Hotel. 

We stayed in the city center at Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo and booked it via Booking.com. The hotel was so spacious and they even dropped our luggage off in our room since we dropped it off before check in time. The location was central to the sites we were visiting and it was surrounded by covered markets. Food and shopping were conveniently close, there was even a lobby door that connected to the 7/11.  If you need one, stay here!!! The location and price were prime. From here we got our first day officially started. 

East Side of Kyoto.

Fushimi Inari .

Pictured below is an iconic spot that you have probably see before. These large red shrine gates are commonly photographed and well known in Kyoto. If you want that perfect instagram shot you either have to be early to the temple or be patient. It gets really packed and has a constant flow of foot traffic.

The transportation to here from the city center can be found in the above paragraphs in the train section. 

On the grounds we got to experience a group preforming Kendo, which is a traditional Japanese martial arts sport. Not sure if this is a daily demonstration, but if they have a schedule it is worth watching for some time. A great opportunity to emerge yourself in Japanese culture.

The grounds of this temple are expensive beyond the main area and the large shrine gates. Past the large gates there are smaller more condensed shrine gate paths that are cool to walk under. The path splits in two and it felt as if you were talking through a red tunnel. 

If you want to keep walking, there is an additional path that moves up the hill. This path contains additional shrine gates and is a less crowded options.

Gion.

After taking the train back up to the Sanjo Station we went to Gion, the geisha district. I loved how quaint and peaceful this area looked. It’s right along the small stream that runs to the main river. This area is historically known for geishas and is lined with teahouses. 

Here you will find the Gion Tatsumi Bridge, this little stone bridge famous in the Gion neighborhood. 

Chion-in.

From here we walked east, up a hill to our next spot. On the east side of the river there are many temple sites, some free and some with entrance fees. You will also find that sometimes the gardens are free, but the interior views are not. This spot is a first example of a partially paid and partially free attraction.

Chion-in is the name of the whole area and it is set on a section of a steep hill. If you map it out it will lead you to one of its building, but there is so many more pieces behind that building and up the hill. The path leads up to the main Miedo Hall via stairs. If you do not want to pay Amidad Hall is one you can enter for free. 

Yasaka Shrine.

First I must note this was one of my favorite shrines. The center building is lined with small lanterns, the way they swayed in the wind was majestic. These lanterns are surrounded by red and white temple structures. The attention to detail at Yasaka Shrine was incredible and so inspiring. 

Kenninji Temple.

Another favorite spot of mine is one that is worth the money. It is funny because we debated on if we wanted to go inside this one and pay the ¥500. There were so many temples that required payment for entry and we wanted to make sure we were paying for ones that were actually worth it. This one has my stamp of approval! 

This is a zen temple; you will remove your shoes upon entry. You can walk the halls and see the gardens. We loved seeing the gorgeous dragon painting in the Dharma Hall. To see this portion of the temple you must wear little red slippers, this experience made it worth the money.

West Side of Kyoto. 

Nishiki Market.

Located in the downtown area, and close to our hotel this market was our next stop. Here you can find a covered street with shops and tons of street food vendors. I loved the colorful glass roof.

I tried Takoyaki at one of the shops (More info in food section). Warning, this area smells like seafood so if you aren’t a fan of that smell, beware. 

After this we headed back to the hotel to finally see our room and to cool down. We finished up our first night in Kyoto eating ramen.

Day 2. 

We got our day started early, because we wanted to beat any crowds to the first stop. This was the morning we were also supposed to buy a bus pass. We ended up purchasing one at a Family Mart. This was after we made the mistake of boarding a bus and asking the bus driver if we could buy a pass on board, which you can’t do this as mentioned in the bus section.

Kiyomizu-dera 

Another one of the classic photo stops from Kyoto, this temple is one you want to stop at. The cost is ¥400 which allows you access into main hall and the ability to walk around the temple grounds. There are a few pieces outside of the paid area you can visit and photograph, including this pagoda. 

Unfortunately, the main hall was under construction during our visit. If you pay to go through you can normally get a gorgeous picture of the hall and the city. 

Yasaka Pagoda / Starbucks.

As you make your way back down the hill on foot steer your path to the Starbucks. When in Tokyo some locals recommended we visit this one because the architecture is a traditional Japanese style. They had so many of the rooms with washitsu style where the floors are covered in tatami mats and you must remove shoes before entering to sit on the floor.

One thing I loved about Starbucks in Japan was how they had different unique flavors. We got an apple frappe and mango tea. 

On the way down to the Starbuck you will get a gorgeous view of the Yasaka Pagoda. 

On the walk down the architecture and shops will give you a very historic feel. You can feel the history of this former capital of Japan. In the morning most of the shops are closed and it is so still, but as the day goes on people begin to fill the streets and shop owners open their doors. 

Kinkaku-ji 

We hopped on a bus close to the river and headed farther west in Kyoto. We made a few stops over here, starting with the golden temple. Kinkaku-ji, aka the Golden Pavilion, is a zen temple that is covered in gold leaf. My favorite part about this temple was how the gold reflected on the pond, it was so beautiful. The cost is ¥400. You can also walk around the garden paths on the property. 

Ryoanji Temple

We boarded the bus again and went a few stops away to a temple with a rock garden. This is not just any rock garden, it is one of the most famous in Japan. 

On the grounds there is a large pond you can take a stroll around, it is a peaceful area and was not very busy when we went. The cost of entering this temple to view the rock garden was ¥500. In my opinion I could have skipped this temple. Since it is so famous we decided we should stop in. If you are on a budget and all the stops are adding up this is one I think you can skip. 

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. 

One more bus ride away was the thing I really wanted to see, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest! This was that instagramable location that I have seen many pictures of. Crowds were really walking around in this popular spot. If you want the perfect photo I would recommend stopping here earlier.

Nijo Castle.