Kyoto in 4 Days: The Ultimate Family Itinerary for First-Timers

Kyoto in 4 Days: The Ultimate Family Itinerary for First-Timers

[Music] Welcome back to our channel. So, after exploring Kyoto’s hidden gems, we were given a new challenge, showing the magic of Kyoto to someone experiencing Japan for the very first time. This video is going to be a little bit different. We’re going to give you the perfect itinerary for first timers to do divided in 4 days. So, hopefully this helps you out when you’re doing your own itinerary. So stick around because by the end of the video, we’re also going to give you a few bonus places to check out in Kyoto if you have extra time. [Music] We’re at the Kai airport. Uh actually, we took a train from Kyoto to Osaka because we’re expecting a very special person to come and join us for 3 weeks. I’m super excited. So, let’s go. Who’s that? [Music] [Applause] Hello. Good morning. We are here with the fabulous Rut Sophia, my sister. She has arrived. So, we’re going to go around and show her around and hopefully eat some foods. Nice foods. For your first day, we suggest you start at the iconic King Inaki Temple for the first impressions of Kyoto. This is a shimmering golden pavilion surrounded by still waters and early Sakura petals. This golden temple is covered in real gold leaf, especially the two top floors. It was originally a retirement villa for Shogun in the 14th century and it ended up becoming a Zen temple. [Music] Afterwards, we suggest that you head to the Nishiki Market, which is probably one of the main attractions for food in Kyoto. Wait, if you are new to the channel, welcome. I’m Vasco. And I’m Sarah. And if you like Japan and traveling in general and vlogs and cool experiences, consider subscribing. We quit our jobs and we came all the way to Japan for a full year to discover all it has to offer. So yeah, we’re on the road to reach 1K followers and without you, we can’t do it. So, you know, follow along. Back to the video. It’s over 400 years old and it spans five narrow blocks. You can sample all the local snacks like pickled cucumbers on a stick and tayaki’s hair. [Music] Fun fact, the first time we came to Kyoto, we had lunch here actually in the Nishiki market. It serves beef sushi and wago. The beef sushi here is delicious and the skewers as well. So, we definitely recommend. They also do have some crockett here that you can have as well as some bentos with some wago on top of it as well. You can eat inside. So, it’s very nice that you can sit down, which is not the case for all the stands here in the Nishiki market. [Music] You’re doing amazing, sweetie. Very [Music] nice. Very nice. After stuffing yourself, we do definitely recommend that you walk a little bit through the shopping street at Nishiki. Right in the middle of this shopping street, you have the Nishiki Tanga Shrine. It’s dedicated to the god of learning and scholarship. So, students come here and pray for good exam results. It’s very small, but it’s very peaceful. And of course, we found a couple of surprises. One of the coolest finds was Japan Anima Art Gallery, a hidden gem selling original anime artwork. These aren’t prints, they’re real production sketches and cells from legendary series. They even had a Toto sketch handdrawn by Haya Miyazaki. [Music] Make sure you end your first day with a walk through Guyong. This street is filled with lantern lit alleys and you can meet the geisha culture here. [Music] And make sure that you wrap your evening at Yasaka Shrine, which during Anami season becomes a festival of light color and mouthwatering street food. So, we’re going to show it around uh to my sister. Shrine grounds were lined with yatai, which are Japanese food stalls. We’re at the Maryama Park and it’s officially Sakura season. It’s Hanami season and like you can already see so many Sakura and all the food stalls and everything. I’m getting emotional. This is a long time dream. And it looks so great, doesn’t it? It is a Japanese tradition during hanami season to eat and drink while looking at the sakura trees blooming. [Music] Is it a potato? I see. I think it’s a normal potato, not a sweet potato. I don’t want one. [Music] It’s an experience that we definitely think everyone and anyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. [Music] Say hello. On your second day, we suggest we do exactly like we did and you start with a kimono rental in Sanen Zaka. We knew there was no better way to step back in time in Kyoto than wearing kimono. So, we went to a kimono rental first thing in the morning and prepared to explore the city. [Music] You can explore the Hokenji Temple and pose in front of the famous Yasaka Pagoda, which of course during cherry blossom season is absolutely filled with tourists. So the earlier you go, the better. [Music] Don’t forget to check out the Starbucks here as well. It’s probably one of the oldest ones. And the Starbucks itself is in a matcha house, a traditional Japanese house with a kimono. It’s a whole vibe. [Music] Make sure that you make your way towards Ki Mizoda, which is a UNESCO site known for its giant wooden stage and legendary water streams that grant health, success, and love with a panoramic views over the cherry blossom Kyoto. [Music] Once you return your kimono, which is normally by the end of the day, more or less at 5:00 p.m. because most of the kimono shops end up closing at that time along with other shops normally in Japan. Make your way towards the legendary Shimani Shrine at sunset. Trust us, this is definitely one of the best times of the day to go. Even though it’s almost always full, it’s beautiful to see all the Tori gates during sunset light. Also, during Hanami season, the Fush Shimari Shrine itself also has food stalls lining at the entrance. So, you can also eat here if you’re in the mood for it. [Music] As for day three, we do recommend that you go to Arashyama, which is a little bit further out from the center of Kyo itself. And during hanami season, of course, this area also has a ton of food stalls. And of course, we had to try the baby castella as well here. [Music] [Music] Make sure you also go to the kimono forest afterwards which is pretty close to the station and it’s a colorful display of illuminated textures and then also climb up to the monkey part which is roughly 20 minutes by foot. It’s uphill so be sure to be prepared if it’s summer which we already did before. It’s kind of brutal so make sure that you’re hydrated all the time. [Music] In the Arashyama area, we do recommend that you try the traditional kiiseki meal. There’s a bunch of restaurants that you can choose from, and it’s definitely something worth a try. Normally, there are beautiful dishes that have meaning and a seasonal flare. In this case, since it’s sanami season, you can see a little sakura on top of it as a decor that you can also eat, of course. And in this area, of course, you cannot miss the gem of all gems, the bamboo grove. This is absolutely filled with people almost all the time. So, if you really want to capture some photographs without people, you need to come here like 6:00 a.m. [Music] For your last day in Kyoto, start on a sweet note. Literally, we joined the matcha and wagashi making workshop and it was one of the best things that we did throughout the journey in Kyoto. [Music] Wow. [Music] We ended up learning how to create traditional Japanese sweets and properly whisk matcha. It’s definitely worth it if you’re interested in the culture itself. After that, you can very easily visit the Bodo In Temple, which is close to the place where we did the workshop and the link for it, it’s down below, of course, and in our blog in case you want to do the same one. And this particular temple is a world heritage site and an inspiration behind the 10 yen coin actually. [Music] You can also stop by a coffee shop that is very close to the temple called Kayedu Coffee. Kaedu in Japanese means both frog and to come home. So, it’s very fitting. You can also stop by the Ninja and Samurai Museum here in Kyoto, where you can basically try samurai armor and learn about Japan’s marshall past and feudal history. [Music] [Music] It’s like spirit and it’s really light. It’s really light and easy to use. [Music] You can also play with some shuriken. So, it’s definitely very fun if you have kids as well. And finally, to end the Kyoto journey, we definitely recommend that you go to the Nijoujo Castle. During Hanami season, the Nij Castle had the naked show on which was a digital light and sound projection event inside Samurai Era Castle. It was beautiful and with the Sakura, it was extra beautiful. [Music] If you have a little bit of extra time in Kyoto, we’ve put together a few bonus places that you can also check out. The first bonus place is the Kyoto International Manga Museum. Make sure you stop here, especially if you’re a fan of manga. This museum has over 50,000 manga that you can actually sit and read inside or even out in the lawn. There’s also a machine there where you can take your photos and it like embellishes your face so it gets really strange. And you can re-entry the place. The ticket is 1,200 yen per person. One of the stops is the K incline, which is a hidden hanami gem where old railway tracks are lined with blooming cherry trees. It’s a great way to get cool pictures. Maybe if you get here like in a fairly early morning, very early time in the morning, this is better. It’s just a short walk away from the Nazenji Temple, which is also one of the main temples in Kyoto. And it’s one of the most important Zen temples in Japan. It’s known for its giant Sanong gates, peaceful rock gardens, and beautiful brick aqueduct that looks straight out of a Gibu movie. [Music] If you get the chance here in Nong, make sure you also go to the Kuen theater where you can also watch traditional performances like geisha performances, no theater, and much much more. And yeah, this is the itinerary that we definitely recommend if it’s your first time in Kyoto. But guess what? Our adventure still continues. And in the next episode, we’re heading to Nada. It’s the land of sacred deer, ancient temples, and more stunning spring sites still during Sakura season. And it’s also Hood’s first time here. So, we’re also going to give you all the pointers and tips for first time in Nada. So, make sure you hit that like button, subscribe, and join us as we bottle on to the next place. Bye.

Planning your first trip to Kyoto? Join us as we explore the city over 4 unforgettable days on a family adventure filled with culture, food, and iconic sights. From famous spots like Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama to peaceful corners and beautiful temples, this itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors.

We take you through our real 4-day route — sharing what we did, what we loved, and what we’d recommend for anyone looking to experience the best of Kyoto. Whether you’re traveling with family, as a couple, or solo, this vlog is packed with helpful tips and must-see places to inspire your trip.

We also included a few bonus places at the end for those who might have more than 4 days to explore. And if you have more time and you’re looking for some hidden gems out of the golden route from the normal Kyoto, check out this other video of ours: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXLT2wxQAuM&list=PLA4HS4hqdjDNYP_UjNVlSUPCCyHFsOlMW&index=16

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0:00 – Welcome!
0:39 – Saying hello to our guest
1:20 – Day 1
2:22 – Follow our journey and subscribe
2:51 – Day 1
7:26 – Day 2
9:55 – Day 3
15:12 – Extra tips and places
16:56 – Thank you for watching!

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