If you only have one day to spare in Kyoto, and perhaps you don’t particularly fancy crowds and queues, then this itinerary is for you!
Morning Walk at Obaku Park
Forget about the crowded Maruyama Park and enjoy true serenity in the lesser-known, crowdless Obaku Park. Located in the Uji town of Obaku, this stunning autumn paradise has some of the most mesmerizing natural trees and leaves that completely cover the grounds in golden-brown beauty. The city is also home to the famous Manpukuji Temple which gives you a chance to see the beauty of Kyoto’s temples in a much quieter space.
Lunch By The Uji River
Just around the corner from Obaku is the famous matcha green tea town of Uji. Home to beautiful scenic rivers, breathtaking hiking trails, and an entire street dedicated to all things matcha, it’s a great place to explore for lunch and snacks. While it can get somewhat crowded during the day, it’s certainly nowhere near the levels of crowds you’d see in central Kyoto.
Byodoin Omotesando is a paradise for green tea lovers, offering all things matcha from soft-serves to mochi and even green tea ramen!
Whether you need a quick refreshment or a hearty lunch, this matcha alley has you covered. It’s also a great place to purchase matcha souvenirs and gifts for your loved ones. After all, it is the matcha capital of the world!
In the surrounding streets are also your standard Japanese restaurant chains such as Sukiya, Coco Ichibanya, and Saizeriya, which all make for a delicious and affordable lunch.
Afternoon Visit to Koshoji Temple
The great thing about Uji is that you can experience all of Kyoto’s highlights, from temples and shrines to matcha green tea and mochi, to its beautiful natural landscapes and flowing rivers, all in one place. In fact, it is in Uji that my favorite temple in all of Japan can be found: the Koshoji Temple. Easily the most underrated temple in Kyoto, and possibly the entire country, this landmark is full of incredible architectural beauty and aesthetic bonsai gardens. It’s unfathomable how few visitors there are in this temple, and you’ll find your visit to be a rejuvenating one rather than an exhausting one like so many other crowded temples in Kyoto.
(Optional) Hike Up Mt. Daikichi
I say optional, as this hike may disrupt the whole “relaxing” vibe of this itinerary, unless you consider yourself exceptionally fit and healthy, as it’s really a short walk to the top. Mt. Daichiki offers stunning views of Uji City, with scenery that makes you understand the title “Land of the Rising Sun.” A person of average fitness could probably get to the top in just half an hour, making it an easy little activity to slip into your one-day Kyoto itinerary.
Dine at Nigiri Chojiro Sushi
Of course, it’s not a complete trip to Japan without an exotic sushi dinner, and what better place to experience the premium stuff without breaking the bank than at Kyoto’s very own Nigiri Chojiro Sushi. The freshness and quality of the salmon and tuna sashimi here is unmatched, particularly for the price point of about 600 yen per dish. There are branches all over Kyoto, but I recommend the one in Ogura as it’s a fairly quiet town, with the exception of the Nintendo Museum, which attracts a fair amount of tourists.
Cap Off The Night At Fushimi Otesuji
If you’ve still got fuel in the tank (or if you skipped the Mt. Daikichi hike), why not head down to Fushimi Otesuji Shopping Street near Kyoto’s Momoyama Station? Just a couple of stops from Ogura, the street offers a vibrant nightlife opportunity that isn’t jampacked with tourists, but rather a handful of local citizens. Fushimi Otesuji is home to countless restaurants, cafes, food stands, clothing stores, electronics shops, furniture stores, and more! You can also check out the Momoyama Tenmangu Shrine if you haven’t had enough of Kyoto’s cultural sites just yet.
I recommend hitting up Mister Donut for a chill night in a beautiful seating area. You can enjoy a hot beverage with delicious Japanese-inspired doughnuts and baked treats, including red bean pastries and matcha cakes. If you really have a lot of energy to spare and want to make the most of every second in Kyoto, then continue walking up the ascent and you’ll eventually reach Fushimi Momoyama Castle, arguably the most beautiful castle in Kyoto and, again, highly undervisited by foreign tourists.
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