What To Do In Kyoto

Kyoto was incredible. It was one of those places that is just so magical that you don’t know what to do. There is so much to see in the city that was the Japanese capital for over 1000 years. There is a lot of history there and gorgeous sights to see. You could probably spend an entire week exploring the city. And if I go back to Japan, I’m going to spend a month there and travel around like a local!  But for now, here are some things to do in just a few days!

What To Do In Kyoto

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Arrive early. Because the shrine is open 24/7,  you can get there as early as you want and stay as late in the evening or night that you want. We got there around 9:30 AM and it was perfect. Yes, there were people around, but there weren’t a ton. That meant that you could get people to pause for a moment so you could get a photo without anyone in it. But, I do have to say that on the way out it was packed. There were so many people and we didn’t even walk through all of the gates (the whole walk is 4 km long up a mountain and takes about 2 hours to complete).

And it is such a stunning place. The gates, or torri, are each donated by Japanese businesses. And there is said to be over 10,000 torri at Fushimi Inari Shrine!

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Prepare to be transported into another world as soon as you start walking through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Arrive early to avoid the crowds and to bask in some beautiful light. We arrived around 8 AM and it was perfect. There were only a handful of people there and it was truly incredible to experience that view completely unobstructed.

You can get there in about 30 minutes by taking the JR Express or the train. And it’s totally worth the ride. Plus, you can pair it with a visit to Tenryu-ji Temple. Plus, it’s free!

Wander Around Gion

Your best bet in seeing a geisha will be in the Gion district. It’s a beautiful area of Kyoto filled with old structures, instantly transporting you to earlier times. There are several teahouses and if you’re lucky, you might see a geiko (geisha) or a maiko (geisha apprentice) rushing to their appointments.

There are several shrines and shops throughout this area. And it’s really worth walking through this area during dusk, when the paper lanterns start to light up in front of the homes.

Take Part In A Traditional Tea Ceremony

You should definitely try to get to a traditional tea ceremony while you’re in Japan. We went to En Tea Ceremony Experiences and it was fantastic. For about $20 per person, you will learn all about a traditional tea ceremony. You will learn the history, some fun facts, have tea made for you and you’ll be able to make your own matcha tea as well.

We signed up for a regular tea ceremony but we were the only ones and it ended up being private. It was a really cool experience.

Eat The Best Ramen In The World

I had the best ramen in Kyoto. Ramen Sen No Kaze is the most delicious ramen you will ever taste. You’ll have to wait a long time to be seated (we waited well over an hour and during that time they stopped adding people to the waitlist), but it was well worth the wait. I had Kyo no Shio Ramen, which is served in a classic, creamy, slightly salty broth. The pork is perfectly cooked so that it melts in your mouth. Top it with a delicious soft boiled egg and all of the typical ramen fixings and you’ll be slurping your soup just like a local. I licked my bowl clean. It was that good.

Spend A Rainy Day Wandering Around Nishiki Market

We had a lot of rain on this trip to Japan thanks to typhoon season. So that meant that we needed to find some things to do in the rain. Kyoto has a lot of covered areas throughout the city. One of those covered areas was Nishiki Market, a fresh food market. Because of this, we spent hours walking back and forth up the street tasting local favorites. We picked up a few things to bring back home with us, and interacted with some locals. (I had an old Japanese man dying laughing over watching me taste Saki).

Visit Several Gorgeous Temples

There are so many amazing temples and shrines around Kyoto. You can spend days visiting all of them. There’s Kinkaku-ji Temple, Ginkaku-ji Temple, Nijo-jo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and more.

Going to Japan soon? Check out my posts about Tokyo, Hakone, Kobe, and Osaka. And don’t forget to book yourself a JR Pass – it’s the easiest way to travel around Japan!

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