HOW I SPENT 3 DAYS IN KYOTO

Kyoto was Japan’s cultural, political, and spiritual capital for over 1,000 years. It is also one of the best-preserved cities in the country, having been largely spared from war, which makes it incredibly interesting to explore.

Because of the multitude of religious movements and historical power games, there are hundreds of temples to visit. Some are famous and quite busy, but chances are you will stumble upon many quiet ones just by wandering.

I was a bit worried about the crowds in Kyoto, but the truth is they are quite easy to avoid if you stay away from the main landmarks. I really recommend being spontaneous and visiting random temples you find along the way. If you really want to see the famous ones, try going at night or very early in the morning.

Here is how I navigated Kyoto.

Getting There

Getting to Kyoto is super easy, especially from Tokyo or Osaka. The Shinkansen (Bullet Train) is the fastest way—it takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Tokyo.

Pro Tip: I used Omio to book my train tickets. It’s much easier than navigating the official Japanese websites, which can sometimes be a bit glitchy or reject international credit cards. With Omio, you can compare prices for trains and buses side-by-side and pay in your own currency.

Temple Visits

Kiyomizu-dera

I went during the day and it was massively crowded. However, the massive wooden structure is definitely impressive and worth seeing at least once.

Fushimi Inari-Taisha

The temple with the 10,000 gates! It’s basically a one-hour hike through the mountains where you pass through endless shrines and torii gates. It’s pretty cool! I did the hike at night around 9:00 PM. It was a bit spooky but super fun, except for the moment we saw wild boars! They are common on the temple grounds, just stay calm and don't bother them. They seem used to humans and aren't aggressive.

Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion)

Really beautiful. The temple grounds are quite small compared to others, so it’s a relatively quick visit. We arrived before the opening at 8:45 AM (temple opens at 9AM) and queued for a bit. We grabbed some Lawson breakfast and coffee to eat in line, and the time went by super quickly. It was worth going early to enjoy the serene atmosphere!

Ryoan-ji

From Kinkaku-ji, we walked to Ryoan-ji since it’s only 15 minutes away. This is a Zen temple with a famous rock garden, and it was actually my favorite spot! The lake and gardens are so peaceful; I loved sitting by the rock garden for a while. It starts getting crowded around 10:30 AM, so get there early for a chance to sit in the "front row." On your way out, you’ll walk through a beautiful tree garden. There is a small restaurant there serving vegetarian food on tatami mats inside a stunning Japanese garden—I would have loved to try it!

More Temple Gems

Myōshin-ji & Surrounding Temples

This is a massive temple complex, but it feels like a secret city. It’s essentially a huge neighborhood of sub-temples, and for the most part, it's totally empty. You can just walk across the entire grounds and soak in the architecture without the tourist rush. It’s the perfect place to get lost for an hour.

Nishi Hongan-ji

This temple is incredible and, best of all, free to visit! The buildings are massive and very impressive. It’s a great spot to see grand Japanese architecture without the price tag of the more famous landmarks.

The Sunday Flea Market

If you happen to be in Kyoto on a Sunday, definitely check out the flea markets! (The most famous ones are usually at To-ji Temple or Kitano Tenmangu, depending on the date). It’s a treasure trove of vintage kimonos, old ceramics, and weird trinkets. It’s a very different vibe from the quiet temples—much more lively and local.

Best Food in Kyoto

Gohanya Shinkiro: Located on a super quiet street (about 10 minutes from the Gion area), this restaurant is full of locals at lunchtime. They have a very affordable lunch set with chicken or sashimi for around 1,800 JPY. The chef prepares the food right in front of you with amazing attention to detail.
Nijiya (Vegan Izakaya in Gion): A tiny restaurant where you can really feel the owner's passion. She sources everything from local farms and even makes her own miso. Highly recommended for a local, healthy meal.
Yakitori Ichiban Hachijoguchi: A great hidden gem south of Kyoto Station. It has a lively atmosphere, is full of young locals, and the yakitori is delicious and affordable.
Vermillion - station - This is a super nice cafe/ brunch place that also has a shop downstairs with the cutest things. It is located in a beautiful house and the upstairs sitting area has visible wooden structure which gives it a super charming touch. (〒600-8153 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Nijuninkocho, 15)

Nijiya 1st course - Silk tofu and Tofu skin

Shopping

Kyoto is awesome for shopping—especially the thrift shops! The area around Izutsuyacho was the best for finding small designer shops and curated second-hand stores.

My favorite was goat (328 Ebiyacho, Nakagyo Ward).