Secret KYOTO Spots the Tourists Don’t Know About

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Discover Kyoto's quieter side with these 10 (plus one bonus) hidden gems, from peaceful Zen temples and scenic riverside picnics to unique shopping streets and a fascinating railway museum, all designed to help you avoid the crowds.

1 plan · 18 places · 8 experiences

Plan · 4 places · Kyoto, Japan

Sanjo-kai Shotengai Food Crawl

“If you've been to Nishiki Market before, for your second visit, come to Sanjo-kai Shotengai. It's a lot less crowded, very local, and has a really nice mix of shops and lots of food you can eat.”

Experience · 2 places
Taste unique daifuku at Sanjo-kai Shotengai
Explore Sanjo-kai Shotengai, a local and less crowded shopping street. Find Tanaka Sen, a small mochi shop with cute illustrations. I tried their seasonal Kuri Mochi, which was incredibly soft with a whole chestnut inside. Then, I got the Grape Rum Daifuku and Strawberry Pink Pepper Daifuku. These are served frozen, like mochi ice cream, but you can also wait two hours for them to become a smooth cream. The strawberry mochi with pink pepper cream was especially unique and delicious.
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Sanjo-kai Shotengai
Business park · Kyoto
3.0 (9)Closed · opens Thursday 9 AM
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A shopping street very close to JR and subway Nijo Station, only two stops from Kyoto Station, making it very convenient. It's much less crowded and more local than Nishiki Market, with a nice mix of old, well-established shops and modern ones, including cafes, restaurants, and lots of local food. Tourists are welcome, and it's a comfortable, cheap place with nice people and good food.
Kyoto Sanjo Shopping Street, 1-1 Imashinzaikenishicho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8801, Japan
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Tanaka Sen
Kaiseki restaurant · Kyoto
4.6Closed
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A very small shop on Sanjo-kai Shotengai that's easy to miss, but look out for its cute illustrations. They offer seasonal mochi and daifuku.
Sen, 坂田ビル 379 379 Shiogamacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8103, Japan
Kuri Mochi (Chestnut Mochi) — A seasonal autumn mochi with a soft, smooth, and silky texture. The inside is not too sweet and contains a whole chestnut, which is one of my favorite autumn treats.
Grape Rum Daifuku — A mochi filled with grape rum, similar to rum raisins. It's served frozen and can be eaten immediately like mochi ice cream or after a couple of hours when it becomes a smooth cream.
Strawberry Pink Pepper Daifuku — A daifuku with a strawberry-flavored mochi exterior and a pink pepper-flavored frozen cream inside, like ice cream. It's a very nice texture, even when frozen.
Experience · 1 place
Enjoy a fresh cream brulee donut
While exploring Sanjo-kai Shotengai, stop at BLANC, a shop that specializes in just one item: cream brulee donuts. Watch them torch the donuts right in front of you, ensuring they're fresh and hot. The donut has a satisfying crunch on the outside and a moist, smooth, custard-flavored cream filling inside. It's absolutely delicious!
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BLANC
Cafe · Kyoto
4.3Closed · opens Thursday 10 AM
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A shop on Sanjo-kai Shotengai that sells only one thing: cream brulee donuts. They torch them in front of you, so they're very fresh and hot.
Waguri Senmon Saori, 170-1 Izumiyacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8014, Japan
Cream Brulee Donut — A fresh, hot donut with a crunchy exterior and a very moist, smooth, comfortable cream filling inside. It has a nice custard taste.
Experience · 1 place
Savor a savory sesame seed crepe
At Sanjo-kai Shotengai, find GAYO, a crepe shop specializing in sesame seed crepes. I tried their Kyoto Vegetable Sesame Seed Crepe, which had sesame seeds in the batter and was filled with fresh Kyoto vegetables and an amazing sesame seed mayo. The nutty, savory flavor of the mayo and the crispiness of the fresh Kyoto green onions were wonderful. It's a flavorful, guilt-free savory crepe that's perfect for takeout.
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GAYO
Gay bar · Kyoto
4.5 (59)Closed · opens 8 PM
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A crepe shop on Sanjo-kai Shotengai that specializes in sesame seed crepes. They use three types of sesame seeds in the batter and fillings.
Japan, 〒604-8004 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nakajimacho, 105 タカセビル B1-C bell KYOTO
Kyoto Vegetable Sesame Seed Crepe — A savory crepe with sesame seeds in the batter, filled with fresh Kyoto vegetables. It smells intoxicatingly delicious and comes with an amazing sesame seed mayo that has a nice nutty, savory flavor. The crispiness of the vegetables is wonderful, and the Kyoto green onions are fresh, crispy, and flavorful. It's a guilt-free crepe and one of our favorites for takeout.

Also in this video

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Tofuku-ji Temple
Buddhist temple · Kyoto
4.5 (11,279)Closed · opens Monday 9 AM
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A very large Zen temple located just one stop from Kyoto Station, offering convenient access and a peaceful walk to the temple itself. It's famous for its beautiful autumn leaves, though it can get crowded during that season. Otherwise, it's one of the most peaceful, calming, and beautiful temples in Kyoto.
Tōfuku-ji Temple, 15 Chome-778 Honmachi, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0981, Japan
- Sammon Gate — The stunning Sammon gate, a national treasure and the oldest Zen main gate in Japan, built behind a lotus pond. It's so big you have to stand back to get it all in frame, but make sure to go up close to see all the intricate details.
- Southern Garden (Rock Garden) — The first garden you encounter, a rock garden where rocks symbolize islands, the sand floor represents the eight rough seas, and five moss-covered sacred mountains are in the right corner.
- Western Garden — A more gentle style garden composed of moss and azalea shrubs trimmed in a checkered pattern.
- Northern Garden — Features square-cut stones and moss distributed in a small-sized checkered pattern.
- Eastern Garden — Seven cylindrical stones arranged in a moss field to represent the main stars of the Great Bear of the Heaven.
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Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple
Buddhist temple
4.3 (4,311)Closed · opens 8:30 AM
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My favorite temple in Kyoto, founded in 951 during the Heian period by monk Kuya to stop the spread of disease. It's a peaceful and historical place often overlooked by tourists, but definitely worth a visit.
Rokuharamitsuji Temple, 81-1 Rokurocho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0813, Japan
- Small Museum — A small museum inside the temple, which is a definite must-see and one of the highlights of visiting. It houses important sculptures, including the famous statue of Kuya with small Buddha figures seemingly coming out of his mouth.
Experience · 3 places
Picnic by the Kamo River
Head to Kamogawa Park near Demachi Yanagi Station, where two rivers merge into a Y-shape. Grab some coffee from Akui Coffee and onigiri and tempura from Onigiri Yasan in the nearby shopping street. Find a spot on the banks of the Kamo River and enjoy a peaceful picnic, surrounded by locals and hardly any tourists. It's one of my favorite things to do in Kyoto.
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Kamogawa Park
Park
4.4Closed · opens Friday 12 AM
Creator's voice
A peaceful park located next to Demachi Yanagi Station where two rivers merge into a Y-shape. It's a local spot, even on a Sunday lunchtime, with very few people and no tourists, making it very peaceful.
Kamogawa Park, Izumojimatsunoshitacho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8133, Japan
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Akui Coffee
Coffee shop · Kyoto
4.8Closed · opens Thursday 6 AM
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A coffee shop located inside the nearby shopping street (Shen-gai) where you can get really good coffee, including decaf.
IMAYA Kyoto &COFFEE, 726-4 Shimomatsuyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0034, Japan
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Onigiri Yasan
Takeout Restaurant · Kyoto
3.0 (3)Closed · opens tomorrow 8 AM
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A small, quaint onigiri shop run by a nice couple, located right near Demachi Yanagi Station. They offer an assortment of onigiri at very reasonable prices, often costing around 100-something yen when others are 300 yen or more.
Onigiri Ranma, 22-16 Sagatenryuji Kitatsukurimichicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8374, Japan
Bonito flake onigiri — One of my favorites, a comforting onigiri with bonito flakes.
Salmon onigiri — A pretty onigiri with salmon, though the salmon slices are thinner than other places, it's a third of the price.
Assorted tempura — An inexpensive assortment of tempura including eggplant, pumpkin, chikuwa fish cake, okra, sweet potato, lotus root, and pickled ginger.
Benishoga tempura (pickled ginger tempura) — Pickled ginger tempura, a specialty you can only find in the Kansai area (Kyoto or Osaka). It's pickled in vinegar, delicious, and goes very well with onigiri.
Chirimen sansho onigiri — A Kyoto specialty, simmered fish with sansho (Japanese pepper). The aroma of sansho is very comforting.
Ume perilla leaves onigiri — An onigiri with ume perilla leaves, which has a flavor similar to umeboshi but is not sour.
Experience · 1 place
Taste seasonal wagashi
Visit Demachi Futaba, a wagashi shop that's been making traditional Japanese sweets for over 150 years. Try their famous Mame Mochi, and if it's autumn, definitely get the seasonal Chestnut Mochi and Inaka Mochi made with mugwort. Don't miss the unique Tsukimi Dango during moon viewing season. Japanese sweets are all about the seasons, and this is a beautiful way to experience Kyoto's food culture.
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Demachi Futaba
Japanese confectionery shop
4.3Closed · opens Friday 8:30 AM
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A must-visit shop if you love wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), famous for making them for over 150 years, since 1899. They are especially renowned for their Mame Mochi.
Demachi Futaba, 236 Seiryucho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-0822, Japan
Mame Mochi — Rice cakes with sweetened beans, featuring many beans outside and a beautiful, smooth azuki bean paste inside.
Chestnut Mochi (Kuri Mochi) — A seasonal autumn sweet with kinako (soybean powder) on the outside, which adds a very good accent, and chestnuts inside.
Inaka Mochi (Country Style Mochi) — A green-colored mochi made with mugwort (yomogi). The herby, grassy flavor of the mugwort combines perfectly with the sweet, delicious anko bean paste. They use really good yomogi here.
Tsukimi Dango — A unique mochi for moon viewing season, surrounded with a sweet potato paste. It has the perfect sweetness, reminding me of sweet potato pie but in mochi form.
Experience · 1 place
Sake and craft beer tasting in Fushimi
Head to Kizakura Kappa Country in Fushimi, an area known for its sake breweries. Start by exploring the free sake museum to learn about the brewing process. Afterward, settle into the comfortable outdoor terrace for a tasting. I tried the sake sampler with three different sakes, and my partner enjoyed their Kyoto Beer, a craft beer with a nice acidity and a hint of sake. It's a great place for drinkers, but even if you don't drink, the local shopping street and historical buildings are worth exploring.
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Kizakura Kappa Country
Tourist attraction · Kyoto
4.0 (7,351)Closed · opens tomorrow 10 AM
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Located in the Fushimi area, famous for its sake breweries due to pure water. This is the headquarter of Kizakura, a very famous Japanese sake brewery. You can learn how to make sake at their free museum, and there's also a sake tasting place and restaurant with a comfortable outdoor terrace. They also make craft beer, including their famous Kyoto Beer.
Kizakura Kappa Country, 228 Shioyamachi, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-8046, Japan
Sake sampler — A sampler of three different sakes of the day.
Kyoto Beer — One of Kizakura's famous craft beers, with a nice acidity and a hint of sake flavor.
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Choken-ji Temple
Building · Kyoto
3.0 (31)
Creator's voice
A small but charming temple located right next to a beautiful river in Fushimi. It's hardly ever crowded, and you can walk along the riverbank, making it a lovely, peaceful spot.
Japan, 〒612-8211 Kyoto, Fushimi Ward, Higashiyanagichō, 511 長建寺
Experience · 2 places
Explore Ichijo Yokai Street and try unique korokke
Wander down Ichijo Yokai Street, a very local and quiet shopping street with a fascinating legend about yokai. Look for the unique shops with monster figures outside. Make sure to stop at Yamada Koro, a shop specializing in 17 varieties of korokke. I tried the Matcha Korokke, which was surprisingly tasty with a subtle tea flavor, and the Kimchi Chige Korokke, which was hot, spicy, and absolutely amazing. They make them fresh on the spot!
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Ichijo Yokai Street
Tourist attraction · Kyoto
3.2 (8)Closed · opens tomorrow 10 AM
Creator's voice
A very quiet and local shopping street, also known as 'Yokai Street' or 'Goblin Street.' Legend says discarded objects, feeling resentful, transformed into yokai (spirits and monsters) and paraded down this street. Once a year, there's a yokai parade here. You'll find unique shops with yokai monsters outside, like a tea shop, fish shop, drugstore, and even a futon mattress shop.
Taishogun Shopping Street - Ichijo Yokai Street, 一条通 Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-8374, Japan
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Yamada Koro
Flavours fragrances and aroma supplier · Kyoto
4.6 (330)Open · until 5 PM
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A shop on Ichijo Yokai Street specializing in korokke (deep-fried goodies), offering 17 different varieties. They make them on the spot when you order.
Yamada matsukoboku-ten Kyoto Honten, 164 Kageyukojicho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-8014, Japan
Matcha Korokke — A very strange-looking black korokke that's green inside with matcha. It's quite tasty, with a subtle, beautiful tea flavor added to the potato mixture.
Kimchi Chige Korokke — A hot and spicy korokke with a delicious kimchi chige (kimchi stew) taste. You can taste the flavor of gochujang with cabbage, making it amazing.
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Heiankyo Canal
Shinto shrine · Kyoto
4.4 (16,207)Closed · opens Thursday 6 AM
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A truly hidden gem located right across from Nijo Castle, hidden from street level. This canal was historically used to carry materials to build Kyoto 1,200 years ago. Recently revived, it's now a very beautiful and long promenade with beautifully landscaped cobblestone walkways and a calm river flowing by. It's incredibly peaceful and a definite hidden gem.
Heian-jingū Shrine, 97 Okazaki Nishitennocho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8341, Japan
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Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine
Shinto shrine
4.3 (4,464)Closed · opens 8 AM
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Tucked away in the bustling Nishiki Market area, this shrine is dedicated to the god of learning and scholarship, making it popular for students. It's small but interesting, blending tradition with modern life as it's visible from Nishiki Market. It's unique for its underground spring, where visitors can wash their hands for good luck. It's not a hidden gem but is rarely as crowded as the market itself and is especially beautiful at night.
Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, 537 Nakanocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8042, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Explore Japan's railway history
Visit the Kyoto Railway Museum to dive into Japan's rich railway history. You can see a variety of trains, from steam locomotives to Shinkansen. I really enjoyed entering the driver's room and checking out trains from underneath. You can even ride a locomotive for a short ride. Don't miss the original Nijo Station building, which is now the gift shop. It's entertaining and informative, even if you're not a train enthusiast.
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Kyoto Railway Museum
Rail museum
4.5 (226)Closed · opens Friday 10 AM
Creator's voice
A fascinating museum showcasing Japan's railway history, from steam locomotives to high-speed Shinkansen trains. It has three floors to explore and is entertaining and informative even for non-train enthusiasts. Japan's first electric train actually ran in Kyoto. The original Nijo Station, a beautiful blend of Victorian and Japanese architecture, has been relocated here and now serves as the gift shop.
Kyoto Railway Museum, Kankijicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8835, Japan
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Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
Buddhist temple
4.5 (12,280)Closed · opens 5:50 AM
Creator's voice
A truly impressive temple that's never crowded and completely free to enter. The temple buildings were originally built in 1604 but rebuilt in the late 19th and early 20th centuries after being destroyed by fire four times. The gate from outside is also very impressive.
Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8505, Japan

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