Top Places to See in Historical Kyoto

Out of all the temples in the city, a few would definitely stand out like the Golden Pavilion for instance. There are also fascinating districts and streets in Kyoto that are hard to miss.  Luckily, most of these sites are within short distances of each other. Some of them can be reached on foot. While others, require you to take a bus. But the transport system is the least of your worries when you’re in Japan, as everything is organized and on time (incredibly right on the dot!) But if you are still confused about what to visit, here are some of our chosen top places to see when in Kyoto.

1. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

If you want to see something other than pagodas and temples, then the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in the Sagano Area, makes a refreshing site to visit.  Because it is described as a grove, I expected it to be more extensive than it actually is.  Nevertheless, access to the Bamboo Grove is free. But you do not, technically, go through a thick forest. Instead, the site features a walkway, lined up with multitudes of familiar thin bamboo trees.  The walkway extends less than 1 kilometer; with some parts more impressive than others because of the density of the bamboo stocks sticking out.  Natural lighting from the sun comes through the bamboo trees to add more character to the walkway. If the lighting is soft yet bright, the color contrast to the greenish hue of the trees is simply stunning.  That being said, you may not appreciate it that much if you visit Kyoto’s Bamboo Grove on a cloudy day.

At the other end of the walkway, there are other minor attractions like a private garden, a bridge over a nice creek as well as lookout. We visited the Bamboo Grove in the early morning, when there were fewer visitors. The place is quite serene, but it quickly loses its serenity when more people start filling up the walkway. Nevertheless, it was an interesting site worth visiting. Our friends visited the grove at night, and based on their photos, it seemed like the grove has an entirely different appeal at night, when everything around is lit up triumphantly.

2. Gion

Gion is both a modern and historical district. Some parts of the area are filled with commercial establishments and nightlife spots that cater to the massive amount of tourists.  But it also envelops what is called the Geisha District. The first time we heard about this district in Kyoto, we thought it was the only one in Japan. Though we found out that there were other Geisha Districts in the country, apparently, the one in Kyoto is considered one of the most well preserved.

Geishas are the traditional women entertainers during feudal times in Japan.  Geishas are trained to be experts in the fields of art and entertainment.  Cobblestoned streets and lovely old wooden houses dominate the Geisha district. Nowadays, most of these buildings are restaurants and cafes. According to guide books, there are still geishas and maikos (their apprentice) that continue to entertain their rich patrons in the district.  However, they are rarely seen out in the open unless you are willing to pay to see them perform in designated restaurants (locally called Ochaya in the district).

Apparently, Geishas consciously hide from tourists, who have been known to stalk them like the paparazzi.  We actually saw women wearing, what we presumed as, the typical Geisha costumes and makeup. But we were quite sure they were doing this for some kind of pictorial shoot or they just wanted to dupe tourists into thinking they were the real deal!

Geisha or no geisha, the district is worth seeing because of its historical and cultural value. The only problem is that it can get pretty crowded on the main streets as everyone wants a look at this iconic district.

Gion is also home to Shimbashi Street. Also referred to as Shirakawa Minamidori, the street is supposed to be one of the most picturesque in Asia with its cobblestone streets, lovely bridges over canals and cherry blossom trees.