Are you unsure about where to begin your first trip to Japan? You will be surprised by the Land of the Rising Sun, which is nevertheless deeply rooted in tradition.
Although there are many interesting cities and villages in Japan, Kyoto is the ideal place for visitors to start. In addition to having an amazing array of temples and castles, it is ideally situated on the Tokaido Shinkansen line for convenient side trips and offers a wide variety of mouthwatering dining options.
Explore the grounds of Fushimi Inari Shrine.
You will probably be up well before the sun appears because of our little pal jet lag. Don’t worry, though; in order to avoid the enormous throngs that will unavoidably arrive each day, get ready and go directly to the Fushimi Inari Shrine.
Foxes, believed to be Inari’s messengers, are common in the shrine grounds (in statue form, that is), and Fushimi Inari is home to a number of small shrines and more than 10,000 vermilion “torii” gates that are stacked all the way to the summit of the modest but revered Mount Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Definitely a great introduction to Japanese culture!
Visit Gion to see geishas.
Greetings from the most well-known geisha neighborhood in Kyoto! There are many classic wooden machiya merchant houses here, along with seasoned geishas and their maiko (apprentices). It’s like traveling back in time when you enter the district, which provides a great view of Edo Japan.
In any case, keep in mind to show the geishas you encounter respect. In recent years, several geishas have complained that tourists behave like dishonest paparazzi. If you want to take a picture of them, just ask. Don’t be one of them, please!
Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama
The renowned bamboo forests, located in Arashiyama as well, are still one of Kyoto’s most treasured landmarks and seem almost too good to be true.
much though the grove is lovely all year round, days with a slight breeze make it much more impressive because you can hear the tall bamboo stems swaying and rubbing against one another.
Some kinds of bamboo may grow up to 35 inches in a 24-hour period, making it one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. If you remain motionless for long enough, you could really witness one grow right in front of your eyes!
Interact with Arashiyama’s monkeys
Monkeys thrive in Arashiyama, a little area on the western outskirts of Kyoto that is more akin to a mountain town than anything else.
About 100 monkeys live freely at the Iwatayama Monkey Park, which is accessible by a short climb. These individuals are a nice compromise and will keep you interested for the duration of your visit, even if they are not quite as well-known as the snow monkeys of Nagano.
The Ōi River, a nationally recognized Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty, and the mountain may both be seen in the park.
See Kyoto’s countless temples.
It makes reasonable that several important structures would be found in Kyoto, which served as both the capital and the palace of the Japanese emperor from 794 until 1868. Of course, that includes temples—sixteen hundred of them, to be precise!
Toji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a good place to start because a lifetime is probably not long enough to see them all. Toji was established in the late 700s and is home to two ancient wooden temples and Japan’s highest pagoda. It is situated just south of Kyoto’s major train station.
Kinkakuji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is located on the opposite side of the city. The upper floors of this building are truly covered in gold leaf, so it’s not just a nickname. It was the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu’s retirement home and the model for the related and fascinating Ginkakuji (the Silver Pavilion), which was subsequently constructed by Yoshimitsu’s grandson. Both Zen temples are well worth a visit, and their grounds are exquisitely designed.
Consider Kyoto day trips and guided tours.
Full-Day Sightseeing Tour in Kyoto Morning Tour: Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Samurai School, Arashiyama, and Sagano Morning Walking Tour
