August 3 – August 5 : Kyoto

Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, is a city steeped in history and culture. Renowned for its stunning temples, traditional tea houses, and beautifully preserved geisha districts, Kyoto offers a serene glimpse into Japan’s rich past. Visitors can admire its historical charm and explore iconic sites like the Golden Pavilion, Fushimi Inari Shrine, and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

How to get to Kyoto from Osaka

Traveling the short distance between Kyoto and Osaka can be done by the Shinkansen- Japan’s bullet train – in about 15 minutes. If you prefer a cheaper option, you can use one of the many local connecting trains, which still don’t take more than an hour.

Kyoto

Traveling around Kyoto is easy due to its well-connected network of subways and local trains. Two days seem like the ideal amount of time to enjoy and see different parts of this historical and charming city.

Things to do in Kyoto

Visit the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in the western part of Kyoto. You can reach it by taking the traditional Randen train from Shijo-Omiya Station, which takes about 20 minutes. Besides the bamboo forest, there are several shrines in the area, as well as the notable Okochi Sanso Garden. Allocate half a day to fully explore the area.
Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha, famous for its iconic red gates. Around and on Mt. Inari, you can find dozens, if not hundreds, of them. Most people stay at the foot of the mountain, but if you climb the stairs (about 20 minutes up), you’ll find plenty of red gates with very few people around.
Explore the Gion district, an area full of traditional architecture, with more shrines and a beautiful pagoda.
Explore Nishiki Market, one of Japan’s typical roofed street areas where you can find just about anything. Try the street food with some sake here.
If you’re nerdy like me, you’ll want to pass by the Nintendo building. There’s not much to see here—just a white office building with the iconic Nintendo logo – but behind these walls, the magic happens. 🙂 The building is actually a 15-minute walk from Fushimi Inari Taisha.