September, 2015

Known for zen gardens, palaces, colorful shrines, wooden homes and of course plentiful mysterious Buddhist temples and elegant Gieshas.  The most famous – the Golden Temple; Kinkaku-ji is located here and is definitely a place all travelers should visit at least once in their life.  

Arriving from Nagoya, you will emerge from the station and notice the first landmark, which is the Kyoto Tower, soaring 131m high.  This is the perfect place to start; heading up to the viewing platform offers you an opportunity to get the lay of the land with a panoramic view of the city.  From here, you will use the city bus or taxis to easily access the shrines, but don’t be mistaken, there will still be lots of walking at each location.   

Ryoan-ji Temple – This is a fantastic spot to visit early in the morning to explore the serene rock gardens at dawn, before the tour buses arrive.  The intriguing thing about Kyoto is that it is made up of these incredible historic landmarks tucked into the most peaceful areas.  After you have found some inner peace overlooking the rock garden, wander around the tatami rooms or the meticulous gardens and pond.  

Kinkaku-ji Temple – Better known as the iconic golden pavilion, this is one of the most famous of Kyoto’s sites.  This three-story, truly zen, temple sits on a pond with a lush green forest surrounding it, making it a photographer’s dream.  Enjoy wondering the paths behind the temple through the gardens and don’t forget to toss a coin for good luck.   

Kiyomizu-dera Temple – Up on a mountain you will find this glowing orange three-storied pagoda nestled amongst a sea of green.  To reward yourself with this view you will need to hike uphill along Higashiyama which is part of the experience – the shops carry local items like pottery, textiles, housewares and handmade crafts and of course the traditionally made fans from local artisans.  It makes the perfect memory to take home and easy to pack – it’s difficult picking just one!  You know I will climb anything for wine, prosecco or ice cream – so ice cream it was on this uphill climb.

Nijo Castle – This stunning palace dates back to the Edo period, recalling that museum I mentioned in Tokyo.  It demonstrates the security measures that were put into place including the ‘nightingale floors’ so intruders could never sneak in, and highlights the lives of Shoguns, the military dictators of Japan.  This palace is made up of various buildings surrounded by stone walls and moats.  You will also enjoy the gardens of rocks, a pond and the manicured trees – this property shows the power the Shoguns exerted over the emperors.  

There is an endless selection of places to eat downtown.  Kyoto’s pantry as the locals call it (Nishiki Market) hosts the finest traditional foods in the city – the possibilities are endless.  Thought I would make a note here in case all the walking and sightseeing was leaving you a little hungry. 

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine – Known for its vibrant orange tori gates that lead into a forest toward the Mount Inari. The journey up the trail to the mountain’s summit will take some time and there are a few shrines, restaurants and city views along the way.  Set aside two hours for this journey, but if you don’t feel like going the entire way, at least venture up to Shin-ike pond.

Spend the evening walking through Gion starting from the Shijo-Ohashi bridge and making your way to the Shimbashi District which is one of the most beautiful areas in Kyoto.  Wander your way through the alleys over into Hanami-koji the historic district with traditional buildings, kimono shops, restaurants and Geishas, so keep your eyes open.  Grab dinner along here – you won’t regret it!

These are my must-sees, but if you have time and can afford more than a day then slow down, and add more temples and shrines to your itinerary.  Enjoy all Kyoto has to offer; classical Buddhist temples, gardens, palaces, Shinto shrines, wooden houses to formal traditions of Kaiseki dining and Geishas.