{"id":289,"date":"2014-06-18T05:40:38","date_gmt":"2014-06-18T05:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/from-cat-cafes-to-bamboo-forests-5-cool-things-to-do-in-kyoto\/"},"modified":"2022-08-08T23:19:39","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T23:19:39","slug":"kyoto-top-five","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/kyoto-top-five\/","title":{"rendered":"From cat cafes to bamboo forests: 5 cool things to do in Kyoto"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the ancient capital city of Japan, Kyoto<\/a> is home to some of the country\u2019s most important historical and cultural sites. There are more than 2,000 temples and shrines within the city, 13 of those are UNESCO World Heritage listed.\u00a0So, do you go to Kyoto just to see temples? The answer is no.<\/p>\n

Yes, they are an important part of the culture, and a few should be on your must-do list, but the city has plenty of other experiences to offer too.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our top five cool experiences for a visit to Kyoto:<\/p>\n

A feast for your senses<\/h2>\n

Japanese food can be as simple as a streetside Yakitori chicken skewer and as complex as a beautiful nine course degustation. Go in with a broad mind and a hungry stomach. If you\u2019re after a crash course in Japanese fresh produce, make a beeline for the Nishiki Ichiba markets. Hundreds of years old, these covered markets stretch along 400 metres and are jam packed with stalls selling anything and everything. You’ll find seaweed in every shape and form, dried fish and live fish, fruit and vegetables, even dog biscuits. The tofu donuts right in the middle of the markets have a strong foodie following, and at 300 yen for 13, are a bargain.<\/p>\n

While in Kyoto, make sure you try the soft serve ice cream \u2013 green tea is the most popular flavour, but you\u2019ll also find cherry blossom and chocolate. The windy streets of Higashiyama district leading up to the famous Kiyomizu-dera Temple are filled with ice cream stores.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to try tempura, lightly battered and fried vegetables, and shabu shabu, a dish where the eater drops thinly sliced pieces of beef and noodles into a boiling pot of broth, before eating.<\/p>\n

Animal Caf\u00e9s<\/h2>\n

Many Japanese apartment buildings don\u2019t allow pets, so what do you do if you\u2019re a dog or cat lover and you can\u2019t keep one? You go to an animal caf\u00e9. Cat Caf\u00e9 Nekokaigi is one of the well-known animal cafes in the city. Follow the signs \u2013 from the tiny cat sticker on the elevator to the waving welcome kittens on the front door \u2013 to enter another world, where the cat is king.<\/p>\n

Cat Caf\u00e9 Nekokaigi is essentially a large room in the middle of an apartment building. There are scratching posts and day beds all over the place, along with plenty of space for humans to settle in for a drink.<\/p>\n

Admission fees are charged for the first hour and every half hour after; you can order coffee, tea, soft drinks, and then it\u2019s time to meet the cats. There are rules though \u2013 no smoking, no camera flash, no touching sleeping cats, no feeding of cats and no kids under 13.<\/p>\n

At the appropriately named Dog Caf\u00e9, patrons are encouraged to bring their own pooches to have a bite to eat. There are plenty of dog treats and toys for sale.<\/p>\n

 
\n<\/p>\n

A night like no other<\/h2>\n

Spending the night in a traditional Japanese inn, known as a ryokan, is a great way to experience something different. These small boutique hotels can have as many as a 100 or as little as one or two rooms and are scattered all over the city. Most do not have any beds, instead guests sleep on tatami mats \u2013 well padded futon mattresses laid out on the floor. Don\u2019t be alarmed if there\u2019s no mat in your room at check in \u2013 many inns set up the mats at night, packing them away each morning.\u00a0Gion Hatanka<\/a>\u00a0in the Gion district is a polished example of a ryokan, with beautiful stone gardens, an indoor onsen and rooms with deep wooden bathtubs. It\u2019s also just around the corner from Yasaka Shrine.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re after a proper bed for the night,\u00a0The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto<\/a>\u00a0opened in February and is a brilliant example of modern Japanese design. Most rooms do have beds, but there are a few suites featuring tatami mats. The spa\u2019s signature Ryokucha Serenity Ritual is a superb sensory experience that begins with a fresh bowl of frothy green tea and ends in an hour of bliss, with a traditional massage.<\/p>\n

Historical Kyoto<\/h2>\n

You cannot go to Kyoto without visiting some of its most important historical monuments. The Higashiyama district is a good place to start \u2013 go early in the morning and you might see Maiko, apprentice Geisha, walking to class. Temples and shrines are scattered throughout the district \u2013 Kiyomizu-dera Temple dates back to 778 AD and sits high on a hill overlooking the city. Allow plenty of time to explore its gardens and shrines.<\/p>\n

At Shunkoin Temple visitors can undertake a tour and a meditation class \u2013 with monks leading their students in short but poignant lessons on emptying the mind and finding peace.<\/p>\n

The Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji, is probably Kyoto\u2019s most well known temple. Covered in gold leaf, it\u2019s blingy but rather sparse compared to some of the other bigger temple complexes. There\u2019s also the Silver Pavilion, temples with elaborate rock gardens and others with impressive koi ponds.<\/p>\n

A traditional tea ceremony led by a Maiko is another great chance to see Japanese culture up close. These young women train from as young as 16 and reach the epitome of poise and grace once they become Geisha. During your tea ceremony, they’ll pour tea, serve treats, dance and even play a few games.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Bamboo Forests<\/h2>\n

Kyoto\u2019s famous bamboo forests are definitely worth the 30 minute train ride from downtown to the small town of Arashiyama. The Sagano bamboo grove is a peaceful place, until the crowds arrive. Make the effort to arrive early in the morning, when you\u2019ll walk alone along the paths. The groves are most popular during Cherry Blossom season and as the leaves begin to fall. April and early May are peak travel periods for Expedia\u2019s Aussie travellers, who time their trips during Cherry Blossom season. The weather will still be cold so pack warm clothes.<\/p>\n

Lisa was the guest of Kyoto Tourism.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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