Things to do in Kyoto
Rurikoin Temple
Kyoto International Museum
Matcha town: Uji
Bunny Shrine & Byodoin Temple
Nightlife: Pontocho
Rurikō-in｜瑠璃光院
Rurikō-in is the former villa of Prince Sanjō Sanetomi (1837 – 1891), a prominent imperial court noble and Meiji period politician. The property is famous for their second-floor view full of lush maple leaves that reflect on the building’s polished interior.
It’s worth the trip!
Side note: My admission ticket included a free entrance to a small art French gallery nearby, Louis Icart Museum. After visiting this gallery, I became a fan of his work, depicting glamours woman in the 1920’s. I bought this postcard. More info of the gallery here.
Website: http://rurikoin.komyoji.com/lp/en/
General Admission: ¥2,000 = $13 usd
Hours
General Admission: 10:00 - 16:30
Open: Late Spring (4/15 – 6/15), Fall (10/1 – first Sunday in December)
Kyoto International Manga Museum
京都国際マンガミュージアム
You must visit here if you’re an avid manga fan and grew up reading/watching Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Atom Boy etc. The museum has three floors of manga books from the Taisho era (1912-1926) to 2005 and you will see many people sitting down and quietly reading books. The manga books are written only in Japanese unfortunately, but the displays walls showing the history of manga are in English.
You can purchase tickets on the website, Klook using a QR code, or at the museum counter on the day of. I was able to get my tickets on the day of without waiting in a long line.
Admission:
Adults: 900 yen = $6 usd
High/Jr. High School Students: 400 yen = $3 usd
Elementary school students: 200 yen = $2 usd
Uji (宇治) is known as a center of green tea production.
While Kozanji Temple in Kyoto is believed to be the original site of tea cultivation in Japan, Uji's tea became better known for its superior quality in the 1100s. Come all the way out to Uji and taste test the real thing. Your taste buds will never be able to settle for “American style” matcha ever again.
Omotesando is a small quaint town full of souvenirs and tea shops that sell tea-related merchandise. You can also try tea ceremonies at an affordable price.
I really loved coming to Uji because we were surrounded by nature and it wasn’t too crowded. There were lots of things to do, eat, shop etc. You can definitely spend 3-4 hours.
Other places to check out in Uji:
Tale of Genji Museum
宇治市源氏物語ミュージアム
This is an exhibition of the first classic Japanese novel "The Tale of Genji," which “tells the story of an extremely handsome nobleman and his love affairs in Heian period (794-1185), and the final 10 chapters take place in Uji City.
“The Tale of Genji” (源氏物語, Genji monogatari) was written by a noblewoman, poet, and lady-in waiting, Murasaki Shikibu, in the 11th century.
This museum presents explanations, movies, and interactive games available in English, making it a lot of fun to experience the glamorous world of Genji.” (Another Kyoto).
I particularly enjoyed watching the short animated film and learning about what life and dating was like in the Heian period.
Admission (you can buy at the counter on the day of)
Adults: 600 yen = $4 usd
Child: 300 yen = $2 usd
Google Map: Tale of Genji Museum | 宇治市源氏物語ミュージアム
Try Matcha Curry Udon or Soba
Itoh Kyuemon - Uji Head Shop / Sabo | 伊藤久右衛門 宇治本店・茶房
Let’s be real here. You are probably Matcha-ed out by now. Why not try something savory, but Matcha?
Itoh Kyuemon is a famous well-established company since the Edo Period. They are the leading tea production manufacturer when it comes to quality hand-picked green teas as well as branching out to sweets, bottled green tea etc.
I recommend trying the matcha curry, matcha curry udon, or matcha soba. Walk-in is ok!
Uji Shrine | 宇治神社
The enshrined deity is Prince Udo Wakaroko. He was intelligent from an early age, and was revered as a god of academic work, entrance exams, and passing.
There is a tale of a rabbit that leads you to the right path, there are many people who visit in search of good relationships and faith in the right way. This shrine is considered a “power spot.”
Byodo-in | 平等院
Byodoin Temple (平等院, Byōdōin) was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto in 1994.
It was initially built in 998 as a countryside retreat villa for the powerful politician Fujiwara no Michinaga, not as a temple. Michinaga's son turned Byodoin into a temple and ordered the construction of its most spectacular feature, the Phoenix Hall. Today, the temple is on the Japanese 10-yen coin. You can expect to spend about 45 min to an hour here.
General Admission: 600 yen = $4 usd (+300 yen for a tour of the Phoenix Hall)
*I recommend going to Byodo-in first because last admission is around 4:30 pm (just to be safe), where as the Uji Shrine is open 24/7. I got to the temple too late, so I was not able to enter. However, my mom went there the next day without me because I had to leave for my journey to Osaka.
Pontocho | 先斗町
The riverside district of Pontocho is at the heart of Kyoto’s nightlife. Kyoto’s night scene is more of a bar than a club scene. Most of the action is on Kiyamachi street, between Kamo river and Kawaramachi.
ZAZA Pub Kyoto
This has more of a bar vibe and probably more likely to be nampa’d (which means “hit-on” in Japanese). Great music, busy bar, lots of young people. If that’s how you roll, then don’t forget your ID when you meet the bouncer at the door! Free cover. Every customer needs to order a drink.
Zaza Plus
This has more chill laid-back vibes and offers shisha if you’re into that. It is across the mini river from ZAZA Pub. Free cover. Every customer needs to order a drink.
