1. Join the ranks of the elite Ninja
Step into the historic past and into the shoes of a gallant samurai and an elusive ninja at the Samurai and Ninja Museum. The interactive and experiential museum is a perfect adventure for families as you can try your hand at Samurai swordsmanship. Don the armour of a samurai with the traditional hakama, pick any of the replica swords and learn the ways of the ancient Japanese katana straight from the masters. You can also join the ranks of the Ninja and train to become a mysterious spy. Kids can participate in fun competitions like throwing Ninja stars. The museum also has original weapons, costumes and artefacts on display and the guided tours will give you a peek into the legendary stories around the Samurais and Ninjas. It is better to book tickets in advance or online during the peak season.
2. Lose yourself in the magical Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Mystical and magical, the towering stalks of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove draw droves of outdoor enthusiasts to the neighbourhood of Arashiyama (Storm Mountain) located on the outskirts of Kyoto. It feels a bit ethereal as the sunlight filters through the dense canopy in this Instagrammable spot as tourists head on a rickshaw ride along the bamboo alley.
3. Test your love fortune
Quirky and quaint, some of the traditions here are unique and endearing like testing your love fortune around the Koiuranai-no-ishi or the love stones. Kyoto’s charm has both locals and tourists beelining to the Jishu-Jinja Shrine located behind the Kiyomizu-dera temple to seek their luck at matchmaking and romance.
The Cupid of Japan is Okuninushi no Mikoto and he is known to be gentle and sympathetic and will help you find love. And all that you need to do is to walk with your eyes closed around a pair of love stones that are set about ten metres apart from each other. And lo, you will find love around the corner if you succeed.
If you do take someone’s help in navigating your way, you might still be successful in romance but you are going to need some divine help. Head to the waterfall which is located just below the main hall of the shrine. The spring waters flow into three different streams and you need to drink a cup of water from the one that is marked Love. And your romantic life will be bliss. Don’t forget to buy the charms as well to improve your relationships.
4. Seek zen in the iconic temples
With over a century of history as the Imperial Capital, Kyoto is a time capsule and it is difficult to choose just one temple. However, you must visit the two iconic ones – Kinkaku-ji, the dazzling Golden Pavilion and the Ginkaku-ji, the demure Silver Pavilion. Start your day early to avoid the crowd at Kinkaku-ji and you will find yourself mesmerised by the reflection of the golden-tiered temple in the lake, set amidst a canopy of pine trees. Ginkaku-ji is known for its beautiful gardens and do not miss the trail behind the temple along the moss garden with bridges and islets that showcases some of the beautiful views.
However, if you are feeling a little “templed out” with the bustling crowd, then we would recommend a visit to the walled Daitoku-ji temple complex, an oasis of calm, dotted with 22 shrines set amidst spectacular rock gardens and tree canopies. While only four temples are open regularly, take time out to meditate and lose yourself in the verdant greenery. Each garden is symbolic and the whirling and wave patterns, the rocks and ripples and the circles and pinnacles represent different levels of consciousness as they initiate you into Zen.
5. Get charmed by a romantic train journey
Nothing spells good old-fashioned romance than a charming train journey that chugs and puffs along the mountains and forests. Get on board the Sagano Romantic Train (Sagano Torokko) that takes you along the Hozugawa River between Arashiyama and Kameoka. The train meanders slowly along the 7 km, 25-minute journey where you can see some of the most breathtaking views that change according to the season, from cherry blossoms in spring to maple leaves in autumn. Buy your tickets at the Saga – Arashiyama station and opt for the open car where you can enjoy the scenic views of the ravine. Don’t forget to buy a combined ticket for the Hozugawa River Cruise which you can enjoy on the way back
6. Hike to the summit of Fushimi Inari Taisha
A colonnade of eye-popping vermillion gates or torii spread across a wooded mountain, surrounded by shrines and sculptures of foxes make Fushimi Inari Taisha one of the most spectacular shrines in Kyoto. And if you are in the mood for adventure, then you must explore the shrine on foot. The hike to the summit of Mt Inari San at 233 metres may seem easy but the distance of about 5 km can take over three hours or more.
7. Try Traditional cuisine at Pontocho Alley
Enjoy the magical glow of Kyoto at night with the illuminated temples and shrines. Visit the Geisha district of Gion for a night tour and then head to the adjacent Portocho Alley for some authentic Japanese cuisine. Lit by red lanterns, the cobblestoned alley lends an old-world charm but is bustling with exclusive bars and premium restaurants where you might catch a glimpse of a maiko or even a geisha. Tea houses jostle for space with traditional restaurants and sake bars. Head east towards the Kamogawa River where terrace seats are set up during summer, overlooking the waters. You may need reservations for the fine dining options but you can walk into any of the local eateries and bars.
Enjoy your evening with sake and try the local yakiniku and yakitori – grilled meat and skewered chicken for starters. Beef cutlet with different sauces is another speciality from the casual dining restaurants here. Ukiya Pontocho serves the famed handmade soba (buckwheat) noodles while you can enjoy a full-course traditional Kaiseki dinner overlooking the river at Nagame Pontocho Hana with some locally brewed sake. If you are still hungry then try the Okonomiyaki, a Japanese savoury pancake at Yasubei Pontocho.
8. Soak in the warmth of an onsen
With snow-laced mountains and temples wrapped in a mystical wonderland, winters create picture-perfect postcards in Kyoto. But the best way to appreciate the winters is to find the closest onsen or hot spring baths or immerse yourself in a sento or public bath which uses hot spring waters. While most of the onsens are slightly further away from Kyoto Downtown, you can head to the old Funaoka Onsen which is actually a Sento. They have a variety of baths – wooden baths, herbal baths, giant baths and even an extra hot bath and an electric bath beside a sauna. If you are looking for an onsen, then head to Tenzan-no-yu onsen near Arashiyama where there are different spacious baths and sauna too and the spring water has been drilled 1200 metres below the city.
9. Watch a traditional artist at work
Head to the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design to see displays of century-old arts and crafts from paper lanterns to bamboo flutes to different types of fans. Over 70 artists and craftsmen and women conduct live demonstrations and workshops as well. Lose yourself in the flower arrangements, learn more about traditional textiles, and admire baskets, woodwork and metalwork. You can even learn a professional skill or observe artists at work here. Entry to the museum is free and it is located very close to the Okazaki Museum district where you can also see Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art and Museum of Modern Art as well. You can even visit the Heian-Jingu Shrine which one cannot miss with its massive vermillion torii or gate.
