Yoshiminedera (吉峰寺) is a Japanese Buddhist temple in Kyoto’s southwestern mountains, comparable to Kiyomizudera or Kuramadera. That’s high praise considering their quality, but this is one of Kyoto’s crown jewels, which is also one of its best “hidden” gems. In this post, we offer info on getting to this off-the-beaten path temple, details about its […]
As promised in our Top 10 Favorite Experiences in Japan (So Far), we are back with a travel bucket list for the country. While we’ve made several trips to Japan and visited most major cities, we have yet to experience the far reaches of Japan. We’ve also yet to eat everything, attend every major festival, see […]
Our 1-day Northern Kyoto Itinerary features temples, an imperial villa, hiking, an onsen in the mountains, a scenic railway journey, and more. This touring plan offers strategy for efficiently having a jam-packed day, and a step by step plan of attack for Northern Kyoto that will be almost entirely crowd-free. I was going to title […]
Kokedera, also known as Saihoji, also known as the Moss Temple, is one of the most spectacular places in Kyoto, Japan. It’s one of the most difficult to access UNESCO World Heritage Sites, not because of remote location, but because of a cumbersome mail-only reservation process. Finally, it has gained some recognition as being Steve Jobs […]
Fushimi Inari Taisha is popular for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which draw more tourists than any other temple or shrine in Kyoto, Japan. However, if you go off the beaten path, you can find a secret bamboo forest that rivals the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and without any crowds. In this post, we’ll share photos […]
Chion-in (知恩院) is a large, free temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama area. It is one of the most popular Jodo Buddhist temples in Japan. In this post, I’ll share photos from Chion-in (including of its ongoing construction), history, info & tips for visiting, and thoughts on the current experience at Chion-in Temple. The free grounds at […]
Our ideal 1-Day Eastern Kyoto Itinerary offers a touring plan for stops along the Higashiyama Mountains, spanning from Silver Pavilion to Kiyomizudera, and beyond. Our plan of attack emphasizes efficiency while also slowing down to appreciate the majesty of Kyoto, and walking through some of the city’s most charming and historic districts. We wanted to […]
This post offers a step-by-step itinerary for Central Kyoto, with advice on transportation between temples, museums, and other points of interest recommended in this Japan touring plan. If you’re visiting for 3 or more days, you should dedicate the third day of your itinerary to Downtown and Central Kyoto. In a way, you can think […]
Otagi Nenbutsu-ji is a temple in Arashiyama with a collection of 1,200 Rakan Buddhist statues. It’s one of Kyoto, Japan’s most unique and, frankly, bizarre temples. In this post, we cover whether this off-the-beaten path temple is worth your time, details about its fascinating history, and also offer some tips for visiting. Honestly, I’m still […]
Daikaku-ji (大覚寺) is a partially-free temple complex near Kyoto, Japan’s Sagano and Arashiyama districts. In this post, we’ll share photos of the temple, thoughts on our visit, tips & info for visiting, and whether it makes sense to simply experience the free areas or splurge to enter the paid buildings. In terms of those buildings and […]