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Kyoto is the single most popular tourist destination in Japan. For good reason. But it can also be overcrowded, overrated, and underwhelming if you don’t make an effort to improve your experience in this temple-heavy leaf-peeping destination. Most people’s first-time visit to Kyoto can be overwhelming, to say the least. You need at least a week to see everything. Instead, don’t see everything. Here’s what I suggest to those visiting Kyoto for the first-time.
How to Make Your First-Time Visit to Kyoto Better
Here are a few tips for travelers heading to Kyoto for the first time.
1. Avoid the Crowds on Your First-Time Visit to Kyoto.
Travel on weekdays. Not only is Kyoto a hot spot for international travelers, but many Japanese take weekend trips to escape the big cities. This means early mornings, seeking out less-famous temples, and adjusting your schedule to visit places during off-hours.
The most popular time to visit Japan is during the changing of the leaves because of the many scenic gardens and temples within the city. If you really want to avoid the crowds, you should consider traveling in the off-season.
2. Wake up early.
This sounds like a no-brainer, but I’m telling you the Japanese wake up EARLY. And while you may not have entire places to yourself, you will avoid the chaos of huge crowds and large groups. Kyoto is all about serenity and nature, and that tends to become jeopardized when you get huge groups of people dropped off by tour buses. To top that all off, many schools take field trips to cultural heritage sites, so if you time your visit wrong, you’ll be in a swarm of children.
If you want the early start to actually buy you an empty temple, Wabunka books private before-hours and after-hours access to Taizo-in at Myoshin-ji, where the deputy head priest walks you through the garden, sits you down for zazen, and finishes with matcha.
3. Prioritize on your First-Time Visit to Kyoto.
Not everything needs to be seen in one day; allow yourself a few days to maximize your experience. Things like the bamboo forest and (Shinto shrine) tend to be ideal either early mornings or late evenings.
4. Pick your lodging carefully.
Our Recommendation: HARUYA Higashiyama. Cheap, great location, and authentic Japanese-style rooms.
We stayed outside of the main tourist district, away from where you find designer shops and McDonald’s. In fact, it was inside a hundred-year-old building with tatami-floored rooms. It was an experience in itself. It felt like stepping back in time, living in a minimalist way, unplugged and away from the drone of city life.
Guest House MICaSA works the same way, a machiya townhouse on a quiet central Kyoto backstreet run by a proprietress from a kimono dyeing family, bookable for a night through Wabunka
5. Seek Alternatives on your First-Time Visit to Kyoto.
Traveling to Kyoto as the leaves change is spectacular and a magical time of year. However, I was surprised by just how expensive it was to enter some of the more popular temples that boast the most photogenic gardens. This, combined with the fact that they don’t open the gates until 9-10 am, means there is no beating the crowds, and these supposedly zen gardens become chaotic with crowds and selfie sticks, everyone trying to get the same shots.
Personally, I’m not about that, and I am not paying $8 USD to take a photo of some trees. Also, ACTUAL functioning Buddhist temples don’t charge entrance fees. So I recommend doing your research, finding lesser-known temples and shrines, and I promise you’ll get the colors and the actual zen serenity you seek. This is a great way to have your own experience rather than falling into the trap of following an endless list of “must-sees” that will likely only leave you underwhelmed.
First-time visitors to Kyoto should wander down narrow alleys. If you see a street or courtyard that interests you, go for it! You might even get lucky enough to see a geisha, as we did.
6. Try a traditional tea ceremony.
This is a surprisingly daunting task, especially if you’re like me and heavily budget-conscious. A lot of ceremonies end up cramming a bunch of other tourists in a room with a tea master who may or may not even be Japanese! A lot of places overcharge for a cheapened experience or charge a high price for traditional dress. If that’s your thing, go for it!
Personally, I wandered around and found a temple that charged a fraction of the price of other ceremonies. Here’s our complete guide to visiting Shoren-In temple for a tea ceremony. It also happened to be in a Zen Buddhist temple garden and felt so peaceful and authentic. I was the only foreigner in a room with a few other Japanese women in traditional dresses. I left feeling rejuvenated and centered.
Pro tip: Research the formalities and intricacies of the ceremony itself. It will help impress your Rikyu (tea master) and is fascinating! A few easy rules to follow are to dress modestly, avoid perfumes, and sit properly to avoid disturbing others’ experience.
7. Consider Booking a Once-in-a-Lifetime Cultural Experience
Wabunka is the only site I recommend for cultural tours. They’re private, a bit on the luxurious side (as Japan is famous for), and led by masters of their craft.
While the name sounds a little odd rolling off the tongue, Wabunka roughly translates to “Japanese culture.” I found this site too late in my Japan travels. They offer tons of rich cultural experiences all across Japan, from Sushi classes with a Master Sushi Chef, Trekking the Historic Nakasendo Route with a local Guide, Geisha District encounters, Ryokan Stays, and of course, traditional Kyoto Tea Ceremonies led by Kyoto’s tea masters.
If you’re looking for all their Kyoto-related experiences, you’ll find them here.
8. Wander without a destination.
Kyoto is itself a very photogenic city. It’s easy to wander around areas like the Gion district and Pontocho Alley. Sometimes I’ll set off with a place I want to get to, and when I see a street or turn that draws my attention, I take it. You’ll never know what you’ll stumble upon. We saw a geisha sneaking through the alleyways at night.
Leaving it to luck is one way. You can also book an evening in a Gion bar with a geiko or maiko, drinks included, and hear how the district actually works from someone inside it.
This ties back into having your unique experience and embracing the spirit of the mysterious and unexpected that Kyoto is so famous for.
Another option is to rent a bike! Most hostels and guest houses offer bike rentals. The city is insanely flat so you can bike pretty much anywhere. I ended up biking all the way to the bamboo forest to get there before the crowds, and I don’t regret it! It was a cool way to see the city and areas most tourists don’t make it to.
9. Eat!
Kyoto’s big brother to the south, Osaka, takes a lot of the spotlight when it comes to food. Kyoto surprisingly has many amazing restaurants, yummy ramen joints, izakayas, and small food stands in markets and along streets.
Here are a few places we ate and enjoyed while in Kyoto.
- Tenkaippin (Chion-in Temple). Delicious ramen.
- Teppan Tavern. One of the best meals you can eat in Japan. Soft-shell crab and other local Kyoto favorites.
- Le Bac a Sable. A delicious French bakery. Perfect for an easy lunch or breakfast.
Kyoto itself is notorious for being over-touristed, and not what it once was. I’m telling you though, no trip to Japan is complete without seeing for yourself. Like most heavily trafficked destinations, there is a reason for it. The cultural, historic, and mystical energy here is alive and well. If you follow some of these tips for your first-time visit to Kyoto, I guarantee you will come away with a more unique and positive experience in Japan’s thousand-year-old capital, the city of spirits.
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Suggesting which temples are less busy would be helpful