Over the past few months I’ve explored the rural northern parts of Kyoto including the fishing town of Ine and the beautiful beach of Amanohashidate, but in this post I’d like to highlight the main tourist spots from my earlier archives just for reference.
I first visited Kyoto in 2013 during my study abroad trip in Japan, and returned in late 2015 for a visit during my epic job search. I now visit Kyoto 3-4 times per year for music events (mainly at Metro) and also for eating aesthetic food.
The longer I live in Japan, the more I come to appreciate this peaceful city. From nearly anywhere in Kyoto you can see the mountains and be reminded of the beautiful terrain this country has. As the former capital of Japan, Kyoto has almost everything you could want in a place to live; shopping centers, street food, temples filled with years history, and a variety of night clubs. Not to mention Nintendo HQ! Though Tokyo has the most opportunity for foreigners, I often fantasize about what my life would be like if I lived here. It definitely would be an exciting one~
Here are my recommendations on things to see during your first trip to Kyoto:
The Golden Pavilion
Out of all the building structures I’ve seen in Kyoto, the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) is by far the most breathtaking. Built overtop a pond, you can see it shining elegantly with its gold leaf coating during any time of the year. I first came here in Autumn when it shone with a beautiful contrast to the leaves that were turning a bright shade of red. The best time to come is during the golden hour (5pm) because the lighting is optimal and you can see a perfect reflection of it on the water. Though you are not allowed to enter the pavilion, you can still admire its impressive design from afar. I learned from the pamphlet I was given the gold lacquer is thought to dispel and purify pollution and negative thoughts. Being here definitely put my mind at ease and I think it’s somewhere that everyone should visit at least once. I have never seen any other place that’s as gold as this besides the Golden Buddha in Nara.
Access
From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Line to Kita-Oji Station then Bus 205 to the Kinkakuji Bus Stop. This costs 490 yen and takes 30 mins.
Entrance Fee: 400 yen
Fushimi Inari
The best way I can think to describe Fushimi Inari is “a shrine of shrines”. If you want to experience one of the biggest shrine networks surrounded by nature in Japan, then all travel guides will point you here. Similar to the Golden Pavilion (but much more red in color), there is really no place quite like here. You will be stunned by the thousands of red torii gates and trails that lead to the summit of Mt. Inari. The climb takes about 2.5 hours to reach from the base. You will notice that there are many fox statues here which are said to be the messengers of the shrine. Though this place is a tourist hotspot, I definitely recommend it. If you are looking for a less crowded shrine, you can try going to Daigoji in Kyoto too because it is similarly red and historical.
Access
From Kyoto Station, take the Nara Line to Inari Station. This only takes 5 mins and costs 150 yen.
Entrance Fee: 300 yen
Nintendo HQ
Before I came to Japan most of my time was spent gaming or watching anime. I have some of my best adolescent memories and have met many friends through Nintendo games and events. So coming here—to the main HQ building of Nintendo in Kyoto—was surreal to me. Of course you’re not allowed to enter, but you can walk by the building and are free to take pictures. There is not much else to see in this district, but this building is definitely worth seeing if you’re a Nintendo fan.
Access
From Shiokoji Takakura bus stop near Kyoto Station, you can take Bus 205 to Kyoto Shiyakushomae and walk 3 mins there. You can also take a cheap taxi or rent bikes to get here.
Address: 11-1 Kamitoba Hokodatecho, Minami Ward, Kyoto, 601-8501
In Part 2 of this article I will be talking more about the touristy things I did in Kyoto when I first moved to Japan. Often people look down upon tourism, but it is essential to the economy of most Asian countries and also has been valuable in my understanding of the culture here. You should never feel ashamed for being a tourist.