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Kyoto

Kyoto Events June

June is a wonderful time to visit Kyoto. The springtime crowds have departed, the heat of summer has yet to set in, and the green of the trees is still fresh and beautiful. Best of all, there are plen

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Kyoto Events March

Kyoto in March is spectacular -- there's the blooming of the plum blossoms and, later, the cherry blossoms, both celebrated with "hanami", karaoke and sake-soaked flower-viewing parties. There's also

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Kyoto Events May

May is one of the best -- if not the best -- times to visit Kyoto. It's less crowded than April (when everyone comes to see the cherry blossoms), the weather is usually warm (but not hot) and lots of

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Kyoto Events November

November is one of the best months to visit Kyoto -- the weather is generally sunny and cool and the fall foliage is at its peak. In addition, there is a huge selection of things going on in the city.

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Kyoto Events October

Here's a rundown of special Kyoto events that happen during October 2025, including my favorite Kyoto festival of them all, the Kurama Fire Festival. If you're visiting Kyoto in October, don't miss it

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Kyoto Events September

September sees the special once-yearly opening of Heian-jingu Shrine's beautiful Shinen Garden and the To-ji Temple Homotsukan treasure house Autumn Special Opening. ![Lush green expanse of rice padd

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Aburaya Shokudo Restaurant Kurama

Simple, hearty fare for pilgrims to Kurama-dera Mountain Temple, Aburaya Shokudo is an old-school eatery. No pretensions: just filling rice and noodle dishes. We never grow tired of places like Abura

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Ain Soph Journey Kyoto

A vegan meal in downtown Kyoto has never been easier to find. Just head to Ain Soph Journey right off Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcade. The food is decent, but their desserts are even better -- we recommen

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Ajiro Honten

Whether you're vegan or not, gourmands should head to Ajiro Honten near Myoshin-ji Temple to enjoy gorgeously cooked, multi-course Buddhist temple vegan meals. One of their claims to fame: they're the

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Akagakiya

If you're into non-touristy dining, you're in luck. Ultra-local Akagakiya near Sanjo serves up a slice of old-school Kyoto atmosphere along with its tasty izakaya classics. ![The entrance ot Akagakiy

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Anzukko

Anzukko, a gyoza bar located down a small alley near Sanjo Station, merits multiple visits. We love this pocket-sized slip of a restaurant for their excellent, inventive gyoza. Downtown Kyoto has no

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Arabica Arashiyama

If you need a pick-me-up while exploring Arashiyama, head to this stylish and airy coffee shop on the banks of the Hozu-gawa River. ![店員](https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-JrgRzvH/0/781bf1b8/L/i-Jr

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Arabica Fujii Daimaru

For a quick cup of excellent coffee downtown, head to this ultra-stylish coffee shop on the ground floor of Fujii Daimaru department store. If you find yourself in need of coffee when shopping on Shi

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Arabica Higashiyama

This super-stylish coffee shop serves some of the best coffee in Kyoto and occupies a prime position on a lovely lane leading up to Yasaka-no-To Pagoda. ![Arabica Higashiyama](https://photos.smugmug.

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Azuma Sushi

Eating sushi at a local neighbourhood joint doesn't get better than this. For unpretentious, delicious sushi that won't break the bank, head over to Azuma Sushi in Higashiyama. ![A moderately lean cu

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Bajitofu

You won't have to wander far out of downtown Kyoto to find great yakitori. Bajitofu is a centrally-located izakaya serving some of the best in town. Reservations recommended. Wander around the side s

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Beniya Restaurant Kibune

Beniya is one of the more elegant riverside restaurants in the quaint riverside town of Kibune. If you'd like to splash out a little while in Kibune, Beniya is the place. You can dine on rivertop pla

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Best Affordable Sushi In Kyoto

Kyoto might not be the first city that comes to mind for sushi. But that doesn't mean you can't get decent sushi here! ![Nigiri sushi in Kyoto. Editorial credit: makesushi1 / Shutterstock.com](https:

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Best Cafes In Kyoto

With dozens of fantastic cafes across the city, Kyoto's cafe culture is well worth exploring. Here is a short list of our favorites, all personally tasted and enjoyed! Kyoto might be well known for t

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Best Child Friendly Restaurants In Kyoto

Food tends to be the biggest issue for families traveling to Japan. Sure, the food and drinks are hygienic and safe, but you'll probably find that children are "challenged" by some of the unfamiliar i

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Best Coffee In Kyoto

Looking for a great cup of coffee in Kyoto? Need a break from the international coffee chains? Here is a list of the best independent coffee shops in Kyoto. ![Animal en el café](https://photos.smugmu

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Best Gyoza In Kyoto

Every culture has its own version of the dumpling. In Japan, this is the gyoza or pot sticker. While gyoza originated from China -- where it's known as 'jiaozi' -- they've become a popular and ubiquit

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Best Izakaya In Kyoto

Izakaya and sake specialists (they're almost the same thing) are everywhere in Osaka. Spending an evening in an izakaya is one of the best ways to really experience this city -- you'll sample great fo

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Best Japanese Tea And Sweet Shops In Kyoto

Tea reigned supreme in Japan long before coffee-drinking became popular here. As the reigning cultural capital for over a thousand years, Kyoto was at the heart of tea culture and its myriad developme

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Best Kaiseki Japanese Haute Cuisine In Kyoto

Consisting of multiple small dishes served one by one, kaiseki cooking is highly seasonal and rarefied. This style of Japanese fine dining is what inspired nouvelle cuisine and degustation menus. For

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Best Kissaten In Kyoto

Kissaten are retro cafes -- rather like Japanese-style European coffee houses -- and they're an interesting alternative to more contemporary indie cafes. Here are some of our favourite kissaten in Kyo

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Best Okonomiyaki In Kyoto

Often called "Japanese pizza", okonomiyaki is actually very different! Here's our recommended okonomiyaki restaurants in Kyoto to try it yourself. ![Okonomiyaki in Kyoto. Editorial credit: TheNUshutt

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Best Ramen In Kyoto

Ramen in Japan doesn't mean the same thing it does in North America. These soulful bowls of noodles are lovingly made by masters of their craft, and are a far cry from the instant stuff students subsi

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Best Restaurants In Kyoto

Discover Kyoto’s culinary treasures with our curated list of the best restaurants in the city, categorized by cuisine type, location, and price range. Whether you're craving sushi, ramen, or kaiseki,

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Best Resutoran Gai In Kyoto

Resutoran-gai or shokudo-gai are the Japanese equivalent of food courts. They're a great way to have lots of different food choices. Here's our list of the best resutoran-gai in Kyoto. Resutoran-gai

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Travel Guide
Kyoto Castles And Palaces
Kyoto Districts
Kyoto Eat And Drink
Kyoto Gardens
Kyoto Geisha
Kyoto Hotels
Kyoto Itineraries
Machiya
Kyoto Museums Buildings
Kyoto Onsen
Kyoto Top Things To Do
Kyoto Romantic
Kyoto Ryokan
Shinto Shrines
Kyoto Temples
Kyoto Walking Tours
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