Prologue Time flows slowly in Kyoto

Beauty created in an hour: gardens and temples

Ryoanji, a secret garden shrouded in mystery
From a garden to be seen, to a garden to be felt, Murinan

+A Journey Following Garden Artist Mirei Shigemori
Even now, the innovative debut work of Mirei Shigemori, Tofukuji
The tranquility and grandeur that gives peace of mind, the Gomyoin
A garden designed just for herself, the Shigemori Mirei Garden Museum

+A new way to appreciate temples, the wall painting
Kenninji Temple, where ancient and modern art meet
The most photogenic and modern blind painting, Shoren-in

2 Art galleries and museums where you can experience Kyoto's art

Building a New Image on the Past, Kyocera Museum of Art
See, touch, feel, and practice the scent of Kyoto
Kyoto National Museum, a place where relics from a thousand years ago are gathered
Open only in spring and fall, the Nomura Museum of Art
Zenbi Kagizen Art Museum, a craft art gallery run by a confectionery store

3. Take a leisurely stroll around Kyoto

+ Modern Kyoto through architecture
From an old telephone exchange to a hot spot, Shinpukan
Nanzenji Temple, a modern architectural masterpiece
Treat yourself like a VIP at Dessert Cafe Chorakukan
Sarasa Nishijin, a bathhouse transformed into a cafe
The power of craftsmanship, even in a donut shop with a Kyoto-style feel: Koe Donut

+Kyoto in spring, Kyoto in autumn
Kyoto's most fantastic plum blossom spot, Jonangu
Pink waves dyeing the entire garden, Heian Shrine
Cherry blossom petals fluttering over the water, the Philosopher's Path
Kifune Shrine, a pilgrimage path filled with lush greenery
A fantastical landscape reflected on the desk, Rurikoin
Eikando, Kyoto's best autumn foliage spot
Fantastic night foliage, Kiyomizu-dera

+Kyoto by Hirokazu Koreeda, as if walking slowly

4 Kyoto neighborhoods you want to visit

Okazaki, the hottest cultural and arts district right now
Ichijoji, a neighborhood for sentimental walkers
Things to see outside the city center, Ohara
Fushimi, the sake brewing district
Uji, a green tea village where you can enjoy a pleasant stroll
Arashiyama, a landscape loved by nobles

5 Unforgettable Flavors of Kyoto

+Taste Kyoto in a traditional house
The most Kyoto-style ramen shop, Sugari
Enjoy 500 years of history with your eyes and tongue, Honke Owariya Main Store
A Kyoto-style table setting with a delicious view, Okutan Kiyomizu Branch

+Kyoto people's soul food
Inoda Coffee, a teahouse that opens Kyoto's mornings
If there's a hideout like this in the neighborhood, it's La Madrague
Kanesho, a restaurant that competes for the top spot in Kyoto for eel
Hinode Udon, a curry udon that will always come to mind

+Sweet and bitter dessert
The refreshing taste of rich matcha mousse, Shimizu Ippoen Kyoto Main Branch
A beautiful and delicious soybean powder parfait, Kitsho-karo Kyoto
The exquisite balance of sweetness is good, Gion Komori
Gion Kinana, a homemade ice cream experience at a machiya

+Evolving Japanese cars
Ippodochaho, a tea supplied to the royal family
The fun of comparing and tasting Japanese teas, Gion Kitagawa Hanbei
Yugen, a sophisticated tea stand where tradition and modernity meet

+ A cafe I want to go to every day
There's a cafe hidden in a place like this, Nijokoya.
Enjoy the unique characteristics of coffee beans with Clamp Coffee Sarasa.
Traveling Coffee, a place that captures the charm of various roasters.
A convenient spot for travelers and locals alike: Weekenders Coffee Tominokoji.

+Adult Time Nihonshu
Kyomachiya Obanzai Kohaku, a young female owner's meticulously prepared drinks and food
Masuya Saketen, a casual sake bar where you can enjoy daytime drinks
Sansaro, sake served in beautiful Kyoto ceramics
Nikomi Suzuya, where you can feel the local atmosphere

6 Great Things to Do in Kyoto

+Items that suggest a Kyoto-style life
Find the scent that suits you, Shoeido
Kosaido, a space healed by fragrance
Kyukyodo, a place where you can feel the warmth of paper
Adult Chopstick Shopping: Ichihara Heibei Shoten
The most convenient, the trendiest, Sousou Hotei
Kyoto items all in one place, Today's Special

+Kyoto original seasoning

7 Places to Stay in Kyoto

Somewhere between Kyoto and Brooklyn: Ace Hotel Kyoto
From a closed school to a hotel filled with the affection of its residents, Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by Hulic
The true relaxation brought by disconnection: HOSHINOYA Kyoto
Offering more than just a stay, OMO3 Kyoto Toji by Hoshino Resorts offers an experience beyond just a stay.
Hotel Anteroom Kyoto, a gallery hotel with art and culture

Information Things to know if you're visiting Kyoto for the first time

A city where tradition and innovation coexist,
How to travel in Kyoto

The Charm of Kyoto: Adding Innovation to Tradition

As an old capital, Kyoto has many old ruins and cultural assets.
As many as 30% of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located here.
The most representative one among them is Kiyomizu-dera.
This temple, built 1,200 years ago, is beautiful to visit in any season, but it is especially beautiful in autumn when the thousand or so maple trees planted within the grounds turn red.
Let's also visit Ryoanji, Murin-an, and Tofukuji.
You can fully experience the charm of Kyoto that has been shaped by time.


Modernity combined with tradition is another charm of Kyoto.
Kyoto, a city that prides itself on its millennia-old history while also adopting a progressive mindset, has created a new kind of beauty by layering the old with the new.
Shinpukan, a hot spot transformed from an old telephone exchange, Sarasa Nishijin, a cafe renovated from a bathhouse, and Koe Donut, which has a Kyoto-style interior decorated with traditional crafts.
Discovering something fresh and sophisticated in something old is a pleasure that can only be found in Kyoto.


Taste of Kyoto: See the food and see Kyoto

Food is as important as what you see when traveling.
As Kyoto is a city with a long history, its traditional food culture remains intact.
Enjoy a refined Korean meal at a traditional machiya restaurant, using seasonal ingredients to bring out their natural flavors, providing a satisfying meal for both the eyes and the palate.


Desserts made with traditional ingredients are also a must-try when traveling in Kyoto.
Enjoy the refreshing taste of rich matcha mousse at Shimizu Ippoen, and try Japanese favorites like koromi anmitsu (a dessert made with agar jelly topped with sweet red bean paste, fruit, and ice cream) or matcha warabimochi (a jelly-like rice cake made with bracken starch and matcha) at Gion Komori.


Also, Kyoto is a city of coffee.
As Kyoto is the country with the highest coffee consumption in Japan, the people of Kyoto have a great love for coffee.
Drinking a cup of coffee at one of Kyoto's famous coffee shops, such as Inoda Coffee, Arabica, or Nijokoya, is a pleasant experience that allows you to experience the daily life of Kyoto residents.


Neighborhood Stroll: Experiencing Everyday Life in Kyoto

Walking leisurely through the city, exploring every nook and cranny, and savoring the charm hidden deep within.
So, experiencing the daily life of that city.
There is no place more suited to this kind of travel than Kyoto.
A trip to Kyoto is more enjoyable when you walk slowly.


You can enjoy the charm of modern Kyoto by walking along the modern architecture, or you can experience Kyoto in spring when cherry blossoms fall, or Kyoto in autumn when red autumn leaves blend with traditional Japanese architecture to fully experience the Japanese atmosphere.
Or, why not take a walk to find the locations featured in the Netflix drama "Maikone's Happy Table," directed by Hirokazu Koreeda and set against the backdrop of Kyoto's maiko culture?

Walking through Okazaki, Kyoto's hottest cultural and arts district, you can discover Kyoto's art; visiting Fushimi, a sake-brewing district, to experience Japanese sake; and escaping the bustling city center and enjoying a leisurely stroll through Ichijoji, Ohara, and Arashiyama, neighborhoods perfect for a quiet stroll, are all opportunities to experience a different side of Kyoto.


Kyoto is a city of diverse charms that becomes more appealing the more you know about it.
For those who want to travel Kyoto at a more leisurely pace rather than being pressed for time and schedule, "A Slow Kyoto Stroll" will be an essential guide.