Kyoto’s Travel Gems
Kyoto is my absolute favorite city in Japan. After many trips, I’ve assembled this guide with my favorites including: 🍜The best bowl of ramen 🍩 Crème brûlée donuts 🥂Great cocktail bars 🍵 A geisha experience 🛏️The dreamiest hotel ⛩️And more
16 Places • 10 Saves • ago
Free

Stay

A luxurious and affordable hotel with onsen in the heart of Kyoto’s Gion district. The rooms are beautiful and there’s an amazing bath. Great access to Pontocho too!

KYOTO GRANBELL HOTEL
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Eat

Breakfast

A perfect starting point for the day, enjoy Starbucks in a traditional Taisho era tea house.

Starbucks Coffee - Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya
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Lunch

BEAUTIFUL and delicious tempura! The sweet corn tempura is to die for!

Tempura Endo Yasaka (West)
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Stunning cocktails and phenomenal food, particularly great for lunch!

Brasserie
@lizasautter
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Dinner

A great beef kaiseki experience. A little in the pricey side but worth the splurge.

京やきにく 弘 八坂邸
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The best ramen I’ve had in Japan, plus a burnt tip BBQ bowl 🤤A little out of the way but so worth the stop.

Yoshiharu
@lizasautter
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Dessert

Right next door to Yoshiharu are crème brûlée donuts that melt in your mouth!

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Experience (In Kyoto)

One of the coolest Japan experiences, after dressing in kimono, enjoy a tea ceremony prepared by maiko or if you’re lucky geisha, including a song and dance performance. Much more affordable than I anticipated, especially with a group. Staff speaks great English too.

Kyoto Geisha Show & Experience GION MAIKOYA
@lizasautter
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A massive Japanese market, perfect for trying tons of Kyoto’s best foods! Also a really cool spot for authentic Japan photos.

Nishiki Market
@lizasautter
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Near Ninenzaka street, this is a great start or end to a tour through the historic area!

Hokan-ji
@lizasautter
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Experience (Near Kyoto)

One of Japan’s most iconic locations, a must visit! Worth going early before the crowds for photo opportunities. While in the area, don’t miss a walk along the River.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
@lizasautter
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Even more beautiful in person, you can’t miss the golden temple.

Kinkaku-ji
@lizasautter
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The 10,000 gates is one of my most favorite experiences in Japan. Similar to the bamboo forest, I’d recommend going early to avoid the crowds.

Fushimi Inari Taisha
@lizasautter
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Bar Crawl

BEE’S KNEES
@lizasautter
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nokishita711 Gin and cocktail labo
@lizasautter
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Bar Rocking chair
@lizasautter
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* * *
CURATED BY
American living abroad in Tokyo! I’ve been lucky enough to travel across Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa and many places in between. I want to share my experience of local culture, food, and sights.
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Kyoto’s Travel Gems
Kyoto is my absolute favorite city in Japan. After many trips, I’ve assembled this guide with my favorites including: 🍜The best bowl of ramen 🍩 Crème brûlée donuts 🥂Great cocktail bars 🍵 A geisha experience 🛏️The dreamiest hotel ⛩️And more
16 Places • 10 Saves • ago
Free

Stay

A luxurious and affordable hotel with onsen in the heart of Kyoto’s Gion district. The rooms are beautiful and there’s an amazing bath. Great access to Pontocho too!

KYOTO GRANBELL HOTEL
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

Eat

Breakfast

A perfect starting point for the day, enjoy Starbucks in a traditional Taisho era tea house.

Starbucks Coffee - Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

Lunch

BEAUTIFUL and delicious tempura! The sweet corn tempura is to die for!

Tempura Endo Yasaka (West)
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

Stunning cocktails and phenomenal food, particularly great for lunch!

Brasserie
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

Dinner

A great beef kaiseki experience. A little in the pricey side but worth the splurge.

京やきにく 弘 八坂邸
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

The best ramen I’ve had in Japan, plus a burnt tip BBQ bowl 🤤A little out of the way but so worth the stop.

Yoshiharu
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

Dessert

Right next door to Yoshiharu are crème brûlée donuts that melt in your mouth!

Add to
Details

Experience (In Kyoto)

One of the coolest Japan experiences, after dressing in kimono, enjoy a tea ceremony prepared by maiko or if you’re lucky geisha, including a song and dance performance. Much more affordable than I anticipated, especially with a group. Staff speaks great English too.

Kyoto Geisha Show & Experience GION MAIKOYA
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

A massive Japanese market, perfect for trying tons of Kyoto’s best foods! Also a really cool spot for authentic Japan photos.

Nishiki Market
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

Near Ninenzaka street, this is a great start or end to a tour through the historic area!

Hokan-ji
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

Experience (Near Kyoto)

One of Japan’s most iconic locations, a must visit! Worth going early before the crowds for photo opportunities. While in the area, don’t miss a walk along the River.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

Even more beautiful in person, you can’t miss the golden temple.

Kinkaku-ji
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

The 10,000 gates is one of my most favorite experiences in Japan. Similar to the bamboo forest, I’d recommend going early to avoid the crowds.

Fushimi Inari Taisha
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

Bar Crawl

BEE’S KNEES
@lizasautter
Add to
Details
nokishita711 Gin and cocktail labo
@lizasautter
Add to
Details
Bar Rocking chair
@lizasautter
Add to
Details

* * *
CURATED BY
American living abroad in Tokyo! I’ve been lucky enough to travel across Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa and many places in between. I want to share my experience of local culture, food, and sights.
Send A Tip
Support Liza Sautter’s work.
Select your tip amount
$5
$10
$20
$50
Or type in other amount
Powered by Thatch
The home for unique & authentic travel
Powered by Thatch: Where great trips are made.
© Liza Sautter Privacy Terms