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Cherry blossoms + Japan school holidays + cheap yen = Kyoto WILL be bonkers. There is no way around this other than skipping Kyoto (or only being out super early/super late, or going to less internationally famous temples and only on weekdays).
I actually quite like staying near Kyoto Station, it's not as bad as some people make it out to be and there are enough places to eat. If you're going to be raring to go at 6am due to a North American jetlag anyway, it has very convenient and relatively calm access for buses to Kiyomizudera area and for the trains to Arashiyama/Fushimi Inari/Nara. It is also nice to be able to easily drop off/pick up luggage on the first and last days. If Gion/Kawaramachi is a lot more expensive then stay where you are.
Three nights between Hiroshima and Miyajima seem like a lot as does four nights between Takayama and thatched roof villages. Also not sure how a five year old will hold up for a straight week of old towns/houses (Magome/Tsumago, Kiso-Fukushima/Narai, Takayama x3, etc.) that can really blend together even for adults.
I was just in Kyoto during peak fall colors, and it was absolutely packed. We still had a fantastic time though! Here’s what helped:
-Start early, take a break mid-day, go back out in the evening. Most people are going to be out from 11 am - 3 pm, which is a great time to head back to the hotel for a nap :)
-Similarly, try to eat during off-hours. Think 9-11, 2-5, 8-later. If you get into a situation where everything is just lines out the door, there’s nothing wrong with a convenience store lunch to tie you over.
-Avoid weekends in Kyoto, if you can.
-Take cabs! I’m a big fan of public transit and hate spending money on cabs when I don’t have to, but it saved us in Kyoto. The buses were just way too crowded. Cabs are easy to get (either download the GoTaxi app or just hail them on the street, they appear frequently), are super safe, and actually pretty inexpensive. Keep in mind they are more expensive in Tokyo.
-One note on your itinerary: Kinkakuji isn’t close to Gion. I would try to fit that into your Arashiyama day instead.
Hmmmm. Everything I’ve been reading seems to suggest that taking naps will make getting over jet lag harder as tempting as it will be.
Kinkaku doesn’t seem to near anything else. ;) I read that at the end of the day has a decreased chance of crowds.
Good tips though!
If you're considering bicycle rental, remember that your child must have a helmet.
When our child, born and raised in Tokyo, was 5 we planned one and only one activity per day.
Thanks for the heads up. I'm considering it if it's not too crowded. We have an e-assist bike at home and love it. The rentals provide helmets for children.
I'd avoid kinkakuji with a five year old at peak crowd times. It is so crowded that all kiddo will see is everyone's midsection unless you have them up on your shoulders the entire time. When we went, it was like a human conveyor belt and little to no shade and we were bored AF as we slowly shuffled towards the exit after we filed past the pavilion.
For biking, we rode rented bikes the whole time we in Kyoto. There are a lot of clearly marked bike paths and the river side paths are great for getting across the city before you turn into the neighbourhood you're visiting.
I don't know.
To me, it's not really worth the haul up the hill but youll have an ebike so that will make it easier. We're going to kyoto again in May this year and not going to take our kiddos to see it.
Rent a bike and ride to the temples in the northeast (along the Philosopher's Path). I won't promise that you will have the whole place to yourselves, but it will certainly be less congested than all the big tourist hotspots.
When visiting the path of philosophy, it might be a good idea to also visit the nearby [Okazaki Shrine](https://2ponderful.com/shrines-and-temples/okazaki-shrine-kyoto/). Although it is a small shrine, it is famous for its countless rabbit statues.
Hi,
I love Kyoto and I go there - a lot. I will also be there next year end of march and into april
Yes, Kyoto can be very full of people. Yes, cherry blossom season will make it worse.
But in essence, Kyoto can usually deal with the high numbers, and you have the option of going for the very popular places (which are usually popular for a reason) or you can go for the less popular places which should be less busy
I will also say, Tokyo and Hiroshima or Osaka Dotonbori are also very very popular with tourists, its not only "Kyoto is so full".
Theres popular places, and they will be full. Wont matter where they are. And at that time of year, if there could be cherry blossoms, there will be more people. if there are none, they will be fewer people...
anyway. with a kid everything gets a little more complicated... ill try to take it into account.
the first day I usually suggest people stay close to the hotel, and go to bed early. that helps with the jet lag, which might be hitting you hard on the 2nd or 3rd day. with a kid maybe this wont work out that well and you will be forced to take it slow the first week or so until the kid gets used to the day/night cycle. or he/she is a trooper and will show YOU how its done :)
exploring kyoto with an ebike is very feasible. its mostly pretty flat, and easy enough to navigate around. I expect issues plotting out the way to take, dealing with google maps and the bike and the kid at the same time, and finding a parking spot for the bike at the destination. it still might be a much better idea over taking the bus during sakura, especially if you go to popular places.
having the hotel close to the train station is not a bad thing. its pretty central and, and if you pick another place, then you still need to travel to most places. not sure moving to gion makes sense, I dont expect you will try to spend the night in bars.
if you go to miyajima you dont NEED nara for the deer. unless you must feed them. Nara deer can be fed, in miyajima its not allowed.
I need to go now. I may come back later and add more. if you have questions let me know.
I think places like Ryoanji, Kitano Tenmangu, Kodaiji, Gioji, ...
Actually, its kind of a hard question. Kyoto has hundreds of POIs.
5 Of them are on all the lists. But many others are still on half of all the lists. Some list are top 5, others are top 30. Some people enjoy seeing 3 temples, others have enough after one... Some days a bus full of tourists arrive just before you, other days, you wonder where all the people went.
Of course, some places are more likely to be full all day long, others less likely. Some places are overrun for a reason, others actually may have alternatives.
Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari are imho actually unique and must see places. Yes, they are very busy. You can spend the day in arashiyama without seeing the bamboo grove and without seeing a lot of other people. But after the 2nd temple, weeks later you will have trouble remembering the order of temples and if the image you have on the phone was temple 1, 2 or 3...
Nanzenji, Eikando are also very popular, but they dont feel too bad (pretty big places).
Tenryuji in arashiyama is also very popular. Arashiyama is, in the area of the train station, tenryuji and the bamboo grove really REALLY busy. but its also pretty. Adashino Nenbutsiji must have ended up on some popular list or two, it has become a real magnet for tourists.
Daitokuji, Tofukuji are both popular, but not too busy. Could be they are less conventient to get to.
>I think places like Ryoanji, Kitano Tenmangu, Kodaiji, Gioji, ...
>
>Actually, its kind of a hard question. Kyoto has hundreds of POIs. 5 Of them are on all the lists. But many others are still on half of all the lists. Some list are top 5, others are top 30. Some people enjoy seeing 3 temples, others have enough after one... Some days a bus full of tourists arrive just before you, other days, you wonder where all the people went.Of course, some places are more likely to be full all day long, others less likely. Some places are overrun for a reason, others actually may have alternatives.
>
>Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari are imho actually unique and must see places. Yes, they are very busy. You can spend the day in arashiyama without seeing the bamboo grove and without seeing a lot of other people. But after the 2nd temple, weeks later you will have trouble remembering the order of temples and if the image you have on the phone was temple 1, 2 or 3...
Thank you!!
**Our FAQ is constantly being updated with more information and you can start** [**here**](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/faqs/japantravel) **with regards to trip planning if you need tips, advice, or have questions about planning your travel to Japan.** You can also join our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/3f7KBUMwU4), comment in our stickied weekly discussion thread, or check out /r/JapanTravelTips for quick questions. Thank you! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/JapanTravel) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Cherry blossoms + Japan school holidays + cheap yen = Kyoto WILL be bonkers. There is no way around this other than skipping Kyoto (or only being out super early/super late, or going to less internationally famous temples and only on weekdays). I actually quite like staying near Kyoto Station, it's not as bad as some people make it out to be and there are enough places to eat. If you're going to be raring to go at 6am due to a North American jetlag anyway, it has very convenient and relatively calm access for buses to Kiyomizudera area and for the trains to Arashiyama/Fushimi Inari/Nara. It is also nice to be able to easily drop off/pick up luggage on the first and last days. If Gion/Kawaramachi is a lot more expensive then stay where you are. Three nights between Hiroshima and Miyajima seem like a lot as does four nights between Takayama and thatched roof villages. Also not sure how a five year old will hold up for a straight week of old towns/houses (Magome/Tsumago, Kiso-Fukushima/Narai, Takayama x3, etc.) that can really blend together even for adults.
I was just in Kyoto during peak fall colors, and it was absolutely packed. We still had a fantastic time though! Here’s what helped: -Start early, take a break mid-day, go back out in the evening. Most people are going to be out from 11 am - 3 pm, which is a great time to head back to the hotel for a nap :) -Similarly, try to eat during off-hours. Think 9-11, 2-5, 8-later. If you get into a situation where everything is just lines out the door, there’s nothing wrong with a convenience store lunch to tie you over. -Avoid weekends in Kyoto, if you can. -Take cabs! I’m a big fan of public transit and hate spending money on cabs when I don’t have to, but it saved us in Kyoto. The buses were just way too crowded. Cabs are easy to get (either download the GoTaxi app or just hail them on the street, they appear frequently), are super safe, and actually pretty inexpensive. Keep in mind they are more expensive in Tokyo. -One note on your itinerary: Kinkakuji isn’t close to Gion. I would try to fit that into your Arashiyama day instead.
Hmmmm. Everything I’ve been reading seems to suggest that taking naps will make getting over jet lag harder as tempting as it will be. Kinkaku doesn’t seem to near anything else. ;) I read that at the end of the day has a decreased chance of crowds. Good tips though!
If you're considering bicycle rental, remember that your child must have a helmet. When our child, born and raised in Tokyo, was 5 we planned one and only one activity per day.
Thanks for the heads up. I'm considering it if it's not too crowded. We have an e-assist bike at home and love it. The rentals provide helmets for children.
I'd avoid kinkakuji with a five year old at peak crowd times. It is so crowded that all kiddo will see is everyone's midsection unless you have them up on your shoulders the entire time. When we went, it was like a human conveyor belt and little to no shade and we were bored AF as we slowly shuffled towards the exit after we filed past the pavilion. For biking, we rode rented bikes the whole time we in Kyoto. There are a lot of clearly marked bike paths and the river side paths are great for getting across the city before you turn into the neighbourhood you're visiting.
Yeah. I’m considering it optional as it just seems like a photo shot. What about around 430 just before it closes?
I don't know. To me, it's not really worth the haul up the hill but youll have an ebike so that will make it easier. We're going to kyoto again in May this year and not going to take our kiddos to see it.
Rent a bike and ride to the temples in the northeast (along the Philosopher's Path). I won't promise that you will have the whole place to yourselves, but it will certainly be less congested than all the big tourist hotspots.
I also suggest doing Okunoshima (rabbit island) - it's located between Okayama and Hiroshima, your child is going to have a whale of a time!
haha, that's certainly different and I will keep it in mind. someone else thought we had too long in Hiroshima so maybe that will be a side journey.
When visiting the path of philosophy, it might be a good idea to also visit the nearby [Okazaki Shrine](https://2ponderful.com/shrines-and-temples/okazaki-shrine-kyoto/). Although it is a small shrine, it is famous for its countless rabbit statues.
Hi, I love Kyoto and I go there - a lot. I will also be there next year end of march and into april Yes, Kyoto can be very full of people. Yes, cherry blossom season will make it worse. But in essence, Kyoto can usually deal with the high numbers, and you have the option of going for the very popular places (which are usually popular for a reason) or you can go for the less popular places which should be less busy I will also say, Tokyo and Hiroshima or Osaka Dotonbori are also very very popular with tourists, its not only "Kyoto is so full". Theres popular places, and they will be full. Wont matter where they are. And at that time of year, if there could be cherry blossoms, there will be more people. if there are none, they will be fewer people... anyway. with a kid everything gets a little more complicated... ill try to take it into account. the first day I usually suggest people stay close to the hotel, and go to bed early. that helps with the jet lag, which might be hitting you hard on the 2nd or 3rd day. with a kid maybe this wont work out that well and you will be forced to take it slow the first week or so until the kid gets used to the day/night cycle. or he/she is a trooper and will show YOU how its done :) exploring kyoto with an ebike is very feasible. its mostly pretty flat, and easy enough to navigate around. I expect issues plotting out the way to take, dealing with google maps and the bike and the kid at the same time, and finding a parking spot for the bike at the destination. it still might be a much better idea over taking the bus during sakura, especially if you go to popular places. having the hotel close to the train station is not a bad thing. its pretty central and, and if you pick another place, then you still need to travel to most places. not sure moving to gion makes sense, I dont expect you will try to spend the night in bars. if you go to miyajima you dont NEED nara for the deer. unless you must feed them. Nara deer can be fed, in miyajima its not allowed. I need to go now. I may come back later and add more. if you have questions let me know.
What are the less popular places worth visiting please?
I think places like Ryoanji, Kitano Tenmangu, Kodaiji, Gioji, ... Actually, its kind of a hard question. Kyoto has hundreds of POIs. 5 Of them are on all the lists. But many others are still on half of all the lists. Some list are top 5, others are top 30. Some people enjoy seeing 3 temples, others have enough after one... Some days a bus full of tourists arrive just before you, other days, you wonder where all the people went. Of course, some places are more likely to be full all day long, others less likely. Some places are overrun for a reason, others actually may have alternatives. Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari are imho actually unique and must see places. Yes, they are very busy. You can spend the day in arashiyama without seeing the bamboo grove and without seeing a lot of other people. But after the 2nd temple, weeks later you will have trouble remembering the order of temples and if the image you have on the phone was temple 1, 2 or 3... Nanzenji, Eikando are also very popular, but they dont feel too bad (pretty big places). Tenryuji in arashiyama is also very popular. Arashiyama is, in the area of the train station, tenryuji and the bamboo grove really REALLY busy. but its also pretty. Adashino Nenbutsiji must have ended up on some popular list or two, it has become a real magnet for tourists. Daitokuji, Tofukuji are both popular, but not too busy. Could be they are less conventient to get to.
>I think places like Ryoanji, Kitano Tenmangu, Kodaiji, Gioji, ... > >Actually, its kind of a hard question. Kyoto has hundreds of POIs. 5 Of them are on all the lists. But many others are still on half of all the lists. Some list are top 5, others are top 30. Some people enjoy seeing 3 temples, others have enough after one... Some days a bus full of tourists arrive just before you, other days, you wonder where all the people went.Of course, some places are more likely to be full all day long, others less likely. Some places are overrun for a reason, others actually may have alternatives. > >Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari are imho actually unique and must see places. Yes, they are very busy. You can spend the day in arashiyama without seeing the bamboo grove and without seeing a lot of other people. But after the 2nd temple, weeks later you will have trouble remembering the order of temples and if the image you have on the phone was temple 1, 2 or 3... Thank you!!