KYOTO TRAVEL GUIDE

We visited Kyoto first and then circled back to Tokyo after.  There are a couple of places I recommend for your stay in Kyoto.  One is the hotel Seiryu and the other is the Maana Homes. We stayed at the Hotel Seiryu for a few days and it had ample room to maneuver with the kiddos.  We also had a massive terrace with a great view of the pagoda.  We then switched hotels to Maana Homes which had less of a hotel vibe and felt much more like a home.  We enjoyed both places.

THINGS TO DO

Kyoto had lots of great things to see and do.  Fushimi Inari shrine is a great place to start.  In order to beat the crowds, get there early, especially if you want some good photos.  The Kiyomizu Temple and Kiyomizu Dera area are also fun to explore.  The Yasaka Pagoda is beyond impressive and is the last remaining structure of the 6th century.  It was great seeing it in the early morning as it was such a different vibe before it became too crowded.  A quick stop at the Yasaka Koshindo Temple to see all the vibrant colors is nice.  The Ryozen Kannon Temple also goes on my list. 

The Gion district is a great area to walk about in Kyoto. There is plenty to do there.  The Entokuln is a small temple in the area where you can take tea, walk around their gardens and meditate.  The Bamboo Forest is definitely a must see.  The Forest itself is the highlight but give yourself plenty of time to explore the surrounding Arashiyama area which is beautiful and packed with things to see and do.  I suggest walking all the way to the Togetsukyo Bridge and exploring along the way. 

OUR EATS

There were several awesome places to eat.  If you love Ramen I recommend trying Kyoto Ramen (The yuzu flavored bowl is great).  A can't miss is the Nishiki Market and coffee at Here Kyoto Kiyomizu.  Rutubo is a great family friendly restaurant with such a good vibe.  Their menu has a lot of variety and everything is tasty.  Lastly, the Maana Homes Cafe is great for breakfast. 

If you’re looking for experiential videos of my trip, please visit my Instagram Highlights named Kyoto.