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Togetsu-kyo bridge over the Katsura River with boats pulled up on the shore in the foreground.

Kyoto on a Budget – Unwinding with Nature

In this second leg of their adventures in Japan, Bjorn and his friends explore Kyoto on a budget. After leaving the busy streets of Tokyo, Kyoto ends up being the perfect destination for our group of artsy, game loving, 20-something year olds, to unplug and unwind with nature. Read on for their itinerary and what did and did not meet with their expectations.

Kyoto Itinerary at a Glance

Accommodations: IMU Hotel Kyoto

  • Day 7:
    • train trip from Tokyo to Kyoto
    • Lunch: bento boxes
    • visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple
    • explore Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • Day 8: Arashiyama
    • visit Tenryu-ji Temple
    • hike through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
    • cross the Togetsu-kyo bridge over the Katsura River
    • chat with monkeys at Arashiyama Monkey Park
    • walk to Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion

Day 7 in Kyoto

After 6-days in Tokyo, now it was time to head to our next destination, Kyoto!

In the morning, we picked up a JR Rail Pass to use the Shinkansen and other Japan Rail lines. We then picked up a bento box to enjoy on the Shinkansen bullet train, and away we went! The speedy train took us from Tokyo to Kyoto in about 2.5 hours.

Enjoying a bento box on the train.

After dropping off our luggage at IMU Hotel Kyoto, we went to explore Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This scenic and expansive Buddhist temple provided a view of the city below, lush greenery, and stunning architecture. There were plenty of shops on the way to the temple including one with Studio Ghibli merchandise.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto
Crowds in front of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera Temple

We later explored Fushimi Inari Taisha, an important Shinto Shrine. It is most famous for the rows of torii gates lining the trails into the forest behind the main buildings. These symbolic gates mark the boundary between with spiritual world and the human world.

Red pillard Thousand-Torii Path at Fushimi Inari Taisha
Guardian Kitsune (Fox) Statue at Fushimi Inari Taisha
Thousand-Torii Path and Guardian Kitsune (Fox) at Fushimi Inari Taisha

Day 8 in Kyoto

View of Tenryu-ji Temple through the forest.
Garden at Tenryu-ji Temple
Pond at the edge of Tenryu-ji Temple.
Photos from my visit to Tenryu-ji Temple and the surrounding gardens.

This was my favourite day of our adventures in Japan. We explored the nature in Kyoto by touring Tenryu-ji Temple and the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. After wandering the gardens of Tenryu-ji Temple, we hiked up the mountain through the bamboo forest to get a picturesque view. It was much longer than we expected, but it was worth the sweat. Taking in nature and breathing in the fresh air, feels so healing to me.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Smiling young man with the view from above the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Walking through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.

After enjoying some snacks, we crossed the Togetsu-Kyo Bridge over the Katsura River.

View of 2-3 story buildings Kirizuma roofs with across the Katsura River
Boats along the Katsura River in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto.
Scenes from the Katsura River.
Three snow monkeys climbing the stairs at Arashiyama Monkey Park.

On the other side of Katsura River, we traveled up the mountain to the Arashiyama Monkey Park. I’m not going to lie, I was a little scared to have the monkeys walking around so close to me, especially after seeing signs with scary monkey faces telling us not to look them in the eyes. After my initial fear settled down, I was able to acknowledge how absolutely cool it was to be on a mountaintop hanging out with monkeys.

We then took a few trolleys and walked up to Kinkaku-ji, which translates to ‘Temple of the Golden Pavilion’. Although, the site’s official name is Rokuon-ji, it is more commonly called Kinkaku-ji as the top 2 floors of the pavillion are completely coated in gold leaf. Surrounded by greenery, the structure overlooks a pond, making it even more picturesque. This was a magnificent sight to take in. It is no wonder that the popular name overshadows the true name of the site.

Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, across a pond and surrounded by trees.

Tune in to the next leg of our trip to Osaka.


Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This commission contributes to paying our writers for their storytelling. We only post links to things that we ourselves have tried.

Written by:
Bjorn Yearwood
Published on:
September 25, 2023
Thoughts:
1 Comment

Categories: All Aboard!, Around the World, Asia, Bjorn Yearwood, Destinations, Itineraries, Japan, Our TravelersTags: budget travel, itineraries, Kyoto

About Bjorn Yearwood

As an art therapist and nature lover, Bjorn Yearwood takes to exploring the arts, culture, and environment wherever the wind takes him - from chilling with monkeys in Japan to traversing the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. He has written about mental health, student life, travel, and has sat on panels discussing university life. He hopes to inspire others to reach their goals, be adventurous, and find moments to be creative.

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Comments

  1. Crys Stammler

    September 29, 2023 at 5:46 pm

    I LOVE this travelogue Bjorn! Thank you for sharing your adventures, it’s a wonderful way for me to experience this incredible place on God’s Great Earth.

    Reply

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