Top 10 Things to Do in Kyoto

Kyoto, from 794 to 1868, it is the ancient capital of Japan. Kyoto is a city suitable for slow travel. It is a place that fades away from noisy and returns to the simple and quiet. Ancient streets, stately shrines, black and white buildings, everything is the quietest look. What to do in Kyoto? Here are 10 things recommended to do in Kyoto.

1、Wear kimono strolling around the slopes of Kiyomizu-dera Temple

If you travel to Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera Temple is an attraction that you can’t miss in Kyoto.  In addition, the ancient slopes around Sannenzaka Ninenzaka. Rent a kimono in the shop, walk in a traditional Japanese stone road, and take a leisurely stroll around the day is not boring.

2、Experience tea ceremony

When it comes to Kyoto, you have to mention the tea ceremony. Whether it is a tea ceremony or a flower ceremony, it is a traditional Japanese art that is full of peace. The orthodox tea ceremony is in the quiet tea room space, through the peace of mind and communication with others, to examine your own spiritual world, and then enhance yourself. The most precious teaching in the tea ceremony is the once-time meeting, which means cherishing the only one encounter of people or things in your lifetime.

3、Find a geisha tour in the path called Hanami Lane(flower-viewing lane)

Hanami Lane(flower-viewing lane) is the most romantic stone road in Kyoto. The Hanami Lane of Gion is one of the places where tourists visiting Kyoto must go to. Tourists are coming here to see geisha. It is also one of the locations where Memoirs of a Geisha is filmed. The Hanami Lane road is in the design of the stone and the material pavilion tea house on both sides of the road, which is really rich in ancient style. In ancient times, Hanami Lane is similar to today’s Shinjuku Kabukicho. It is a representative place in Kyoto.

4、Buy souvenirs in at the Nishiki Market in Kyoto

Kyoto's Nishiki Market can also be counted as one of the must-see tourist attractions in Kyoto, where you can find ingredients that people will buy in Kyoto. What do people eat in Kyoto for three meals a day? Visiting the Nishiki Market is the best way to get to know the life of people in Kyoto. Although the Nishiki Market is not large, there are many Kyoto-style cooked foods, raw foods of vegetable, pickles, fish, dry goods, seasonings, groceries, and household items. There are also a lot of food stalls here, the price is very cheap.

5、Experience Gion Festival

Gion festival is one of the most representative festivals in Kyoto. The entire festival lasts for a month of July. On July 17th, a large-scale parade called Yamaboko Junkō will be held, which is the most excellent part of the festival. If you are lucky to encounter the festival, you will surely be enchanted by the welcoming atmosphere of the city.

6、Taste traditional Kyoto’s cuisine- tofu soup

Kyoto's tofu is famous. Because the water in Kyoto is weakly alkaline, it is very suitable for making tofu. The soup of tofu near Nanzen-ji Temple is the best tofu in Japan. A restaurant called Shunzheng Tofu in front of Nanzen-ji Temple has almost become the "holy place" in the hearts of tofu lovers. The tofu is smooth and palatable, and there is a strong soy scent. Adding special seasoning is even more fragrant.

7、Pray in the Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine is listed as one of the must-see attractions in Kyoto. There are a total of 300,000 Inari Shrines in Japan, and Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is the head office of these Shrines. Every year, many Japanese come here to pray. In addition, famous Detective Conan and Memoirs of a Geisha have shooting scenes here.

8、Go to Moon Crossing Bridge in Arashiyama Kyoto

Arashiyama is really beautiful. It’s a pity to go to Kyoto if you don’t visit Arashiyama. The Moon Crossing Bridge crossing Oigawa River is the iconic landscape of Arashiyama. The Moon Bridge is named after the moon shaped above the river. The bridge that retains the wooden structure and the wooded mountains behind it form a beautiful landscape. If you like beauty of nature, Moon Crossing Bridge in Arashiyama is a place you can't miss.

9、Experience nightlife of Kyoto in Shijokawaramachi

If you want to experience the nightlife of Kyoto, go to Shijo Kawaramachi. There are drugstores, night snacks, food and fashion bars. There are many shopping malls, such as Takashimaya Times Square. It is a good place for shopping.

10、Go to Kyoto Station to eat Japanese ramen

Kyoto Station as the last stop before leaving Kyoto, is also a place that you can’t miss in Kyoto. Before leaving Kyoto, you must go to the Ramen Road to taste the best ramen in Japan. The busy and modern Kyoto Station is quite different from the impression of the ancient capital, but it is a great place to buy souvenirs. There are shopping malls and shopping streets in Kyoto Station, you can go there buy souvenirs. You can also go to the Kyoto Tower next to Kyoto Station to enjoy the beautiful night view. Kyoto Station can be the last trip itinerary in your wonderful Kyoto journey.