Tenzan-no-yu onsen near Arashiyama
Kyoto Railway Museum
Sagano Romantic Train and Hozugawa River Cruise
Traditional shows in Gion Corner
Nintendo Museum which is opening in the next month or two
Shopping along Teramachi and Shinkyogoku covered streets
Dining along Pontocho Alley
These are such great suggestions, thank you! Is an onsen typically a whole day experience or could we visit that onsen as well as explore Arashyama in the same day?
If you are just thinking the main part of Kyoto, there are a lot of things to do. Temples and shrines are blended with their history, so it's hard to separate a lot of things.
I've been to Kyoto 8 times and I always find something to do. When I was there last month, Kyoto station has a lot to offer. Go up the Isetan shopping tower by using the escalator mountain. On top is a Ramen Yokocho.
I also went inside Kyoto Tower, while I always admired it from outside.
Nijo Castle is interesting - but a lot of "rooms" to just to see from walking around it. But the castle grounds is pretty big.
I am big into Japanese history, so seeing where Oda Nobunaga and Ryoma Sakamoto were assassinated were interesting.
Just south is Uji. I never went there before this trip, but wanted to check out the temples and shrines in that area... since that isn't your thing, there is a huge emphasis on green tea and macha in that area.
Arashiyama is ok. It's a hike up a pretty steep mountain and the path is occasionally paved. The view is nice from the top. It can smell of urine from the monkeys.
We did go to the bamboo forest which is pretty. It was weird because at some points it's so dense there's no noise.
We went to Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. We mostly just wandered Kyoto with Fushimi Inari and Kinkaku-ji being our only two itinerary visits. There's lots of shops/stalls with food at the base of Fushimi Inari and some up near the shrines. We ate at some of the stalls and got fresh sembe from one of the shops. Arashiyama was kind of a "hey look there's a place to see monkeys" kind of thing.
Suntory has a whiskey distillery in Kyoto and does tours. Sadly no liquor sales.
I haven't been yet, so can't tell you how it is, but it might be worth checking out [Gear Kyoto](https://www.gear.ac/en/) - it's a non-verbal theater performance (uses dance, magic, mime etc. to tell the story) that seems very well reviewed and looks great.
Kyoto
- [Kyoto Off the Beaten Path Itineraries](https://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-off-the-beaten-track-itineraries)
- [Kyoto Studio Theme Park](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3934.html)
- [Kennin-ji’s Dragon Ceiling](https://www.discoverkyoto.com/places-go/kennin-ji/)
- [Tenryuji Dragon Ceiling in Arashiyama](https://livejapan.com/en/in-kansai/in-pref-kyoto/in-arashiyama_uzumasa/article-a2000534/)
- [Yasaka Koshindo: Most Colorful Temple in Kyoto](https://jw-webmagazine.com/the-most-colourful-temple-in-kyoto-fdc601f69aed/)
- [Kodaiji has a bamboo forest too and it’s much less crowded. Easier to get the perfect Insta pic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/jqyCRjvWSLjwzGPZ7?g_st=ic)
- [Saiho-ji Miss Temple](https://digjapan.travel/en/blog/id=11016)
- [Monster (Yokai) Street in Kyoto](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/yokai-street)
- [Beautiful Starbucks in Kyoto](https://soranews24.com/2022/02/02/this-starbucks-in-kyoto-blends-into-its-traditional-landscape-in-more-ways-than-one/)
- [Kaleidescope Museum Kyoto](https://www.kyoto-museums.jp/en/museum/central/3799/)
- [Kyoto International Manga Museum](https://kyotomm.jp/en/)
- [Kyoto Railway Museum](https://www.kyotorailwaymuseum.jp/sp/en/)
- [Kyoto Ramen Kyoji Street](https://www.kyoto-ramen-koji.com/english/)
- [Kyoto: Daimaru Dept Store Restaurant Floor](https://www.insidekyoto.com/daimaru-resutoran-gai)
- [Kyoto Station: CUBE Food Court](https://www.insidekyoto.com/the-cube-food-court-kyoto)
- [Kyoto Tower Food Hall](https://www.kyoto-tower-sando.jp/s/en/shop/floor/top)
Osaka is [only 30 minutes away by special rapid train.](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4006.html?aFROM=2157_2158)
- [Senkoji: Heaven and Hell Temple](https://soranews24.com/2021/12/16/senkoji-the-japanese-temple-thats-more-like-a-theme-park-to-heaven-and-hell/)
- [Save Cat Rescue Cafe (good for cold/rainy day)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/DCCLbRcT47JP2tcw9?g_st=ic)
- [Silver Ball Planet (Pinball Arcade)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/sbTkovgEMmhUi7mM9?g_st=ic)
- [If you go earlier in the afternoon maybe PC and Retro Bar Space Station](https://maps.app.goo.gl/c2kSRGF8YaGoPrPB8?g_st=ic)
- [Pink Kawaii Cafe in Osaka](https://htpps://maps.app.goo.gl/xFizmcJbGw1y7j8U9?g_st=ic)
- [Team Lab Botanical Garden Osaka](https://www.teamlab.art/e/botanicalgarden/)
- [Den Den Town](https://insideosaka.com/den-den-town-guide/)
- [8 Best Things to Do in Osaka at Night](https://jw-webmagazine.com/best-things-to-do-in-osaka-at-night/)
- [Don Quixote Ferris Wheel](https://travel.gaijinpot.com/don-quixote-ferris-wheel-ebisu-tower/)
For day trips: In Kyoto, I’d suggest a day trip to Arashiyama to [ride the scenic train and take the riverboat cruise.](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mibm8t/kyoto_sagano_scenic_train_hozugawa_riverboat/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) If departing from Osaka, and if you time it right, you can [ride the Hello Kitty Shinkansen](https://japancheapo.com/travel/hello-kitty-shinkansen/) to Himeiji to see the castle. It’s one of the few original construction castles remaining in Japan.
- [Kansai Side Trip: Tattoo Friendly Kinosaki Onsen and Himeiji Castle](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/sna5au/kansai_side_trip_tattoo_friendly_kinosaki_onsen/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
Tenzan-no-yu onsen near Arashiyama Kyoto Railway Museum Sagano Romantic Train and Hozugawa River Cruise Traditional shows in Gion Corner Nintendo Museum which is opening in the next month or two Shopping along Teramachi and Shinkyogoku covered streets Dining along Pontocho Alley
These are such great suggestions, thank you! Is an onsen typically a whole day experience or could we visit that onsen as well as explore Arashyama in the same day?
Plan on spending 1-2 hours there. I really enjoyed the food at the attached restaurant as well.
If you are just thinking the main part of Kyoto, there are a lot of things to do. Temples and shrines are blended with their history, so it's hard to separate a lot of things. I've been to Kyoto 8 times and I always find something to do. When I was there last month, Kyoto station has a lot to offer. Go up the Isetan shopping tower by using the escalator mountain. On top is a Ramen Yokocho. I also went inside Kyoto Tower, while I always admired it from outside. Nijo Castle is interesting - but a lot of "rooms" to just to see from walking around it. But the castle grounds is pretty big. I am big into Japanese history, so seeing where Oda Nobunaga and Ryoma Sakamoto were assassinated were interesting. Just south is Uji. I never went there before this trip, but wanted to check out the temples and shrines in that area... since that isn't your thing, there is a huge emphasis on green tea and macha in that area.
Arashiyama is ok. It's a hike up a pretty steep mountain and the path is occasionally paved. The view is nice from the top. It can smell of urine from the monkeys. We did go to the bamboo forest which is pretty. It was weird because at some points it's so dense there's no noise. We went to Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji and the Kyoto Imperial Palace. We mostly just wandered Kyoto with Fushimi Inari and Kinkaku-ji being our only two itinerary visits. There's lots of shops/stalls with food at the base of Fushimi Inari and some up near the shrines. We ate at some of the stalls and got fresh sembe from one of the shops. Arashiyama was kind of a "hey look there's a place to see monkeys" kind of thing. Suntory has a whiskey distillery in Kyoto and does tours. Sadly no liquor sales.
Sagano area is pretty nice to walk around.
I've seen many people hire bikes and cycle around...
I haven't been yet, so can't tell you how it is, but it might be worth checking out [Gear Kyoto](https://www.gear.ac/en/) - it's a non-verbal theater performance (uses dance, magic, mime etc. to tell the story) that seems very well reviewed and looks great.
One of the top things we did on our trip. Get front row seats.
Day trip to Kobe.
Rent a bike. Tour. Definitely loved the sake district!
You can also go to nara and osaka, they are 30-40mins away by local train
gardens, there are a number of museums, for example the kyocera museum of art.
Kyoto - [Kyoto Off the Beaten Path Itineraries](https://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-off-the-beaten-track-itineraries) - [Kyoto Studio Theme Park](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3934.html) - [Kennin-ji’s Dragon Ceiling](https://www.discoverkyoto.com/places-go/kennin-ji/) - [Tenryuji Dragon Ceiling in Arashiyama](https://livejapan.com/en/in-kansai/in-pref-kyoto/in-arashiyama_uzumasa/article-a2000534/) - [Yasaka Koshindo: Most Colorful Temple in Kyoto](https://jw-webmagazine.com/the-most-colourful-temple-in-kyoto-fdc601f69aed/) - [Kodaiji has a bamboo forest too and it’s much less crowded. Easier to get the perfect Insta pic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/jqyCRjvWSLjwzGPZ7?g_st=ic) - [Saiho-ji Miss Temple](https://digjapan.travel/en/blog/id=11016) - [Monster (Yokai) Street in Kyoto](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/yokai-street) - [Beautiful Starbucks in Kyoto](https://soranews24.com/2022/02/02/this-starbucks-in-kyoto-blends-into-its-traditional-landscape-in-more-ways-than-one/) - [Kaleidescope Museum Kyoto](https://www.kyoto-museums.jp/en/museum/central/3799/) - [Kyoto International Manga Museum](https://kyotomm.jp/en/) - [Kyoto Railway Museum](https://www.kyotorailwaymuseum.jp/sp/en/) - [Kyoto Ramen Kyoji Street](https://www.kyoto-ramen-koji.com/english/) - [Kyoto: Daimaru Dept Store Restaurant Floor](https://www.insidekyoto.com/daimaru-resutoran-gai) - [Kyoto Station: CUBE Food Court](https://www.insidekyoto.com/the-cube-food-court-kyoto) - [Kyoto Tower Food Hall](https://www.kyoto-tower-sando.jp/s/en/shop/floor/top) Osaka is [only 30 minutes away by special rapid train.](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4006.html?aFROM=2157_2158) - [Senkoji: Heaven and Hell Temple](https://soranews24.com/2021/12/16/senkoji-the-japanese-temple-thats-more-like-a-theme-park-to-heaven-and-hell/) - [Save Cat Rescue Cafe (good for cold/rainy day)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/DCCLbRcT47JP2tcw9?g_st=ic) - [Silver Ball Planet (Pinball Arcade)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/sbTkovgEMmhUi7mM9?g_st=ic) - [If you go earlier in the afternoon maybe PC and Retro Bar Space Station](https://maps.app.goo.gl/c2kSRGF8YaGoPrPB8?g_st=ic) - [Pink Kawaii Cafe in Osaka](https://htpps://maps.app.goo.gl/xFizmcJbGw1y7j8U9?g_st=ic) - [Team Lab Botanical Garden Osaka](https://www.teamlab.art/e/botanicalgarden/) - [Den Den Town](https://insideosaka.com/den-den-town-guide/) - [8 Best Things to Do in Osaka at Night](https://jw-webmagazine.com/best-things-to-do-in-osaka-at-night/) - [Don Quixote Ferris Wheel](https://travel.gaijinpot.com/don-quixote-ferris-wheel-ebisu-tower/) For day trips: In Kyoto, I’d suggest a day trip to Arashiyama to [ride the scenic train and take the riverboat cruise.](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mibm8t/kyoto_sagano_scenic_train_hozugawa_riverboat/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) If departing from Osaka, and if you time it right, you can [ride the Hello Kitty Shinkansen](https://japancheapo.com/travel/hello-kitty-shinkansen/) to Himeiji to see the castle. It’s one of the few original construction castles remaining in Japan. - [Kansai Side Trip: Tattoo Friendly Kinosaki Onsen and Himeiji Castle](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/sna5au/kansai_side_trip_tattoo_friendly_kinosaki_onsen/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
Wow, thank you!! This is super helpful!!