Kyoto (2016, October)

Kyoto was once upon a time Japan's capital, before Tokyo. It is a charming historical city well-known for its temples, shrines, and eyegasmic landscapes.

My family and I went to Kyoto on the same day we went to Nara. Our tour group spent (only!) the morning here though, which is obviously not enough. The trip was a nice teaser for another trip to Kyoto, I suppose.

Itinerary

See: The map I used for the whole trip here.

Kyoto is steeped in history and culture, so although the group tour we were on was quite short and rushed, it was an unforgettable experience, largely thanks to our exceptional tour guide who was warm, welcoming, and eager to share his knowledge of the city's history and culture. He had a deep appreciation for the city's rich history and culture, and his enthusiasm was contagious. It was obvious how much he much he knew about the attractions we visited, and he was able to provide us with fascinating stories about each of them.

Nijo castle

Our first stop was the Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was built in the 17th century. 

Our friendly guide shared a lot of stories about the castle's history and significance and even explained about the architectural features as we explored the castle grounds. 

I really enjoyed seeing the stunning gardens, moats, and beautiful architecture, but we didn't get to spend much time here.

Kinkakuji Temple

Next, we visited the Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. This beautiful temple is covered in gold leaf and is surrounded by a serene pond and beautiful gardens. 

While the temple itself is certainly a sight to behold (it is considered a must-see attraction in Kyoto for a reason after all), the surroundings are also a setting of tranquility and calmness. Japanese gardens are are designed to be calming in every aspect from the lush greenery, flower and ornament placements, and manicured lawns, but it never ceases to amaze me how much it relaxes me.

There were also a number of stalls selling crafts and snacks here - and many (!!) vending machines. My mom bought some green tea mochi, they which were really good!

Unfortunately, the area is not exactly accessible for wheelchair users :(

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Finally, we visited the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which was once the residence of Japan's emperors. 

Our guide shared many stories about the palace's significance and its rich history as we walked around the beautiful gardens and explore some of the palace's stunning architecture, including the Shishinden Hall, which is used for important imperial ceremonies.

The gardens here are also designed for quiet contemplation, where one can reflect, meditate, or simply enjoy the moment. I can't get enough of Japanese gardens, tbh.

These small structures are fascinating to look at too!

Lunch!

After a long day we finally reached the tourgroup's office again and had lunch (part of the package). It was a buffet style arrangement with vegetarian options. I really liked it :)

We then parted ways with the rest of the tour group and proceeded with our next group tour to Nara!

Expenses

The return-trip for Osaka-Kyoto-Nara (ie. Osaka-Kyoto-Osaka trains, Kyoto busride, and Kyoto-Nara-Kyoto busrides), the buffet lunch we had in Kyoto, and the admission prices of the places we visited in Kyoto/Nara were included in JTB Sunrise's 1 Day Kyoto-Nara tour for 14,700yen/person.

If you're pressed for time in Japan, this day tour may be good for a teaser trip of what Kyoto/Nara offers... but do be aware that it is not a leisurely tour by any means! My elderly parents were knackered towards the end of the trip, and my mom even skipped two of the items in the whole Kyoto/Nara itinerary because her weak knees couldn't take the amount of rushing involved.

I also bought a pineapple ice cream at one of the vending machines near the exit of the Imperial Garden, which was super yummy and refreshing. I think it was around 130yen.

In summary:

• Guided tour (package), inc. transportation to and from Osaka and lunch = 14,700yen
• Ice cream (hihi) = 130yen.

Total expenses here: 14,830yen.

So yeah.

I may update this again later after I properly go through my travel journal, but for now this is all I have to share. Thanks for reading!

For more info on and pictures of Kyoto, check out my friend's blog post in which she explains in detail her full-day itinerary in Kyoto.


See: What else I've written about Japan.

Last Updated: 2023-03-01