3-Day Summer Trip to Kyoto | Nature and Cultural Experiences | Japan Travel Vlog

3-Day Summer Trip to Kyoto | Nature and Cultural Experiences | Japan Travel Vlog

When I think of Kyoto, it reminds me of a color that I can’t quite name but it fills me with calm and peace Every time I come back, I found myself loving Kyoto a little more I don’t know why, but I love the feeling that, for a moment, I belong to this city This time in Kyoto, let’s drift together into the gentle and serene beauty of summer. Not the Kyoto bustling with tourists, but a quieter one where lush green momiji leaves fill the grounds of Rurikoin Temple, and the five-story pagoda of Toji reaches gracefully into the sky. Some days, we’ll slow down and immerse myself in traditional Japanese culture attending a tea ceremony in a quiet, hundred-year-old house practicing calligraphy, or simply watching the rain fall softly over the mystical Kifune Shrine at night. And of course, we won’t miss the vibrant Gion Festival, a celebration that’s been alive for over a thousand years I hope you’ll join me all the way through this journey — a Kyoto summer that feels both peaceful and magical Day 1 I’ve always dreamed of living in a traditional Japanese house, with shoji paper windows, tatami mats, and cozy kotatsu Ruriko-in Temple, was once a villa before it was converted into a temple It’s especially beautiful in Aomomiji and Koyo season when momiji leaves beautifully reflects on the polished wooden floors and the table You can also try Sutra copying here, It was indeed an unforgettable experience, Copying Sutra while listening to bird chirp, and occasionally glancing up at the lush momiji leaves in front of your very eyes On the ground floor, the experience shifts to a serene tatami room overlooking the Ruri no niwa Here, tranquil streams meanders through a lush carpet of moss flowing from a large boulder nestled among the maple trunks you can also enjoy matcha tea here It’s so peaceful here, isn’t it? I felt like I could just stay here all day immersing myself in this serene Wabi Sabi atmosphere and truly living for this precious moment of Now “The river has great wisdom, and whispers its secrets to the hearts of men” Rivers have always fascinated me with the constant flow and the stories they carry Kyoto is blessed with many rivers and streams, which holds special memories for me. I can recall the quietly gurgled stream beneath Philosopher’s Path and the vibrant autumn leaves reflected on Katsura River This time, it was a memorable summer afternoon by Kamogawa river On a hot day, there’s nothing quite like relaxing by the river, feeling the water cooling your body This simple joy shared by both visitors and locals alike I love sitting there watching for the summer clouds or strolling along the path, admiring how it gently flows over the rocks and bends After a peaceful moment by the Kamogawa River, we made our way to Shimogamo Shrine, just a short walk away The path leading to the shrine is lined with tall, lush green trees — it felt like a quiet stroll through an ancient forest I learned that the forest surrounding the shrine was once nearly lost to urban development, but was thankfully preserved. This centuries-old shrine is recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Along with Kamigamo Shrine, it’s believed to guard Kyoto against evil spirits. And what surprised me the most was how peaceful it was — not crowded at all. You can truly breathe, slow down, and feel Kyoto with your whole heart, without being distracted by the noise of a crowd. The water from here is so cool and refreshing 😊 Neatly arranged barrels of sake sit behind glass cases This place has all the elements that help us truly connect with nature — stones, water, bamboo. It’s such a peaceful and calming space, isn’t it? The lanterns have been hung up, and I imagine the evenings here must be truly magical and glowing with soft light. This is Sazare Ishi stone, which shares its name with the “Sazare Ishi” mentioned in Japan’s national anthem, Kimi ga Yo Literally meaning “small stones,” these tiny pebbles gradually grow over time and are believed to hold the spirit of the gods within them. They hang love fortune slips inspired by The Tale of Genji here, each one in different shapes and colors. they reminded me of the jūnihitoe (十二単), the elegant twelve-layered kimonos worn by noble women during the Heian period Day 2 Toji- temple, one of Kyoto’s World Heritage Sites, alongside gems like Kyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji temple etc. is the home to the tallest 5 storied pagoda in Japan Surprisingly it wasn’t crowded at all, allowing us to enjoy a peaceful morning there The Lotus flowers are in full bloom and so beautiful Hand-written Goshuin in Toji-temple The grounds of Toji Temple are surprisingly vast, shaded by towering, old trees I couldn’t help but wonder — how is it so quiet and uncrowded here? The iconic five-story pagoda, designated as a National Treasure, has been damaged and rebuilt several times throughout history The most recent reconstruction was in 1644, commissioned by Tokugawa Iemitsu (徳川家光） What a perfect way to start the day in Kyoto surrounded by lush greenery, the gentle scent of lotus flowers, and the peaceful atmosphere of Toji Temple What makes a trip truly memorable? Is it visiting famous spots, following well-trodden paths, and checking in where everyone else does? I think it’s not wrong, but it lacks of something For me, it’s the chances to immerse myself in the local culture, to connect with the people, and to experience a destination both as an outsider, and in some small way, as an insider Join me in this journey to experience Japanese culture in a charming 100-year-old house in the heart of Kyoto It began with wearing kimono and washing hands Then we moved to a serene traditional Tea Room to learn the art of making and enjoying Matcha along with proper manners for a Tea Ceremony In Japanese, the Tea Ceremony is called “茶道” (Sado), meaning “the way of tea”, originally, it’s the act of preparing tea, a gesture of hospitality over time, it evolved into an art form that captivates many “Like Art, Tea has its periods and its schools” the precise actions of a Tea Ceremony vary slightly between the schools My memories of this Tea Room is of a rustic yet elegant space simple in design with soft, gentle lightning The minimalism allowed me to fully focus on the process of making and enjoying matcha tea The atmosphere was filled with a sense of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility draw a character “の” to signify that you’ve completed the tea-making process Gently bow to tea master and enjoy our matcha tea The journey continued with a basic lesson and practice of Japanese Calligraphy Grinding the ink up and down, holding the brush upright, It may look simple but for someone as clumsy as me, it’s was quite challenging Ah, these fragile sheets of hanshi they remind me of a line by Junichiro Tanizaki about Japanese paper: “our paper seems to take the light in, to envelop it gently, like the soft surface of a first snowfall” “My first time 😊” “Do you think I will improve?” I didn’t know calligraphy could be this calming Focusing on each stroke kept my mind centered, free of distractions and really be now Finish my work Next we moved to Kifune Shrine we visited the shrine in Tanabata festival the staircases were lightened up and looked so magical We also got Goshuin here The colorful wishes hanging everywhere made the whole place feel even more special We’re going to write our own wishes I’ve been writting wishes during Tanabata festival almost every year since I moved to Japan I hope they all come true 🥰 Now I’m going to draw a Water Omikuji they also have instructions here for you to follow put the Omikuji on the water surface, wait for the words to appear, and then pick it up You can also scan the QR code to read it in English or in other languages and if it’s not a good Omikuji, hang it at the shrine like this It was raining I used to not be into the rain, but as I grew up, I fell in love with almost kinds of weather when the rain falls, it feels like it washes all the dust from the air I love the fresh smell after the rain, and I know that a beautiful sunset will follow the next day which always gets me so excited Day 3 Good morning, this’s our last day in Kyoto and we’re going to Gion festival for the first time Gion festival is one of the three biggest festivals in Japan First held in 869 AD, during the time of widespread epidemics, the festival was intended to appease the gods, and to ward off evil. Anually, the festival continues throughout July with various big and small events and this is one of the main events of Gion festival The floats, known as Yamahoko, will be paraded on the streets of Kyoto Even thought it’s hot and humid everyone was buzzing with energy All the floats are assembled every year before the festival The best part of the parade is watching them turns the floats at the intersections, the Yamahoko can be up to 25 meters tall, and weight up to 12 tons, And turning it like this definitely not as easy as it looks All the floats are so beautiful that they are sometimes referred to as “Moving Museum” they have different names and designs which make them so interesting to look at This float is called Kanko Boko (函谷鉾） and this one is Abura Tenjinyama (油天神山） Hoka boko (放下鉾） Fune Hoko (船鉾) looks like a boat Kikusui Hoko（菊水鉾） Ashikari Yama (芦刈山） After watching the parade, we strolled around the streets nearby and once again we realized that every corner of Kyoto is just so aesthetically pleasing After being parading, the floats are completely disassembled in the ritual believed to banish bad fortune Do you agree that all the staff have done a great job? During our stay, We also went to Yasaka Shrine to enjoy the festival at night there There were so many food stalls 😋 And watching Noh performance Noh (能) is is a form of theater involving music, dance and drama It used to be performed in the outdoor stage designed like this but recently modern indoor theaters have also become more common As night fell, the atmosphere turns magical, with lanterns glowing all around can you guess what she is drawing? It’s a dragon, since the year when we visited was the year of Dragon The Maikos are serving matcha tea here You can book your seat here and enjoy it Thank you so much for watching and joining me on this journey If you enjoyed this vlog, please like and let me know in the comment. And subscribe to see more from me. I hope to see you again in the next vlog 😊!

Step into the quieter, magical side of Kyoto this summer 🌿✨
In this 3-day trip, I’ll take you beyond the crowds—into serene temples surrounded by nature, hidden cultural gems, and unforgettable summer memories. From experiencing traditional Japanese culture through a tea ceremony and calligraphy in a 100-year-old teahouse, to quietly soaking in the rainy night at Kifune Shrine and feeling the vibrant pulse of Gion Matsuri—this is Kyoto like you’ve never seen it.
Let’s slow down, breathe in the old-world charm, and experience Kyoto not as tourists—but as quiet travelers chasing beauty.
I hope you enjoy watching this vlog. Kyoto is waiting 🥰

Please turn on subtitles to enjoy the vlog 🙂

Chapters:
00:00 – 1:24 Intro
1:26 – 3:34 Rurikoin Temple wrapped in lush summer greenery
3:37 – 4:46 Peaceful afternoon by Kamogawa River
4:49 – 7:54 Shimogamo Shrine — A beautiful World Cultural Heritage Site
7:56 – 9:58 Toji Temple and the tallest 5 storied pagoda in Japan
10:05 – 14:27 A peaceful tea ceremony and calligraphy practice in a century-old home
14:32 – 17:17 Tanabata Festival and Rainy night magic at Kifune Shrine
17:20 – End The vibrant energy of Kyoto’s Gion Festival

And Thanks for watching, and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Japan adventures! 🇯🇵🌸
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https://youtube.com/@helloimng30?si=FgvxzGnT7YKs-MH9

About me:
My name is Minh Ng, based in Tokyo, Japan and I’m sharing the beauty of Japan and my life here through this channel.
I hope you will have a relaxing time watching my vlog 😊

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