Kyoto

Kyoto is Japan's cultural heart. It served as the capital for well over a thousand years. It's a cool place with centuries-old temples and shrines tucked away in neighborhoods where Geisha still walk the street. Away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Kyoto is a little slower paced, feels more intimate, and is eminently fun to bike around. 

​It's the kind of place you can walk through a thousand red torii gates in the morning, eat world class food for lunch, meander through bamboo forests in the afternoon, and wander lantern-lit alleys at night. It's kind of like Rome where you can just wander around through various neighborhoods and find hidden gems and temples that are not in any tourist book and not on any agenda. It's the type of place where you have to resist the urge to check off the list of big tourist destinations and just slow down, wander around, and explore and enjoy. There is no better way to ruin a trip to Kyoto than by rushing around to the next temple or shrine trying to see it all. 
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Kyoto Bike Map

​Any bike store will have a map of the city, and modern phones make navigation a breeze, but its good to have a general idea of where you want to go, how long it takes to get there, so you can map out your day. Make sure one person gets a phone attachment for the bike to help with navigation, but when in doubt, it's basically a giant square, so it's hard to get lost.   The river has a great trail along side it, so we treat it like a freeway on our bikes to get north or south really fast, but there is no wrong way to do Kyoto. Just don't feel like you have to do it all in one day, make some plans and then just have fun biking around. It's not like there is some tourist out there that say every shrine and temple in one day and achieved some state of Nirvana. You will be much happier if you just go with the flow and don't stress about it.

You can  go anyway you want, but if this is your first time, my personal recommendation is to get your bike, then head to Kyomizu-dera and then head north hitting Yasaka, Heian-jingu, then swing over to the Golden temple and head home.  Make sure to eat lots of Pizza-mon from 7-11 along the way. 

Bicycle Rental
Where to Rent a Bike

There are lots of rental stores in Kyoto. Rent a bike close to where you are staying, that makes life better. We have used various places, but really like Sunny Cycle. It was located near our hotel, which was nice, and it is in the middle of the city. Make sure to rent an electric bike, especially if you have kids on the back. There are some pretty legit hills on the way to some of the temples, and the e-bike just makes life grand all day. 
Sunny Cycle
Address: Japan, 〒600-8475 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Kazahayacho, 564 セノータ C
Hours: 9AM · Closes 6 PM
Phone: +81 90-5013-4198
Appointments: sunnycycle-kyoto.com
Breakfast in Japan

Breakfast in Japan

So, sometimes you don't feel like fish in the morning. Thankfully, there are wicked good bread stores just about everywhere. While everyone else is getting ready, I tend to sneak out and find some tasty pastry and bring it back for the gang to eat. Sometimes, I get lazy and  just get yogurt from the convenience store and some fresh fruit. But more often than not, it's croissants or other delicious morning breads to get the day going from a Japanese boulangerie.  As I like to say when I'm in Japan: Je voudrais aller à la boulangerie maintenant.  Seriously, though, outside of France, Japan has some pretty sweet bakeries. 

Mash Kyoto

Right near our hotel, so it was perfect but this place is legit amazing. 
やあ、かわいいパンさんたち。いただくのが楽しみ！

Hello my little friends, it will be my pleasure to eat you. 
KYOTO
Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kiyomizu-dera is a cool temple with a great view. It's a great spot for photos, little paths into the forest, and of course the wonky Tainai-meguri wherein you go down into absolute darkness to make a wish. There is a lot to explore here, so it's worth getting here early and spending some time before it gets over run. 
Kinkaku-ji

This place is always a zoo of people. But on a sunny day when the sun catches the temple, there really is something spectacular about it. It's on the northwest side of the city, so it's a hop to get there, but if you've never been it's worth it. 
​Arashiyama

You see famous photos of this place and its bamboo grove but really, there are better bamboo groves just about anywhere because this place is over run with people. However, the temple here is pretty cool (Tenryu-ji) and there are other places to visit. So it is worth the trip if you have the time.  If you have one day, I usually don't feel this is worth it. 
​Kamo River

​On a nice day, there are always things to see along the Kamo River. It's just a place people hang out. You can also try the Takase rive, We like to go running along the river early in the morning and just enjoy the birds and people that are out and about. 
The Philosopher's Path

This is a cool stop, a little pedestrian walkway along a canal with lots of sakura trees. It connect Nanzen-ji temple with Ginkaku-ji. Just a great place to wander if you have the time. 
​Nintendo Kyoto

While there is the Nintendo Museum down the road, this is a cute little store in Kyoto where you can always find something you didn't know you needed, but can't live without. If you have any interest in Nintendo, this is a nice place to stop if you are over shrines and temples. 
Heian-jingu Shrine

There are a million shrines and place to see in Kyoto, but we really like the gardens here.  They are never quite as crowded and are fun to explore.  We have spent many an afternoon just sitting and looking at herons and talking about whatever. Always a nice break from the throngs of tourists everywhere. 
Yasaka-jinja Shrine

Located near the downtown area, this shrine stays open into the night and is well lit up. It's kind of fun to get your shrine on when it's not crazy hot and stuffed with people. Either way, it's kind of an easy place to stop on your bike if you are knocking out the temple and shrines on that side of the city. 
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

While this is one of our favorite shrines in Japan, it can get crazy crowded during Spring Break when the tourists descend on Kyoto like locusts.  We like going here really early in the morning or in the evening when the crowds die down. It's just easier that way. On our bike day, it's easier to not go here because it's a bit further away and bike rental doesn't open in time to get there early. 
Gion and Southern Higashiyama

This is a great place to just wander and explore. There are lots of little alley ways, picturesque streets with wooden houses where you can see Yasaka Pagoda in the distance. It's a good place to stay, a good place to wander. You can even get all gussied up in a Kimono and wander around for the day feeling like you went back in time. It's a great place to wander at night. 
Convenience Stores Rock!
7-11

The mother of all the "konbini". In America, 7-11 is a mixed bag, but in Japan, you can get what you need and its a great place to stop for a snack or breakfast, or whatever else might be on your plate. The food is pretty good. You can even heat the food up in the store. Our favorite food when out biking is to get a Pizza-mon. It's just the best on a somewhat chilly day. 
Lawson

​Our go to convenience store, but really, it has the same stuff as 7-11 or Family Mart. You can also get tickets for sporting events, theme parks, buses here. They usually have ATMs, Wi-Fi, and you can pay bills. At some, you can even use delivery services and even send luggage. If it's hot, rejoice in the ice cream sandwich. 
Family Mart
Family Mart makes me think of Family Guy whenever I see it. You can get the Fami-Chiki which is their boneless fried chicken. It's surprisingly good and can fill you up in a pinch when you are out and about. Just go in and sample stuff. Try the soufflé pudding, or steamed buns, or sample candy, and for sure try the various drinks. It's all worth it. 
Japan

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