10 Awesome Things To Do In Kyoto, Japan

In my opinion, Kyoto, Japan is the most awesome area on earth!  I never assume I could at any time develop discontented in this attractive metropolis of heritage and society, that also has the most up-to-date engineering, at the identical time.  Kyoto was the easiest location in the state for English talking foreigners to get all-around on public transportation.  Today I’m sharing 10 of my favorite spots to visit in the city.

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Kyoto, Japan

If you don’t fly into Japan, most probably your initial step into the town will be from Kyoto Eki (the Japan Rail Train Station).  You might not think a train station is worthy of a location, but I really like the modern-day architecture of the setting up with its sleek arches and hardened strains.  If you’re hungry immediately after your journey, you will find a multitude of destinations to eat within the station (I even tried out out the cooked frozen fries from a vending device on the system, when), or in a single of the purchasing tunnels below the station. You can discover extra about eki in this write-up.

On my next journey to Kyoto with Michelle, we were being there during the o-bon pageant and our lodge, the Resort Wealthy, authorized attendees to go up to their roof to watch the Daimonji (大文字) festival, the place 5 monumental fires are lit on the hills surrounding the metropolis in diverse formations.  We could see 4 of the 5, and although they had been in the length, it was well worth observing in person!

My favourite temple in Kyoto, Japan is Kyomizu Dera, which is perched on the aspect of Mt. Otowa in the east of the town.  The sights down to the city and from a single area of the sophisticated to the other are spectacular.  Do not fail to remember to quit by the 3 waterfalls that are mentioned to grand the wishes of a extended lifestyle, natural beauty,  and accomplishment have a consume from 1 or two…but never ever all 3, as that is regarded greedy and you will offend the gods.

For some thing a small different, visit Sanjusangendo Temple, where by you will see 1,001 kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy.  Wooden statues lacquered in a bronze color.  It is not significantly from Kyoto Eki and simple to suit in in between other functions.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is quite well known in Kyoto as it is both gorgeous and accessible by general public transportation.  You may perhaps happen upon it only by walking from a person tourist spot to another.  As you can see, you really do not wander as a result of it, and it is not that big, but it is wonderful!  The audio of a breeze or snow falling from the tops of bamboo trees are so calming.

Tofukuji Temple is one particular of my favourites as the advanced residences a number of structures and gardens, each and every with their possess model.  The Northern Back garden with its checker board sample of stone and moss that fades out to an irregular sample is a person that has normally stayed in my intellect, and was just lately brought again to light when seeing Monty Don’s Japanese Gardens on BBC.

Just one of the best places in Kyoto need to be Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Palace.  The get the job done that was performed to gold leaf the exterior of the palace should have been painstaking, but the final result is like nothing you will see somewhere else in Japan.

Frequently, a single of the most sought-after locations in Kyoto is Gion, the Geisha District, with hopes of looking at a Maiko or Geiko tottering down the avenue concerning tea properties and appointments.  This is no doubt a attractive region with heaps of background, nevertheless, with the decrease of Geisha in Japan, you may possibly be much more probably to see holidaymakers (the two Japanese and international) dressed in kimono and the make up of Geiko for a couple of hours, just for the practical experience.

Just a brief teach experience outside of Kyoto is Nara, home of the premier picket construction in the planet, Todai-ji temple. as nicely as the biggest forged Buddha, which comes about to reside in mentioned framework.

A single extremely exciting expertise I experienced was to stay a night time in a temple!  It was not a massive elaborate temple, like you may perhaps be expecting, but a scaled-down temple owned by a hospitable spouse and children and operate a little little bit like a youth hostel.  I experienced a space under the eaves for the night time, employing smaller electric area heaters to test to preserve warm during the chilly of January.  Breakfast was with the house owners and all of the friends who stayed in unique buildings all over the advanced.

I like Kyoto, and would go again there in a minute!  Despite the fact that I was unhappy I couldn’t have lived closer to this cultural capital, I think that maybe built me love it so considerably far more when I was able to go to (and intended that I was also able to appreciate the location I did reside and the countless sites I travelled to).  If you at any time have the probability to go to Kyoto, Japan, definitely do it!  If you have been just before, convey to me about it in the comments!

If you’d like to do some armchair travelling, then I’d suggest The Minor Book of Kyoto (study our overview).  And if you’d like to know additional about my time in Japan, check out my A-Z of Japan series.