Japan Guide, PART 2
My travel recommendations and tips for Japan, covering Kyoto, Kurashiki, Naoshima Island, and Kanazawa
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I’m currently on a 3 month trip around Asia and Australia, starting with 3 weeks across Japan.
In this newsletter, I’ll be sharing all of my recommendations on where to eat, drink, and sleep in each of the destinations that I’ve visited during the second half of our time in Japan: Kyoto, Kurashiki, Naoshima Island, and Kanazawa.
We covered a lot of ground in three weeks, and I’ve shared our exact itinerary below, which I hope is helpful to reference if you’re planning on visiting Japan.
You can read Part 1 of my Japan guide here, where I divulge my tips for first-time visitors, and share all of my recommendations across Tokyo, Hakone, Lake Kawaguchi (Mount Fuji), Osaka, and Nara.
Our Japan itinerary:
KYOTO - 6 nights
We spent 6 nights in Kyoto, which was probably my favourite destination during our trip. Compared to Tokyo, Kyoto is much smaller, and easily walkable. It’s a city that oozes historic charm, and as the cultural capital of Japan, is home to thousands of temples and ancient bamboo groves, along with its prestigious geisha district.
There are countless sights to visit across the historic parts of the city, but I actually loved exploring the Nakagyo ward most, which is home to bustling Pontochō, Nishiki Market, and the best boutiques and cafes you’ll find in town. As first-time visitors, we felt that 6 days in Kyoto was perfect: we had enough time to tick off all of the must-see sights (including Fushimi Inari shrine and Arashiyama bamboo forest - both of which are located on the outskirts of the city), as well as explore each neighbourhood at a leisurely pace.
Stay:
We hopped around a fair bit, spending 6 nights between 3 hotels. I was lucky enough to review the new Six Senses Kyoto, located in historic Higashiyama. Stay here for a supremely slick and serene sleepover: there’s a seductive spa featuring an indoor pool and onsen-style baths, and the impressive breakfast spreads are delicious and nourishing. I absolutely loved this property: the hotel is incredibly luxurious without feeling pretentious in the slightest.
Just round the corner from Six Senses Kyoto is Maana Kiyomizu, one of three properties under the Maana Homes umbrella (a collective of beautifully designed self-catering stays around Kyoto). This was our base for a couple of nights: this is a great option if you prefer an Airbnb-type stay to a hotel, but still want somewhere that’s thoughtfully designed and feels luxe.
Lastly, we also stayed at TSUGU Kyoto Sango by The Share Hotels for two nights, which is a budget-friendly option. This isn’t a luxury stay by any means; however, the hotel is clean, safe, and features minimal, stripped-back design (it reminds me of Michelberger Hotel in Berlin). The hotel is home to a great vintage store and cafe, both of which were buzzing during our stay (always a good sign!) and location-wise, was actually our favourite of the three properties we stayed in, due to its proximity to some of the city’s best cafes and restaurants.
Eat:
Sugari: the best ramen that we ate in Japan. They have several branches across Kyoto, all of which are tucked behind nameless, discreet facades. Step inside and you’ll discover sleek ramen bars, where guests slurp up deliciously chewy, soft noodles in flavourful broth.
Songbird: this cafe serves the best sandos that we ate during our time in Japan. Expect perfectly fluffy, moreish egg sandos, along with interesting, modern riffs on classic chicken and pork katsu sandos.
Sugari
