Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting Kyoto, the former capital city of Japan. Kyoto is a wonderful place that includes 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and we really fell in love with Kyoto during our trip. However, as with any destination, we like to share the good and the bad, so today we’re sharing the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, when you visit Kyoto, Japan.
Love #1: Kyoto Temples
Kyoto has over 1,000 temples, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Adashino Nenbutsu-ji has over 8,000 statues alone! The temples, and the gardens around them, are simply stunning! Of all the cool places to visit in Kyoto, temples are a major attraction
Hate #1: Kyoto Temple Burnout
You won’t notice this on your first day in Kyoto, but after a couple of days, you might feel burned out on visiting temples. There are some amazing temples in Kyoto, dozens of them, but that doesn’t mean they don’t all start to run together after a couple of days. I recommend mixing up your temple visits with other activities like museums and markets.
Love #2: Walkability in Kyoto
While many of the best Kyoto sightseeing destinations are spread out, there are also many temples and attractions in close proximity to each other. This makes it easy to focus on one area of the city each day of your visit, but it does require some advance planning so you aren’t zig-zagging all over the city every day.
Hate #2: Tourist Crowds
Kyoto is a popular travel destination, for international travelers, as well as Japanese travelers. It’s on a small island, so you can really feel squished in the crowd sometimes. If you travel over school holidays, or during special festivals like cherry blossoms in the spring or fall foliage, you will be overwhelmed with crowds. Weekends, even in low season, can be incredibly busy, so plan accordingly.
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Love #3: Nature in Kyoto
Despite being a city of 1.5 million, Kyoto still has a lot of natural areas to enjoy. That’s why it’s such a popular place during the spring cherry blossom, and during autumn when the leaves are changing color. There are many bamboo forests in and around Kyoto, which are great destinations for hiking.
Hate #3: Travel Time Between Attractions
Many of the UNESCO Sites and important temples are located on the outskirts of Kyoto, so you may feel like you spend a lot of time traveling between the Kyoto attractions. The center of Kyoto is the least attractive, but you will pass through it several times in transit to other Kyoto destinations. Beware that the subways don’t always go to these attractions, so you might also have to take a bus to reach your destination.
Love #4: Kyoto Market
The Nishiki Market is so much fun to explore. We love exploring local markets all over the world, and this one does not disappoint! We tried some really unusual foods, like octopus on a stick. It’s a great place to try new foods for a small price. It is a small space, so expect to be crowded, but it’s definitely an experience to have on your Kyoto trip. My son actually said the market was one of his favorite things in all of our travels.
Hate #4: Lack of English
Even as world travelers, we get used to having menus and signs in English, with a fair bit of English speakers to rely on. That’s simply not the case in Kyoto, as there are few English speakers and you won’t often find English menus. The locals, however, are very helpful, and thankfully, the Japanese are big fans of picture menus. Just note that most restaurants close between lunch and dinner, so make sure your stomach gets on a “normal” eating schedule quickly or you may go hungry until dinner!
Love #5: Cultural Opportunities
Kyoto was the capital city of Japan for many centuries, until the 17th century, so there is a plethora of culture and history here. Because of the abundance of attractions, the tourism infrastructure is also great. There are tons of accommodations to choose from, and the public transit system is readily available. There are many restaurants, entertainment options, and tours. It is also a great place to witness the Geisha culture of Japan.
Hate #5: Tight Accommodations
Space is a hot commodity in Japan, so most accommodations are very small. We could not find a Kyoto hotel to accommodate the four of us, so we ended up renting an apartment for the extra room.
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Less than three hours by bullet train from Tokyo, it is easy and worthwhile to visit Kyoto. Despite the “hates” we listed here, we all really loved our time spent in Kyoto. Because there are so many cool places to visit in Kyoto, I highly recommend it for any family planning a trip to Japan. It should absolutely be your number one or number two choice of destinations in Japan. Looking for more tips on family travel in Japan? Check out these other blog posts: