J A P A N
K Y O T O
O V E R V I E W
Once the imperial capital of Japan for over a thousand years, Kyoto remains the country’s spiritual and cultural heart. Ancient wooden temples stand among cherry blossoms, Shinto shrines guard quiet forest paths, and the delicate rustle of a kimono can still be heard in lantern-lit alleyways.
And the markets are wild. Full of pottery shops, you'll also find peculiar and delightfully eclectic home goods emporiums, and enormous crabs being grilled over hot coals.
The entire texture of this city is a sort of tone poem, where tradition is not just preserved but lived.
Kyoto’s beauty unfolds in layers. Historic charm is perhaps the most obvious of these, but beyond the famous sights, Kyoto is really a place of small beautiful inbetweens: a cup of matcha in a centuries-old teahouse, the flicker of candlelight in a Zen temple, the sound of a bamboo grove in the wind, and the oldest handmade sewing needle shop in the world, tucked away in a tiny alleyway, unchanged.
While Tokyo embodies Japan’s cutting-edge modernity and samurai past, Kyoto represents its soul and more cultural past. Whether you’re exploring its ancient streets, indulging in the refined artistry of kaiseki dining, or stepping into the hushed world of a tea ceremony, Kyoto is an experience in timelessness.
Check out our members-only section linked below for our carefully curated Kyoto itinerary suggestions and ideas to get started planning your trip with one of our expert private tour guides.
Here's what we think should form the core of your experience:
Buddhist Temples, Shinto Shrines & the Spirit of Kyoto
When planning things to do in Kyoto, it's impossible to overlook the city's spiritual heritage. Here is the home of over 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines, making it Japan’s spiritual heart. Each district reveals a different layer of Kyoto’s devotion, from the towering torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine to the Zen simplicity of Ryoanji’s rock garden.
You’ll probably want to visit Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), its golden facade reflecting serenely on the pond below. And Ryoanji Temple is home to Japan’s most famous Zen garden, a meditative space designed with 15 stones arranged in careful harmony.
For a glimpse of Kyoto’s nature intertwined with history, Arashiyama offers a stunning combination of Buddhist temples, the famous bamboo grove, and views along the Hozu River.
The Togetsukyo Bridge has stood here for centuries, offering one of Kyoto’s most photogenic landscapes. You'll certainly end up stopping here a couple of times to take in the view, and snap probably more photos than you need, all of which is fine, to be expected, and anyways fun.
The Old Streets of Kyoto: Gion, Higashiyama & Nishiki Market
Kyoto’s districts hold centuries of stories. In Gion, geisha culture lives on in ochaya (teahouses) and traditional ryotei restaurants. As dusk falls, the historic Hanamikoji Street glows under the soft light of paper lanterns, offering glimpses of elegantly dressed maiko on their way to evening appointments.
And, you'll find the Japanese themselves happily out dressed up in both historic costumes, and in modern streetwear, enjoying all of this.
In the Higashiyama district, wooden machiya townhouses line sloping lanes that lead to Kiyomizu-dera, a temple that seems to float above a sea of maple and cherry trees. The Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka streets preserve plenty of Kyoto’s Edo-era charm, with their tea shops, confectionery stores, and handcrafted bits of this and that and everything.
Nishiki Market, known as "Kyoto’s Kitchen," offers a sensory journey through Japanese cuisine. Here, stalls overflow with everything from yuba (tofu skin) and tsukemono (Japanese pickles) to fresh seafood and matcha-flavored treats.
Whether you’re sampling local delicacies (yes, you should, just as a matter of principle, always try and get something fun to eat at a market) or simply soaking in the atmosphere, Nishiki is an essential stop for food lovers.
Oh, and there are flea markets as well, with different themes (handicrafts, antiques, tools, art, et cetera), too many to get into here strictly. But ask one of our guides in the members-only section to help sort you out if this gets your heart racing, and of course there are massive online lists to reference as well.
Kyoto’s Culinary Traditions: Kaiseki, Matcha & Local Specialties
Kaiseki, Japan’s most sophisticated dining style, presents a multi-course meal that balances seasonal flavors, meticulous presentation, and deep-rooted tradition. Whether enjoyed at an exclusive ryotei (traditionally only accepting new customers by referral), or a simpler local setting, a kaiseki meal is an essential Kyoto experience.
Beyond fine dining, Kyoto is also the home of matcha culture, originating from the tea-growing region of Uji.
Traditional teahouses invite guests to slow down and appreciate the ritual of Japanese tea, while confectioners craft delicate wagashi sweets to complement the experience.
For more down-to-earth and earthy fare, Kyoto’s specialties include yudofu (silken tofu simmered in a delicate broth), Kyoto-style ramen, and sabazushi (mackerel sushi), a regional delicacy with roots in old preservation techniques.
From temple vegetarian cuisine (shojin ryori) to modern interpretations of Kyoto’s seasonal bounty, the city’s food scene is an art form in itself.
A small secret: be prepared to say yes to things beyond your comfort zone in order to be welcomed into more local or exclusive places.
Some of the most magical experiences the author has had have occured in tiny little local-only bars that were quite happy to turn him away until he promised to eat whatever the chef prepared, and ordered a bottle of hot sake to start. Largely this has turned out spectacularly, but it's not for the picky.