With good planning and common sense, you can make your trip to Kyoto the most memorable adventure yet.

The one-time capital of Japan, Kyoto keeps many of their old traditions alive to this day. It’s a modern city that still holds so many temples and shrines festive and in great conditions.

Kyoto isn’t exactly a go-to destination for people who want to ride roller coasters or go surfing. But it’s an excellent spot for anyone hungry for Japanese culture and history.

Although there’s much to see, you can’t book a vacation in Kyoto unprepared. You run the risk of missing out on unique opportunities and experiences. Use this as your guide to having the most amazing vacation possible.

Planning Is Everything When Visiting Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is rich in culture, history, and landmarks. It’s not one of the biggest cities in the world, but it still has so much for you to see.

When booking a vacation in Kyoto, the best advice anyone can give you is to plan ahead. Take some time and do some research. Better yet, try to find a local guide to point you in all the right directions. 

The selection of temples, shrines, eateries is massive. It’s easy to miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity without good planning.

Bring the Right Clothes

Kyoto’s seasonal weather is something you should prepare for before leaving. Summers get very hot while winters have freezing temperatures. Note that for three months, Kyoto isn’t just very hot but also very humid.

Make sure you pack enough layers if you plan on traveling to Kyoto after October. And bring enough light shirts with you when visiting in the summer. 

Always check the weather forecasts for advanced warning. Don’t forget your comfiest pair of shoes either. You’ll do a lot of walking and sightseeing after all.

The Transportation System Isn’t Tourist-Friendly

Even the locals think that the transportation system is too complicated. 

You’ll see lots of busses and so many lines that intersect. The trains can help you get to places faster, but they don’t always stop near popular hotspots. You can’t always walk to your destination, either.

In an effort to save time, consider buying a one day pass for the metro or busses.

Managing Crowds and Expenses

There’s a bigger issue than wondering where to stay in Kyoto. Sometimes it’s best to think harder about when you should go.

Thousands of tourists plan on visiting Kyoto every year. This means that you’ll find cheaper accommodations in the offseason and more vacancies.

It’s also a good idea to avoid the months of April to May if you don’t want to deal with masses of tourists. Interestingly enough, even the locals seem more welcoming in the offseason, which can lead to a more immersive experience for you.

How to Find the Best Value Meal

Many tourists travel on a tight budget. But that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the full experience of the local cuisine.

When traveling to Kyoto, take some time to research local eateries near your hotel. You should also know that every Kyoto restaurant offers multi-course meals at lunch and dinner.

If you want the best value, try to make your lunch the most important meal of the day. Many restaurants offer sampler menus. It can save you quite a few yen for other activities.

Set Money Aside for Tours and Attractions

There are many conflicting numbers regarding how many temples and shrines are in Kyoto. But you can bet that it’s not the City of Temples for no reason. But some say that there are at least 1,600 temples in the area, in addition to a couple of hundred shrines.

While most of these sites are free to enter, some charge admissions. And there are a couple of other attractions that charge for tours.

Enjoy most of the free activities that you can plan for. But set some money aside for paid tours, too, to avoid missing out on unique opportunities.

How to Exchange Your Money

If you want to buy or pay for something, you need to have some Japanese yen on you. So, it’s important that you exchange your money once you get there.

The best places to exchange currency are always banks and post offices. Yet, they’re not the most pleasant because of the wait.

An alternative is a kinken shop. These places also exchange unused event tickets.

If you want to withdraw your yen from an ATM, you can do that, too. Beware the conversion fees, though. Most ATMs will ask you if you wish to proceed with the conversion but always check the NO box to avoid the terrible rates of foreign banks.

How Much Should You Stay in Kyoto for a Full Experience?

In just three days, you can see most of the must-see Kyoto attractions. Unfortunately, that also means sticking to a strict and packed itinerary.

The best way to experience Kyoto is to go for a longer stay. Try to book a five-day or seven-day trip to take in more of what the city has to offer.

An extended visit will give you some flexibility and allow you to enjoy the sights even more. It will also give you time to explore the parks, gardens, and sample more of the local cuisine.

Besides, many of the top attractions aren’t in the city. Some of the most notable attractions involve taking a half-day trip beyond the city limits.

Enjoy Your Stay

Traveling to Kyoto demands good planning. Sure, it’s still exciting to discover things on your own, even if you are to get lost.

But it’s also a big area with lots to offer in and around the city. Take some time and think things through before you leave. Make sure that you get the best weather and enough time to do all the things you would enjoy.

If you do it right, Kyoto won’t burn a hole in your pocket by any means. And it also won’t hurt to study some Japanese etiquette before you go. Some locals may not be too fond of strangers that don’t know how to talk or behave around them.

Best Activities for Your Next Kyoto Adventure

As one of the oldest cities in Japan, Kyoto has plenty to offer – from matcha ceremonies to exciting hikes. This city will never fail to take your breath away.

For more than a millennium, Kyoto was Japan’s imperial capital. Its historical significance is still apparent throughout the city. 

Visiting vermillion shrines, exploring Zen rock gardens, and praying at the golden temples are only some of the activities in Kyoto that will leave a lasting impression. Not to mention that it’s one of the few remaining places where you can still see real geishas. 

Discover the must do activities in Kyoto for an adventurous holiday unlike anywhere else in the world. 

#1 – Take a Torii Gates Hike

Located at Fushimi Inari, the Torii Gates is a unique site iconic to Japanese culture. 

Here, you’ll be walking through thousands of orange and black gates as you climb up a mountain. Along the way, you’ll see a lot of small shrines with toriis and fox statues. 

The entire walk is 3.1mi long and takes about 1.5 hours to complete. But the site is so beautiful that you’re likely to spend more time there. The great thing is that the surroundings become quieter as you climb.

It’s an incredibly peaceful experience through and through.  

#2 – Hike from Kibune to Kurama 

This hike is an excellent way to spend a day exploring the scenic area near Kyoto. 

The departure point is half an hour away from the city if you take the train. And you can take the hike in either direction (Kibune to Kurama, or the other way around). 

If you walk from Kibune, make sure to visit the Kifune Shrine before proceeding to the Kurama-Dera temple for an incredible view atop the mountain. The walk to the temple takes about half an hour, but it may appear longer because it’s mostly uphill. 

#3 – Visit the International Manga Museum

Checking out the best mangas is among the most fun activities in Kyoto, Japan. 

This museum has a collection of over 300,000 mangas, mostly Japanese publications. There are massive shelves full of volumes and volumes of them, and you’re likely to encounter children reading the comics right in the middle of the aisles. 

This is also the place to learn more about the cultural influences of manga in Japan. 

#4 – Act Like a Samurai or Ninja

There are plenty of opportunities to learn a traditional skill in Kyoto, of which ninja or samurai training may be the most exciting for many. 

For the samurai experience, you’ll learn how to handle a katana within the confines of a genuine samurai residence. You’ll also find out more about Bushido and Zen that took center stage in the samurai code of conduct. 

But if you fancy yourself a ninja instead, you’ll have expert coaches to show you some of the skills. You can even try out some of the famed weapons like the shuriken (Japanese throwing blades). 

#5 – Witness the Geisha Dance

For those visiting in spring, watching a geisha dance is a must. April is when you can see geishas acting, singing, dancing, and playing instruments. 

It’s all happening in the geisha districts, among which the most famous is Miyako Odori, though Kyo Odori isn’t too far behind. 

How would you like to get up close and personal to the geishas and stare at their costumes and choreography? You can probably do that and not come off as weird.

But for all other seasons, you can see the same song and dance only at the Maiko Theatre. 

#6 – Walk Along the Takase River

Back in the 17th century, the Takase River was the central transport canal for rice and sake. What’s left nowadays are the replicas of the transport vessels. 

This area is particularly beautiful during the period when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. The walk is equally beautiful at night or during the day. 

There are also more than a few restaurants and cafes along the way. Among them, Kyoto Beer Lab stands out if you’re a beer lover. 

#7 – Enjoy Your Matcha Tea

A visit to a traditional teahouse for some matcha is an excellent change of pace on your trip. Ippodo Tea is one such teahouse and it’s been in operation for almost three centuries. 

The famous tea is on the bitter side and gets served in uniquely Japanese bowls. It’s also a perfect opportunity to taste the tiny traditional sweets known as wagashi. 

#8 – Go On a Bar Hopping Tour

Yes, bar hopping is among the best evening activities in Kyoto. 

Take a dive deep into izakaya culture and go off the beaten track. It’s best done with a tour guide, as they will take you to the back streets and into a number of bars favored by the locals. 

If sake is your taste, you can also take a tour of the famous breweries. This is all happening in the picturesque town of Fushimi. 

#9 – Spend a Night in a Machiya

Most of these traditional Kyoto houses, known as machiya, have been transformed into lodgings or restaurants. 

Courtesy of their unique architecture and interior, machiya serve as a great way to experience traditional Japanese living first hand. 

The accommodations are excellent and well worth considering for a night or two even if you’re staying at a hotel. They’re perfect for your holiday album, for one.

#10 – Take a Cooking Class

Those enamored by Japanese cuisine would cherish the opportunity to learn how to prepare some of the dishes. Fortunately, most of these classes are available in English, too. 

Best of all, you’ll learn more than cooking. You can count on the teachers to share stories about the origin of the dishes and Japanese food culture in general. Some of the classes are dedicated to vegans and vegetarians. 

Immerse Yourself in Traditional Japanese Culture

The adventures to be had in Kyoto are going to be different from anywhere else in the world.

Its historical influences are evident to this day and there are abounding one-of-a-kind experiences to make for a memorable holiday.