Hey guys, it's Kim here. Welcome back to my channel. I'm at Kyoto Station and in today's video, I'm going to tell you guys 10 things that you can do in Kyoto. Welcome to Kyoto.
Kyoto was Japan's capital for over a thousand years and it still feels like a place where history lives and breathes. There are so many incredible places you can visit, but I'm going to show you guys the places I recommend when planning your trip to Japan. Sagano Romantic Train The Sagano Romantic Train runs through Sagano and Arashiyama areas in Kyoto.
It offers passengers a picturesque journey along the Hozugawa River. There are open-air carriages which allows you to appreciate beautiful views from any season. This is one of the best ways to get a beautiful scenic view of Kyoto. A one-way ticket is 880 yen per person and 440 yen for children. It is best to book tickets in advance as they do run out.
The journey is about 25 minutes one way. There are different cards. the rich car has a glass ceiling and open windows for us to enjoy the best view.
So there is a free audio guide which you can get on the app. They have English, Chinese and Korean. I'll link it down below.
You can listen to the history of this train whilst you're on it. The train operates from March 1st to December 29th with cherry blossom and autumn season being the most popular. However, no matter when you go, you'll be able to get a beautiful landscape.
We went during the summer and we were able to see lush greenery which was absolutely beautiful. On the train there are also photo services available, where you will receive a print of your photo in this adorable frame for a keepsake memory. We boarded the train at Saga-Toroko Station which is about 17 minutes from Kyoto Station. Whilst you wait, you can explore the station which has exhibits of steam locomotives and a miniature model of Kyoto where you'll see many famous sights. Arashiyama.
If you get off at Toroko Arashiyama Station, you will be able to visit the bamboo grove in just a short walk. Arashiyama is of course famous for its iconic bamboo grove with its tall dense bamboo stalks that reach up into the sky. It does get very crowded so if you want photos without anyone in them you have to be prepared to go early.
Now of course there are many other things to do besides the bamboo grove. The Toketsukyo bridge is a historical landmark that looks the best in autumn. As you walk towards the bridge from the bamboo grove you'll see a street lined with souvenir stores, cafes, restaurants and street food.
There are a lot of trendy cafes around this area so we stopped by Kumanocha. To try out their adorable desserts. Everything was very Instagrammable. Yuba, which is tofu skin that is used very frequently in Japanese cuisines, is very famous in Kyoto. There was a store selling yuba and cheese skewers which I had to try out.
There was a line for it but it was just absolutely worth it. So delicious. Whilst you are in Arashiyama, stop by the Kimono Forest where there are cylinder shaped pillars with kimono patterns lined up inside them at Arashiyama Station.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of Japan's most iconic shrines. What makes Fushimi Inari truly unique are its countless vibrant red torii gates that wind up Mount Inari, creating stunning tunnels that have captivated visitors for centuries. There is no admission fee to this shrine.
The shrine was established in the 8th century and is dedicated to the god of rice and sake. Additionally, Fushimi Inari is famous for its numerous fox statues, believed to be the messenger of Inari. which are scattered around the shrine grounds.
Before you start your hike up Mount Inari, I highly recommend you stock up on water and stay hydrated. It is a lot longer than what you might expect. The hike is approximately about 4km for a round trip, which takes around 2-3 hours to complete. You will pass by several smaller shrines along the way. Fushimi Inari is open 24 hours a day, however if you would like to avoid crowds, arriving earlier in the morning or late afternoon is recommended.
Uji. As you walk towards Byodoin, you will walk through the Omotesando which is a street lined with traditional shops, tea houses and restaurants, where you can sample Uji's famous green tea. Conveniently located near Uji station, it's a great place to walk around to get a quick snack or shop for some souvenirs.
Uji is famous for its high quality green tea. Uji has been a centre for tea since the 12th century. You will find many cafes around here serving various types of Uji tea. Now since Uji is known for its green tea, We decided to eat at Ito Kuemon as it's a long established tea house with a history dating back to 1832. It is renowned for its high quality matcha which is incorporated into a variety of dishes and desserts. I really wanted to try the green tea curry udon noodles.
I was skeptical of it at first because it's just all green but it was actually pretty good. Actually so delicious, so much flavour, the curry had a kick to it, it was so good. There was rich flavours and it was probably one of my most favourite meals I had in Kyoto.
Make sure you get there early as this place does get busy. As this store is famous for its green tea, we decided to shop for some souvenirs after eating. There was a variety of different green tea gifts including noodles that were perfect to bring back home.
Byodo-in Byodo-in is located in Uji. which is not far from Kyoto station. This temple is featured on the 10 yen coin and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is known for its Phoenix Hall that floats over a pond. The hall is designed to resemble a phoenix spreading its wings, symbolizing peace and harmony. The temple is surrounded by beautiful Pure Land Gardens designed to represent the Buddhist paradise.
Now it actually started off as a luxurious villa called Ujidono which was built in 1998 AD by the Fujiwara clan. It was then later converted into a Buddhist temple in 1052. The building has a unique architectural style with wing-like roofs. The phoenix is also represented on the 10,000 yen note.
This temple was one of the most beautiful ones I've seen and been to. It's well worth the trip. Gion Known as Kyoto's famous geisha district, walking through its narrow streets feels like you're stepping back in time. The area is lined with beautiful preserved wooden makiya houses, traditional tea houses and lantern lit alleyways.
I recommend going in the evening to stroll around. You might even see some geisha or maiko but if you do please be respectful and do not chase them down for photos. There were many souvenir stores and dessert shops that you can enjoy. It was extremely hot that day when we went so we decided to get some green tea lime kakigori to cool down. Now Gion is also home to some of Kyoto's best restaurants.
I decided to try it at this restaurant. called Wagyu Volcano Oagari, located on the quieter side of Gion. I saw this online and really wanted to try it. We arrived early and we were immediately seated. We got the beef volcano which was absolutely delicious.
It's shaped like a volcano and you get an egg yolk that is supposed to flow like lava. You can pick your own toppings and there was rice underneath the beef. There are different ways to eat it but my favourite was putting the rice and beef into a separate bowl and pouring the Japanese stock on top which is known as chasuke. It was so good, I would definitely come back here.
Kinkaku-ji. This temple was easily accessible by bus and has a 500 yen entrance fee. Known as a golden pavilion, Kinkaku-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple that was originally built in 1397 by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
The top two floors are completely covered in gold leaves, which is what gives it a unique look. It was originally a retirement villa for the shogun, but it was later converted into a Zen Buddhist temple. The original building was destroyed in 1950 but it was rebuilt in 1955. Walking through the grounds you're not seeing just a temple, you're walking through a piece of Japan's history, a place that has survived fires, wars and even arson.
The temple is surrounded by a beautiful Japanese garden also known as the mirror pond which reflects the temple off the water. It's perfect for a photo opportunity and you probably have seen this temple before. as if you think of Kyoto, this is the image that comes up most of the time. Unfortunately, you cannot enter the temple, but you can admire it with the beautiful view as you stroll through the gardens.
Kiyomizudera Kiyomizudera is one of the most famous temples in Japan. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers some of the most stunning views in Kyoto. As you walk up the temple, you'll pass through streets lined with traditional shops and tea houses, setting the perfect mood for your visit. This street does get extremely busy as it's one of the most popular temples, so I recommend you come here early. Entry into Kyo Mizudera has a 500 yen entrance fee.
Once you reach the temple, the first thing you'll notice is the massive wooden stage that sticks out from the main hall. This stage was built without a single nail and is supported by hundreds of wooden pillars. From here you can get a panoramic view of Kyoto that is very beautiful in every season. Now the temple's name means pure water temple with one of the main attractions of the temple being Ottawa waterfall.
There are three different streams each believed to individually bring success, love and long life. You are able to use the cups provided to drink the water, but you're only supposed to drink from one stream to not be greedy. Okazaki Shrine.
This was one of the most adorable shrines I have been to. Known as a rabbit shrine, there are little rabbit statues and figures scattered around. The rabbits are considered symbols of fertility, health and protection, where it attracts many visitors seeking blessings for family health.
This is a unique shrine that was originally established in the Heian period between 794 and 1185, which makes it one of Kyoto's oldest shrines. This shrine was very quiet, peaceful and quite convenient to get to from the Kyoto city centre. Toji Temple One of Kyoto's most iconic and historically significant landmarks is Toji Temple. There is an entrance fee of 500 yen. Founded in the late 8th century, Toji is home to Japan's tallest wooden pagoda, standing at 55 meters tall.
Toji Temple was founded in the year 796, just shortly after Kyoto was established as Japan's capital. Visitors can explore the beautiful temple grounds, which include serene gardens and impressive Buddhist statues inside the halls. Toji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's definitely a must-see.
You are able to walk up close to the pagoda and the Japanese gardens surrounding it is just stunning. It's also very close to Kyoto Station. And that is the end of today's video. Thank you so much for watching and I hope this video was helpful. Kyoto is definitely a must visit place if you're going to Japan for the first time.
There are so many more things to do but these are the ones I really recommended. If you like this video please give it a thumbs up, subscribe to my channel if you haven't done so yet and I will see you guys in the next video. Bye guys!