Best Things To Do in Kyoto

Kyoto is the ancient capital of Japan and keeps interesting stories, for example hidden corners that offer shows of Japanese artists, such as geisha, maiko and geiko. The Japanese feudal past also has great weight in this city, so you can experience the Kembu shows and other samurai performances. For a complete tour you will need to visit Kyoto in two days.

During your stay you can sign up for the best cooking classes, or take a rickshaw tour. It is also the perfect opportunity to see the local temples. There are many cultural experiences available, such as renting kimonos or yukatas, depending on the season.

The rickshaw is an ancient vehicle that has been used in Japan since 1868, it is one of the fastest ways to get around if you are in Kyoto and looking to avoid traffic, as they are small and often take strategic shortcuts. The experience is led by a shafu, an experienced person who is in charge of pulling the structure through the city, and is one of the best tours to do in Kyoto.

Additionally, for this type of tour I suggest you avoid tipping, as the Japanese consider it an offensive and unusual practice, reserved exclusively for special events, such as a wedding or funeral. This plan is ideal for touring the city, you will be able to see many places and the cost includes access to the best attractions. I'll tell you more about their possible stops!

Red Brick Aqueduct of Nanzenji Temple

Couples often visit the aqueduct next to Nanzenji Temple, to take pictures and enjoy the sounds of nature in the background. This Japanese relic was built between 1881 and 1890 and was part of Kyoto's canal system, hence the striking rusty coloration of the structure.

I recommend you take advantage of the best activities in Kyoto in February, as Valentine's Day is celebrated and there are cultural events in the area.

Arashiyama District

On the outskirts of Kyoto you will make a stop in the Arashiyama district, where you will be impressed with the natural beauty of its spaces. The Iwatayama Monkey Park will allow you to interact with a species of Japanese macaque monkeys that enjoy sharing with visitors.

Another major attraction is the Bamboo Forest, an interactive experience that offers the singing of rustling trunks and is among the top 100 soundscapes in the country.

There are many things to do in October in Kyoto, for example you can take advantage of the spooky Halloween events in this district.

Toriimoto Saga Preserved Street

In the preserved street of Toriimoto Saga, you will feel like you are in a magical village. It is an ideal place to see old farmhouses and ancient structures made of wooden latticework. In this district you can see a kamado wood-fired kitchen at the Hirano-ya teahouse, where unique dishes have been prepared for over 400 years.

From this district you can climb Mt. Atago for the best views of Kyoto. At the bottom of this mountain is Ichi no Torii, a yellow-colored house that stars the best activities in Kyoto in November, as the November market, the Tori no Ichi Festival and the Rooster Fair are held there.

Gion Kōbu geisha quarter

This tour will also take you through one of the most famous geisha neighborhoods in Kyoto, called Gion Kōbu, in its streets you can make stops at tea houses and stores selling typical sweets, handicrafts, textiles and more. Geishas are traditional Japanese artists who for more than 400 years have participated in dance and music performances and maintain the Japanese culture that mixes ancient and modern traditions.

The Gion Kōbu neighborhood offers a space that belongs to the group of hanamachi areas, where geishas and other Japanese artists, such as maikos and geikos, can work.

In the surrounding area you will find souvenir stores and restaurants with live shows. It is located next to the Yasaka Shrine, is free and offers statues of the most important deities of the city.

Traveller Tip

The geisha wear a white kimono with red silk with a short bow. On the other hand, geikos wear black kimono with blue and maikos wear white kimono with pink, their bows with longer.

Kyoto is a magical place with a variety of fun plans to immerse yourself in during your visit. From a private tour to a gastronomic tasting, the city has ideal options to suit your budget and preferences, I tell you what are the best tours in Kyoto.

Private tour of Kyoto's temples and villas

Experience the ancient Japanese traditions and visit the hidden corners of the city, this tour is around 110 €, but always has special discounts. The advantage is that it is completely personalized, so you can choose two or three places to visit or ask the professional guide for advice.

I recommend visiting the Imperial Villa Katsura, which belongs to the royal family and has decorated gardens, based on Japanese architecture and landscaping. You can walk along the paths, rest in the pond and take pictures (although in some areas it is forbidden).

Private tour of Fushimi Inari, Gion, Kiyomizudera and more

For one day you can tour some of Kyoto's most iconic sites, this tour includes access to temples and shrines. In addition, you will enjoy a guided experience in English at Fushimi Inari Shrine, where the significance of its structures and architecture will be explained.

The tour continues in the Gion district where you will stroll through the geisha quarter, followed by Hanami Koji Street where you will find the strings of pearls that link the teahouses. If you want to share this experience with your partner, go to the Yasui Konpiragu Shrine, whose particular structure blesses unions and eliminates toxic energies.

If you go with your children and you are looking for things to do with kids in Kyoto, keep in mind that the first child under twelve years old gets in free and the rest get special discounts.

The taste of tea in Kyoto is unique, so I invite you to experience a tea ceremony at Camellia Flower Teahouse. It has an average price of 27 € and the explanations are given in English. The activity takes place on the ground, but there are chairs and tables for people with motor difficulties.

You can bring children and even rent a kimono, it will make you feel like a real Japanese.

The city has many interesting anecdotes, if you want to know the best museums in Kyoto start by making a stop at the National Museum of Modern Art. Here are guarded impressive collections, ancient paintings, ceramics, textiles, ancient jewelry and even bamboo crafts.

It has an average cost of 3 € and is an ideal plan for the whole family.

Kyoto is one of the Japanese cities with more temples, in fact it is considered that there are hundreds of spiritual centers. Its structure is ideal to take pictures and enjoy a few minutes of peace. I invite you to explore what are the best temples in Kyoto.

Nanzenji Temple

If you are a fan of temples and Japanese culture, I recommend you to visit the Nanzenji Temple, an imposing structure built in 1291 that currently belongs to the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. It has important paintings of the sixteenth century, also offers unparalleled views of the slopes of Higashiyama mountain.

You can walk through the traditional gates including the Chokushi-mon gate, an authentic relic that was moved from the Kyoto Imperial Palace in 1642 and used to be the emperor's royal entrance. On the other hand, the San-Mon gate or the largest dragon gate is one of the largest in the city.

I recommend visiting this temple if you are looking to disconnect, its halls offer spaces to taste Japanese matcha tea, read a book, appreciate the ancient architecture or take pictures in the aqueduct.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

The Kiyomizu-dera temple or the temple of pure water is one of the most popular, it has a terrace that overhangs the slopes of the mountain and offers stunning views. I recommend visiting it during sunset, to capture the best pictures.

On its premises is the Jishu-jinja Shrine that has a particular legend, which encourages people who want to get a partner to perform a special ritual. The entrance fee to the temple is around 3 € and includes access to the shrine.

Night walks will allow you to explore the other side of Gion, one of Kyoto's most popular districts. You can get close to the kagai or hanamachi culture and learn about its history from experts, which involves the lifestyle of geisha, maiko and geiko, hence everything related to their hairstyles, kimonos, rules and more. This experience costs around 12 €.

You can try sake, one of Japan's traditional drinks, which has a strong fermented flavor, and sochu, which tastes like sweet potato. If you visit Kyoto in December, you can take advantage of the Christmas activities held in this district.

Step into an authentic Japanese market and enjoy three hours of food tasting at Nishiki Market. Here you will find local and seasonal products, as well as typical Kyoto fruits.

During this tour you can visit at least 10 market stalls, taste Japanese tea and take your time to buy whatever you want.

Have you ever wondered what Japan was like years ago? In Kyoto you will find very interesting stories, for example in Toei Kyoto Studio Park there is an account of the country's samurai past. In addition, you can enjoy family activities that will make you feel like in an Asian movie.

I suggest you take a tour of the haunted houses or discover ancient artists in the Film Hall of Fame. There is also a room of optical illusions and ninja adventures.

Become a samurai for a day

From the hand of a Japanese master you can feel like you are in the feudal era of Japan, while learning the protocols of the Kembu and other samurai performances. You will use the sword and fan, through a typical choreography of the country. Do you dare to live this experience?

If you want to make a detailed tour of the city I recommend exploring what to see and do in Kyoto in 3 days.

Attend a kembu show

The Kembu is a show of swords and fans, typical of many Japanese cities that belongs to the samurai culture. I suggest you to live this experience if you want to enjoy a complete visit to Kyoto. The samurai ruled the country for many years, so you can still find authentic traditions and related activities.

The samurai shows offer a modern experience with traditional touches, including lectures, demonstrations and performances of Japanese poems. To gain access you need to remove your shoes.

If you are curious about Japanese cuisine and want to learn how to prepare authentic dishes, I suggest you sign up for the best cooking classes in Kyoto.

This experience usually includes an English-speaking instructor, who will tell you about the country's gastronomic history and teach you how to cook spring rolls, miso soup, sushi rolls, tempura, rice and more.

The best landscapes of Kyoto are little known, you can access through a fun e-bike tour in which you will have a guide who will take you to places with little tourist influx, as well as famous attractions. It has an approximate price of 92 € and includes helmet and bike rental.

You can visit the Buddhist temple Daitokuji, which offers gardens of unique natural beauty, or explore the mysterious scrolls and teahouses at Koto-in temple. There are many activities to do in Kyoto in autumn, as the temperatures are pleasant and the colors of the trees unparalleled.

If you want to return home with souvenirs of your trip to Kyoto, you can bring shibori scarves of your own making. The class is held at the Kyoto Shibori Museum which has exclusive exhibits of this iconic scarf.

Shibori is a very ancient weaving method in Japan, so you can find a variety of handicrafts based on this practice.

Go on an adventure through the Gion district wearing traditional Japanese costumes, better known as kimono and yukata, which are tailored to fit you for this experience. Additionally, you can add a commission for hair and makeup.

It all starts at a kimono rental studio, where you are prepared as an authentic Japanese. Note that the difference between the outfits is that the kimono is made of heavy layers of silk and is ideal for a winter visit, while the yukata is made of cotton and is ideal for summer.

In the city there are activities that bring you closer to Japanese cuisine, in addition to cooking classes you can take advantage of the best gastronomic tours in Kyoto that include:

• Visit two local restaurants on an evening tour for about six people. Includes tastings and alcoholic beverages.
• Walk through the gastronomy of Arashiyama and Sagano as you walk through the Bamboo Forest and other iconic sites in these areas. You can try Japanese matcha tea, fried fish cake, soy milk donut and other typical local sweets.