Japan’s ancient capital is still able to dazzle after all these years.

Images JNTO

See
Don’t skip the old neighbourhoods of Kyoto such as Gion, Nishijin or Fushimi. But make time to visit Arashiyama. The Bamboo Forest requires no introduction, but it’s the Kimono Forest, located in Randen Arashiyama Station, that is often overlooked. Here, brilliant cylinder-shaped pillars in a variety of colours and patterns stand in rows like a forest. Look closely and you’ll see that every pillar is made of dyed fabric using the traditional Kyo-Yuzen technique, a style of dyeing and printing used to create the brilliantly coloured Yuzen Kimono in Kyoto.

Do
Take a class on a traditional art or craft! Kyoto is never short of classes for visitors to embrace its culture. There are traditional tea ceremonies where you can taste the most potent and beautiful green teas to making delicate and seasonal wagashi (sweets). The most popular of wagashis are namagashi, small balls of rice flour filled with azuki bean paste.

Shop
The Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Districts have two of Kyoto’s most attractive streets The pair of gently sloping lanes lined with beautifully restored traditional shophouses also houses plenty of restaurants and teahouses to refresh yourself. There are shops that sell souvenirs and handicrafts and we bet this will be the most atmospheric shopping experience you’ll ever have.

Stay
Stay in any of the Boat Houses of Ine at what is called “The Venice of Japan”. These traditional wooden buildings built on water are known as “funaya” in Japanese. Some have been converted into traditional Ryokan, offering guests a window into local culture while waking up to the panoramic view of the bay.