IF YOU'RE

If you're going to Kyoto and your itinerary is just temples and the Bamboo Forest, save this because you're missing some of the coolest experiences. I've been to Kyoto twice now and these are the spots I recommend over and over again because they feel so uniquely Kyoto. First, where you're staying, Marufuku Kyoto. This hotel is Nintendo's original headquarters, which is already cool enough, but the rooms are beautifully and honestly, just such a unique place to stay. Next, the Kyoto International Manga Museum. It's an old elementary school turned into a Manga Museum. If you get there early enough, you can even have an artist draw you as an anime character. Tell me that's not a souvenir from Japan. Now, food. Kyoto Gyukatsu is easily one of my top five restaurants I've eaten at in all of Japan. I'm just gonna say it, the Wagyu in Kyoto might actually be better than some of the bigger cities. You cannot come to Kyoto without having matcha. It literally originated here. One of my favorite stops was Gion Komori for a little matcha break. While you're in Gion, give yourself time to just wander. Walk through the historic streets and make your way to Yasaka Pagoda. When we visited in 2023, we could explore the area pretty late, but on our most recent trip, things were closing much earlier, so I'd definitely come before 5 PM. Now, Arashiyama, give her an entire day because this is some of my favorite places in all of Japan. Start early at % Arabica and get the Kyoto latte, and here's the part people skip. Pay the extra 1,000 yen for the private seating area. You get 30 minutes with the most gorgeous view over the river, and it is so worth it. Instead of just walking through the Bamboo Forest with everyone else, hire Rickshaw. Trust me on this. They take you through quieter parts of the Bamboo Forest, show you nearby temples, and our girl was basically our personal photographer the entire time. Because they absolutely sell out. And finally, my favorite Arashiyama experience, rent a little boat for a lunch and wait for the food boat to come to you. Yes, a boat literally pulls up to your boat and sells you food. It was one of those experiences we still talk about. Remember to bring cash. Save this for your Kyoto itinerary because these are the experiences you're going to remember.