What To Do In Kyoto + Avoid The Crowds!

Here are some of the alternative things you can do in Kyoto other than the major attractions, because Kyoto is so much more than just the golden pavilion, and the bamboo forrest! :)

Places I visit (in order):

-Kamogawa river
Many cute cafes/restaurants along here

-Kyoto nama chocolat
Kind of out of the way but a very cute cafe that serves fancy chocolate desserts owned by a international couple

-Ruroin Temple
Beautiful temple to see autumn foliage

-Arashiyama area
Rent a bike and cycle around the back streets up to Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple

Activities I did in the video:

VELTRA offers hundreds of tours and activities for travelers around the globe. Experience everything countries of the world have to offer here:

JR Flex Rail Ticket: Tokyo to Kyoto Round-Trip Bullet Train Ticket & Coupon

Private Yakatabune Lunch Cruise with Authentic Tofu Lunch in Arashiyama

Half-Day Chopstick Making and Kyoyuzen Dyed Chopstick Case in Kyoto

Other Workshops and Lessons

Maiko Performance with Traditional Kyoto-style Dinner in Gion

Kyoto Activities (Rurikoin Temple tickets will be available for purchase in the spring and autumn.)

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MUSIC

Big big thank you to the artists who made this video possible with their amazing music!! Keep on doing what you do, mad respect goes out to all of you!

[Hell_]

I shouldn't have watched this. Now my heart feels heavy again.

I went to Japan 2016 after dreaming long about it. The culture, nature and people always fascinated me. So i was so happy that i finally could see Japan. I went there for round about 3 weeks. 1 week Tokyo, 1 week Hiroshima and 1 week Kyoto.
Tokyo was fascinating to see! This really is another dimension of a city.
Hiroshima was... beautiful but it made me think a lot. The memorial park, the flame, the buildings... it left something in me i can't really describe. Still it is an amazing city and luckily on the last night there a street festival took place. I saw so many beautiful Yukata!

And then there is Kyoto.
I saw a lot of the world already for my young age but i left only a few pieces of my heart somewhere. One in Scotland, one in Costa Rica, one in the north of germany (but i have family at the cost there so it actually is very special and may not count in this ranking) and Kyoto.
Kyoto got me from the start. As soon as i arrived there i felt this is a special place to be.
The mix between old and new, modern and tradition is amazing. The whole city is a beautiful gem! The small streets, the relaxed people, the peace and calm that lingers in the air. Also the river (Kamo) such a beautiful scenery!
I went to the bamboo forest ofc and i saw the Golden Pavillion bc i really wanted to see it and it is worth it tbh. Kyoto also was the reason that made me thought i wanna go back to Japan but in autumn! When the marple starts to bleed. Oh gosh it must be so beautiful to see it live!

I mean yes Sakura season may be wonderful but i really really wanna see Japan in autumn, when the trees bleed into their leafs.

Also i got hungry watching this, this is not fair XD Ah i miss the good food :( I really wanna go back one day!

Thank you for sharing this with us! Especially the tour on the river looked amazing.

[RionIshida]

Wearing like a business women, but still having JanSport backpack😊 Entrepreneur and wild traveler, yes that’s Angela! I’m glad to see the spirit😆👍

[travelingswede]

The experience with maiko looks amazing! I want to do that one day

[Activated_Complex]

Even as someone typically averse to crowds when traveling, I have to say the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) is absolutely worth it. Especially on a bright, sunny afternoon, when it gleams in the light.

[Kingu]

I wish you would’ve posted this in September because I went to Kyoto back in October and was incredibly disillusioned when I got there and found that everything was so hard to enjoy due to the crowds and all the additional tourists everywhere. But I’m glad you did upload it even now. Thank you.

[kotoriimbued]

Arashiyama area is wonderful! To be honest, I have only been in Kyoto once (and going back there in a week), but my best recommendation would be to rent a bike and explore ALL of Kyoto on bike (aside from the day trips), bike rental is super cheap, you can even get hostel/hotel deals on airbnb or other sites that will lend you a bike for free with your stay. Traveling everywhere on bike and finding small places or unvisited shrines/paths makes the experience all the more amazing. Of course, you need to have a bit of energy, so I may not recommend this for the elderly, but Kyoto is all doable on bike and totally worth it if you can do it ( I did a 3 day trip on bike and saw pretty much every main attraction + off the beaten routes).

[rossriver]

You’re so right about the crush of tourism in Kyoto! I’m Canadian but live in Kyoto now..
Your English is so wonderful!

[mariodezert]

I LOVED KYOTO! Been there in May, 2019! I got to take a picture of walking Geisha and bought treats at the fish market located at an alley there. I love it all! I also went to Gion Corner and watched a play there!

[sevendaysara]

Angela your videos are simply the best, you never suggest anything too turistic

[Viewpointchannel]

Just came back from Japan. Kyoto blew my mind! So beautiful! To avoid the crowds i often woke up early, totally worth it. Great video, makes me want to go back to Kyoto again! 🙂

[waveegravee]

Japan is such an endlessly beautiful land. Kyoto is one of its many gems. And when it comes to charming guides, who could ever top Angela?

[Yrtiop]

If you want to avoid the crowd go walk in the mountain, I lived 3 month in Kyoto, and when I wanted to be alone a little I took my bike and went to any mountain around Kyoto, I barely found anyone up here

[TravelEndleslie]

Bento looks yummy and it must be nice eating while cruising the river.

[AutonomousShadow]

My wife and I did the Miako Performace too. It was one of the top 3 things we did during our whole trip in Japan. I got to do the drinking game, and it was fun.

Another thing we really enjoyed was the Tea Ceremony Camellia not far from Kiyomizu-dera temple. It is geared toward foreigners but not in a cheesy way. We got to make our own matcha tea and learn everything that takes place during a traditional tea ceremony.

[laksanasegara]

I live in Tokyo and never knew about JR FLEX! Thank you Angela!!!

[kemushichan]

Absolutely gorgeous thumbnail and video! 🤓✨ Please send that conbini boat this way!

[daifuruta]

I used that same place when I bought bullet train tickets with meal tickets was steal. Amazing. Cheaper.

[motojojo_]

Stuff to do in Kyoto AND avoid crowds? This video was made for me! (Not literally cuz that’d be weird, but you know what I mean)

Thank you!

[astroboy]

Same love the new and old together just don't want to see more old disappearing!!!!
Nice to see this fresh baked vid Angela!!!! 👍🎅🏻🎅🏻

Game at the end was funny!!! 🙂

[andrewgamez]

Thank you for the amazing video. I've been needing this kind of video after my long and heartbroken week. I lost my mother last week and have been looking for something to smile at again. This was that video. I love Japan and I love to see new and exciting sites. I will be there in a very short as a release and a calm down. I wish my mother got to see what I've had the privilege to see the many times I've personally been there but sadly it did not happen. Thank you again Angela and miss your videos. You have no idea how much this video means to me now that I got my smile back after this long week.