Kyoto and Osaka Guide
Nov 9th, 2023
•
229 views
I'm living in the Kansai region for a school placement, but I travel to Kyoto and Osaka often for weekends. This is how I spent my days in these cities/surrounding areas. I am updating as I go!
What I learned
- Attractions and stores usually open around 9/10 am. Hitting the most popular attractions first thing in the morning and not on weekends will make the trip much more relaxing.
- Go to a Japanese bakery. Any of them. They know what they're doing.
- Cheapest meals - conbini or grocery stores (esp after 6 pm when things get discounted)
- Google ratings - Japanese people are tough raters. Anything 3.5+ is worth trying imo. 4+ is likely going to be pretty great. But also, it's Japan - so food anywhere is going to be good.
Day 1
Kyoto (Teramachi area)
Shopping day in Kyoto
1
Tsurukame
Restaurant
Tsukemen and ramen shop. < 1000 yen per bowl unless you get large size. I only ate a small tsukemen and was super full. Absolutely delicious though! Small shop seating around 8 ppl. No English menu posted but the server speaks English.
3 min · 0.13 mi
2
ＴＥＲＡＭＡＣＨＩ人参倶楽部
Building
Lots of shopping in this market and surrounding streets. Thrifter's dream come true because there are a ton of vintage/second-hand stores. Important to know that Japanese "vintage" is often just used American brands eg JAM (not worth imo). If you want vintage luxury, 2nd street might be better.
3 min · 0.16 mi
3
Three Star Kyoto
Used clothing store
The second hand clothing store I personally liked the most. Wide selection, lots of different styles, not just american brands.
6 min · 2.0 mi
4
Porta Yorimichi-Square
Wi-Fi spot
Follow the signs to Porta Dining for a bunch of food options near Kyoto station.
Or honestly exploring Kyoto station for food and shopping is a whole mission itself.
Plan a trip just like this one
Your itinerary and your map, in one view. Build, organize, and map out your next best trip.
Day 2
Osaka
Shopping day in Osaka
1
Dotombori Niku-gekijo
affordable
Yakiniku restaurant
Dining for introverts. Order via vending machine and eat at your own booth. The meat is grilled, which makes the whole dish nice and smoky. I'd recommend going before 12 pm bc it can get busy and while it's good/cheap, it's not worth an hour wait.
10 min · 0.54 mi
2
Namba Parks
Shopping mall
Shopping
High end shopping
5 min · 0.27 mi
3
Namba City Main Building
Shopping mall
Shopping
Namba Parks' more affordable neighbour. Think Uniqlo, GU, Muji
15 min · 0.77 mi
4
Dotonbori
Don' t be like me and go on a weekend if possible or else it'll be hella busy. But SO MUCH FOOD. Like 5 stalls in a row selling takoyaki.
Day 3
Arashiyama -> Toji Temple
1
Togetsu-kyo Bridge
Bridge
Beautiful when empty, very slow when busy.
3 min · 0.16 mi
2
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
Animal park
Outdoor Activities
I had so much fun watching and feeding the monkeys. 600 yen entrance fee and 50 yen for a small bag of food for the monkeys. Park itself is not super big but I still spent almost an hour just taking pictures of the monkeys. Be warned though - there is a hike up to the park
16 min · 0.84 mi
3
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Park
Sights & Landmarks
Very busy. See Tenryu-ji for alternative photo-op.
8 min · 4.4 mi
4
Katsura River
River
Many food stalls and restaurants along the river. Much less congested compared to the main street in Arashiyama
8 min · 4.2 mi
5
Tenryu-ji
Buddhist temple
Sights & Landmarks
Sacred & Religious Sites
Two types of tickets: temple + garden (800 yen) or garden only (500 yen). Temple gets you into the building itself. I persaonlly only really wanted to see the garden. It's right next to the bamboo grove, so you can actually get a taste of the grove without the crowds.
6 min · 0.30 mi
6
Kimono Forest, Arashiyama Station
Exhibit
Sights & Landmarks
From the web: Train-stop art installation with 600 backlit pillars adorned with vibrant kimono textiles.
5 min · 0.26 mi
7
Saga Tofu Sanchu
cheap
Tofu restaurant
Yutofu (boiled tofu) is an Arashiyama specialty. Supposed to be extra silky. 600 yen for a block of tofu so see if you think it's worth.
12 min · 6.2 mi
8
ＳＯＵ・ＳＯＵ 足袋
Building
A Kyoto-based brand that specializes in using traditional Japanese clothing techniques and making it modern (think modern kimono). There are a series of 9 shops that each focus on one specialty (e.g. men's, women's, shoes, etc). The quality of the cloth used in their products is actually so good.
8 min · 2.9 mi
9
Tō-ji Temple
Buddhist temple
Sights & Landmarks
Sacred & Religious Sites
I visited at night for the illumination event (Nov 1 to Dec 10, 2023). Starts at 6 pm. For 1000 yen, you get entrance to the gardens and two of the temples (not the big pagoda). You'll get stunning pictures as the leaves continue to turn redder and reflect off the water.
Day 4
Fushimi Ward
Fushimi is THE sake neighbourhood, ~ 15 mins train ride away from Fushimi Inari. Came to this region for the Fushimi Yokai Sake Festival (Nov 4-5, 2023). The festival included an artisan market at a shrine and a parade where people dressed up as yokai (demons/monsters). Also had a bar hop event where after buying a ticket, you can go to various restaruants and get a small dish + drink for 1000 yen. I'll list the restaurants I went to here.
1
Gokōnomiya Shrine
Shinto shrine
Sights & Landmarks
Sacred & Religious Sites
Over 1000 years old. Has a spring water fountain that you can drink from. Sometime they hold events here like the aforementioned Yokai Sake Festival but also things like theatre events.
10 min · 0.51 mi
2
Ideno
Japanese restaurant
Tried their assorted tempura and I thought it was pretty great! I think they specialize in doing seasonal foods. Check it out, I believe they have omakase starting 4 500 yen. The restaurant gives off a very traditional feeling, with 2 floors and featuring the paper sliding doors.
< 1 min · 0 ft
3
Pork Steak & Café Bal Balk
Steak house
I tried their seared black haired wagyu and it was so beefy and fatty! I think their normal beef menu is actually a really reasonable price (less than 2 000 yen). Didn't get a chance to try their pork but it's in their name so should be pretty good as well, right? Cozy bar vibes. They fill your sake cup till literally overflowing.
8 min · 0.40 mi
4
Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum
Museum
Technology museum
Specialty Museums
600 yen entrance fee gets you entry into the museum (learn how sake is made), a souvenir sake cup, and sake tasting (choice of 3 sakes). Value if you ask me. They have a limited number of tickets a day though. When I went, the last round of tickets were passed out around 2 pm (but also festival day so take with grain of salt).
7 min · 0.37 mi
5
Jikkokubune Canal Cruise
Yakatabune
I didn't go on the cruise but hung around the river while waiting to get into the sake museum. Cute river.
9 min · 0.46 mi
6
Shioriya
affordable
Izakaya restaurant
Classy izakaya bar. Don't mind the Google rating - the food was amazing and super creative here. I had their MA/SU set that included salmon, tuna, roasted pork, potato salad, rice, tamago, etc. Looks like they have a bunch of locations around Kyoto too. Lemme tell you - the locals were LINING UP for this place.
5 min · 0.27 mi
7
Nishiki Warai
affordable
Okonomiyaki restaurant
Teppanyaki restaurant
Okonomiyaki/teppanyaki restaurant. I had the waraiyaki (speical type of okonomiyaki - fried noodles wrapped with thin omelet) and kujo green onion manju. Pretty cool experience where the servers will put your okonomiyaki on the griddle on your table. They serve their sake in this bowl, which you then pour into your cup.
I definitely think that this area is under appreciated. It's a great way to get away from the crowds in more touristy areas of Kyoto and try some hidden gems of restaurants/bars.
Day 5
Chill Sunday in Kyoto
1
MUSTARD SEED クリスチャン教会 京都
Christian church
If you wanted to check out church in Kyoto, I really enjoyed service here. Service is bilingual (Japanese with English translation or vice versa). Musical worship alternates languages, but they have the romanji of the Japanese lyrics on the screen so you can sing along. Personally, felt really comforted to worship with familiar songs but in a different language.
6 min · 0.28 mi
2
Shijo-ohashi Bridge
Bridge
Grabbed lunch from a grocery store and ate it by the Kamo river. Saw a ton of locals doing the same. Would be a nice place to enjoy a conbini lunch since conbinis in congested areas don't always allow you to eat in store.
6 min · 2.0 mi
3
Yakiniku Hiro (Hachijoguchi Store)
affordable
Yakiniku restaurant
Where I wanted to eat. Apparently there is this 2 person wagyu beef set for 55 000 yen, but didn't/couldn't reserve online and next available timeslot was at 9:30 pm lol. Someone I met on this trip recommended this place to me - she thought it was so good she went back a second time.
10 min · 0.49 mi
4
Mimikou - Kyoto Porta
affordable
Udon noodle restaurant
Where I went instead. Curry udon place near Kyoto station. Pork katsu curry udon had katsu that was fried excellently and curry soup that was flavourful and thick. Udon was on the softer side but I heard that's the Kyoto way of doing udon. I enjoyed it.
Day 6
Uji -> Kyoto
1
Kyotokimonorentaru Aiwafuku Kyotoekimaeten
Costume rental service
Kimono rental - 5500 yen includes staff helping you wear the kimono and hair services. Additional cost for returns after 4:30 pm. Discount for students!
19 min · 9.2 mi
2
Renge Chaya
affordable
Restaurant
Soba noodle shop
I came on a hot day so really wanted some cold soba. They love to do green tea foods in Uji so I got cha soba (green tea soba, but tbh tastes pretty similar to regular soba). My set also came with tempura, which you dip in matcha salt instead of the regular sweet soy sauce. Super refreshing meal.
Other matcha inspired food I saw but did not try - matcha takoyaki and matcha gyoza.
3
Byodo-in
Buddhist temple
Sights & Landmarks
The temple that's on the 10 yen coin. Pretty gardens surrounding the temple. 600 yen entrance fee, which includes entrance to their museum.
9 min · 0.45 mi
4
Nakamura Tokichi Honten 中村藤吉本店
Tea store
Cafe
Dessert restaurant
Matcha drinks and desserts. I REALLY enjoyed their matcha float. The tea flavour really comes through. Also by the river so very scenic too.
7 min · 0.37 mi
5
Uji Bridge
Bridge
Picturesque.
17 min · 7.4 mi
6
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Shinto shrine
Sights & Landmarks
LOL just went to the entrance of the gates to take pictures and then left. Busy place.
30 min · 1.6 mi
7
Tsujiya Kyotoekihachijoguchiten
affordable
Yakitori restaurant
Yakitori restaurant near Kyoto station. Order via tablet (English is available but not everything is translated). Most skewers between 200-400 yen. Definitely a fun and yummy experience.
They have a sister restaurant a few units down (Yakitori Tsujiya) that does both yakitori and oden.
Planning a trip to Kyoto? Try our free trip planner!
See your itinerary and your map in one view: no more switching between different apps to keep track of your travel plans.
Add places from guides with 1 click
Collaborate with friends in real time
Import flight and hotel reservations
Expense tracking and splitting
Checklists for anything
Get personalized suggestions