When I decided Japan would be the nfollowingcountry to visit, Kyoto became a priority. I had heard so much about the region, in the ways of its temples, picturesque scenery, and beautiful streets of the city area; I knew the conclusion could only be one thing, an unforgettable journey in Kyoto.

Unforgettable for all the places I visited in Kyoto, there are still so many attractions I didn’t have time to get to; I only hope I get back there soon enough. Unforgettable, that was the first city I visited on my first trip to Japan, and I was desperate that my journey to Kyoto would be a relevant experience.

With Kyoto concluding this trip in Japan and Osaka looming next, I needed to get the most out of the expansive region of Kyoto on days three and four of the trip. Indeed I did with the most exciting attractions in Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari Shrine, dining out with tasty Japanese food and checking out a few local markets with unique merchandise on sale.

It’s the second edition Osaka-Kyoto Diaries, and I can tell you from my perspective that it was an unforgettable journey in Kyoto that never stopped over this busy two-day period. Let’s check out the highlights of Kyoto.

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An unforgettable journey in Kyoto.

Main Highlights of Osaka – Kyoto Diaries: Days 3 – 4 – An Unforgettable journey in Kyoto

Kyoto is a city that truly has it all – stunning temples and shrines, beautiful gardens, delicious food, and rich culture. I was lucky to spend four days exploring this fantastic city, which was an unforgettable experience.

Being Mesmerised by Arashiyama

Arashiyama was the absolute highlight of my time in Kyot, Japan; it’s simply breathtaking. From the moment I got off the light train at Arashiyama from the city area, natural beauty, all with mind-blowing traditions, was around me. So much I could have spent a few days in the field rather than a few hours, which was all the time I could afford with the limited time I had in Kyoto.

For Arashiyama, I will give you a few highlights of the few hours I spent in a lovely part of japan and helped bring about an unforgettable journey in Kyoto.

Many temples are in Arashiyama.

• The Bamboo Forest Walk: The Bamboo Forest Walk is what most people think of when visiting Arashiyama. It’s a beautiful yet crowded walk, with many Bamboo trees lined up on either side of the path as an entrance into the forest. It’s a beautiful sight, there is no doubt about it, yet it is a tourist attraction packed with many tourists, and I wasn’t even there during the peak times of the year, Autumn or Spring.
  The Bamboo Forest Walk is free to enter, one of the few attractions in Arashiyama that is complimentary. No matter the crowds that stroll through the Bamboo forest walk, it is an unforgettable walk.

Look ahead to all the tall bamboo.

• Tenryu-Ji Temple: The Tenryu-Ji Temple is my favourite temple in Arashiyama. Built in 1339 by the ruling leader Ashikaga Takauji, the main building overlooks a gorgeous lake with gardens around it and the mountains not too far away. It starts with a beautiful garden walk before arriving at the mprimarytemple, which is a pretty picture.

  Just a side note, I wandered into a few temples in Arashiyama; they were all quite lovely in their way and on top of that, there are many other temples in the area I couldn’t get to; most temples do come with an entrance fee of around 300 yen.

The picturesque Tenru-Ji Temple.

• Okochi Sanso Garden: The 1000-yen entrance fee can seem a little pricey but is more than worth the price inside this stunning garden layout designed by a Japanese actor who created a film set in the picturesque settings on his estate.

  Not only is it a garden walk with plenty of lovely Japanese-themed buildings attached to the big attraction, but you also get a complimentary Green tea cake and tea, which is put on in the most splendid of locations with bamboo trees nearby. It’s a relaxing atmosphere and one of my favourite attractions in Arashiyama; I could only imagine it being much better during the cherry blossom season.

Okochi Sanso Garden.

• Katsura River: The Katsura River is extensive; it’s larg’s picturesque and full of activity of tourist boats flowing through the water and showing the tourists the stunning surroundings of Arashiyama. It’s a great time to get your camera out to click away and even take a selfie or two while taking a stroll along the river banks.

  Riveratsura River is a perfect spot to have a bite to eat for lunch at a riverside restaurant, to enjoy a bowl of ramen or other selections of Japanese food with a cold glass of beer, while also enjoying the sounds of the River wRiveris in full view from where I had my bowl of Japanese noodle soup.

I am enjoying ramen on the Katsura River.

• Arashiyama Monkey Park: It’s the survival of the fittest when you enter the gates of the Arashiyama Monkey Park; I say that because before you even have your first glimpse of a monkey, you need to hike up the hill for a 20-minutes. It will undoubtedly have you feeling the strain on your legs.

  Monkey Park was a tad overrated; while there are a few large and tamed monkeys at the peak of the hill once you have completed the hike, I found that I got distracted by the views of the city of Kyoto in the distance.

Arashiyama Monkey Park.

• Arashiyama back streets and town-centre walk: Wandering through Arashiyama is not only about the pleasant attractions or temples; having a quiet walk along the backroads is a must, too, to view the unique township. At this time, you can witness much Japanese-style housing with a few selling unique souvenirs of fine art or jewellery or stop in for tea, coffee or a bite to eat at a selection of cafés in the area.

   

   

  

  Take a wander down the back streets of Arashiyama.

   

The town centre in Arashiyama is packed with tourists, and while I didn’t spend a great deal of time on the streets, plenty is going on in retail shopping and restaurants; it’s also the perfect time to treat yourself to the ever-popular green tea ice cream. It’s delicious.

Enjoy a tour in Arashiyama with Klook and see all the gincrediblesights!

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Lose yourself at Fushimi Inari Shrine

Without question, I saw two of the major tourist attractions in Kyoto on the same day; in the latter part of the afternoon, I was making my way over to the other side of the city and visiting the spectacular Fushimi Inari Shrine. I’m sure most of you have seen pictures of this Shrine in the past.

I had read only a little about the Shrine when researching Kyoto, but I didn’t get into much information on what was on offer at Fushimi Inari Shrine and did I expect it to turn into quite the hike? From getting off the train at Inari station, the festival begins on the street with a range of markets and food outlets, which for street food doesn’t come cheap at all, but the thousands of tourists are still getting their coins out for a taste of tasty Japanese cuisine.

The Shrine is, of course, a stunning feature with beautiful looking Japanese style buildings that have tourists gathering for the best possible photo shoot; good luck capturing a photo without a random stranger not getting in the way of the picture, especially during the heat of the day when people are everywhere.

Then you ascend further into the Shrine to the area that makes Fushimi so accessible; I speak of the orange torii gates. You know the orange-looking figures that rowed in many numbers, and you may have seen in the movie “Memoirs of a Geisha,” the orange gates represent the staple of all holy Shinto sites. Fushimi Inari Shrine has thousands of them on its grounds.

It’s at this point I met an Armenian man, a solo traveller like me, and we went hiking through the 2.4km kilometre trek through the gates, past the grave sites and further up the hill to capture views of Kyoto city, this time on this opposite side of Arashiyama. With all the food I was eating and green tea ice cream, it was good to lose a few extra calories. We even lost ourselves at one point, which made the trek a little longer and more exhausting.

Fushimi Inari Shrine is famous for its Orange Torii Gates.

The Picturesque Kinkaku-Ji Temple

Day four in Kyoto started with another temple; why not? They’re everywhere in Kyoto, which is fine because they are breathtaking in their unique design.

According to TripAdvisor, the kinkaku-Ji Temple is the number one rated Temple in Kyoto. When it comes to appearance, the Golden Temple is tucked away behind a large lake, and with the mountains in the background, it is certainly nothing short than spectacular. You won’t need to be a world-class photographer to take a good photo of the Kinkaku-Ji temple, because this Temple that was originally built in 1397 will take care of the rest.

Regarding other attractions around Kinkaku-Ji, there isn’t much more to do there than to gaze your eyes at a delightful golden structure, albeit worth it. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be back on bus number 12 within the hour and off to the next attraction, which wasn’t a temple in this case. 

Kinkaku-Ji temple.

Step into History at Nijo Castle

Castles in Japan!!! There are few in the country, and Nijo Castle in Central Kyoto is a must-see attraction.

I love Nijo Castle because there’s always something new to discover. Whether it’s the stunning design of the buildings, the moat surrounding the castle, the lookout towers situated on the corner of the court, or the beautifully landscaped gardens, there’s always something new to catch your eye. And, of course, no visit to Nijo Castle would be complete without looking at the fantastic artwork inside the castle buildings.

For me, it’s another reason to fall in love with Kyoto. The Nijo Castle is filled with so much history, and it’s impossible not to be mesmerised by all the different paintings and sculptures you’ll see as you venture through other rooms. It is a fascinating place and well worth the 600-yen entrance fee.

Nijo Castle was accessible to the top-five attractions I visited in Kyoto, and getting there certainly helps when the castle is in a central location. I can certainly recommend it to other tourists who come to the area.

Nijo Castle.

Wander through the Spacious Grounds of the Imperial Palace

On my journey through Kyoto, the last attraction I saw was the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Another stop with more tradition and history, the palace is free to enter and comes with complimentary guided tours in Japanese or English.

Situated on the grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Park, it’ll take about an hour or two of your time to wander around the vast palace grounds, view a few beautiful gardens and, of course, the buildings of the Imperial Palace.

I enjoyed another history lesson in Kyoto, one big history lesson. Despite only having four days in Kyoto, I’m glad I could fit in a visit to the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It’s an attraction worth seeing if you find yourself in this beautiful city.

It was a memorable four days in Kyoto, a city with such history, proud tradition and beautiful scenery that will forever remain unforgettable in the memory bank. Sadly, it ended the Kyoto leg of my journey in Japan, a bit too premature for my liking because there was still so much I needed to see.

Next is Osaka, and I can’t wait for the next edition of Osaka-Kyoto Diaries. While I am excited about Osaka, I will always have a soft spot for Kyoto. There’s something about the city that feels very magical and different from anywhere else I’ve been.

Maybe it’s the fact that it’s so steeped in history and tradition, or perhaps it’s just the sheer beauty of the place. Whatever it is, Kyoto left a lasting impression on me, and I can’t wait to go back one day soon.

Kyoto Imperial Palace.