I am planning to visit Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu and Gion in a day. I have planned for Gion from 5 to 7 in the evening. However, I m not sure if it is better to visit Fushimi Inari or Kiyomizu first during the day. In terms of beating crowd and optimal travelling, how would you organize the day?
I found a footage of a recent incident in Gion Kyoto.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XUUj-M2TUQ
Could you tell me your thoughts?
A security footage shows a foreign tourist destroying an expensive (200,000JPY) traditional lantern. While I understand that not all foreign visitors act like this, the reality is that many Japanese people—especially residents in tourist destinations like Kyoto—are exhausted by this kind of nuisance behavior.
When visiting Japan, please make sure not to engage in such actions, and if you see anyone causing trouble, please help by stepping in to stop them.
Tango No Umi is a stylish train created through a collaboration between JR West and Kyoto Tango Railway. We took it from Amanohashidate to Kyoto.
If you visit Ninna-ji Temple in Kyoto, see if you can find the “cat” and the “rabbit pounding mochi.”
They are said to have been left behind by the traditional temple carpenters as little touches of whimsy during restoration work.
In Japan, there is a traditional belief that the patterns on the surface of the Moon look like a rabbit pounding mochi (rice cakes).
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Were planning to be Kyoto for the New Years holiday and we wanted to know your recommendations based on whats open at this time.
We will be coming in from Tokyo with bullet train, and then settle to hotel. Looking for a kaiseki meal on that evening of the December 31 ( any recs?) , rest then go to a temple or shrine for the festivities. My bucket list for Kyoto was to do a tea ceremony, walk Ginza, Fushimi Inari temple, go to Nara, Nishiki market, eat ramen, Arashimaya bamboo forest, ( maybe take a boat ride to forest from Hozugawa river. Is it possible to do these things on January 2 and 3? Will they be open? Or are we better off to arrange to be in Osaka or Tokyo at this time?
First time I came to Kyoto was about 20 years ago, as a tourist. I did the usual stuff — Kiyomizu, the bamboo grove, took a bunch of photos, checked off the famous sights and moved on. I was also broke and didn't know much about Pontocho, so basically ended the day at 5pm.
Now that I actually live here, I experience the city pretty differently. These days I might spend an afternoon wandering into some random café, sitting by the Kamo River doing nothing in particular, or just turning down a side street in a neighborhood I don't know that well. I still love the famous spots, of course. But I've also gotten more into some of the hiking around the city and the historical stuff I somehow never paid much attention to the first time.
I also spend one day with one place and actually learn about it, etc.., but I don't think that is feasible for people here for just a few days.
I'm curious what other people's experience has been.
I feel like people can have completely different experiences of Kyoto depending on what they're looking for.
Traveled to Tokyo for the first time back in 2019. Leaving Dallas to Tokyo December 25 2026. We are staying in Tokyo first then visiting Kyoto for the first time. We will be spending New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in Kyoto. Any advice regarding things to do? I’m leaving towards a spa day for New Year’s Day if available. Open to any suggestions :)
We are touring Kyoto with car service provided for a day. Is it possible to comfortably visit these 3 attractions in one day:
We are planning to hit Arashiyama in the morning from 9 am to 1 pm. Lunch from 1 pm to 2 pm. Then Kiyomizu in the afternoon from 2 pm to 6 pm. And finally Gion district.
So we are allocating around 4 hours to Arashiyama and Kiyomizu each. We don’t plan to participate in the cultural activities in Gion, we plan to just stroll around.
I asked Google’s AI and it thinks it’s doable but only at an uncomfortable pace. But i feel going to Kiyomizu Dera and Gion alone may not sufficiently fill up our day.
Appreciate your inputs.
First time in Japan with my partner, spending a few days in Kyoto as part of a wider trip around the country. My partner has been to Japan before but never to Kyoto. For one special night in Kyoto I'm deciding between Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto and Park Hyatt Kyoto - and I'm planning to propose to my partner during our stay, so this one is a bit higher stakes than a normal hotel pick!
If you've stayed at either (or both), I'd love to hear how they compare - service, atmosphere, location, anything that stood out. It's hard to judge from the outside never having been to Kyoto before.
Also - I'm weighing up options across the city but both hotels seem to have some scenic spots that could be appropriate for a proposal which could be more private than some of the Kyoto landmarks. If you've stayed in either, could you advise? It's difficult planning this having never visited before. Open to any suggestions on timing, quieter corners, or things you wish you'd known.
Any other general tips for this sort of stay in Kyoto etc would be much appreciated!
This is a recent view of the entrance to Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.
Crowd levels can change significantly throughout the day, so I created Kyoto Crowd Map to help travelers check current conditions at popular sightseeing spots before heading out.
I hope it helps you choose a less crowded time to explore Kyoto. Feedback is welcome!
My husband and I are taking our first Japan trip at the end of September to celebrate our honeymoon. 4 nights in Tokyo, 2 nights in Hakone, 3 nights in Kyoto, and 1 final night in Tokyo before flying back out of Haneda.
I’d really like to fit Nara in somewhere during the second half of the trip if possible. I also realize there’s plenty enough to keep us busy in Kyoto for the few days we are there. We’ve already booked a couple of things that might make timing difficult but otherwise we’re keeping our schedule pretty open & go with the flow.
Current plan is:
Sep 23: Hakone -> Kyoto travel
Sep 24: Kokedera morning
Sept 25: Nintendo Museum afternoon
Sept 26: Kyoto -> Tokyo travel
Is there any reasonable place in this itinerary to fit a Nara day trip, or do we skip it and hope to fit it in on a future trip? Could we theoretically fit it in on the travel day between Hakone and Kyoto? Google Maps makes it seem doable, but I’m also concerned about overextending ourselves.
Planning the Kyoto leg of my first ever Japan trip in November and I want to do a half-day trip to Kibune, mainly to see the autumn illuminations but also to sightsee the surrounding area. This is a little nitpicky but I’m trying to time it right so that I can walk through all three shrines while it’s still light out then walk back down through the shrines and to the station while the illuminations are on. I also really want to get my first goshuincho and goshuin at Kifune. Currently working with the following plan:
~1:30pm: take eizan mainline to kibuneguchi station (~30 mins)
~2pm: walk to village (~30 mins)
stop by kifune cosmetic and gallery for coffee and souvenir shopping
~4pm: kifune shrine for autumn illuminations (goshuin office closes at 5)
I’m not sure whether I’ve given myself too much or too little time, or just enough. This would be around the 16th of November, I’m not super sure whether I’ve got my sunset timing right. Any advice would be much appreciated!
**Where should you go in Kyoto right now? Live crowd comparison**
Looking for popular Kyoto spots that are quieter than usual?
Based on the latest people-count data compared with each location’s normal crowd level:
- **Fushimi Inari Taisha:** 67% below usual
- **Kyoto Station Bus Terminal:** 44% below usual
- **Arashiyama Bamboo Grove:** currently calm
The ranking compares each spot with its historical usual level, rather than simply choosing places with the lowest number of people.
Check the live Kyoto crowd map before you go:
Crowd levels can change quickly, so it’s worth checking again before heading out.
Hi guys! I recently went to Kyoto Station and took these photos.
Kyoto is famous for its traditional temples, shrines, and old streets, but it also has some really interesting modern architecture. Kyoto Station is probably one of the best examples.
The current station building was designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Hara and opened in 1997. Its huge glass-and-steel structure feels surprisingly futuristic, especially compared with the traditional image most people have of Kyoto.
There are also some great spaces inside the station, including the massive Grand Stairway and several open plazas and walkways. Even if you’re just passing through Kyoto Station on your way somewhere else, I think it’s worth taking a little time to look around and appreciate the architecture.
Kyoto isn’t only about temples — its modern side can be pretty interesting too.
I know it's touristy, but does anyone have any recommendations for food and/or drinks in Pontocho? Any gems you care to share? Going to do a 3rd trip to Japan and was curious. Appreciate you!
Saga-toriimoto preserved street is near Arashiyama, and you’ll likely encounter it if you’re in the area and look up “off the beaten path activities” in Kyoto. If you do so, you’ll get recommended Otagi Nenbutsuii temple, Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, and gioji temple. These temples are absolutely worth visiting, but the preserved street is the one location in the area that truly feels like you’re exploring Kyoto away from the hoards of tourists.
We started the day at Arashiyama Monkey Park, which is an incredible site with scenic overlooks of kyoto (and hilarious monkeys) but the area is absolutely packed with visitors. You can find a temple trail north of the park that runs up to Otagi Nenbutsuii temple. We took a DiDi up to this temple, and walked back towards Arashiyama, stumbling into saga-toriimoto preserved street along the way.
We first found Ohara Coffee Stand Hijiri, and ordered an amazing yuzu flavored sparkling drink. This drink was rejuvenating as we explored the meiji-era buildings lining the street. Some of the gardens in front of these houses were immaculate. Along the street, we encounted quite a few vendor stalls, selling everything from trinkets, to candies, to incense. We of course loaded our bags with souvenirs before stumbling on another breathtaking temple, Danrinji Temple. This small temple had a treasure room full of breathtaking artifacts, and a friendly temple attendant. While Arashiyama was packed shoulder to shoulder with visitors on every street, we were the only two people in Danrinji Temple.
Along the street, we encountered three more shops, each with their own unique charm. First, a pottery/sculpture studio of sorts, noteworthy for having several large tanuki out front. While my husband was purchasing a small souvenir, the shop owner neglected to “process” the credit card payment, causing a delay of about 10 seconds. He was deeply apologetic, and handed my husband a tiny clay frog to atone. This is his most cherished souvenir from the trip. I can’t remember the name of the store, but the tanuki out front are impossible to miss. The other two vendors were “ucacoceramics” a ceramics who sold many “kintsuge” items and kits. She was delightful to converse with in English. Finally, next to her stall, was an elderly lady selling kimonos and accessories for dogs. This was the most friendly, boisterous person we met on our entire trip. We bought a kimono for my mother that had a karuta card print on it. Her and my husband proceeded to discuss karuta brielfy, before she laughed, took out her phone, and typed into her translator “I don’t understand English!” 10/10 would visit her again the second I’m back in Kyoto.
Large cemeteries, “haunts”, yokai, statues that have lore of changing, “creepy” and abandoned theme parks type stuff. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Now I am doing a business for foreign people who wanna try Japanese service or products, and I am looking for people who wanna stay in Luxury Glamping resort...
Even though, still 4pax applied for it, we need 6pax more.
Does anyone know how can I gather more people ??
#first post
Hello! Right now I have 5 nights and days in Kyoto with my current itinerary. I will be in Kyoto in late March 2027. I am unsure if I will need more than 5 nights with all I would like to see and do plus at least 2 day trips. Right now I have a possible accommodation booked near the Philosopher’s Path and 3 more central (all free cancellation and no payments until closer to the travel dates). Thought about splitting where to stay in Kyoto.
I do know one day will be in Arashiyama: Parks, monkeys, bamboo, Hozugawa River Boat Ride, etc.
Would I be able to walk the Philosopher’s Path early in the morning (and explore), head to the Cat Family History Museum and then to Mount Hiei Garden Museum (and area) in one full day? They’re all roughly in the same area.
For a half day trip I think it would be fun to hike Mount Kumera, get lunch in Kifune, and head back into Kyoto for more sites.
Other areas of interests include Touji Temple, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, Nijo Castle, more parks and shrines/temples, and Edo era areas, samurai, a Tea Ceremony, GEAR Theatre, and hopefully find and attend Sakura festivals. I love art, pottery, nature and history. The Manga Musuem visit if there is some down time? I think I have too many places pinned and bookmarked in general haha. I do know I won’t be able to see and do everything.
The 2 day trips I was thinking of were to Nara; Himeji Castle in the morning and then Osaka. A possible day tour to Hiroshima and Miyajima if I include 1-2 more Kyoto days. Not sure I can fit that in.
I am looking at Google Maps and researching rough duration times. How early do buses and trains start in the early morning hours? Will a Suica card work for the transportation in and around Kyoto? With possible more nights, Kyoto is so far the most expensive place I am staying at (can’t book this Kawaguchiko Ryokan until October…that will be expensive). Any advice will be much appreciated!
Hi everyone! I’m going on honeymoon to Japan in a few weeks and we are staying a couple of days in Kyoto. We will like to have a drink or two one night since it’s going to be a Friday/Saturday. Does anyone have any recommendations? We are both on our late twenties/ early thirties. Thank you very much