A Day in Kyoto
One of my favorite cities for a quick weekend or day trip is Kyoto. If you only have one day to spend in Kyoto or want to spend one day mostly sightseeing, here is my recommended agenda.
First, you should visit Nishiki Market quite early, probably no later than 8:00am. Nishiki Market is a food market near central Kyoto. It’s filled with fresh seafood, local vegetables, souvenirs, and snacks. The earlier you arrive, the livelier it is. If you are looking for a good kitchen knife, this is a wonderful place to find one. While there make sure that you try some fresh oysters, sea urchin, taiyaki (a fish shaped cake filled most often with red bean, custard, or chocolate), pickled vegetables, or if you are daring, a grilled baby octopus. Along the side streets, you can easily find a café or small restaurant to relax a bit. The market ends in Kawaramachi Shopping Arcade.
Once you’ve eaten your fill at Nishiki, visit the Imperial Palace that isn’t too far away. It’s about 20 minutes by subway or walking. If you walk, you can do a little shopping in Kawaramachi. Previously, you had to make a reservation to visit the Imperial Palace. However, now it is open to the public. The gardens and grounds are stunningly beautiful and seem almost out of place as part of a bustling city. Until the move to Tokyo in 1868, this was home to the imperial family. The main building was reconstructed in 1855. While it only housed the imperial family for slightly more than a decade, the palace was still used for the enthronement ceremonies of Emperors Taisho and Showa. Make sure you take a lovely stroll through the gardens before you proceed to your next destination.
From there, you can take the train or a taxi to Kinkaku-ji or Fushimi Inari. I highly recommend both. Nevertheless, if you only have one day, it might be best to choose one of the two. Kinkaku-ji is also known as the Golden Pavillion because of the gold leaf that covers the top two floors. It is located on the northern side of the city but isn’t close to many other attractions.
Fushimi Inari is to the south of the city. If you plan to hike to the summit, budget at least two hours for the hike up and back. The natural beauty and other hiking trails might add time to your journey though. It’s one of the most important shrines dedicated to Inari, the god of rice. While trekking down the path, be sure to pay attention to all of the scenery and fox statues.
After that, I recommend taking a taxi or train to Kiyomizudera. The views from the temple are breathtaking, and there is so much history in the area. As you leave the temple, check out a few of the shops that sell woodblock prints, sake, and other items. From there you can walk to Yasaka Shrine and Gion.
Yasaka Shrine is most beautiful in the spring. However, there is something to see all year. There is often a variety of street food near the entrance closest to Gion. While there don’t miss the Lover’s Rock or the beautiful park adjacent to the shrine. Once you’ve completed your journey through the grounds, walk towards Gion.
While strolling around Gion, remember that you cannot take any photos of people you don’t know or residential areas. The main area of Gion is lovely and has many restaurants and shops. Some of the most famous tea shops are located there. Don’t forget to try their warabi mochi, green tea ice cream, or any of the other delicious sweets.
After Gion, stroll down Ponto-cho Dori. This area was historically a gay district. Now, it’s no longer known as a gay area. It’s now mostly known for small restaurants and bars. One street over from Ponto-cho is Kiyamachi-dori that follows a small stream and is lined with cherry blossom trees. This area is very beautiful during the spring or at night all year-round.
If you followed the agenda to this point, it’s probably late in the day. It’s a great time to visit the Kawaramachi shopping area before the shops close or grab dinner someplace.
That’s the end of the day trip to Kyoto. If you are staying the night, enjoy the wonderful nightlife of Kyoto by taking a stroll, visiting a restaurant, or dropping in one of the many bars. Don’t forget to check out my Instagram to see a few other places you should check out.
