10 FREE THINGS TO DO IN KYOTO JAPAN pt. 1

Lash+in+orange+kimono

I was fortunate enough to live in Kyoto for 6 years.

While there, I took advantage of Kyoto’s cultural treasures by studying tea ceremony, kimono wearing, flower arrangement, massage, koto, and Aikido. I incessantly explored Kyoto’s arts, alleyways, shops, festivals, temples, hidden traditional eating establishments and theatrical performances.

So today I’m here to share with you some insider’s tips on simply amazing FREE things to do in Kyoto. In fact, I came up with so many tips that I’m presenting Kyoto in two parts. This is pt. 1. For more ideas check out part 2 here. Happy explorations!

Kyoto visitor’s Guide

1. Scoop up a stunning souvenir: Kyoto Visitor’s Guide  magazine

Kyoto Guide

After arriving in Kyoto, one of the first things to do is make your way to the Kyoto Visitor’s Center, just across the street from Kyoto Station, to get updates on current festivals, events, shows and information on temples, neighborhoods, and sites.

Besides all the great information served up by very polite staff, a major reason to visit is to get your free copy of the gorgeous Kyoto Visitor’s Guide. It’s a super large-size, full color magazine, chocked full of stunning photos, exploration ideas, neighborhood maps, and event write-ups.

The guide is so beautiful, it makes a perfect souvenir. I collected as many as possible while living there and still treasure my collection to this day. (p.s. Get a free city map, too)

inside Kyoto Station

3. Marvel at lavish time-honored festivals

As Japan’s cultural heartland, nearly every month Kyoto presents an extravagant traditional festival.  In July there’s Kyoto’s spectacular Gion Matsuri (festival) during which revelers dressed in summer kimono carry massive wood floats through Kyoto’s narrow streets.

In August there’s Giozan Matsuri ( fire festival) when temples on Kyoto’s mountainsides light massive bonfires which can be seen from any point in Kyoto.

October brings the Jidai Matsuri,(Festival of Ages), where parade-goers dress up in lavish traditional costumes of royalty, artisans, soldiers, geisha, musicians and parade through the streets.

Then there are the unforgettable New Year’s Eve ceremony, Archery Festival in January, Plum Blossoms in February, Hina Matsuri (doll festival) in March, Cherry Blossoms in April, Aoi Matsuri (Blue Festival) in May…

You’re bound to catch one of these unforgettable festivals while visiting Kyoto. (another good reason to make a bee-line to the visitor’s center on arrival, so you don’t miss out!)

Maiko- apprentice Geisha- in one of Kyoto’s Geisha Districts

4. See real live Geisha

You heard me right. Kyoto still has 3 small Geisha quarters where Geisha entertain wealthy patrons with witty banter, music recitals, elegant dance and tea ceremonies. Apprentice Geisha ‘Maiko’ are trained there as well.

Simply by walking through these neighborhoods in evenings, and sometimes in mornings and afternoons as well, you are likely to watch some real Geisha sashay down the street, nip into a shop, or pass from one hall to another. Another unforgettable experience.

variety of Japanese pickles on sale, with free samples, in department store

5. Sample Japan’s tasty delicacies

You’ve got to visit a Japanese department store! The ground floor (underground / basement) is devoted to prepared foods. You’ll find almost every kind of Japanese cuisine there from traditional sweets to okonomiyaki to sushi and sashimi to soups, rice dishes…

As if looking at all the beautifully prepared and presented exotic foods wasn’t enough, you even get to taste free samples. Of almost everything. The food departments are so large, the foods so plentiful and variable, that you can literal get full sampling everything, if you’d like. It’s the equivalent of a full meal.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

6. Tour Kyoto’s 2 Imperial Palaces and 2 Imperial Villas, entirely for free
Imperial Household Agency

Take advantage of this distinguished opportunity while you’re in Kyoto.

Japanese nationals are also allowed to tour these Imperial compounds, but usually have to wait several months then scramble around to alter their schedules when their Imperial ‘ticket’ day is announced.

Tourists have a huge, and arguably unfair, advantage. You’ll be granted a tour pass within a few days of application, on the grounds that you won’t be in Kyoto long. The only thing you have to do is visit the Kyoto Imperial Household Agency  Office to fill out an application form.

Since you must apply in advance, this should be your second line of business upon arriving in Kyoto. You can apply for any of the 4 Imperial Sites, or all, as you desire. You’ll need your passport of course, but you’ll be issued a tour pass for a particular date and time. Nowadays, you can also apply online at the above website.

Show up promptly for your tour or you’ll miss it. Japanese are extremely punctual.

Nishijin Kimono Fashion Show

7. Learn how Japan’s exquisite and lavish silk kimono and obis are made and watch a kimono fashion show

Nishijin Center showcases large obi weaving looms, with weavers making the amazing brocade ‘waistbands’ for Kimono.

On display are kimono and an astounding array of kimono accessories, including specialized shoes, socks, sashes, scarves, kimono jackets, purses, wallets and other necessities for anyone wearing kimono.

Nishijin presents kimono fashion shows upstairs in their small concert hall several times per day, also for free.

one of Kyoto’s Historical Districts with narrow stone streets and wood houses

8. Step back in time strolling through Japan’s historic district…

full of narrow stone alleyways and immaculate wood houses in Eastern Kyoto, near Kiyomizu Dera Temple. The houses are called ‘eel houses’ because they are very narrow but long, an architectural style developed to minimize land taxes that were based on the houses’ width. Two famous streets are Sannen-zake and Ninen-zaka, but the whole neighborhood is full of narrow stone roads.

one of Kyoto’s many stunning temples

9. Visit many days’ worth of  gorgeous temples

While several of Kyoto’s most famous temples have pretty hefty entry fees, dozens and dozens of temples are free. They range from huge, important temples like Kitano Tenmagu to long, rambling monasteries like Daitokuji,  to tiny temples hidden down back alleys.

Although Japanese temples do have a decided style, you’ll be surprised how very different each one is from the others. If you love exploring temples, you can easily fill a week or a month discovering all of Kyoto’s temples and shrines, sans entry fees.

Ask the Visitor’s Information Center to point out free temples on your map.

tranquil bamboo forest in Arashiyama, western Kyoto

10. Listen to wind blowing through a bamboo forest

It will blow your mind!

Standing in the middle of a bamboo forest, swaying in wind, is a sensory experience you’ll never forget. I won’t attempt to explain it here. Just take my word for it.Go stand in a bamboo forest, preferably on a windy day.

Three charming forests I can recommend in Kyoto are the forest on the hills of Fushimi Inari Shrine, in Fushimi, just south of Kyoto (accessed by train), the small forest at the sprawling Daitokuji Temple in north west Kyoto, and the forest on the back roads of Arashiyama in far west Kyoto.

————————————————————————————————————-

(* photo credits for Flickr Creative Commons: Mr Jo / scarletgreen  / Junkwork /  Nekonomania /  Globalism pictures /  owenfinn 16 *) other photos by Lash / LashWorldTour

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

100 Free Things to do in Asia eBook

If you found this post useful, you’ll love my FREE eBook:

100 Free Things to do in Asia. It describes 10 free adventures in 10 different Asian cities and destinations.

Check out my eBook here