Kyoto, Japan

Day 1

Shinkansen (Japanese Bullet Train):

To make our way from Tokyo to Kyoto, we decided to take the Shinkansen Bullet Train. This was not very budget friendly but was worth the cost to get us from one city to the next in about 2 hours. Plus, we are very interested in experiencing trains around the world starting here in Japan. The Shinkansen trains can travel at speeds up to 200mph, have spotless safety records, and exemplify first class travel. The inside was set up in a 2-3 configuration and looked similar to an airplane. Luckily, we were seated next to each other in a set of two seats on the best side of the train (the right side if you are traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto) which gave us a clear view of Mount Fuji one last time. Overall, we had a quick, safe, enjoyable train ride to Kyoto.

Day 2

Nishiki Market:

Before heading out of the city center for our big activity for day two, we took a walk to check out Nishiki Market. The market is famous for Kyoto specialties and cultural delights, such as Kobe beef, fresh seafood, and traditional Japanese sweets… (We even came across grilled sparrow on a stick.) We ended up trying dango, which is a rice dumpling served on a stick (usually three or four pieces). The kind that we tried at this market was savory. The rice balls were unflavored, then drizzled in a sweet soy glaze. We love walking through local markets such as this one. The only regret we had is that we should have arrived with bigger appetites!

Fushimi Inari Shrine:

After walking through the market, we took the metro out of the city center to hike through the Fushimi Inari Shrine. This was an activity that was on top of our Japan bucket list. This shrine is famous for its thousands of vermilion tori gates that line the walking path up to the summit of Mt. Inari. We walked for about 40 minutes uphill to the Yotsutsuji Intersection, which was actually only half-way up Mt. Inari, but was where the best lookout point of Kyoto was located. Throughout the walk many visitors were carrying offerings, lighting incense, and praying to the Shinto god of rice, named Inari, whom this shrine (as well as thousands of others) is dedicated to. It was a very interesting experience, and we learned a lot through reading an informational guide as we walked through the beautiful shrine.

Day 3:

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest:

Another must see location for us while exploring Kyoto, Japan was the Bamboo Forest. This forest is located in the Arashiyama district on the western side of Kyoto. After taking the metro to the closest station, we enjoyed walking through the path separating the forest into two sides, gazing up at the swaying bamboo leaves, and taking many photos. For reference on how tall these bamboo stalks are, Ivy is 5ft 3in tall, so these truly towered above her and everyone else walking through the forest. Although there were a lot of people walking and talking in this area, if you listened closely, you could hear the calming sounds of the bamboo swaying with the breeze which created a very euphoric atmosphere. After our walk through the bamboo forest, we explored a small town close by where we had lunch before taking the metro back to our hotel.

Day 4:

Kiyomizu-dera Temple:

In order to get to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, we walked through the traditional style Ninenzaka and Sannanzaka shopping streets until reaching the top of the hill where this temple is located. There are many shops on the walk up to the temple, so don’t worry if you are hungry or thirsty! We opted to try a pickled cucumber on a stick before entering the temple grounds and also picked up a magnet for our collection. The name Kiyomizudera is translated to “pure water”, because the temple is built on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the hillside of eastern Kyoto. We enjoyed seeing a traditional prayer service as well as taking photos from an overlook point looking down upon Kyoto. It was surreal to be walking the grounds and through a temple that was founded in the year 780. This is definitely a must-see location when visiting Kyoto, Japan and we would love to come back during the cherry blossom season to see the hillside in bloom.

Ninenzaka/Sannanzaka Streets:

Our last notable activity in Kyoto was walking through the old cobblestone streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. These historical streets can be found walking to/from the Kiyomizu-dera Temple. We chose to walk through these streets after visiting the temple. These sloped shopping streets boast traditional Japanese-style buildings that are a true symbol of the city of Kyoto. Even the modern-day shops, like Starbucks, were the uniform traditional structure, as to not stand out. Many individuals were dressed in kimonos, shopping, stopping for food and drinks, and of course taking pictures. We enjoyed getting lost in the narrow streets on our way back to the hotel after a long day of exploring this part of the city.

We absolutely loved our four days in Kyoto, Japan and would recommend this city to anyone visiting the country. The city itself was very easy to navigate and get around by walking or taking the metro. Comparing Kyoto to Tokyo, we felt as if Kyoto had more of a traditional Japanese vibe to it. We also enjoyed getting outside of the city to see some nature during our time here. Aside from the cost of public transportation, all of the activities mentioned in this blog were free to visit and explore, which makes them great places to check out if you are visiting Japan on a budget.

Bonus picture below of some early blooming cherry blossoms that we found in a park while in Kyoto! It would be incredible to come back to Japan during peak cherry blossom season to see the country in full bloom.

-Ivy&Drew