Kyōto (京都) was the capital of Japan for over a millennium, and carries a reputation as its most beautiful city. However, visitors may be surprised by how much work they will have to do to see Kyoto’s beautiful side. Most first impressions of the city will be of the urban sprawl of central Kyoto, around the ultra-modern glass-and-steel train station, which is itself an example of a city steeped in tradition colliding with the modern world.
Nonetheless, the persistent visitor will soon discover Kyoto’s hidden beauty in the temples and parks which ring the city center, and find that the city has much more to offer than immediately meets the eye.
…WikiTravel
Setsubun (February 3 or 4) A large bonfire and Shinto ceremony is held at Yoshida Shrine.
Hanatoro (March 14-23 in Higashiyama and December 14-23 in Arashiyama) Streets and temples are decorated with lanterns and flowers, and many places have extended viewing hours into the night.
Cherry Blossom Season (April 1-15; days vary depending upon the weather) Although viewing the blossoms is enough for many, special events are often held throughout the city.
Aoi Matsuri (May 15) Beginning at Kyoto Imperial palace, a large procession dressed in Heian Period garbs walks to Shimogamo Shrine and finishes at Kamigamo Shrine.
Gion Matsuri (July 17) Many Mikoshi are paraded through the streets. It is considered to be one of the top three festivals in Japan.
Daimonji Gozan Okuribi (August 16) The hillside in Northwestern Kyoto is lit aflame in this festival honoring one’s ancestors. Candle lanterns are floated out in Hirosawa Pond.
Jidai Matsuri (October 22) People dressed in traditional garbs parade to Heian Shrine.…WikiTravel
15 Mar
A mild winter in many parts of Japan means the cherry blossoms are expected to arrive earlier than usual. By the time we hit April — the start of the fiscal year, the school term, and when new employees begin their first day on the job — the cherry blossoms are likely to be almost finished in the Kanto and Kansai regions.
(Japan Times)
(Japan Times)
3 Mar
As Japan suffers a coronavirus-induced drop in travel, hotel chains are slashing room rates for about 30% of stays during the normally busy early spring season, a Nikkei analysis of online booking sites shows. (Nikkei)
28 Feb
COVID-19 claims its first major business casualty in Japan. (soranews24.com)
18 Feb
Visitors to Kyoto have plummeted, prompting a new series of ads showing sites like the Arashiyama bamboo forest totally devoid of people.
(soranews24.com)
(soranews24.com)
9 Feb
Local shopkeeper says drop in tourist traffic is most dramatic in over 30 years. (soranews24.com)
5 Feb
The Hilton group said Tuesday it will open a hotel under its newest luxury brand in Kyoto in autumn 2021, counting on a further upswell in lodging demand from tourists even after the Tokyo Olympics this summer. (Japan Times)
11 Jan
As the cultural and historical heart of the country, Kyoto deserves a spot on any Japan travel itinerary. However, with the city welcoming so many travelers, sometimes it can be hard finding a hotel with vacant rooms on the nights you wish to stay. (soranews24.com)
10 Jan
Japan’s cherry blossoms are its most iconic symbol of spring, and if you’re planning a trip to the country, plenty of people will tell you that the most beautiful time to come is during sakura season. (soranews24.com)
6 Dec
As fireworks light up the winter night, scores of men, women and teenagers crying “washoi, washoi” haul the last of six towering, lantern-covered floats up a small hill and into the town center, the culminating moment of a Shinto festival that has evolved from a harvest thanksgiving into a once-a-year meeting between two local gods. (Japan Today)
3 Dec
Kyoto is one of Japan’s best-known tourist destinations and offers a number of choices for luxury accommodations. (Nikkei)
1 Dec
Two Japanese restaurants have shot to the top of the La Liste ranking of best places to eat in the world, with a third one getting the second highest mark from the authoritative “guide of guides”. (Japan Today)
30 Nov
The Nara Hotel offers royal-class hospitality, but right now you won’t have to pay a king’s ransom to experience it. (soranews24.com)
19 Nov
For most city residents, trains and subways are an integral part of daily life, and few countries have embraced rail travel like Japan. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that one of the best train museums in the world is found here: the Kyoto Railway Museum — and it’s a great place to visit with kids. (Japan Times)
1 Nov
The town of Kutchan, part of the Niseko tourism zone that includes a number of popular ski resorts in Hokkaido, introduced a 2 percent levy Friday for stays at all lodging facilities in its jurisdiction, marking the first such accommodation tax system in Japan. (Japan Today)
27 Oct
About 2,000 people have taken part in a parade in the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto. It’s one of the city’s major festivals.
(NHK)
(NHK)
26 Oct
Tourists in Kyoto will no longer be able to take pictures in privately-owned alleys near one of the most photographed spots in the city. Locals say the ban has come after disrespect shown by some visitors.
(NHK)
(NHK)
15 Oct
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka rank among the world’s best 10 large cities — with the Japanese capital topping the list for a fourth successive year — according to U.S. luxury and lifestyle travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler. (Japan Today)
5 Oct
The Rugby World Cup is bringing waves of foreign visitors to venues throughout Japan, along with their spending to areas often overlooked in favor of big cities like Tokyo and Osaka. (Nikkei)
4 Oct
Japan has a problem. More and more tourists are visiting but very few of them leave the trail between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima. (ONLY in JAPAN)
1 Oct
Foreign tourists in a popular sightseeing spot in Kyoto are being reminded of etiquette via their smartphones in a pilot project that began Monday, after local residents complained of their behavior, such as taking pictures of geisha and their apprentice maiko without permission. (Kyodo)
11 Sep
Among Japan’s 72 major cities outside of Tokyo, Kyoto retained its top spot as the metropolis with the greatest strengths for the second consecutive year, thanks to its allure as a tourism destination, a Tokyo-based think tank said Tuesday. (Japan Times)
10 Aug
Although Nara has become a favorite of international tourists in recent years, the city, which served as the nation’s ancient capital from 710 to 784, has historically been a bit off the beaten path. (Japan Times)
4 Aug
Japanese weather officials are urging people to stay on the alert for heatstroke as sweltering conditions continue to grip wide areas of the country.
(NHK)
(NHK)
31 Jul
Much of Japan sweltered on Tuesday, as temperatures hovered around 35 degrees Celsius. Weather officials are urging people to take precautions against heatstroke, as the hot weather is expected to continue for about a week.
(NHK)
(NHK)
18 Jul
Ornately decorated floats paraded through Japan’s ancient capital Kyoto on Wednesday at the climax of the annual Gion Festival.
(NHK)
(NHK)