kocienda · January 29, 2026 15:02
diff --git a/things-to-do-kyoto.txt b/things-to-do-kyoto.txt
 Things To Do In Kyoto

 Machiya Residence Inn
 https://www.kyoto-machiya-inn.com
 These are old-style Japanese houses, refurbished with modern amenities.. Many of them have tatami mats, a kotatsu (a heated table) in the main sitting room, and wooden bath tubs. But again, it is genuinely old-style—shoes off inside, there’s no central heat, there are paper doors throughout, and they’re very small. In my opinion, these are the best place to stay in Kyoto. 

 If you would prefer a hotel rather than a traditional Japanese house, I can recommend the Hotel Granvia. It’s right in Kyoto Station, so you can’t beat the location. The service is excellent. We stayed here many years ago and we were very pleased. Online ratings seem to show that they’ve kept up their standards. 

 Fushimi Inari-taisha (伏見稲荷大社). This shrine has an amazing tunnel of torii gates.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fushimi_Inari-taisha

 Sanjūsangen-dō (三十三間堂). Home of 3000 hand-carved Kannon statues. The guardian statues are also amazing. Unfortunately, no photos allowed inside! Still worth a visit.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjūsangen-dō

 Kinkakuji (金閣寺). It's a temple sheathed in gold. Enough said.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkakuji

 Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺). This is a prime temple-as-tourist attraction. You must see the Ninenzaka/Sannensaka shopping streets while in the neighborhood.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiyomizu-dera
 http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/amusement/downtown/ninenzaka/

 Byōdō-in (平等院). A very pleasant temple in Uji—featured on the back of the ¥10 coin.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byōdō-in

 Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社). Go here for New Year’s eve and day. Right in central Kyoto. A short walk from Teramachi Street (see below). While in the shrine, you’ll probably find Maruyama Park (円山公園), which is also very nice. If you’re in this neighborhood, you must also walk down Hanamikoji Street, which is incredibly quaint, and it’s somewhat likely you’ll see people in traditional dress getting wedding pictures taken. You might also see women who you’ll think are geisha, but they’re not, and that’s a little complicated, but it’s cool to see them anyway. 
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasaka_Shrine
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maruyama_Park
 https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/kansai/kyoto/kanko/837/

 Saihoji (西芳寺). Write out a buddhist sutra with a brush pen before enjoying the nicest Japanese garden I have ever visited. Moss, trees, ponds, the works. You have to keep silent while on the grounds, but that just contributes to concentrating on the beautiful surroundings. Book ahead for an entry time.
 https://saihoji-kokedera.com/en/

 Takashimaya basement (髙島屋). This is a department store right on the corner of Kawaramachi Street and Shijo Street. Go to the basement. There are numerous food stands of every type. Get some food to take away. This is one of my favorite places to eat in Kyoto. Note that it’s considered somewhat uncouth to eat on the street or set up an impromptu picnic in a park—except when it’s perfectly OK, like during cherry blossom viewing season in the spring. Welcome to Japan… it’s confusing. In any case, you may want to take your food back to your lodgings before you dig in.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takashimaya

 The Philosopher's Walk (哲学の道). A wonderful winding path which connects Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺) and Nanzen-ji (南禅寺). Some coffee shops and restaurants are dotted along the way. The two temples on either end are each worth a visit, even separate from the walk.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosopher%27s_Walk
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkaku-ji
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanzen-ji

 Enryaku-ji (延暦寺). Atop Mt. Hiei. Get there by the rope way. Don't take the tourist bus when you get to the top of the mountain. Walk through the forest instead. Take a bus back down to central Kyoto. Look for a Keihan (京阪) bus going to Sanjo-Kawaramachi (三条河原町). When you get off, you're right in the middle of a wonderful shopping area, which includes Teramachi (寺町) street.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enryaku-ji
 http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3911.html (Scroll down for the By Eizan Cablecar and Ropeway directions).

 Heian Shrine (平安神宮). Fantastic Shinto shrine in central Kyoto.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian_Shrine

 Arashiyama. Wonderful scenic location on the western outskirts of Kyoto. Go there for the Iwatayama Monkey Park (嵐山モンキーパーク).
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arashiyama
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iwatayama_Monkey_Park

 Teramachi Street (寺町通) and Nishiki Market (錦市場). Japanese-style hopping streets in central Kyoto. Great for shopping, getting something to eat, people watching, and street scenes.
 http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298564-d1312330-Reviews-Teramachi_Street-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html
 http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298564-d554672-Reviews-Nishiki_Market-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

 If you’re on Teramachi Street, get great tonkatsu here. Nadai Tonkatsu Katsukura Shijo Teramachi. Ate here in Dec 2025, and it was as good as ever.
 https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d3751938-Reviews-Nadai_Tonkatsu_Katsukura_Shijo_Teramachi-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

 Pontocho (先斗町). A narrow street winding from north/south from Shijo to Sanjo close to the river. It has a chain of restaurants and bars from the humble to the extravagant. There are *even narrower* little alleys connecting it and Kiyamachi (木屋町) street to the west. Worth a stroll even if you’re not hungry, or if (like me) you’re not really a great proponent of nightlife. If you are, this street is a must.
 https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3921.html

 Omen Noodles is a great place to eat if you take the Philosopher's Walk and end up at Ginkaku-ji.
 https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d1664756-Reviews-Myodai_Omen_Ginkakuji_Honten-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

 Matsuno (松乃). Great unagi (eel) restaurant. It’s expensive, but there is no better.
 https://www.yelp.com/biz/祇をん-松乃-東山区
	Things To Do In Kyoto

	Machiya Residence Inn
	https://www.kyoto-machiya-inn.com
	These are old-style Japanese houses, refurbished with modern amenities.. Many of them have tatami mats, a kotatsu (a heated table) in the main sitting room, and wooden bath tubs. But again, it is genuinely old-style—shoes off inside, there’s no central heat, there are paper doors throughout, and they’re very small. In my opinion, these are the best place to stay in Kyoto.

	If you would prefer a hotel rather than a traditional Japanese house, I can recommend the Hotel Granvia. It’s right in Kyoto Station, so you can’t beat the location. The service is excellent. We stayed here many years ago and we were very pleased. Online ratings seem to show that they’ve kept up their standards.

	Fushimi Inari-taisha (伏見稲荷大社). This shrine has an amazing tunnel of torii gates.
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fushimi_Inari-taisha

	Sanjūsangen-dō (三十三間堂). Home of 3000 hand-carved Kannon statues. The guardian statues are also amazing. Unfortunately, no photos allowed inside! Still worth a visit.
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjūsangen-dō

	Kinkakuji (金閣寺). It's a temple sheathed in gold. Enough said.
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkakuji

	Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺). This is a prime temple-as-tourist attraction. You must see the Ninenzaka/Sannensaka shopping streets while in the neighborhood.
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiyomizu-dera
	http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/amusement/downtown/ninenzaka/

	Byōdō-in (平等院). A very pleasant temple in Uji—featured on the back of the ¥10 coin.
	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byōdō-in

	Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社). Go here for New Year’s eve and day. Right in central Kyoto. A short walk from Teramachi Street (see below). While in the shrine, you’ll probably find Maruyama Park (円山公園), which is also very nice. If you’re in this neighborhood, you must also walk down Hanamikoji Street, which is incredibly quaint, and it’s somewhat likely you’ll see people in traditional dress getting wedding pictures taken. You might also see women who you’ll think are geisha, but they’re not, and that’s a little complicated, but it’s cool to see them anyway.
	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasaka_Shrine
	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maruyama_Park
	https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/kansai/kyoto/kanko/837/

	Saihoji (西芳寺). Write out a buddhist sutra with a brush pen before enjoying the nicest Japanese garden I have ever visited. Moss, trees, ponds, the works. You have to keep silent while on the grounds, but that just contributes to concentrating on the beautiful surroundings. Book ahead for an entry time.
	https://saihoji-kokedera.com/en/

	Takashimaya basement (髙島屋). This is a department store right on the corner of Kawaramachi Street and Shijo Street. Go to the basement. There are numerous food stands of every type. Get some food to take away. This is one of my favorite places to eat in Kyoto. Note that it’s considered somewhat uncouth to eat on the street or set up an impromptu picnic in a park—except when it’s perfectly OK, like during cherry blossom viewing season in the spring. Welcome to Japan… it’s confusing. In any case, you may want to take your food back to your lodgings before you dig in.
	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takashimaya

	The Philosopher's Walk (哲学の道). A wonderful winding path which connects Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺) and Nanzen-ji (南禅寺). Some coffee shops and restaurants are dotted along the way. The two temples on either end are each worth a visit, even separate from the walk.
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosopher%27s_Walk
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkaku-ji
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanzen-ji

	Enryaku-ji (延暦寺). Atop Mt. Hiei. Get there by the rope way. Don't take the tourist bus when you get to the top of the mountain. Walk through the forest instead. Take a bus back down to central Kyoto. Look for a Keihan (京阪) bus going to Sanjo-Kawaramachi (三条河原町). When you get off, you're right in the middle of a wonderful shopping area, which includes Teramachi (寺町) street.
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enryaku-ji
	http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3911.html (Scroll down for the By Eizan Cablecar and Ropeway directions).

	Heian Shrine (平安神宮). Fantastic Shinto shrine in central Kyoto.
	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian_Shrine

	Arashiyama. Wonderful scenic location on the western outskirts of Kyoto. Go there for the Iwatayama Monkey Park (嵐山モンキーパーク).
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arashiyama
	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iwatayama_Monkey_Park

	Teramachi Street (寺町通) and Nishiki Market (錦市場). Japanese-style hopping streets in central Kyoto. Great for shopping, getting something to eat, people watching, and street scenes.
	http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298564-d1312330-Reviews-Teramachi_Street-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html
	http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298564-d554672-Reviews-Nishiki_Market-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

	If you’re on Teramachi Street, get great tonkatsu here. Nadai Tonkatsu Katsukura Shijo Teramachi. Ate here in Dec 2025, and it was as good as ever.
	https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d3751938-Reviews-Nadai_Tonkatsu_Katsukura_Shijo_Teramachi-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

	Pontocho (先斗町). A narrow street winding from north/south from Shijo to Sanjo close to the river. It has a chain of restaurants and bars from the humble to the extravagant. There are even narrower little alleys connecting it and Kiyamachi (木屋町) street to the west. Worth a stroll even if you’re not hungry, or if (like me) you’re not really a great proponent of nightlife. If you are, this street is a must.
	https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3921.html

	Omen Noodles is a great place to eat if you take the Philosopher's Walk and end up at Ginkaku-ji.
	https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d1664756-Reviews-Myodai_Omen_Ginkakuji_Honten-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

	Matsuno (松乃). Great unagi (eel) restaurant. It’s expensive, but there is no better.
	https://www.yelp.com/biz/祇をん-松乃-東山区
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