How long you spent in Kyoto?

[Travelfun]

And what did you see and like the most?

We set aside two days for Kyoto but only ended up spending one there.

Overall, Kyoto wasn’t really for me. I loved Kiyomizudera. It’s one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever been, but I far preferred Nara and Kamakura to Kyoto for general atmosphere. Fushimi Inari was insanely crowded when we were there. Our pictures look great but it was not an enjoyable experience in person. Gion was just not for me and the behaviour of the Geisha paparazzi made me really uncomfortable. A lot of the maiko are just teenage girls and people treat them like animals in a zoo. We were there in cherry blossom season though, so it may be a very different experience at a less busy time of year.

We’re going back to Japan next year and are going to skip Kyoto entirely. We’re going to go to Uji for a day and also plan to see Wakayama prefecture, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Iwakuni, Kawagoe, Kurashiki, Onomichi and Himeji Castle. Our trip this year taught us that our favourite days were the ones we spent outside of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. We still plan to stay in cities (Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima) but plan to use them as bases for exploring the surrounding regions.

However, everyone is different. I think a lot of people find the idea of skipping Kyoto unthinkable, particularly if Japan is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

We were in Kyoto for three days and thought it was a good amount of time to spend. Kyoto was really overcrowded when we went as well, especially Kiyomizudera. We went to Nara very early and enjoyed it as it was not crowded.
Fushimi inari was crowded too but the crowd drops off when you climb up the mountain.

We did early morning bike ride in Kyoto and could cover a lot of areas and visit some places that are not usually visited by the tourists.
We went to Gion early in the morning when it was peaceful and have pictures with literally no one on the streets there. I heard such horrible stories involving the tourists' treatment of Geishas.

I would go to some lesser known temples if you can, that's what we did when we were riding through the streets of Kyoto. We all enjoyed this a lot.

I would choose the temples you want to visit and go to them as early as possible.

I loved Senso ji temple in Tokyo so much that I visited the temple 4 or 5 times early in the mornings to pray and loved the peace and tranquillity of the place. The place was heaving after 9:30/10:00 am and the atmosphere was completely different!

Depends when you go.

Cherry blossom season is always busy. I was there most recently in October and it was fairly quiet.

Kyoto is a good place to stay and visit outside areas too, like Nara.

If you go in a quiet season, the bamboo grove is beautiful, less so when it's busy.

Thank you all.

I am not sure what I was expecting in Kyoto but feel like is not what I thought. Loved Tokyo.

We used it as a base to go to Iroshima and Migayima one day; another day to Fushimi Inara and Nara. I enjoyed both. But Kyoto itself is not what I thought.

I went in early January - cold but blue skies. We stayed for six nights and I loved it. It was after the new year travel, so not busy at all. We had most temples to ourselves pretty much. Gion was empty. If part of a bigger trip and depending on time of year, I think 3 or 4 nights would be great. We also went up into the mountains to an Onsen.

It is not very busy as we came in summer so that’s not problem. The city is ok and have been a good base to explore the other areas; perhaps is different if you see the blossoms but is it worth the crowds that time of the year?

We have loved the trip to Japan but I think I have a different picture in my head of Kyoto; nothing wrong with the city but not what i thought it was going to be

What did you like of Kiyomizudera? Was it the temple or the area? We went quite late so everything was closed and the lights in the temple were not on. We read the view at night is very nice so went in the evening.

We have a bit more time on the last day, trying to decide what to do: I can of feel like I am missing something. Shall we :

Go to Kiyomizudera during the day?
Bamboo forest? We have not done it
The food market
Samurai museum?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I lived in Japan for a year - so perhaps I had different expectations.

credit for these ideas to Dr.S on TA

Nijo castle (very early)
www.japan.travel/en/spot/1165/

Nishiki Market
www.japan.travel/en/spot/1174/

Samurai Ninja museum
mai-ko.com/samurai/

Pontocho (in evening)
www.japan.travel/en/spot/79/

Eikando (Zenrinji Temple)
www.japan.travel/en/spot/1172/

We loved the daytime view. We were there on a misty day and it was just super beautiful. The temple itself was fine but the walk around the surrounding trails was what I really loved.

Overall, I think I felt the same way about Kyoto that you have. It was nice enough but I could take it or leave it. If you’re not really feeling Kyoto what about getting out of the city to somewhere like Uji? Or if you preferred the bustle of Tokyo then a day in Osaka might be fun if you’ve not been there. I really liked Shinsekai. It’s touristy, but totally bonkers and like nowhere else I’ve ever been.

We spent two nights there.

We visited the Fushimi Inari gates at sunset & it was amazing & apparently much less crowded than the day time, we climbed up to the viewing point over the city about 20 mins from actual top.

We visited & enjoyed quite a few different historic sites including Kyoto imperial palace and Nijo-Jo Castle
kyoto.travel/en/historic-sites/175.html

& walked to the a temple at the gion district again at sunset which was lovely.

We also visited the Bamboo forest & saw a big festival with floats etc

We enjoyed two days there, getting around was easy & glad we went. I am sure we only touched the surface, but so many other places to visit if I went back would include a different stop.