Kyoto
What to See & Do
Fushimi Inari-Taisha: Orange shrine gates, try to go early in the morning otherwise it is super crowded
Kiyomizu-dera: Worth it to go there then head down to Gion, super touristy Buddhist temple overlooking basin of Kyoto
Ginkaku-ji: Another beautiful Zen temple surrounded by body of water and nature
Tenryu-ji: Has one of the most beautiful gardens, one of my favorite temples to visit
Kinkaku-ji: The famous golden pavilion
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: Pathway surrounded by bamboo
Okochi Sanso: Lavish estate of famous samurai actor, beautiful gardens and amazing views, right after the bamboo grove
Ryoan- ji: Famous zen garden with rocks
Kyoto Imperial Palace: Beautiful grounds with great history, get the audio tour
Gion (Neighborhood): Kyoto’s famous geisha district filled with shops, restaurants, and ochaya (teahouses), super fun to walk around
Camelia Tea Ceremony: Watch a performance of a traditional, shortened tea ceremony
Forever Museum of Contemporary Art: Museum in Gion, when I went they had an amazing Kusama exhibit
Arashiyama (Neighborhood): Filled with temples and shrines, but feels a bit more authentic than Gion, super nice to walk around the river
Restaurants
Nishiki Market: My favorite place for lunch, you can walk through the market and sample sushi, yakitori, sweets, etc…
Sushi Iwa: Amazing sushi restaurant, omakase or a la carte, the chef is super fun and cool
Honke Owariya: This restaurant was established in 1465, the soba and udon are delicious
Shoraian: Hands down one of my favorite meals in Japan, amazing kaiseki tofu restaurant overlooking the river in Arashiyama, must go!