A Different Side of Kyoto π―π΅ | Japan Travel Itinerary
Guys, I need you to comment. Is it bad that I went to Kyoto for 12 days and didn’t visit a single temple or castle? Well, sort of. I mean, I already explored all the classic Kyoto stuff when I came here 9 years ago. So, this time around, I just wanted to do the kawaii aesthetic, the hidden gems kind of itinerary, and I’m so glad I did. So, if you’re someone who’s also not too fast about taking off the historical landmarks, or maybe you just want a chill and slower trip, then this video is for you. I flew in from Chiang Mai, Thailand. That’s where I live now. And I flew with Vietjet to Osaka. And it only took 5 hours. I was so surprised at how affordable it was to fly from Chiang Mai as compared to Singapore because also obviously Chiang Mai is way closer. But yeah, 5 hours to get to Japan is considered super fast for me. Once I landed, I took the Haruka Express train from the airport to Kyoto station. They also go to Osaka station. I booked it on Cluke link in the description box below. Please do not buy your tickets at the station. It’s more expensive. You just scan the QR code at the gate and it’s super fast free. So, you have to book a time slot on the website and I only booked it when I landed just in case my flight got delayed. Okay. Because I’m here for a really long time, so I needed something really budget given the expensive rental prices here in Kyoto. So, I stayed at Continu Jojo, which is near Nij Castle, kind of far from downtown, but for $38 USD a night for a private room in this economy, it’s so worth it. Yes, I know it’s a hostel, but honestly, I just need a clean bed and some privacy. I’ve got a full hostel tour in another video. If you’re interested, go check it out. Okay, the first stop I went to Mi Pig Cafe in Kawam in Kamachi. Okay, it’s my second time seeing these micro pigs. I went to the Harajuku branch in Tokyo before and what can I say? I fell in love. Who wouldn’t? They’re so small and sweet. And I swear this was cheaper than therapy. Look at this little thing snuggling at me. You little snuggler. You’re so cute and I want to kidnap you. I was literally dying from serotonin overdose. I made a reservation, but honestly, the micro pig trend hype has died down and walkins are probably fine because I saw a lot of people just walking in. Then I had lunch at Moon and Bag. Their highlight is the torch wagyu ramen. That’s super smoky and flavorful. Was it mind-blowing? No. But yes, really good. I’m in Japan, so of course I’m going to have matcha for dessert. We went to Kio Hayashia. Please excuse my Japanese. I’m trying my best. It’s a famous matcha spot, but I found it kind of mean. They took forever to serve and the sweetness was just too much. I recommend the matcha tiramisu and matcha house instead. Like look at that cream. So overall, we spent our whole day walking around Kam Kawaramachi and walked over to Gian. I’ll let the clips just do the talking. Starting the A with a lovely walk to Nijou station to take the train to Amano Hashid. It took close to 2.5 hours and oneway tickets were about 5,000 yen. The plan is to stay a night here so that it wouldn’t be a rush day trip. We stayed at Monroso Resort which is really close to Amano Hashid View Land just a 5 minutes walk to the famous chair lift. Warning, there is no seat belt or protective bar, which freaked me out a bit, but it doesn’t go super far from the ground. And honestly, it wasn’t scary after the first minute. Remember to take selfies as you ascend. The view behind you is just so gorgeous. Once I was at the top, I realized no wonder Amano Hashida is considered one of Japan’s top three scenic spots. Legend has it if you stand on the platform and over and look at the asmbbar upside down through your legs. It looks like a dragon flying through the sky. It’s got a matan noki view. I didn’t really see the dragon, but I get the concept and I also get the vision. While you’re up there, you have to try their pudding. It comes in this adorable jar. And yes, I took mine home and turned it into a tiny bus. There are other fun things to do at View Land, too, like the pedal mono rail. You cycle along a rail track with panoramic views of the bay. It’s popular, but there’s pressure to go fast since people line up behind you. So, pro tip, sit in the back if you want to take it slow. After about 2 hours, we descended, which I like the view here much better than ascending and walked back to the hotel to check in. It was my first time staying in a Rioan, and I sure as hell did not expect the view from a room to look like this. I finally understand what Victoria Redcliffe meant when she said, “I just don’t think at this age I’m meant to live an uncomfortable life.” Anyway, I changed into the yukata, which the hotel provided, which was also my first time wearing it. And I spent an hour debating h whether or not to go to the onsen because like what do you mean I have to be naked in front of strangers? Um, even though it’s separated by gender, I was feeling really really shy. So I procrastinated and went for dinner first. Eventually I caved and went to the onsent when no one else was around. And yes, it was a pretty good experience that I would only do if there is nobody else in the same room as me. I uploaded a separate video tour of this resort, so if you’re interested to learn more, go check it out. And I also included the booking link in the description box below. Today was our last day in Amano Hashid. And originally, this was going to be a day trip, but I am so glad we stayed the night. You’ll see why. There are lots of day tours to Amano Hashidete from Kyoto, but honestly, they seem super rushed. If you have time, I really recommend staying at least one night. Our goal for the day was to visit in Funaya, the traditional fishing village known for the boat houses. We headed to Amanuhid Boat Dog and boarded a ferry. You can buy shrimp crackers at the dock to feed the birds during the ride. It was honestly very scary and I was terrified at first, but it got less scary after a while. Once we arrive, we walk to the nearby bus stop. Just remember to cross the road because we almost boarded the wrong bus. The bus leaves from the opposite side from the dock. Just remember that the bus ride took about 40 minutes if I’m not wrong. And the coaster scenery was so beautiful. Like look at it. If you can try to get a window seat, you just don’t want to miss this. This was honestly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. And we explored the village and tried to visit a waterfront cafe. But the queue was too long and we couldn’t afford to miss our train back to Kyoto city. So we headed back to Amano Hashidete Center with a direct bus. And then we took the same train back to Kyoto and I had fire ramen for dinner. Yes, I know it’s super touristy and theatrical, but it was just opposite my host and I wanted to try it at least once. Verdict. Um I feel that the karag was much more better than the ramen. It’s so good that I still crave for that fried chicken. So, don’t say I never warn you. Yeah, it’s finally a solo day and I was so happy about it because I’m just not the kind of person who can hang out with someone every single day. I really value having time alone to recharge. So, this day was exactly what I needed. I took a direct bus from my host to Arashimaya, which took around 40 minutes. I started my day really early, like 8:00 a.m. early, because I wanted to check out this so-called Tik Tok hidden gem that’s really not so hidden anymore. And I hope I do not butcher the name. It’s Adashino Nutsuji Temple. It’s an uphill walk to get there. So, if you’re balling, get a taxi. But I’m broke, so I walked. The temple grounds were tranquil and Adashino is known for its thousands of small stone statues each representing the soul of the deceased. There’s also a peaceful bamboo grove that’s meant to be an alternative to the infamous Arashimaya bamboo forest. And let me tell you why. It’s just way quieter and there’s no crowds. On my way back down, I passed by the edge of the bamboo forest and found this really cute sight view. So, I took this opportunity to take some aesthetic shots here. For lunch, I had Udon and there was a long queue, so I figured it must be good, right? Then I went to Miffy Bakery, but brah, I got there at 12:00 p.m. and almost everything was cleared off the rack. If you want the full selection of buns, especially the popular brown one, you have to come earlier. like when they open. I only managed to get the tamago bun, which was still super cute and tasty, but I really, really wanted that browny head one, but oh well, next time. One of my favorite parts of the day was walking along the Katsura River. I didn’t realize how scenic it would be, the water, the trees, the little boats. My one regret was not planning properly to take the boat ride. My last stop was Usait. I guess that’s how it’s pronounced. The views here is just I can’t even describe it. I booked my visit one week in advance through their website because I just didn’t want to risk being denied entry. For dinner, I had my first omakas experience and okay, I get the appeal, but I think I prefer a full meal over tiny fancy sushi. Like, yeah, it was high quality, but I was still super hungry after. So, yep, this is just not for me. Even though I came for 12 days, it doesn’t mean I got something planned every day. I’m working remotely while traveling. So, some days I spend staying in and just eat supermarket sushi nearby. Nothing really special, but I really like slow traveling. Some may call me lazy, but everyone has their own travel style, right? I like having breaks to shut down and stay in versus rushing to see everything in 5 days. So, let me know if this is also you or what’s your travel style in the comments below. Did you know that you can ride a dog shaped cable car up to a vintage Japanese team park and feed deers all in the same day trip from Kyoto? And that’s exactly what I did. Here’s the catch though. Getting to Iasano station where the doggy tram is was just kind of chaotic. What should have taken 1 and 1/2 hours ended up taking 2 and 1/2 hours to get to because I got lost. You have to transfer many, many times. the route is kind of confusing especially if you’re transferring between lines. So if you’re directly challenged, I highly recommend booking a day tour on Cluke that covers both Ecom Sanjjo and Nara Park. That way you don’t need to stress about transfers. The link is in the description, so be sure to check it out. Anyway, the dog shaped tram takes you up the hill to a Koma Sancho amusement park. This is an adorable retro theme park at the top of a mountain. It’s super nostalgic and it’s honestly catered more towards for kids. The best part about this is that there were no ques and there were no entrance fee and it’s a pay per ride system. Please take note that I went on a weekday, so it was practically empty. I went with a German girl I met at my host. She was super extroverted, which made things way less awkward because I’m usually super shy around new people, but she had that friendly golden retriever energy. It was my first time hang out with someone from a hostel and I’m really glad that I tried it. After that, we took the tram back down and headed to Nara Park. By the time we got there, it was already around 400 p.m. and all the deer crackers were sold out. We were really fortunate to be approached by this super sweet uncle that was handing out snacks for free. So, we still got to feed them. We had a picnic near Wakuyama Hill which was overlooking the whole of Nara as the sun was setting. It was such a perfect ending to a chaotic day. Getting back to Kyoto City was about an hour direct train from N station. Of course, I went to Universal Studios Japan on a weekend and as expected, it was packed. Am I the only one who just doesn’t get these huge theme parks? Why do I need an itinerary and a booking just to get into Super Mario World? Isn’t the whole point of an amusement park to feel carefree? That is the part I don’t like because all these extra planning really kills the fun and spontaneity for me. On a side note, I really like the chur rolls. Okay, back to the topic. I get why the system exists, but still I wish it didn’t feel like I was scheduling a doctor’s appointment just to have fun, which I paid for.
I spent 12 days in Kyoto, Japan, exploring at my own pace β no temple marathon, no rushing around β just cute cafes, quiet side streets, hidden gems, and cozy corners that made me fall in love with this city.
From wandering through charming neighborhoods to finding affordable stays, from day trips to cute spots youβll never see in most travel guides, this is my slow travel guide to Kyoto. If youβre looking for a more relaxed Japan itinerary (or youβve been to Kyoto before and want something different), this vlog is for you.
In this video:
β Cute & aesthetic cafes
πΈ Hidden gems and scenic spots
π Affordable & convenient stays
ποΈ Day & weekend trips outside Kyoto
π Bookings Mentioned in This Video
π Haruka Express (Kansai Airport β Kyoto): https://klook.tpx.lt/jgei4I85
Continue Nijojokita Hostel (Kyoto): https://trip.tpx.lt/ndpS79y9
Monjuso (Miyazu Accommodation): https://trip.tpx.lt/lEJJRZ4e
[Nara & Ikoma] Nara Park + Wakakusa Mountain Area & Ikoma Mountain Amusement Park Day Tour: https://klook.tpx.lt/HitZAjDJ
Universal Studios Osaka Japan Tickets: https://klook.tpx.lt/zmat8yVd
βοΈ Perfect for:
Slow travel lovers
Kyoto beyond the tourist spots
Japan itinerary ideas
Cute cafe hopping in Japan
π¬ Have you been to Kyoto? Which spot in this video is your favorite? Comment below!
#KyotoTravel #JapanVlog #KyotoItinerary #SlowTravelJapan #KyotoHiddenGems #JapanTravelVlog #KyotoCafes #JapanItinerary #KyotoDayTrips #TravelJapan
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2 Comments
I luv that you are broke!
Another gorgeous video π