Top 5 Must Visit Places in Kyoto in Winter

Are you intending to visit Kyoto in winter? We searched for the top five must-see locations in Kyoto during the winter, and we hope you may use it as a reference!

 

JAPAN ROAD TRIP offers a one-way rental drop-off from Tokyo to Osaka, allowing you to explore more destinations. Alternatively, you may borrow a campervan in Osaka and return it in Osaka. You can select what works best for you.

So, let us introduce to you the Top 5 must- see location in Kyoto in winter!

 

KYOTO SAMURAI & NINJA MUSEUM with EXPERIENCE

 

This family-friendly museum in Kyoto offers a guided tour in English, catering to all interests, including samurai, ninja, martial artists, and those interested in Japan’s history. It offers activities for visitors to enjoy, making it a must-visit for those visiting Kyoto.

The Kyoto Samurai and Ninja Experience showcases exhibits from Japan’s history, including armor, weapons, and medieval tools. The museum showcases genuine items for everyone to appreciate, from artists to history buffs. The exhibits cover everything from secret items to weapons and tools of the Ninja, making it an inspirational destination for art enthusiasts and history buffs.　

In the museum there is also a  Samurai and Ninja experiences. In this activities you can get to live the life of a samurai by wearing the armor costumes and a sword. You can also take picture while wearing the costume for your souvenir. There costumes come in unisex styles and a variety of sizes so even children can enjoy the experience! 

 

You can book the ticket in there website the prices will be different depending on what ticket and experience you will choose. There are also a coupon that you can use on there website!

 

Visit there website for more information: https://mai-ko.com/samurai/

 

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KYOTO NISHIKI MARKET

 

The market is famous among both locals and visitors, and it is a must-see for those who enjoy food. While Nishiki Market is smaller and less chaotic than food markets in other Asian nations, it retains its charm and offers a wide variety of unique delicacies.

With over 100 stalls and businesses surrounding the covered, narrow roadway, Nishiki Market is essentially Kyoto’s kitchen. It provides a diverse selection of fresh vegetables and preserved delicacies, making it ideal for a snack break throughout a hectic day of touring.

One of the most famous food that you should try is the Tako tamago (octopus balls). They’re basically a small baby octopus with a quail egg in its head. This small skewered delight is candied, giving it a salty-sweet flavor profile. There are several different vendors offering them throughout the market, and they are all very good. If you’re anxious about tasting them, some booths sell tako tamago in various sizes, so you may start with a smaller one.

While each stall or shop has its own opening hours, mostly open at 10 a.m. and closes at about 6 p.m.

 

Visit there website for more information: https://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp/en/

 

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THE BAMBOO FOREST PATH

 

One of Kyoto’s most popular tourist destinations is the Arashiyama bamboo forest path. Arashiyama is a great place to visit year-round, but the views are especially stunning in the winter.

The Arashiyama bamboo forest in Sagano offers a brief yet captivating walk, with a mystical quality due to the light dappling on the woodland floor. For the best impact, approach the grove from the side entrance of Tenryu-ji Temple.

Okochi-Sanso Villa, located at the top of the grove, has gorgeous gardens and stunning Kyoto scenery, making it a good alternative to Imperial villas and typically less crowded.

The grove extends to Nonomiya Shrine, where Imperial family daughters purify before becoming shrine maidens at Ise Jingu, Japan’s most significant shrine.

 

Visit there website for more information: https://benkei.biz/sightseeing　

 

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KIFUNE SHRINE

 

Kifune Shrine, known for its gorgeous winter environment, is a famous Kyoto tourist attraction, appearing on postcards, posters, and billboards. Despite the freezing temperature, the snow-covered scenery is worth a visit, making it a must-see location for photographers.

There is a spot in Kifune Shrine where you may drink clean, delicious mountain water. The water is known as goshinsui (holy water) and flows down the mountain in Kibune.

Kifune Shrine provides fortune telling services using mizuura mikuji, a kind Japanese paper used in water rituals. The paper is placed in a bowl of water, and the water absorbs it, giving predictions about love, career, health, and dreams. The water obscures the fate, so snap a picture. Even if you don’t know Japanese, a QR code on the paper may be scanned using a smartphone app to get translations and audio recordings of the fortune.

 

Visit there website for more information: https://kifunejinja.jp/en/

 

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THE INE NO FUNAYA

 

Ine, a picturesque fishing village in northern Kyoto Prefecture, is known for its unique funaya, or boat houses, which are traditional waterfront buildings with garages for boats and residential spaces. With over 200 funaya remaining along the bay, some now serve as lodgings, but reservations are often difficult due to their popularity.

Ine and its funaya houses are best seen from the sea, with two types of boat tours: large sightseeing boats and smaller sea taxis operated by local fishermen. Both require reservations at the tourism office at Funaya no Sato Park.

You can also learn ropework and glass float making from fisherman. Ine town offers visitors the opportunity to learn basic ropework skills from fishermen, which can be useful in daily life. They can also create glass floats using knitted hemp rope, a traditional buoy used by fishermen until plastic floats replaced them, making a memorable souvenir.

 

Visit there website for more information: https://www.ine-kankou.jp/en

 

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SUMMARY

This is only a list of the top 5 places we believe you will enjoy visiting in Kyoto in winter, but there are many more places and activities that you will undoubtedly enjoy visiting, so if you have a specific location in mind that you would like to visit by campervan in Kyoto, please inquire in JAPAN ROAD TRIP and we will be happy to respond and provide you with an RV that will fit your dream destination!