Along the Golden Route: Our First Visit to Kyoto, Japan

June 2023

Along the Golden Route: Our First Visit to Kyoto, Japan

Our third stop on our two week adventure on Japan’s Golden Route was Kyoto. Kyoto is one of those cities that is not to be missed and is practically a requirement to at least visit once while exploring Japan. If Tokyo is the pulse of Japan, Kyoto is the heart. Kyoto is not only the cultural capital of Japan, it used to be the actual capital of Japan for over 1000 years. With over 3,000 temples and shrines, and 17 UNESCO sites, Kyoto is one of the best preserved cities in Japan making a visit here like a step back in time.

After a week in Tokyo and an overnight at a traditional Japanese ryokan in Hakone, the next and last week of the trip would be exploring in and around Kyoto. After arriving in Kyoto station, we hopped on the Karasuma subway line to our accommodations at Shijō station. This short subway ride took us directly to our Airbnb which is perfectly situated one block from the subway down a quiet alley – it was the perfect location! We dropped our bags and immediately set out for exploration.

In need of a snack, down the street from our Airbnb is Amairo Cafe Taiyaki where we ordered cream matcha taiyaki and coffees to fuel our walking tour for the day.

Since our weather for the week was a bit unpredictable and the weather today was all sunshine, we decided to head to the Higashiyama District and the famous Gion District – also known as the geisha district- to tour the most popular shrines. While you can spend an entire day exploring this area, we were able to fit so many sites into a few hours and every stop was so picture perfect.

Read about our walking tour of Higashiyama District and Gion District Temples and Shrines along with a full photo journal here!

The reason we could not spend more time in Gion District is due to a strict 5PM dinner reservation we had at Teppan Tavern Tenamonya. While I did not make many reservations on this trip, this was definitely one that was required if we wanted to eat here and I was very excited about experiencing due to the overwhelming positive reviews.

Read the full dining review for Teppan Tavern Tenamonya and see if it should be included on your trip here!

We opted to walk home as a preview of all the things to see in downtown Kyoto over the upcoming days. We crossed over the Kamo River and we were getting strong Florence vibes. It is so interesting how Kyoto is able to combine this massive amount of historic preservation that spans centuries with modern shopping, restaurants, and store fronts. After a long day, we were looking forward to a good night’s rest.

DAY 1

After a wonderful first day in Kyoto, we were so happy with everything we were able to see and discover – Kyoto is truly a gem. The crowds at the tourist sites yesterday were bopping so we knew going into the rest of the trip that if we wanted lower crowds, we would have to work with early morning hours. And there is no more common piece of advice than showing up super early when visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha. This spot was famous before social media as it is one of the most photographed destinations in Kyoto. This morning we hopped on a bus and made our way south to the entrance of Fushimi Inari Taisha just after 7AM. Was it going to be early enough this rainy morning to beat the crowds?

Read about our morning exploring Fushimi Inari Taisha and the famous torii gates here!

One of the many benefits of exploring so early in the morning is that it leaves the entire day wide open for endless possibilities. I promised Kevin his dose of caffeine after all that hiking and found Vermillion Cafe nearby and I will say it was perfect. Not only did he get coffee but we also ordered yogurt, fruit, and granola bowls. It really hit the spot and this place was bopping by the time we left. Definitely stop here when you are visiting Fushimi Inari super early in the morning – it is the perfect spot to reward yourself.

While the rain had held off nicely for the morning, I knew the rest of the day had much higher rain potential so I thought it was best to head towards an area with covering. Luckily the popular Nishiki Market is not only protected from the elements but one of the best food markets showcasing Japanese street food.

Read about Nishiki Market and there is to do here!

We had such a great time exploring Nishiki Market and it really is the perfect place to spend rainy hours of the day since there is so much to do. After snacks and shopping, we made our way to our next activity of the day. One experience we could not leave Japan without doing is a traditional tea ceremony which is today considered an art form. Japan has a long history of tea ceremony dating back over 400 years ago and Kyoto is home to several tea ceremony schools so it made sense to have this experience while we were in Kyoto.

Read about our kimono Tea Ceremony experience with Maikoya Teahouse here!

The rain continued to pour down so we decided to grab dinner before heading back to the Airbnb since we would most likely not leave once we made it back. This rainy day called for one thing – ramen. Since we tried tonkotsu ramen, we wanted to try a different variation. We found Kyoto Engine Ramen for their well rated miso ramen and while we arrived soaked, there was no wait and we were seated immediately. We ordered their Genuine Miso Ramen with pork chashu, fried carrot, green onion, corn, and marinated egg. It was insanely delicious and the perfect thing to hit the spot – definitely recommend. We passed Kyoto Engine Ramen multiple times during the trip and the line was always really long – rainy day for the win!

DAY 2

One of the days we were looking forward to was our day at Super Nintendo World. As big Nintendo fans, going to this park felt like something very out of reach so when the opportunity came from this trip, we knew it was a must do. Super Nintendo World is found at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka and thanks to public transit, Kyoto and Osaka are extremely well connected – some trains even arriving in a short 15 minute journey. Needless to say, we were beyond excited.

Read about our amazing day at Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan here!

DAY 3

One of the reasons Kyoto was so attractive is the convergence of city, culture, history, and nature. Kyoto is surrounded by beautiful nature and I wanted to make sure we set aside ample time to experience it on our trip. One destination that is often left off of Kyoto itineraries is north of the city for a nature walk from Kibune to Kurama. I hope I am able to convince you otherwise and include this amazing day trip on your Kyoto trip.

Read about our scenic walk from Kibune to Kurama and all the shrines in between here!

After an amazing morning, we returned to Kyoto around 1PM with plenty of time left to explore more of the city. Our next stop was the Kyoto Imperial Palace located inside of the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. I took so many photos of this area that it needs a separate post to enjoy all the bueaity.

See the photo journal of visiting Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kyoto Gyoen National Garden and learn how to visit here!

Our next stop was the Pontocho Alley area but I think we were too early in visiting as most of the alley was closed down in anticipation of the evening opening. At night, the shops and restaurants open and it becomes a vibrant and magical place. We were too tired from our full day to wait out the transformation. This is also a place to spot a maiko or geisha.

Instead, we headed back towards Nishiki Market for the best ice cream in Kyoto – Blue Seal Okinawan Ice cream. We made multiple trips here during our visit for the ube and beni-imo flavors.

For dinner, we stopping in a spot around the corner from our Airbnb that had quite a crowd in the evening hours. Since it was still on the early side of dinner, we arrived to no wait and the promise of delicious tempura dishes. Niigata Katsudon Tarekatsu offered various tempura and katsu options and Kevin and I did one of each – I got the shrimp tempura bowl over cabbage and rice with miso soup and Kevin ordered the pork cutlet with curry bowl. Both dishes were perfection – freshly prepared with crispy crust on the outside and tender meat on the inside. Kevin raved about this curry – it is not like other curries he has had in the past and this style of Japanese curry was simply delicious. I think if we had another free meal on this trip we may have returned here. Prices were reasonable, service was fast, and the cold tea was bottomless.

It was still a bit early in the evening so we went for an evening walk weaving in and out of streets and alleys to obverse all the activity in Kyoto. We turned in for an early bedtime to rest up for the next day of exploration.

DAY 4

Our day trip today took us much further away from Kyoto but with the power of the Shinkansen bullet trains, anything is possible. First, we were traveling to Kobe for the morning and then traveling to Osaka for the afternoon. All of this is so achievable in a single day thanks to the amazing train system in Japan.

Read about our time in Kobe for beef and the woodworking museum here!

Read about our time in Osaka and the incredible Japanese street food scene here!

We were so happy to have had time to explore Kobe and Osaka. It is amazing what you are able to accomplish thanks to the Shinkansen trains. It would have been great to spend more time in both spots but the fact that we got half a day in each city spontaneously is pretty great.

DAY 5

Our last day in Kyoto! There was still one more popular spot in Kyoto we had left to explore. The only issue we had today was a Typhoon was making landfall and potentially could wipe out our plans. But, we did not come all the way here to stay in our room. With the best umbrellas we have ever used – once again, Japan is superior in making the best umbrellas – we set out for the day.

Read about our attempt at visiting Arashiyama, the bamboo grove, Sagano Scenic Train, and Hozugawa River Cruise here!

Well, needless to say today did not go as planned but for a two week trip, to only have one day get completely derailed by a typhoon, it is hard to be disappointed for long.

We still have ample time in the day so we focused on some covered and indoor things for the afternoon. We made a trip to Nishiki Market for some last minute snacks and souvenirs. Ever since we had our late night in Tokyo getting 2AM ramen, we had hoped we could have Ichiran Ramen one more time and luckily, we were near a location in Kyoto. There was no wait and ramen was the perfect meal to enjoy on this rainy day.

Properly soaked, we returned to the Airbnb to pack up for our return back home. Our final journey outside was to one dining style we had yet to experience – yakatori. Tsujiya Shijogokomachiten is located right next to Engine Ramen so we had scoped it out earlier in the trip. Yakitori literally means grilled (yaki) chicken (tori) but this goes beyond traditional cuts of meat and includes all parts of the chicken. We enjoyed trying all different options including some organs – and what we liked most is that it is priced to not discourage you from trying something a bit outside your comfort zone. If you did not like it, it was equivalent to about a dollar a skewer. consists of bite-sized pieces of meat (usually chicken) served on a bamboo skewer. We were certainly some of the only tourists in the spot and the staff were so appreciative that we decided to dine here. They must get tourists all the time looking for Engine Ramen and its too bad as this spot is super great as well.

It was hard to believe this was our final sleep in Japan!

And so, our time in Kyoto has come to an end. I loved how different our time in Kyoto was from our time in Tokyo and was amazed at how many different things there are to do and see both in and around Kyoto. It was great to have a city experience but also feel like we were stepping back in time in the historic areas but then being able to hop on a train and be immersed in nature. While it is easy to expect greatness from Tokyo, we were pleasantly surprised at how wonderful Kyoto is as well. It is obvious why both stops are so popular, especially among first time visitors and why it is on the Golden Route.

Continue reading all the details of our trip – here!

To see our full itinerary – here!

Read what to expect in Japan – here!

My complete packing list for Japan – here!

See all blog posts for Japan – here!