Reading time: 5 min.
November 2025 – Kyoto, Japan

After Tokyo’s adrenaline hit, Kyoto welcomes us like a warm doorway into another world.

Suddenly we are wandering Gion’s lantern‑lit streets, practicing calligraphy with inky hands, grabbing sushi straight off conveyor belts, slipping between temples and bamboo forests, soaking in hot springs, chasing torii gates into the clouds, and feeding the famously food‑obsessed deer at Nara.

Kyoto wrapped us in nature, tradition, and just the right touch of magic. It was exactly the pause we didn’t know we needed – and most certainly our favorite time in Japan.

We stayed around eight days and still felt there were so many attractions and hidden gems left to discover. So here’s how to spend your time in Kyoto without rushing the wonder.

I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did! 🙂

GION

• Night tour through Gion with Geisha culture trivia

Gion at night feels like Kyoto whispering its oldest secrets. It’s the first thing we do after arriving, and as we follow our guide through narrow alleys lit by soft red lanterns, the wooden teahouses seem to lean in, listening.

Between stories about geiko and maiko – how their training begins in their teens and how strict their life is – we start to see the district differently. It isn’t just beautiful, it’s alive with ritual and discipline. We even spot a Starbucks tucked inside one of the traditional houses, blending in as if it has always been there.

By the end of the tour, we’re walking through centuries of tradition unfolding in real time.

CENTRAL KYOTO

• Nijō Castle
• Nishiki Market

The next day starts more deliberately. Rain is tapping against the windows, soft but steady. And what do you know – the closest place to explore without getting soaked is Nijō Castle, where the shoguns once walked.

Inside, the nightingale floors chirp under every step, a clever early‑warning system designed to alert guards to intruders (including the occasional ninja!).

After wandering around the castle grounds, we’re both excited for what’s next but also hungry. The perfect stop is the nearby Nishiki Market. As soon as we step inside, the air fills with steam, chatter, and the smell of food cooking.

It’s a shock to the senses in the best way: colorful fried snacks, fresh seafood, wagyu skewers, pickles, spices, sweets, souvenirs, even cosmetics. Anything you can imagine is packed into this narrow arcade.

As we make our way back to the hotel, our pockets are lighter but our stomachs are definitely full. 🙂

KYOTO EAST

• Kiyomizu-dera

A new morning starts under a perfectly clear sky, so we head out for a long walk to Kiyomizu‑dera, the famous wooden temple built without a single nail. The uphill path winds through narrow alleys packed with people. When we finally reach the top, the temple rises against a fiery backdrop of golden maples.

We stand in awe, wander the terraces, and take in the sweeping views over Kyoto. Nothing to do but let the moment sink in.

KYOTO WEST

• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• Okochi Sanso Garden
• Monkey Park Iwatayama
• Fu Fu No Yu Onsen

After giving ourselves time to acclimatize to Kyoto these past days, today is the one with a packed itinerary. We start early, walking through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (and the crowds), until a quiet hidden entrance appears at the very end of the path.

Stepping into Ōkōchi Sansō Garden turns out to be the best decision. Suddenly the noise fades, the air settles, and the soft autumn colors turn into full-blown madness as we wander uphill along tucked‑away trails.

It’s hard to leave, but Mount Iwatayama is waiting. An hour later (and a few more drops of sweat), we’re hanging out with the monkeys at Monkey Park Iwatayama, staring out at one of the best views in Kyoto.

What keeps us going on the way back down the mountain is the promise of Fu Fu No Yu Onsen.

We were honestly reluctant to book it due to the Japanese tradition of bathing completely nude. But the moment we step inside, everything is spotless, nobody cares, nobody stares. It feels calm and respectful. And once we sink into those milky hot‑spring waters with steam rising into the cool night air, it turns into pure bliss. A perfect ending to a magical day.

KYOTO NORTH

• Kinkaku-ji

The next morning, we wake up with that lingering onsen calm still in our bones. A whole new part of Kyoto is waiting for us. Taking a bus to Kinkaku‑ji feels like the moment we finally check Kyoto’s north off the map; we really can’t say we’ve seen the city without it. The Golden Pavilion greets us with its bright shine, perfectly mirrored in the still pond below.

KYOTO SOUTH

• Fushimi Inari Taisha

A new day starts with Fushimi Inari Taisha, and it quickly becomes the day we didn’t expect to hike. We head out of Kyoto thinking we’re just visiting a famous shrine.

But as soon as we pass the first torii gates, more appear. And more. And more. Until a map finally makes it clear: there are a thousand of them(!). Somewhere between the viewpoints and the fox statues, we realize we’ve accidentally committed to a full-on hike. At this point, there’s nothing to do but keep going.

By the time we reach the top, we’re sweaty, tired but relieved. Okay, I think we’re done with temples and shrines for this trip.

CALLIGRAPHY CLASS

We can’t leave Kyoto without a Japanese Calligraphy Class. I’d wanted to try this so badly that I booked it months in advance. And suddenly here we are: barefoot on the tatami floor of a quiet temple, sleeves rolled up, ink smudged on our hands, facing our first blank sheets.

Under our teacher’s calm guidance, we practice stroke after stroke until something recognizable begins to take shape.

We leave the temple grinning, each holding a fresh sheet of paper that is far more meaningful than souvenirs. Now Compassion and Eternity hang proudly in our living room, a small reminder of Kyoto.

DAY TRIP NARA

The day we’ve been waiting the most in Kyoto finally arrives: Nara day. The excitement builds with every train stop, and when we step off at Nara, I’m practically vibrating.

A short walk toward the park and there they are. Deer wandering freely, watching us, or ignoring us completely depending on how many crackers they’ve already scored.

We spend the day roaming the park, sharing the paths with hundreds (well, actually over 1400) bowing deer. It feels like stepping into a storybook, the kind you don’t believe until you’re in the middle of it.

As we make our way back to Kyoto, I know this is one of those memories that will stay with me. ❤️

And that’s a wrap! After more than a week in Kyoto, we’re heading back to Tokyo for one final rush of big‑city energy before flying home.

I’m happy to report that, unlike our usual long‑haul adventures, this trip came with no injuries, no accidents, and not even a hint of sickness – a record for us. It almost left me with nothing dramatic to write about. Clearly, Japan wants us back. 🙂

Until next time – travel well!