The Best places to visit in Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto seamlessly blends modernity with the enduring elegance of Japanese tradition and culture. The city offers a wealth of captivating historical sites and cultural experiences that belong on any Japan travel itinerary. From ancient temples to vibrant modern districts, Kyoto's diverse attractions make it a must-visit destination. In this blog we have compiled what we believe to be the best places to visit, so without further ado let's dive in!

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto is a popular tourist spot. It's a beautiful area filled with towering bamboo trees, making it a great place to take stunning photos. However, due to its popularity, it can get quite crowded. To avoid interruptions in your photos, we suggest arriving at 8am or earlier. But if you prefer to sleep in and find yourself there at 10am, don't worry! Just a short 5-minute walk away is the 'Sagano Bamboo Forest', a smaller version of the main forest. It may not have as much bamboo, but it's much less crowded, allowing you to capture some amazing shots without any accidental photo bombers. Check out the photos below to get a glimpse of this beautiful area!

Arashiyama Monkey Park

The Arashiyama Monkey Park is conveniently located just a short 20-minute walk from the Arashiyama Bamboo forest. To enter the park, there is a small fee of 600-800 yen ($6-8 AUD), but it's definitely worth it. As you make your way up the mountain, you'll start encountering the Japanese Macaques monkeys right away. And when you reach the top, there will be even more of them to see. Bree and I absolutely loved this experience because we got to walk so close to the monkeys and observe their interactions with each other and their surroundings. The views from the mountain top were also breathtaking! Don't forget to bring some extra yen to buy food for the monkeys. It's only 100 yen ($1 AUD) and it's a fantastic opportunity to feed them. We highly recommend it!

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple)

Kyoto is perhaps more known for their impressive temples and Kinkaku-ji is one of the more popular ones to visit. It is known as the golden temple due to the fact of the top two floors being wrapped in gold leaf. The meaning of the gold was the thought of it being able to mitigate and purify any pollution or negative thoughts and feelings towards death. To witness this impressive structure, you will have to pay an entrance fee of 500yen ($5 AUD) which allows you then to walk around a small lake in which the temple is situated in the middle of. It is definitely a busy tourist spot but we still found several opportunities to take photos so I wouldn't say it is necessary for you to arrive early here.

Eizan Tram & Mountain Cable Car

Situated just a short 40-minute public transport ride away from the city center, you can embark on a peaceful and picturesque cable car and tram journey through Rakuhoku. The ropeway will take you to the peak of Mt. Hiei, offering truly breathtaking views along the way! We had the pleasure of experiencing this during Cherry Blossom season, adding an extra layer of tranquility. However, even on a regular clear day, it would still be a stunning experience. What we loved most about this activity was its non-touristy vibe, making us feel like we were exploring a hidden gem in Kyoto.

For more information on how to get there click here.

Snoopy Chocolat

If you're a huge fan of Snoopy and chocolate, make sure to include this place in your itinerary. Situated in Arashiyama, this store offers plenty of treats and merchandise featuring the popular character. The store's theme is really cool, with Peanuts comic strips displayed on the walls and a cute miniature Japanese garden at the back, complete with rocks shaped like Snoopy's head. While the items may be a bit expensive, it's still a fantastic place to visit and snap some adorable photos, so we definitely recommend checking it out!

Tatami Style Starbucks

Located in Ninenzaka is a really cool Tatami style Starbucks. Here you get to order you favourite drinks and sit down on traditional style mats in a Japanese style like shop. There was something so calming and peaceful about this environment that Bree and I spent well over an hour enjoying the serenity. However as with most things in Japan, this place is popular among tourists and is also quite small so expect to wait for a seat to become available.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (Thousand Torii Gates)

The Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, also known as the 'Thousand Torii Gates', is undoubtedly the highlight of Kyoto. If there's one place you absolutely shouldn't miss, it's this one. This attraction draws in thousands of visitors every day, so to fully appreciate the beauty of the Torii Gates, I highly recommend arriving no later than 8am. The best part? It's completely free to visit! The hike up to the mountain's summit and back takes around 2-3 hours, but it's not mandatory. You can turn back whenever you like. For us, strolling along the seemingly endless path of vibrant orange torii gates on the way to Mt. Inari creates an awe-inspiring atmosphere that you simply have to experience!

Summary

So there you have it, those are in our opinion the best places to visit in Kyoto, Japan. If our blog has inspired you and got you excited about visiting this cultural city then we would really appreciate if you left a like, comment and share it using the buttons below.

Until next time

Bree & Aiden