the bamboo grove we recommend you explore the extended area a little as there is some stunning scenery around the forest

Although we recommend visiting here early in the morning, as early as 5:30 am for photographs, still expect to find other people doing the same. We witnessed some wedding style photo-shoots that took over the forest early in the morning. There was even stories of arguments that had broken out because people wanted to get pictures with nobody in and others wanted to be in the picture, this was around 5:30 in the morning!

Explore The Geisha District

Geishas are highly-skilled entertainers who are trained in the traditional, Japanese arts. If you want to catch a glimpse of a geisha then head to Higashiyama Ward in the evening, where the Leica camera shop is in Gion. The road there is lined with small restaurants and shops and is the best place to see a geisha as she makes her way between appointments, you may also see them around the side-streets in that area.

If you are trying to photograph a geisha then just be respectful, don’t block them from walking, don’t get too close and don’t obstruct their path, they are just people trying to do a job! We saw tour groups of people trying to photograph a geisha, and they were blocking her, and one of the women went right in her face, literally centimeters away with a camera flash!

Cycle Along The Kamo River

If you’ve picked up some bicycles why not take a pleasant cycle along the city’s Kamo River, and in the spring and summer seasons you can really feel what Kyoto is all about. You’ll find people picnicking, enjoying the cherry-blossom trees and strolling and fishing along the Kamo. When you’ve finished your cycle head over to one of the many Yuka around dusk, for some some riverside beers and food, you can thank us later!

Tip – There are more than 90 Yuka (outdoor riverside dining) along a 2 kilometer stretch of the river starting from the Imperial Palace at Nijo Street to Gojo Street.

Enjoy Nishiki Market

This traditional market is the place to head if your feeling peckish or want to shop for Kyoto’s famous food and goods. The market is located along a long, narrow street that runs parallel to Shijo-Dori, a busy shopping street in central Ktyoto, and is just a short walk from the Shijo subway station. You’ll find market stalls lined along both sides of the narrow walkway selling fresh seafood, yakitori, sashimi, Japanese sweets and pickles among other produce. There’s also shops selling knives, cookware and traditional arts, crafts and souvenirs.

Walk The Philosopher’s Path

This is a great place to combine with a visit to Ginkakuji Temple.

The path of Philosophy is a 2 kilometer stretch of canal-side strolling path located in Northern Higashiyama. The canal is lined with hundreds of cherry-blossom trees making it a prime spot in cherry season, but this walk can be equally enjoyable any time of the year.

You could really spend a whole day here as there are many interesting temples and shrines in the area, as well as a large number of quaint cafes and restaurants that line the banks of the canal.

Another popular draw to the area is the much visited Ginkakuji Temple with its famed zen gardens.

Visit Ginkakuji Temple

Ginkakuji, also known as the silver pavilion, was a former retirement villa of a shogun named Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Shortly after his death the villa was converted into a Zen Temple and today consists of number of temple buildings along with the silver pavilion and the beautifully kept grounds and gardens.

As you enter, there is a circular trail to follow that takes you around the pavilion, temples and gardens, and it leads up to a fantastic viewpoint at the top. If you want to enjoy these gardens how they were intended, we recommend visiting as soon as it opens to avoid the crowds at this popular spot.

Visit Kodaiji Temple

This beautiful temple and gardens are often missed off by many visitors, but we found it more enjoyable and less busy than some of the other attractions in the area. You can enter Kodaji’s main hall from where you can relax and admire the stunning rock gardens, which are even more enjoyable in spring with an overhanging blossom tree.

The other beautiful Japanese buildings dotted around the manicured gardens and up onto the hillside are a memorial hall, mausoleum and tea houses. The landscaped gardens feature a pond, man-made hills and splendid pine and maple trees. The maple trees make this a popular spot in autumn when their leaves turn bright orange and yellow. The one-way path leads you up onto the hillside and on the way back down you’ll walk through a small, serene bamboo grove.

Kamigamo Shrine

Situated towards the northern tip of Kyoto sits one of the most important and historic shrines in the city. It dates all the way back to the 600’s to before Kyoto was established as the ancient capital city of Japan. This beautiful shrine is well know for the two sand cones that stand on it’s grounds that are said to have purifying effects. This is a popular spot for traditional weddings and we were lucky enough to see one while we were there.

Although it is a little further to get to, it’s worth the visit if you have the time as it’s a peaceful place and isn’t as crowded as some of the other places in Kyoto.

Shimogamo Shrine

Shimogamo Shrine is paired with Kamigamo shrine and is situated about 3.5 kilometres downstream down from Kamigamo. It dates back to the same time period and also stands as one of Kyoto’s most important shrines. The shrine is surrounded by Tadasu no Mori, a large forest with over 40 species of trees, some which are over 600 years old. An impressive two-storied gate complete with rows of lanterns welcomes you as you leave the forest and enter the shrine.

Every year on May 15th both the Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines hold one of the biggest festivals in Kyoto – Aoi Matsuri, showing the huge, significant importance these shrines hold in the city.

If you hire bicycles both shrines can easily be reached by cycling north along the banks of the Kamo River.