25,000 Steps Across Kyoto | The Ultimate Walking Tour π―π΅
It’s early morning before the sunrise. Leaving Osaka behind, I hopped on the Shinkansen, Japan’s legendary bullet train for the short ride to Kyoto. It’s wild how fast life moves here. One moment, you’re in a neon lit city of the future. The next, you’re gliding toward a place that feels like the past still breathes in the streets. The train barely gives you enough time to settle in just a quick flash of countryside, mountains in the distance, and then Kyoto rises like a quiet reminder of everything timeless. Stepping out of the station, the pace slows. The air feels different here. The old and the modern aren’t fighting for space. And today, I’m joining a walking tour to understand it all. Welcome to Kyoto. Good morning from whatever day this is in Wait, where am I? Oh, yeah. Uh I’m currently in Coyoto, guys, and uh doing a full day tour off Airbnb. Looked pretty good. And I’m only here for the day. I’m going back uh to Aaka tonight. So I just kind of wanted to maximize my time while I’m here and just and just to see as much as I could. And there’s a train. It’s going to be a very exciting day here in Kyoto. First time here. And uh I can already tell it’s awesome. Absolutely awesome, guys. So, uh, stick around if you want to see more of Kyoto. Going to head back to the train station and we’re going to get this, uh, tour started. It’s definitely very quiet, but it’s pretty chill. It’s also 8:15 in the morning, so like you can get ice cream from a vending machine, guys. You can get pretty much anything from a vending machine. The tourists are coming through, guys. The tourists are coming through. I already had two coffees today, guys. I’ve already had two coffees. I might need a third. I bought these um lemon cakes from uh Hiroshima yesterday at the station. I also bought beer from Hiroshima, too, but I haven’t tried it yet. But uh I tried this yesterday. It’s actually quite lemony. So, let’s give it another go. It’s like really fluffy. See that? Really good. Kyota, guys. Kyota on what day is it today? Wednesday. It’s Wednesday morning. Anyway, there’s a couple up in the tour that are from Oakville. So, go figure. Anyway, the first stop is this bamboo forest that we’re doing, which looks absolutely insane. And yeah, let’s get going. 9 hours, guys. 9 hours in Coyoto. So, let’s go. This area, Arashama area, I open to everybody like this. But originally when Kyoto became the capital of Japan in the 8th century, this area was only open to the emperor family and noble people in Kyoto. So nice to come back. >> There are places in Japan that feel less like destinations and more like invitations. The Rashyama Bamboo Grove is one of them. Just outside Kyoto City Center, you step into a corridor of towering bamboo. Stretching so high it swallows the sky. The wind moves differently here. Doesn’t blow, it whispers. It hums through every stalk like a living instrument, turning the whole forest into its own soundtrack. People come for the photos, sure, but what makes you stay is the feeling, that quiet reminder that the world is bigger, softer, and more ancient than anything on your screen. This grove has stood for centuries, cared for, and replanted by generations of Kyoto locals. It’s not just a tourist spot. It’s a piece of Japan’s soul. This is Arashyama. Next stop, riding like the locals do, Brandon is the only remaining tramstyle railway in Kyoto. It’s slow, charming, and feels like stepping back into the 1920s. As the tram glides past quiet neighborhoods, shrines tucked between houses and streets draped in maple trees. You catch glimpses of everyday Kyoto, the kind most travelers never get to see. Our next destination, Rion Temple. Here is a real animal, Japanese raccoon. >> This is the same kind of statue. >> And this is the Nuki Mario. I think you have >> Yes. And this is a lucky symbol to bring more guests or customers to that place. So, lots of houses and shops have this kind of statue. >> Okay. >> And it has a funny story. The body parts have special meaning for good luck. Have you heard of it? Okay. All right. They all speak English, so I don’t read it loud. But the funny part is number seven. >> Yes. >> Yes. For financial luck. >> Can I take a picture of that? >> Oh my god, that’s hilarious. >> Financial luck. >> Most of the tourists think it’s their feet, but actually it’s not. >> Oh my. >> So, can you tell the difference of Shinto shrine? It’s called Tori gate. But if it’s a Buddhist temple, they have a gate with a roof on the top. >> So if you see the roof like this, then it’s a Buddhist temple. >> But originally it was started as a villa of noble people on the boat like this. >> Oh wow. >> Yes. So this water garden used for their ceremonies. But how many rocks do they use in this garden? I mean, not these small ones, but these big rocks. >> Yes, actually it’s 15 rocks all together. So now we see all the 15 rocks here. But when we are in front of the real rock garden, we cannot see all of them. M one or two is always missing because this is a temple of Zen Buddhism and for the monks of Zen Buddhism sitting meditation is really really important. So this rock garden is also designed to encourage their sitting meditation. So it said we can see all the 15 rocks together only after we reach the enlightenment with a sitting meditation. But >> who exactly made this garden originally is actually still unknown. >> Have you been to other Kura restaurants before? There are some in the US too. >> Kura? >> Yeah. hard. >> So, it’s not a very traditional restaurant, but let’s enjoy. >> Yeah. >> Show you how to order sushi here. >> Okay guys, at the sushi restaurant. Just order using the tablet. So, I basically got all this stuff. Got beer, some udon, grilled pork, caret, miso, cucumber roll, tuna, onion, green roll. This is all the stuff you can get. >> Oh, you’re mine, guys. >> Your order will arrive shortly. >> Your order will arrive shortly. >> Is this hot? >> No. >> Your order will arrive shortly. >> We don’t need noodles here, guys. It’s pretty good, guys. It’s pretty good. >> I approve. >> Your mine will arrive shortly. >> It’s here, guys. >> Your order will arrive shortly. >> An amazing pudding. What’s that about? Try that. I guess >> your order will arrive shortly. >> Yeah. >> I really like this uh tuna sushi. It’s good. >> Will arrive shortly. >> Here’s the It’s the pudding. I’m waiting on the tempura. Let’s see how this amazing pudding is. It is amazing. I can’t confirm the amazing pudding is amazing at Cura. So, here is a sign of 7-Eleven. But in total, the stripes are skinnier. You see >> because remember there’s a landscape guideline to protect this traditional atmosphere of the city. >> So the company cannot make the logos too vivid or too flashy. >> Okay. >> So 7-Eleven logo is like this with skinny >> stripes and uniro also uses brown color instead of the original red color. >> I know it’s good actually. How about this building? >> If it’s just a Buddhist temple, it doesn’t have to be so >> gorgeous, right? Yeah. So, it was also a buildup. But what kind of person used to live here? Any idea? Shogun. >> Shogun. Yes, you’re right. people. >> Oh, do you know the Japanese word bonesai? >> Yeah, >> bonsai means a tree planted in a pot. So, bonesai is a small tree planted in a pot. And this pine tree also used to be a bonesai tree when the shogun was alive. >> Wow. >> And after his death, his family planted his pine tree in this garden. So, it grew this big. >> Oh my gosh. Kyoto has no shortage of temples, but King Kakuji is something else entirely. Set at the edge of a still mirror-l like pond, the golden pavilion rises out of the landscape like a scene from a story book. Every floor tells a different chapter of Japanese history. From samurai residences to Zen meditation halls, all wrapped in layers of pure gold leaf that catch the light in a way that feels almost unreal. Originally built in the 14th century, it’s been rebuilt, restored, and reimagined. But its spirit has stayed the same. A place designed to inspire calm reflection and a quiet kind of awe. >> We enjoy the beauty of simplicity. So here we can see the contrast of Japanese beauty. It’s very different from that luxurious golden temple. It’s very natural and simple. >> And Japanese tea ceremony has a big influence of Zen Buddhism. So it’s not only to enjoy matcha green tea but it’s also like a medication has a meditational aspect. So before enjoying the tea in Japanese tea ceremony they have a long purification process for about 30 minutes and in that purification time the host and the guests do not talk each other. So it’s very very quiet >> but we can listen to the sound of water sound of the bamboos they use sound of the grass tatami net sound of the silk kimono >> it’s very peaceful and relaxing but that is Shinto style >> so we will do it later at the next Shinto shrine so if it’s a Buddhist temple like this then first we throw the coin into the box then make one ball oh sorry after tossing the coin here they have the gong to ring. So, throw the coin, then ring the gong, and make one ball, make a wish. And one more B. >> What do I do? >> Throw the coin, then bring the wish. >> Okay. Clap. >> Got it. >> Perfect. Have you tried Japanese fortune telling paper? >> Have you? You got good luck or bad luck? >> Middle luck. >> Medium luck. >> I got to try this. Hey guys, fortune telling hunter >> your stomach is weak. Rectify the time of your meals and the amount you eat. I just got back from lunch. >> Work agreeable money investments for your collections will be profitable. A bright prospect expected for exams. Love going well. No, it’s not. Finding your soulmate. He she will. Did I tear the other beast? >> I think I got the same one as you. >> No way. >> Seven stops. We have at the end. This is have lots of vitamin C. >> Really? It >> tastes like >> Red Bull from Kyoto, guys. >> Wow. It’s awesome. >> It’s quite good. What’s it called? >> Corona C. >> Okay. Like vitamin C, but not. >> Okay. >> There are large gaps between the platforms and the train. made it. >> It’s something Japanese people eat every day. >> Oh, rice. >> Rice. >> Well, the texture looks a little different, but it’s eating >> rice. It’s holding the ear of rice. >> Okay. >> Cuz as you can see, it’s a huge Shinto gate to gate. So it’s a Shinto shrine, right? And in Shinto, we have a millions of gods living in the nature. >> And this place uh was built to pray for rich harvest of rice. >> So if it’s called Inari Shrine, it’s a shrine for rich harvest of rice. Yes. And this is the biggest inner shrine in Japan. Well, we have a very special wish for example of course for uh business success here or marriage, child birth, recovery from illness or any important wishes. We can also make a bigger donation about 5,000 yen to 30,000 yen and we can get a special blessing by the sheep of free like this. Yeah. >> A visiting here for their special wishes and that dance performance is to entertain the shin god to ask them to make our wish. Okay. So from here the 1,000 to gate tunnel starts. So on the back side of the gate we can see lots of letters written. The right side shows a name uh shows a date of donation and the left side shows the name of the donor. So this big one was donated by a company called cow cow company. It’s a huge cosmetic company in Japan. It also can be a good advertisement. >> Do they ever change or they always stay in this cow? >> Yes. A good question. Well, what kind of material is used for these gates? This one is special. So, it’s another material. But how about all these? Yes, these are all wooden gates made of cedar wood. So, they get old in about 20 years. >> And when they get old, the shrine replaces the old gates to new one from somebody else. Oh, someone donates someone new. >> Yes. So they are not always adding more and more to gates. They’re always replacing the old to gates. So some look a little old and some look very new. >> So you have to pay again to have your >> Yes. The shrine will contact the donor again and ask them if the renewment. >> So yeah, for the repairment you need to pay some more money. >> Interesting. Good. Good business, right? No kidding. Fashimi Inaritesa dates back to the Nara period and predates Kyoto as a capital city making it older than many major temples and shrines in Japan. It was originally built to honor Anari Kami Shinto deity of rice, agriculture, prosperity and business success. Fushimari is unique because it spans an entire sacred mountain. The full pilgrimage route is 4 km long taking 2 3 hours to hike. Fushimi Anari consistently ranks as one of Japan’s top tourism destinations, attracting millions of visitors annually. The main draw is the Senbon Tori, the thousand Tori gates. In reality, there are over 10,000, creating one of the most iconic pathways in Japan. >> This part is called 1,000 Tori gates, but actually there are a lot more to the top of this mountain. Including all the gates, there are more than 10,000 gates. But to see all of them, you need to do 3 hours hiking. >> Where is she? >> Where is he? I got some. >> This is a climb. >> Yeah, >> you’re not joking about it. Now we finished 70% of the slow the hill already. >> Okay. >> So we almost getting to the next temple on the top and after the temple well we will have some free time here for shopping and it’s such a crowded area. So if you get lost on the way please come back here by 5:30. This is one of the biggest and oldest Buddhist temples in Kyoto. Originally, it was built in the 8th century. So, it’s been here for more than 1,200 years already, >> but the buildings were burnt down more than 10 times in the long history. So, the current buildings were reconstructed about 400 years ago. Please turn around. >> Nice. >> Nice. >> Please turn around and enjoy the view from here. >> Wow. >> See you guys. See you guys back in Oakville. Founded more than 1,200 years ago, this temple has watched centuries rise and fall. You climb through the narrow streets of Hagosyama, past lanterns and tea shops, and then suddenly the city opens beneath you. The temple’s famous wooden veranda, built without a single nail, stretches out over a forest that shifts with the seasons. And today, we were lucky. We witnessed an amazing sunset right from the spot. >> That’s awesome. There used to be a very strong monk doing this training in this mountain and he was always wearing iron sandals and using iron spears for the training. So now people believe if we could lift them up then we will have a good fortune in the future. How much weighs? Yeah. Yeah. YEAH. Many statues are only open to the public only once in 33 years. Wow. Because this statue here is called panong or goddess of mercy. And goddess of mercy is believed to transform herself into 33 different forms to save people. So 33 is a special number here. So they open their hidden statues only once in every 33 years. >> Next chance is coming in 2033. >> So if you want to see the hidden statues, please come back again. >> I will years later. >> I can’t imagine how busy it was. >> Yeah. >> It’s not just one day. Last time it was like three months in spring season and three more months in fall season. >> Okay. How long you had this thing for? >> Couple years. >> Yeah. >> Comes in handy. >> Oh, so handy. temple garden. >> Okay. Now I will stay here. So please enjoy some pictures and come back here. Okay. >> In another 400 years from now they have to replace all these pas again. So the temple is now growing new trees for the future generation, >> but they have to keep growing the trees for 400 more years from now. So it’s a super long-term project. >> It’s called >> and means holy water. >> Holy water. >> Holy water. >> And this place is the origin of this temple. So we see three water stream and these are spring water coming from this mountain and we can drink the water. So people are always waiting in line to get the holy water from this mountain. >> They drink it. >> Take a picture from this. >> Oh yeah. Jeez. That is Instagram for sure. Our next stop, Yasaka Pagota. A symbol of Kyoto. Rising above the old streets of Higashiyama, this five-story pagota has watched more than a thousand years of history unfold. From samurai to merchants, monks, and travelers just like us. You turn a quiet corner and there it is. Standing tall and elegant, framed by wooden machia houses, and stone lanterns. It feels like stepping straight into a postcard. Even with the world changing around it, the pagota holds its place. Calm, steady, timeless. Built in the sixth century, rebuilt after fires, and preserved again and again, Yasaka Pagota is a reminder of Kyoto’s resilience. At night, when the lanterns glow and the streets get quiet, the whole area transforms. The pagota lights up softly, casting long shadows across the cobblestones, as if inviting you to slow down and breathe. >> Yes, the famous geisha. Have you seen the real geisha before? Oh, if you are very very lucky, you might see one walking on the street >> to show respect to them. So they are called gay kosan and we have we also have mosan in kto and mosan means a training apprentice gosan geisha in Kyoto and gongi is just one of them one of the five districts. So if you go to other geisha district uh you can see the similar lanterns but they have different kinds of design. Oh, there was one there. >> Oh, missed it. >> There are the training schedule of Gossan and Mosan. So this part said dancing classes, singing classes, music, tea ceremony, flower arrangement and choreography classes. So they are still sharing their schedule on this blackboard. >> But today we can use our smartphones to share our schedule, right? Why are they still doing it with this blackboard? >> Wow. Because not only these culture lessons but their everyday life itself is a training to become the professional gosan. So during their training as my son they still follow lots of traditional rules. They always dress in kimono like this. Their hairstyle is also fixed like this every day. And they still live without smartphones for about six years. So it’s a big dedication for teenage girls, you know. So when they contact their family or friends, they still write letters. >> Wow. >> Very traditional. >> So this place has five gishas living together. >> But there is no place where like a common person can see their performance. >> Uh do you remember the training school that big building? They have a theater which is open to everybody. So they have like traditional culture show every night from 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. And it also includes a dance performance of the gishas >> and they are real geisha. >> They’re real geish or there is also a museum near the theater and if you go to the museum you can see the dance performance of the geisha the real one and you can also get a ticket to take pictures with them. Oh, >> that museum is also very popular >> or there are some tours for tourists to enjoy the banquet. >> So if you want to see them then you can also book the tour. >> Do you see a small Japanese house with a half black carton? >> So that place is a shop uh making the flower ornaments for mosan. >> You see? Yes. Yeah. >> So the mic they change their flower every month like cherry blossom in April wisteria in May and now in October they wear this cryansimon flower. Next month will be yellow maple leaves. So they change it every month. How they sleep at night? Do you see their pillows? >> They leave their Oh my god. >> This high pillow. >> Yeah. Because the micro son they make this hairstyle with their real hair and it’s fixed for one week. So when they sleep at night, they sleep on this high volume pillow to keep their hairstyle. >> Oh my god. >> So it’s one of the hardest things to get used to, I heard. But when they untie their hair, they just look like other teenagers. So they’re excited to go to convenience store, McDonald’s. Yeah. live the ordinary teenage life. Yeah. >> When they untend the whole day here. >> So here is a theater called Minamiza theater. It’s a theater of Kabuki performance. You know Kabuki like traditional performance only by male actors. They have princess roles but even the princess roles are played by me. >> Okay. >> Wow. >> And here this is something I want to show you. >> Oh this is the gold >> finish. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. >> Amazing. >> How many we make today? >> He’s got his official count. Mine is so less but I should still check >> more than 20,000. They’re building a new record around 25 >> 25. And how did you enjoy? Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. >> You still remember everything? >> It’s all It’s all on tape. >> On that side. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Well, that was an awesome tour back at Kyoto station and totally exhausted full day, but definitely you saw what Kyoto is all about getting back on the train to Osaka. So, more coming from Japan, guys. So, thanks for watching and I’ll see you soon. Peace.
I started the morning by taking the Shinkansen from Osaka, speeding straight into a city filled with history, culture, and some of the most beautiful sights in all of Japan. From there, I joined a full-day walking tourβone of the best decisions Iβve made on this trip.
We wandered through the serene Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, rode the charming Randen tram through local neighbourhoods, stepped into the peaceful rock gardens of Ryoan-ji Temple, and grabbed a fresh sushi lunch to refuel.
Then the afternoon turned into a highlight reel of Kyotoβs greatest hits: the shimmering Kinkaku-ji Golden Temple, the legendary Fushimi Inari Shrine with its endless torii gates, the iconic Kiyomizu-dera, and the timeless beauty of the Yasaka Pagoda.
And to cap it all offβwe tried our luck spotting Geishas in the historic streets of Gion as the sun went down.
From ancient temples to cinematic street scenes, this was one of the most unforgettable days of my Japan trip so far.
The Tour: https://www.airbnb.ca/experiences/957523
Shoutout to our guide Meg – she is awesome!
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