Along with Tokyo and Osaka, Kyoto is one of the most visited cities in Japan – and for good reason! While the first two cities are great, Kyoto retains a nice traditional charm to it, offering cultural experiences alongside traditional Japanese architecture. That being said, travelling in Kyoto does come with a fair bit of challenges.
We recently travelled to Kyoto (during the peak autumn season no less) and here are 5 helpful tips we wished someone told us before we made our trip there!
Kyoto Travel Tips
We’re gonna lay it straight for you – the crowds in Kyoto can be quite overwhelming. If you’re expecting laid-back countryside vibes from Kyoto, you can but only at the right places (and time). The general tourist attractions tend to draw a huge crowd, from solo travellers to group tours, so this is probably what you’ll face.
No worries, this can be avoided!
Tip 1: The Early Bird Catches The Worm
Kyoto isn’t always crowded. Before 7am, the attractions are generally empty and make for amazing photo spots. However, this takes some effort on your part to wake up earlier to beat the crowds.
Worth it though. Here’s what the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest looked like when we visited at 7:30am.
This however, was taken at around 11:30am when we were leaving the Arashiyama area.
Tip 2: If You Fail To Plan, You Plan To Fail
With limited mornings available, you need to prioritise the places you want to visit while avoiding the crowds.
What we like to do is to look at Google Maps and plan out our itinerary. Depending on your preferences, you might want to prioritise Arashiyama Bamboo Forest over Sennenzaka Street, for example.
Another thing to take note of is public transport. Buses and trains here have scheduled timings, and the intervals can be long. Plan your routes in advance and look at the departure timings so you dont waste time waiting for public transport.
Tip 3: Be Responsible, Keep Track Of Your Belongings
The worst thing to happen during a trip? Losing stuff. Because of the crowds in Kyoto, a lot of times we had to squeeze our way through. At times, we were even pushed around. During moments like this, we tend to forget about our pockets and just focus on finding our way out only to realize we dropped something somewhere later on.
You might also be like us, carrying around important equipment or items in your bag, such as cameras and even passports.
For peace of mind, we used the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 and tagged it to important items such as our wallets and bags. The new sleek design makes it easy to attach to items like keychains, so you don’t even need to buy anything extra.
Tip 4: Autumn Foliage Looks Amazing After Dark
The sun sets rather early during autumn at around 4:30pm, so a good way to make full use of your time is to include nighttime activities! One of the most popular things to do in Kyoto after dark is viewing the autumn foliage.
Parks and attractions light up the trees which makes them look even more gorgeous! This particular spot we recommend is known as Kodai-ji temple.
During autumn, they also have special light illumination shows!
Tip 5: Don’t Underestimate The Autumn Weather
While temperatures might indicate a seemingly not-so-cold range of 14 to 18 degrees, it was quite cold! Probably due to the fact that Kyoto doesn’t have many high-rise buildings, and is surrounded by a few mountains – the wind can be harsh which makes it much colder than it seems.
Make sure to pack some windbreakers and warm clothing to avoid catching a cold during your holiday! If you need more layers, some convenience stores do sell basic layers, so there’s no need to travel out specifically for extra clothing!
Travelling with Samsung Galaxy FE Series
If you’ve noticed, this article is brought to you by Samsung! We recently travelled to Kyoto with their new FE range, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ and more. Our personal favourite is the new Samsung Galaxy Buds FE, which features a sleek ear-friendly wingtip design.
With the crowds in Kyoto, the Buds have been useful in blocking out unnecessary noise with its Active Noise Cancellation function, allowing us to be entertained with our music playlists during long bus journeys. It’s also easy to switch to Ambient mode when we’re on-the-go, so we know what’s going on around us!
We were also honestly quite surprised with the camera – just look at how our photos turned out! If you’re travelling this year-end season, here’s a reminder that photos and videos are a great way to capture memories! To see more of our Kyoto travels with Samsung, you can check out our videos here.
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*This article is done in collaboration with Samsung Singapore, featuring photos taken using the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. Follow MiddleClass.sg on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Telegram for more food, travel, and trending stories!