Kyoto Travel Guide

Kyoto Travel Guide

Hannah Brown
This Kyoto guide includes 5-star hotels and hostels to stay at, the best restaurants, cafes, bars, and activities available in the city, and other basic information you need to know before traveling here. All of the restaurants listed are dietary restriction friendly as I myself am vegan, but any fully vegan restaurants are listed separately.
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Where to stay

Splurge-worthy hotels

Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
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Hotel Okura Kyoto Okazaki Bettei
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Garrya Nijo Castle Kyoto
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Dhawa Yura Kyoto
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Accommodation for the savers

The Millennials Kyoto
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This is a capsule hotel that offers full-sized beds and personal projectors to watch movies from!
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Ryokan Hostel Gion
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The Hedistar Hotel Kyoto Nijo
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The OneFive Kyōto Shijō
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Things to see & do 

Things to see & do! (free)

Philosopher's Path
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Keage Incline
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Higashiyama Ward
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Kodaiji Temple
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Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
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Fushimi Inari Taisha
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Nishiki Market
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Uji
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The birthplace of matcha!
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Kennin-ji
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Things to see & do! ($$$)

Kawai Kanjiro's House
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Kiyomizu-dera
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Waka Kimono Rental Kiyomizu
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Tenryu-ji
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Nijō Castle
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Where to eat & drink

Cafes, teashops & bars

Gion Komori
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Rokujuan
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% ARABICA Kyoto Arashiyama
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Common Well
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ARCHI coffee and wine
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Cafe DOnG by Sfera
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(THISIS)SHIZEN
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Macho Bar
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Arashiyama Miffy Sakura Kitchen
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waco crepes
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Where to eat (normal restaurants that are veggie friendly!)

Gochisou Yakimusubi Onimaru Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi
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Gion Tanto
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Nakagawa Hatsumeido
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Seizan Sodo
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Chao Chao Sanjo Kiyamachi
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Honke Tankuma Honten
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2-star Michelin traditional restaurant
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Where to eat (fully vegan)

Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko
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THE BEST RAMEN I HAVE EVER HAD - VEGAN OR NOT
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mumokuteki cafe&foods Kyoto
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Kousagisha
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AIN SOPH. Journey KYOTO
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Tenryuji Temple Shigetsu
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Fully vegan restaurant inside Tenryu-ji temple (note- you must pay the temple entrance fee to eat here)
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VEGAN IZAKAYA 虹屋 nijiya VEGAN FARM
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Fully vegan traditional Japanese restaurant
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Public transportation in the city

Public transportation in Kyoto consists of a metro and bus system, both of which are easy to navigate with your phone. I would recommend adding the Suica card to your Apple wallet for convenience. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hannah Brown
Hey! My name is Hannah Brown and I am a 24-year-old travel blogger (hrbrowngoes.com). I recently received my master's degree in International Studies from Columbia University and am now working remotely while living in different countries via month-long Airbnb rentals. I prefer solo traveling, but I have also been abroad with family, friends, volunteer organizations, and to study abroad. I have stayed everywhere from $5 hostels to luxury 5-star resorts, so I would love to help you plan any kind of trip! Where I’ve been so far- Austria, the Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Cayman Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (China SAR), Hungary, Ireland, Israel & Palestinian Territories, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, the Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turks & Caicos, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and, of course, the United States.
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