Sally Alexander

One of the solutions the Invisible Tourist offers for overtourism is to spend more time in one location. We decided to spend 10 nights in Kyoto, and we are so glad we did.

The idea is if you spend more time in one location you then have more options and freedom to visit those popular, overcrowded places during off peak times. But I would go further and say that it gives you more time to explore those places that are often overlooked by most foreign tourists. Like visiting a city’s park or hanging out where the locals go. It gives you time to find a favorite breakfast place, and return.

Getting there

The most common ways tourists get to Kyoto is via the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo. Another option is to fly domestically. We flew from Narita International Airport to Osaka (KIX.) Osaka is very close to Kyoto and is an easy train ride (Shinkansen). I prebooked a transfer from KIX to our hotel in Kyoto, because I didn’t want to deal with anything complicated when we were tired.

Luggage forwarding services. I can’t rave enough about Japan’s luggage forwarding services. Seriously, do yourself a favor and take advantage of this. There are a number of companies. We used Yamato and JAL/ABC. The price is super reasonable. It is reliable and it works. I saw so many tourists battling enormous suitcases and who looked miserable. We typically travel light (no giant hard backed suitcases for us) but we still used the luggage forwarding services to send our two small carry on sized wheeled suitcases ahead of us and simply backed a couple of nights clothing in small back packs.

Tip: Have the hotel telephone number, postal code and address handy because you will need it. Some companies request your hotel reservation number and of course the name your stay is booked under.

We forwarded our luggage from Yamato’s counter at Narita International Airport arrivals to our hotel in Kyoto. When we arrived at our hotel, our suitcases were waiting for us.

Kyoto accommodations

It’s quite the commitment to spend 10 days in one place. I selected KABIN Taka based on its location (close to a number of stations, and quite centrally located.) Kyoto has a lot of hotel options. For me, my selection was based on location, price and reviews.

One way to look at your hotel accommodation is to think of it like your cabin on board a cruise ship. It really is the place you come to sleep. You will not be spending a lot of time in it.

For US tourists, Japanese hotels are small which is another reason why you need to leave your large suitcases at home.

Getting around Kyoto

Let me count the ways: walking, catching buses and using Kyoto’s amazing subway and train system. Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes, because you will be on your feet a lot. Our favorite go to app for navigating was Google Maps.

What we did in Kyoto

I pre-booked only two experiences. I wanted to leave enough breathing space for us to figure it out for ourselves, and not feel constantly rushed. Below is a summary of how we filled our days:

Day 1 (Tuesday) – Kyoto Temples & Shrines Day Tour from Kyoto. I prebooked this. Organized through Klook. Itinerary included Fushimi Inari Taisha (1,000 Tori gates), Kiomizudera Temple (stunning views of Kyoto), Kinkakuji Temple AKA the Golden Temple, and Arishiyama (the bamboo groves.)

Day 2 (Wednesday) – I pre booked this Kyoto Ramen & Gyoza Cooking Class with Professional Chefs offered by Magical Trip.

Day 3 (Thursday) – Table tennis private and group lesson at a local club.

Day 4 (Friday) – Day trip to Osaka, Unagi (eel) restaurant and Osaka Castle Park.

Day 5 (Saturday) – Delicious ramen, Kyoto Imperial Gardens, and Professional Table Tennis tournament

Day 6 (Sunday) – Uji & Byodo-in Temple.

Day 7 (Monday)- Kyoto Botanical Gardens.

Day 8 (Tuesday) – Mijama Island, Floating Tori gate, and Hiroshima Peace Park.

Day 9 (Wednesday) – Relax and laundry day.