Kyoto: can a local guidebook help me avoid the crowds?

Published 2024-04-19
★ I am rediscovering Kyoto with an intense tour schedule, connecting several great tourist spots and even some places I’ve never visited (despite living in Kyoto for two years previously!) ★

This is Travel like a Local: my travel series based on followed the recommendations and itineraries written in Japanese guide books and magazines.

I want to answer 3 questions:

1. Are the guides accurate?
2. Are the recommendations different than what is available in English to international travellers?
3. What are the pros and cons of following these guides for locals?

In this video, I go to Kyoto and follow a Japanese itinerary that encompasses: Yasaka Jinja (shrine), Ishibekoji, Ryozen Museum, Kodaiji Temple, Choraku-ji Temple, Maruyama Park, Chion-in Temple and Shoren-in Monzeki.

My maps link for this route: [www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?mid=1_ymnDqKEG6kGxX…](www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?mid=12nPLOQPMhUO6cs…)

1. Yasaka Jinja / 八坂神社
maps.app.goo.gl/5xiomfxtKpf2H3eK8

2. Ishibekouji / 石塀小路
maps.app.goo.gl/CgKM7a2Xe2ftHovs6

3. Ryozen museum / 霊山歴史館
🏷️ 900
maps.app.goo.gl/ADfPuN7dB3G5j5q2A

4. Kōdaiji Tenmangū Shrine / 高台寺の天満宮
🏷️ 600
maps.app.goo.gl/DYnHWmSXiSb337x5A

5. Chōraku-ji Temple / 長楽寺
🏷️ 800
maps.app.goo.gl/96FnUYa9YscR2iEh9

6. Maruyama Park / 円山公園
maps.app.goo.gl/GRT1iXkwtHRcuw5Z7

7. Chion-in Temple / 知恩院
OPTIONAL:
🏷️ 400 for Hojo Teien / 方丈庭園
300 for Yuzen-en / 友禅苑
500 for both of the above gardens
maps.app.goo.gl/isaNhGrmwHiPaAkW7

8. Shoren-in Monzeki / 青蓮院門跡
🏷️ 600
maps.app.goo.gl/GFN6wEKAJd1WDhRX7

Chapters:
00:00 - Preview
00:29 - Introduction
02:19 - Yasaka Jinja
03:50 - Ishibekoji
04:51 - Ryozen Museum
06:00 - Kodaiji
08:32 - Maruyama Park
09:37 - Chorakuji
11:36 - Break time
12:14 - Chion-in
14:55 - Shoren-in
15:45 - Willow tree walkway
16:52 - Was the guide accurate?
18:42 - Highlights
19:19 - Downsides
20:47 - Japanese guides vs English guides
21:39 - What did you think?

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All Comments (7)
  • @taochiang6697
    yes....this is what I'm looking for..,thank you so much for sharing
  • @user-sz9wb4gb1z
    I love your video💖💖Wherever I go, it's important to me to avoid crowds in order to enjoy myself.
  • @Julia-ph3ey
    Wow, excellent video!! I love the concept of going through walking guides intended for domestic tourists. You get a completely different experience of a city that way, as opposed to just hitting all the common tourist sites.
  • This video was so helpful in narrowing down our Kyoto itinerary and discovering some places that aren’t at the top of all the international tourist guides. Thank you! :)
  • @Sibelian
    Thank you for the wonderful guide. It was informative and very interesting!
  • @JapanViewfinder
    I really enjoyed this video! Looking forward to Aoi Matsuri on the 15th! So much to shoot, so little time to edit 😅