wendy's Reviews Page 1/23

Who knew Kyoto had such a unique "cat temple" tucked away! At first glance, it looks like a temple, but it isn't actually an official temple. It's a distinctive space that combines temple decor, a café, shops, and cats.

The most special part is that seven cats live here as abbots. Each one has its own personality, and the entire place is filled with cat-themed touches. Cat lovers will probably find it hard to stop taking pictures.

It's about a 17-minute walk from Cable Enryakuji Station, and the stroll there is very pleasant. If you get tired from exploring, you can have a glass of milk with some cookies and sit back and relax while taking in this very different cat world.

Enkouji Temple is a historic Zen temple founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Compared with many of Kyoto's popular attractions, it's less crowded and has a more peaceful, relaxed atmosphere.

It's truly beautiful during the fresh green season. The lush green garden, old temple, and surrounding mountain scenery create a very relaxing atmosphere. There also aren't as many visitors as at Shisen-do Temple, so you can walk around and take in the sights at your own pace. It really feels like an escape from the noise of the city.

When visiting Enkouji Temple, don't stop at just the garden. Be sure to keep going deeper into the grounds, then follow the slope uphill! Once you reach the top, the view suddenly opens up, and you can look out over the city of Kyoto. The greenery of the mountains stretches all the way to the cityscape, making for a very pleasant view.

Although you have to walk up a bit of a slope, the scenery from the top is definitely worth it. This is also one of my favorite places in Kyoto.

I walked along the Philosopher's Path to Ginkaku-ji. Although it was still some distance away, taking a leisurely walk and looking at the streets along the way was actually very pleasant. Outside Ginkaku-ji is a shopping street full of small shops and snacks, so you can browse around before going in. Admission is JPY 500, and the moment I stepped into the temple grounds, I was genuinely struck by how beautiful it was.

It doesn't have the dazzling splendor of Kinkaku-ji. Instead, it feels peaceful, understated, and elegant. The carefully maintained garden, pond, moss, and neatly trimmed trees, paired with the traditional architecture, naturally make you slow down. The grounds aren't very large, and it takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to follow the route around. There's also a path in the back that leads uphill. From the top, you can look back and take in the entire garden and the scenery of Kyoto, offering a different kind of view.

There were definitely a lot of visitors, but that didn't take away from the peaceful and comfortable atmosphere. Also, throughout this walk, I kept hearing familiar Taiwanese accents. It really seems like Taiwanese travelers love Kyoto!

Nishiki Market is definitely a stop you can't miss in Kyoto! Known as “Kyoto's Kitchen,” Nishiki Market has a history of more than 400 years. It stretches about 400 meters and is lined with more than 130 shops offering everything from Kyoto specialties, pickles, tofu, and seafood to all kinds of souvenirs. Walking through it gives you a real sense of everyday life in Kyoto.

The market isn't just a place to “eat”—it's more like a food stroll through Kyoto. Every shop has its own specialties, and browsing and choosing foods you like as you go is really part of the fun! One important reminder when visiting Nishiki Market: don't eat while walking! The market street is fairly narrow, so to avoid getting food on other visitors and to help keep the market clean, it's best to eat purchased food in the shop's designated area or dine inside.

With more than 1,200 years of history, Kiyomizu-dera Temple is really hard to miss when visiting Kyoto! The temple is primarily dedicated to Kannon and has gone through multiple fires and reconstructions. Today, it is also listed as a World Heritage Site. Its most iconic feature, the Kiyomizu Stage, offers views of Kyoto and was also one of the school trip settings in Detective Conan, which somehow makes it feel a little cute.

However, it was unbelievably hot on the day we visited, and the crowds were huge. Before long, all we wanted to do was check it off our list and leave. If I come again, I still think it would be much more comfortable to visit in cooler weather and take my time exploring and appreciating the historic temple architecture.

Kiyomizu-dera also has the unmissable Otowa Waterfall and the famous “love stones.” Legend says that if you can successfully walk from one stone to the other with your eyes closed, you'll be blessed with a wonderful romantic relationship〜With an ancient temple, the Kiyomizu Stage, views of Kyoto, and a touch of romantic legend, Kiyomizu-dera remains a classic Kyoto attraction worth visiting in person, even with the crowds.

Kyoto Aquarium is an inland aquarium located in the city. Although it isn't very large, it's a place where you can have fun while learning about marine life.

The aquarium is clean, bright, and colorful, making it quite comfortable to explore. What impressed me most was the wide variety of jellyfish. Watching all kinds of jellyfish slowly drifting under the lights was truly beautiful and soothing. Anyone who likes jellyfish should really enjoy it!

There is also a display area similar to a “jellyfish laboratory,” where you can learn about jellyfish up close. This kind of experience is less common at other aquariums.

Another distinctive feature of Kyoto Aquarium is its salamanders, including the popular star, the “giant salamander.” Seeing it for the first time was truly strange and fascinating!

The aquarium also places a strong emphasis on energy use, with exhibits explaining some interesting design concepts. The shows focus more on information and explanations, so international visitors may find them a little less interactive and relatable.

Overall, although the aquarium isn't very large and the admission price feels slightly high compared with the variety of species on display, it's still a good place to include in your plans if you're visiting Kyoto with children.

Kyoto has many temples and shrines, but Nijo-jo Castle has a completely different atmosphere. It was an important historical stage left behind in Kyoto by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Once inside, the main attraction is Ninomaru Palace, a National Treasure that has been preserved to this day. Its magnificent architecture and gardens are filled with traces of history from the Edo period.

The weather was very nice that day. The blue sky, sunshine, and lush green gardens, combined with the old castle walls and buildings, made the entire scene especially beautiful. Taking my time to walk around and look at everything without rushing made it easier to appreciate the charm of Nijo-jo Castle.

Admission: JPY 1,300. If you like Japanese history and historic architecture, Nijo-jo Castle is definitely worth adding to your Kyoto itinerary. Rather than just rushing through to take photos and check it off your list, I recommend setting aside some time to walk around and take in the historic atmosphere of this old castle.

Centered around the Kyoto Imperial Palace, this was where generations of emperors lived for more than 500 years. Today, it is a vast park in central Kyoto filled with a sense of history.

What I liked most when I first entered Kyoto Gyoen was how open and peaceful it felt. Walking among the tall trees, wide stretches of greenery, and old imperial buildings naturally made me slow down. The weather was so nice on the day I visited, with blue skies, white clouds, and greenery everywhere. The whole park looked especially beautiful and relaxing!

I didn't plan any particular itinerary and just took my time walking around and looking at everything. That actually made it easier to experience Kyoto's more leisurely side. Besides Kyoto's busy attractions, I also recommend setting aside some time to stroll through Kyoto Gyoen and experience Kyoto's history and tranquility.

Kyoto Tower looks especially refreshing during the day against the bright blue sky and white clouds. Its white tower and distinctive observation deck make it easy to recognize from a distance. Around Kyoto Station, you can appreciate the unique atmosphere created by the tower blending into the Kyoto cityscape. During the day, it has a sleek, fresh appearance;

at night, once the lights come on, it transforms into another captivating view. The same Kyoto Tower has a different kind of beauty by day and by night.

One of Kyoto's attractions, it's great for taking photos and enjoying the city views during the day, while at night you can enjoy the romantic atmosphere after the tower lights up.

If there’s one place in Kyoto where you don’t need to rush to do anything, I would choose Sanzen-in Temple. As you enter the mountain forests of Ohara, there is none of the city’s noise and bustle—only an ancient temple, moss, stone steps, and greenery everywhere you look. Sunlight filters through the treetops and falls across the garden, and even the air seems to grow quiet.

My favorite part is the moss garden. Lush green moss covers the ground alongside the old wooden buildings, creating a sense of gentleness and tranquility left behind by the passage of time. Although it takes some time to get here from central Kyoto, that very distance gives Sanzen-in an added beauty far removed from the noise of the world.