When in Kyoto: What to Do
… Kyoto was my favorite of them all.
It sounds bizarre, but the city immediately reminded me of the cities that I’ve been to in Switzerland, especially of Basel.
With the mountains surrounding the city, conspicuous buses and public transportation on every corner, the run-down-looking-buildings with random pieces of beauty every few corners, the bikers everywhere…
… I think that’s a part of the reason why I liked it so much, but also, it just has its own distinct vibe about it. Unlike Tokyo, which is to massive to get to know on a personal level, Kyoto is more walkable and easier to discover all of the things many people get so excited about to do and see when they come to Japan.
Wondering about all the things I did in Kyoto that made me like it so much?
Thinking about what to do in Kyoto when you go yourself?
Here’s a list of everything that my friends and I did:
1. Had a Miniature Japanese Lesson
On our way to Kyoto, our tour guide gave us a miniature Japanese lesson.
I remember how to say ‘hello’, ‘good evening’, ‘thank you’, ‘yes’… and ‘two’.
… that’s about it. But hey, at least you and I both have this sheet for reference!
2. Visited the Motorikyu Nijo Castle
We had the experience of walking through a temple with our shoes off here.
Then, we explored some of their gardens. I really liked how all of these gardens in Kyoto gave me the authentic “I’m in Asia” vibe that my photo album was begging for.
… it was golden!
And the reflection against the water?!
When I showed this picture to my dad after coming back, his reaction was,
“Woah, that’s pretty…”
And I concurred, saying,
“I know, right?!”
4. Shopped & Wondered Around Kiyomizu-dera
This place has some great views of Kyoto…
… as well as some of the cutest souvenir shopping I saw in all of Japan. This area reminded me of San Marino, Assisi, and San Gimignamo in Italy with its narrow streets and small, charming stores.
5. Explored Fushimi-Ku
Ever seen those multiple series of shrines in YouTube vlogs or on pictures on google?
Yep… this is the place where these would be.
P.S. – this place has a lot of cool street food to try. Watch my vlog below to see us try some!
This place is tiny, independtly owned, but man… it was worth the wait. It’s hands down some of the best falafel I’ve ever had in my life.
P.S. – Also struck up a great conversation with two Aussies from Melbourne who had recently moved to Perth.
P.S.S. – I love Aussies more than anyone else.
7. Stopped by Tenryu-ji Temple
I was really into the reflective lakes and gardens here, too.
8. Walked Through a Bamboo Forest
When I signed up for this excursion, I expected a 45 minute walk through… this was 5 minutes.
Still, there’s no better way to suddenly feel like you’re really in Asia then to be surrounded by these tall and skinny plants.
9. Hiked Up to the Top of a Monkey Zoo
Not going to lie, the thought of possibly being attacked by a money low-key terrified me. Plus, I was in an off mood given I had misplaced my hotel key. However, the views from the top…
… were well worth the trip to get there. It’s around 550 yen ($5.50 USD) to go inside, and the panoramic view of the city makes the ticket price valuable on its own.
10. Found the Pokémon Store
This was insane. Basically, anything you wanted Pokémon: a lunchbox, a stuffed animal, a phone case… it was here.
If I were a bigger fan, I would’ve strongly considered buying these travel stickers of Pikachu!
11. Fulfilled Our Inner Child at the Hello Kitty Store
I remember being so confused as a six-year-old girl when I sometimes saw Hello Kity advertised as, “Sanrio”.
I bought a little Hello Kitty towel here for my future Paris apartment. Pretty great souvenir, if you ask me!
12. Ate Matcha Pancakes with Red Bean Paste & Soy Vanilla Ice Cream
It was the perfect ending to a perfect trip in Kyoto.
My friends and I visited Ain.Soph Journey, and it was a great experience. The staff speaks excellent English, the atmosphere is soft, and they play sweet acoustic music in the background.
I also really enjoyed marking my place on their map that keeps track of their visitors from around the world!
And yes… while the pancakes were kind of bland in flavor (because that’s what matcha tastes like, to me), the red bean paste and soy ice cream part was indeed as good as it sounds.
There you have it guys! That’s everything that I did, saw and ate in Kyoto!
Want to see it all in action? Be sure to watch my Kyoto vlog below!
If you want to read more about Japan and its other cities, click here.