I started my two-week trip around Japan with 4 days in Kyoto, an amazing city filled with endless traditional Japanese culture. Here are some of my highlights - Geisha, sakura, shrines and more!
Geisha & the Gion District of Kyoto
A great starting place to get all the vibes of Kyoto is the historic Gion district, where you may be lucky enough to spot a real Geisha (we did!) Be careful not to confuse them with all the tourists wearing kimonos...
Real Geisha (left), tourists (right)
I took a free walking tour through the district, but you could easily walk through the area on your own time.
To celebrate Spring, I also got the chance to watch a special Geisha performance called Miyako Odori - highly recommended if you ever visit during sakura season!
Shrines, shrines, temples, shrines...
Kyoto is completely filled with ancient shrines & temples. You can spend many, many days walking through them all and taking in their beauty. I didn't manage to see them all, but I saw enough to satisfy...
If you get the chance to visit just one, I recommend Fushimi Inari Taisha - a shrine for the God of Rice. I got here very early one morning, and caught the sun peeking through the 100's of torii gates that climb all the way up a mountain!
Everyday Life in Kyoto: Traditions and Food
Japanese traditions seemed a lot more prominent in Kyoto than in other cities I visited, so it was nice to start the trip there to learn a few key lessons!
I always wore a kimono inside, wore proper house slippers (but never on the tatami floor), and learned how to bow proper at all the varying degrees, depending on the situation.
Two more things I loved about Kyoto: the vending machines on every street (literally), and the advertising dominated by cute characters...
I also never ran out of options when it came to eating good food - you can easily find delicious ramen, sushi, udon, matcha ice cream, rice balls, and more....
Day Trips from Kyoto: Arashiyama & Nara
With four days in Kyoto, I split the time to spend a full day in Nara, and half a day in Arashiyama -- which I definitely recommend if you have the time, for all the monkeys & deer! Read my blog post from Arashiyama & Nara here.
Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto
I visited Japan in the Spring specifically to see sakura - the cherry blossom trees! Visit my cherry blossom blog post here to see all of my recommended cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto.
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