5 Things To Do on a Day Trip to Kyoto From Osaka
Our visit to Kyoto was only a day trip from Osaka, but we have covered most of the popular tourist destinations to tick off. If you're planning to squeeze in a short Kyoto tour (which I HIGHLY recommend), then I suggest taking note of this list I am about to share!
1. Visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine
Aahhh. Memoirs of a Geisha feels! (You'll get this if you've seen this movie). You cannot miss the most visited shrine in Kyoto, the Fushimi Inari Shrine, with an overlong pathway of thousands of traditional torii gates lined up. I recommend heading there early in the morning to beat the crowds, and follow the thousands of torii gates up to the top of the mountain.
Entrance is free.
2. Walk through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Another popular place to head to is the natural bamboo forest in Arashiyama. Just like Fushimi, it gets super jampacked in here, but still worth a visit despite the crowds.
3. Explore the grounds of the Golden Pavilion
The most serene temple we have visited is the Kinkaku-ji, or otherwise known as the Golden Pavilion, an iconic gold-colored temple that sits in the middle of the temple grounds. We were a little bit early for the autumn season, but if you are able to pay a visit during the peak of fall, then you'll get to witness the golden temple being surrounded by majestic autumn trees in red, orange, and yellow leaves. That would truly be an amazing sight!Entrance fee: 400 yen (around PHP 200)
4. Walk around the Gion District while wearing a Kimono
To experience an old Japan vibe, you must explore the Gion District of Kyoto, known as the old entertainment hub in Kyoto. This is the best place to rent and wear kimonos while exploring, to fully expose and immerse yourself to the Japanese culture. I tell you, this experience will be high up on your list of favorite moments in Japan.
Do not forget to take photos of the iconic Hokanji Temple in Gion! By the way, if you're lucky, you may even spot a geisha walking around here :D
5. Eat and eat. Because duh.
Kyoto is known for producing the best matcha in Japan, so it is a must to have matcha treats when you are there. You'll also need the caffeine to stay awake and stay energized!
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| Matcha ice cream and Matcha Soba |
And the best way to end your Kyoto tour is to devour the best meat you will ever taste in your whole life (I kid you not!), Wagyu beef!!! We had Kobe beef for dinner and it was seriously the best meal I had in Kyoto. The meat just bursts in amazing flavors and melts in your mouth literally!
There are obviously more places to explore and things you can try in Kyoto, but this list would definitely help you plan out your tour, especially if you're only exploring it for a day just like us.
I also created this very short 1-minute video of Kyoto. Enjoy!
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