Essential Things You Need To Know When Traveling to Kyoto

Among the most important stuff to know before travelling to Japan is when to actually go. Kyoto attracts thousands of tourists each year, and this can impact on your trip - especially if you’re the kind of person who hates to travel with crowds. And since this is one of Japan’s smaller, yet most visited cities, if you go in the middle of peak tourist season (from April to May), you might not be met with the authentic and immersive experience you were hoping for. It’s also good to check when ‘Golden Week’ is - late April to early May - as this is Japan’s biggest travel week and thousands of visitors from all over the country will be traveling at this time too. Conversely, the off season (early spring or fall) will allow you to visit many of the top Kyoto attractions, without having to fight through crowds as thick as you’ll find at Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing. Consider how busy Kyoto will be before you book, and if you have the option to visit outside of peak travel times, do so! 

Kyoto's transportation system is complicated, and ironically enough, some locals complain that there are too many buses. At the very least, it’s easy as a tourist to be confused by the bus system, especially when you throw in the fact that most international visitors can’t read a word of Japanese. It is possible to hop aboard one of the city’s trains, but these can leave you some distance from the main tourist hotspots, and driving is not recommended either as the roads are quite narrow, with taxis and all those buses are often at a stand still. And to top it all, although the historic districts of the city are easily appreciated on foot, it won’t be an option to walk everywhere. So if you’re travelling to Kyoto and want to reduce time and money spent on getting around, your best option is to use the underground system and along with buses. You can buy one day pass for this option, which can save you time and money.

Kyoto is large, and even if you plan carefully and use public transport you’ll inevitably end up doing a lot of walking. So like your mum probably said, a good pair of comfortable walking shoes can make all the difference! The city is full of surprises, and there are few activities more rewarding than getting lost on mysterious side streets or exploring quiet alleyways - provided your feet are comfortable, that is.

Choosing where to stay in Kyoto can be the difference between an incredible trip, and one that’s perhaps less so incredible. If you plan to visit several places outside of the city center, your best option is to stay around Kyoto station or Shijyo. These Kyoto neighborhoods are relatively central and offer good access to everywhere. However, if you want to explore a particular area, or if you plan to go to the particular ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), it pays to consider travel time - you might end up spending more time and money due to traffic jams and tourists. Still, there are options around the city to suit most budgets and tastes - you can stay at five star hotels or hostels, or even a traditional ryokan.

Kyoto is about more than breathtaking temples and shrines - the cuisine is equally enticing. There are several types of foods visitors to Kyoto must try, including the intriguing kawadoko style of restaurant, which is popular during summer. If you’re visiting between May and September, don’t miss this magical experience, where the floor of a restaurant is suspended above a river and you dine seated on the floor, with the tranquil sound of water flowing over the rocks below. Also not to be missed is Nishiki Market, which is affectionately known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, and is undoubtedly the best street food market in Kyoto. With more than a hundred small shops and restaurants in this shopping streets, you could spend hours ambling along and trying different Japanese specialties, like takoyaki, fried octopus balls served with intriguing sauces and various other toppings.

But if you’re traveling on a budget but don’t want to skimp on trying local dishes, plan to eat out at lunch! The delicious multi-course meals served in Kyoto are often available at both lunch and dinner, but many restaurants serve sampler menus during the day. These are often served in traditional bento boxes and are an experience all of their own - plus it’ll help you save a few yen. And the best dessert in Kyoto to enjoy after lunch? Traditional shaved ice from Tasuki, an artisanal shaved ice shop famous for their monthly changing flavors.

Kyoto is known as the City of Temples for good reason - it’s often said there are over 1600 temples and 400 shrines. So of course, for many visitors, discovering some of these are a major reason to visit the city. And the good news is that most of these are totally free to enter, including the most famous like Yasaka Shrine and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine with its iconic red torii tunnel. There are also several free attractions to choose from, but among the most popular are Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. If you’re traveling on a budget, and just want to get a taste of the city, you can’t go wrong with combining the city’s many free shrines and temples with people watching and parks.

One of the intriguing things to know about Japanese culture is that coins with holes in them are revered and considered good luck, particularly when praying at shrines and temples. So if you’re looking for good luck, or simply want to respect this aspect of Japanese culture, then bring a pocketful of these to donate to the prayer boxes you encounter.