5 Things To Do in Kyoto for An Unforgettable Experience

Kyoto is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Kansai region. With a centuries-old history as the island nation’s former capital, as well as being one of the major religious hubs in Japan, Kyoto has a great number of cultural sites. Here are the most unforgettable things to do and see in the city.

* Catch the Spring Dances by Kyoto’s geiko and maiko

Lots of Kyoto travel websites talk about being able to spot geisha around Kyoto, especially in the Gion area, but often these are just tourists dressed in traditional clothing. The Spring Dances – Kitano Odori in March, Kyo Odori and Miyako Odori in April, and Kamogawa Odori in May – are your best chance at catching the rare sight of an actual performance by geiko and maiko (Kyoto geisha and their apprentices) in the city.

* Find your Zen at Ryōan-ji’s rock garden

Unlike other traditional Japanese gardens, Zen rock gardens are dry-landscape gardens that do not contain any bodies of water. Instead, gravel and sand are carefully raked into patterns that represent rippling water. Ryōan-ji is perhaps the most famous of Kyoto’s Zen Buddhist gardens. It contains 15 boulders grouped in such a way that it is only possible to see 14 of them at any one time while standing on the veranda – very Zen!

* Make a wish at Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine

With its 10,000 vermilion shrine gates, Fushimi-Inari is one of the most popular sites in Kyoto. However, before you make the pilgrimage up Mount Inari’s trail, take a moment to stop by the Omokaru Stones near the entrance. The two stone lanterns are each topped with a heavy ornament called a giboshi. Make a wish and try to lift one of the giboshi. If you find the stone to be lighter than expected, then it’s said that your wish will be granted. However, if you find the stone to be very heavy, you may face hardship and trials in reaching your goal.

* Discover Japanese ghosts and goblins on Yokai Street

Japan’s native Shinto religion is based on nature worship and animism, the belief that objects – both animate and inanimate – are embodied with spirits. As a result, Japanese folklore is full of some pretty interesting and unusual yokai, or supernatural creatures, including an umbrella monster. If you’re interested in ghouls and ghosties, be sure to take a stroll down Kyoto’s Yokai Street, a shopping district populated with handmade yokai monsters created by local shops. The area even hosts yokai-themed events throughout the year.

* Eat the most famous omurice in Japan at Kichi Kichi

While not a Kyoto-specific food, the omurice (omelette rice) at Kyoto restaurant Kichi Kichi became something of a viral sensation when people began uploading videos of chef Yukimura Motokichi’s signature cooking technique. Gently balancing a fluffy omelette on a mound of rice pilaf, Motokichi slices it open with his chef’s knife, spreading the omelette’s deliciously eggy contents over the rice and topping it with a rich demi-glace sauce. While omurice may be a humble dish that anyone can make at home, Kichi Kichi’s version is simply on another level.