Kyoto City Guide
When visiting Japan, it is essential you visit Kyoto which has a mix of the old and new Japan where both are enticing to tourists. There are neon lit streets, high rise buildings and modern shopping malls as well as over 2000 shrines and temples meaning that Kyoto truly has all aspects of Japanese culture to explore.
Things To Do
For traditional Japanese activities and attractions, you could visit Tondaya in the Nishijin textile area. The townhouse is exquisitely decorated with traditional decoration which coincides with your ability to be involved in the Japanese tea ceremony. This immersion into Japanese activities enables you to get a sense of the traditional culture. Somewhere else you may wish to visit is the Shunko-in Temple which means the temple of the spring ray. Inside the temple you can observe the exquisite art which relates to Zen Buddhism as well as Shinto and Christianity. You can also get a guide to walk around with you to teach you about the temple and the Zen way of life. For a chance to get involved in modern Japanese culture you may wish to visit Kyoto International Manga Museum. You can experience the massive and exciting hype which surrounds Manga as well as observe some of the pictures and artistic drawings themselves. This is an easy place to visit due to its positioning close to the Karasuma-Oike Station.
Free things to do
Gate to Higashi Honganji, Goei-do Mon
The district of Gion is a must-see visit if you are interested about the Geishas within the area. This tourist hotspot has narrow streets and traditional wooden buildings where you are able to witness Geishas wandering from one teahouse to the next. Another place to visit free of charge is Kyoto’s historical building Higashi Honganji. This visitation is made easy by its situation close to Kyoto Station making it a must-see for tourists. The striking aspects of this building are its vast gates and buildings as well as a black rope made from women’s hair. Another impressive feature are the thousands of pigeons which reside on the building.
Cuisine
Once in Kyoto, one of the essential things you must try is the Japanese food. The city has many authentic Japanese restaurants where you are able to taste the local cuisine which has also been cooked in the traditional manner. Some foods to try are the Kyoto ramen which is a Chinese noodle dish finished off with sliced pork. You can also try Sushi and Sashimi where slices of raw fish are wrapped in rice and seaweed. Something else to try are Tempura foods, where fish, prawns and vegetables are fried to give them a light batter casing. Many foods are based around seafood such as shrimps, crab and fish which are caught daily so add great taste to the foods.
Kyoto has a great many activities and attractions for tourists to enjoy. Due to being a world away from English culture, Kyoto have got monuments, Geishas, temples and museums to help you immerse yourself in the exciting and unique culture.
5 Day Weather Forecast for Kyoto
