Introduction: Kyoto Travel guide
Kyoto (京都, Kyōto) was Japan’s capital as well as the emperor’s residence from 794 until 1868. It is one of Japan’s ten largest cities with a population of 1.5 million people. It’s a modern city but with a large history, and lots of traditional place.
Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by multiple wars and disasters, but due to its exceptional historic value, the city escaped the WWII bombing and can now be a superb place to visit.
Table of Contents
Things to do
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社, Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important landmark in Kyoto and one of the top travelers’ attraction. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, saddling a network of trails behind its main buildings. The circle trail lead into the forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters.
Tips: When you start walking along the trail of Tori (Shrine), there will be a road going to the right where there is no shrine. Use it to avoid the crowd and reach the train up ahead.
Gion
Gion (祇園) is Kyoto’s most famous geisha district and is filled with shops, restaurants and Ochaya (teahouses), where Geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain. The traditional architecture and people walking around in traditional clothes are one of the best things to see in Kyoto.
Nishiki Market & Shopping District
Nishiki Market (錦市場, Nishiki Ichiba) is a narrow, five block long shopping street where hundreds of shops and restaurants are. Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, the lively market specializes in all local food, such as fresh seafood, knives and cookware. It is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi.
Tips: Watch for the opening hour, when we arrived there, everything was almost closed in the Nishiki market.
Where to Stay in Kyoto
Still, if you desire staying overnight in Kyoto here is what we would recommend to stay in Kyoto:
- Budget: Guest House Oumi
- Mid-Range: Guesthouse HANA Nishijin
- Luxurious: Luxury hotel SOWAKA
猿も木から落ちる – Saru mo ki kara ochiru – Even a monkey can fall from a tree
