Shortly after finally arriving and moving to Japan, we were excited to get out of Tokyo and explore other areas. Kyoto is one of the oldest cities in Japan and one of the most popular places visited by tourists. It was our first choice for a visit while borders were still closed and just two hours from Tokyo by bullet train, it’s very accessible!

Beyond its rich history, Kyoto also offers incredible restaurants and sweet delicacies. Luckily, you can easily walk off those extra calories by exploring all the nature surrounding Kyoto, whether it's exploring the bamboo forest, hiking to remote temples, or exploring monkey retreats.

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A Guide to Kyoto

Visiting One of Japan’s Most Incredible Cities

Kyoto is so beautiful and has so much history that Americans intentionally did not bomb it during WWII to preserve its historical beauty. Kyoto has more than 2,000 temples and shrines, all unique in their origins and setup. Many of them have lush gardens and views across the Kyoto prefecture. We certainly didn't make it to all 2,000 in our short 4-day visit, but we did visit many walking over 50km in just four days. We felt so honored to explore this beautiful city, knowing it once had been the world's largest city and Japan's capital for thousands of years. Through the narrow streets, you can get a glimpse of what life was like in Japan before modern skyscrapers, and dense populations filled the busy streets with buses, trains, and vehicles.

The many locals and tourists dressed in traditional kimonos add to the imagery. We happened to be there during Golden Week, when many young women wear kimonos to commemorate Shōwa Day, a day honoring Emperor Hirohito and his reign, and Constitution Memorial Day. The kimonos are just as unique as the girls who wear them, and it really is fun to see all the different styles and beautiful women of all ages (I still don't get how they walk in those sandals though!). Language can be challenging at times, but across Japan, the locals are friendly and supportive in trying to help you as much as possible. It's still relatively easy to navigate and move around the city. We loved our visit and have already planned for a return. There is so much to see and do, yet you can easily make a short trip and pack in most highlights within 3 or 4 days. We hope you can explore Kyoto through our eyes and that it inspires you to make a visit of your own!

Where to Stay

Ace Hotel Kyoto

245-2 Kurumayacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8185

The artsy and trendy Ace Hotel is the perfect place for you to stay while in Kyoto. It's centrally located and connected to the city's two-line subway intersecting stop. The ideal location makes for highly convenient transit to and from your hotel. That said, it's so much more than a convenient location! Upon walking through the doors of the artistic facade on Karasuma Street, you immediately feel its energy and charm. The foyer connects to Stumptown Roasters for that perfect cup of coffee, and just outside is a corridor with multiple unique shops.

Our room featured an incredibly comfortable bed, a turntable with a few vinyl options, a view south of the city for a lovely sunset, and a little workstation where I could set up, charge, and get a little work done. The details in Ace Hotel are where it shines. From the turntable, the art, and even the cozy Pendleton blanks on the beds. It has everything you'd want for such a holiday. If you crave a little something different than the regional fare, no worries. Inside is LA Chef Wes Avila's restaurant Piopiko, serving up cocktails and Cali-Mexican-inspired dishes.

You’ll surely enjoy Ace Hotel Kyoto as well!

Visit Ace Hotel Kyoto’s Site

What to Do and See

You won't find yourself bored while in Kyoto. There are plenty of fun things to do and explore. Below are a few of our recommendations!

Walk Through the Gion Neighborhood

Undoubtedly the most famous district of Kyoto is that of Gion. The city's geisha district has streets full of upscale restaurants, color kimonos, shrines, temples, gardens, and more. The district resides between Shijo Avenue and the Kamo River. Narrow streets and alleys make for excellent photos, but be aware some areas do not allow photography. You'll see the signs in these areas. Hanami-koji Street is a fantastic place for dining or a tea house visit.

Venture out to Arashiyama

For a more nature-centric experience, venture westwards out of Kyoto's center to Arashiyama. Hop on a regional train and be ready for a fun walking adventure. There's a lot to see in Arashiyama, including the Bamboo Forest, the Daihikaku Senkoji Temple, The Garden of a Hundred Flowers, Tenryu-ji Temple, the Arashiyama Monkey Park, and the town where you can shop and find souvenirs or regional sweet treats. If you have time, I recommend hopping on the bus for a 20-minute ride to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple for an unforgettable hour of solitude with smiling Japanese statues.

Visit the Temples and Shrines

While there are far too many temples and shrines in Kyoto to visit in a single holiday, here are a few of the more popular sites: Kiyomizu Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, The Golden Pavilion - Kinkakuji, Eikandocho, Yasaka Shrine, Ryoanji Temple, Toji Temple, and Daitokuji. We loved the Fushimi Inari Shrine walk. The 12,000 steps and 10,000 gates is an incredible morning walk.

Shopping

As with any major city, especially those popular with tourism, there are plenty of souvenir-targeted items to purchase. Dig beyond that, and you'll quickly fall in love with Kyoto's artisan nature. If you are a fan of fine pottery, Kyoto is an excellent destination with retailers like Rokurokudo Dou, Kyoto Yamahon, and Gallery Hitamuki. Another prime location to visit is Nishiki Market. You'll find anything from street food, knives, chopsticks, art, and sake down these stalls. It's a busy and energetic place that you'll surely enjoy.

Where to Eat

There's more to Japan than incredible noodle dishes, buuuut I do like a good bowl of noods, so I built it into our adventure. In addition to four noodle lunches in as many days, we sprinkled in some incredibly memorable dinners!

Monk

147 Jodoji Shimominamidacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8404 | Website

With a continuously evolving menu, welcoming and friendly staff, and the freshest local ingredients, Monk is a restaurant you cannot skip when visiting Kyoto. Chef Yoshihiro Imai's artistry is on display in this 15-seat restaurant near the Philosopher's Path in northeast Kyoto. If you can get a spot at the bar overlooking the prep space, do so. Seeing the team in action, working with the garden-fresh ingredients, wood fire, and meticulous plating, was so much fun. The food was nothing short of perfection, but above that, you departed feeling Chef Imai shared something very special. It’s an incredible restaurant that should top your list for Kyoto. Plan ahead and be sure to have your reservation booked in advance.

KOKE

287 Takoyakushicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, 604-0021 | Website

For an extra unique experience, head to KOKE. This Michelin-starred restaurant features an incredible omakase experience. Chef Yasaku Nakamura has combined cuisine and techniques from Japan and Spain, hence the namesake KOKE, an acronym for Kobe, Okinawa, Kyoto, and Español. Chef Nakamura uses the water from the courtyard's well for cooking. Every aspect of the meal and ingredients are meticulously thought out, leading to a memorable evening's dinner.

Kiln

194 Sendōchō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8019 | Website

Located in the buzzing Saitocho neighborhood by the Kamo River, Kiln is a modern restaurant with a wood-fired grill, cozy seating, and an incredible menu. They've seamlessly combined local ingredients, a bit of European influence, and a lovely wine offering. Every course was delicious. We left the steak cut selection and preparation to the chef, which proved to be the right decision.

Wajouryoumen Sugari

471-1 Kannondōchō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8222 | Website

Our first experience with tsukemen led us directly here! Arriving to find the long queue confirmed we were undoubtedly at the right place. The tsukemen broth here is rich, thick, and bursting with flavor. Cold noodles dipped into the hot pot of broth provide a fresh noodle bite with a punchy flavor with every bite. They also offer excellent ramen, but skipping that rich Tsukamen broth will cause serious FOMO.

Ramen Sen-no Kaze

580 Nakanochō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8042 | Website

Our day-two lunch led us to ramen! Not just any ramen, though. Possibly the best bowl of ramen either of us has ever eaten. We both ordered the No.18 Yamato no Miso Ramen, and I ordered extra chashu pork slices because who doesn't want extra chashu pork? This rich miso-based ramen has an excellent but not overwhelming level of spice and pairs perfectly with a cold beer. The pork is moist yet crispy, and the broth is incredibly flavorful.

Vermillion

85 Fukakusa Inarionmaechō, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0881 | Website

After venturing up and through Fushimi Inari Taisha, we stopped for a brief sit on the back porch for coffee and a break. I had planned to visit for a coffee before the walk up Mount Inari but fell short on time. I was disappointed to have missed it, so I was thrilled to stumble upon it on our route down. Vermillion's coffee is excellent, and you can buy beans for those who want to take some home.

Arashiyama Yoshimura

3 Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto 616-8385 | Website

When out in Arashiyama, try fresh soba with buckwheat from nearby Kobe. I made the mistake of walking up without a reservation or at least having put my name on the list. After a three-hour wait and lots of exploring, we enjoyed an excellent cold soba lunch with tempura veggies and shrimp. It was incredibly fresh and a perfect addition to our differing noodle lunches.

Omen Ginkaku-ji

74 Jodoji Ishibashicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8406 | Website

The final of our noodle exploration brings us to a neighborhood favorite in the Sakyo Ward. Everything here is prepared with care and perfection. We sampled both hot and cold udon and found both to be excellent dishes. We experienced a wait time of around an hour, but it was worth every minute. The fresh mackerel nigiri is a must-try.