Kyoto always seemed like a particularly magical place to me, completely unlike any other place I had ever visited or read about. When I read the book “Memoirs of a Geisha”, and especially after watching the famous movie that followed it, I promised myself that one day I would visit this mysterious and special destination.

Our visit to Kyoto, which was spread over six days, was divided into two parts : first we stayed at a beautiful hotel in Arashiyama, a breathtaking and rich with nature district on the northwestern tip of Kyoto, best known for its famous bamboo groves and from there we continued for another 3 days in the center of Kyoto.

Detailed guides for both parts of the trip will be posted to the blog soon, but if you're planning a trip to Kyoto, especially if you're coming from a busier city like Osaka or Tokyo, I beg you not to skip a short stay in the enchanting Arashiyama area to maximize the Zen and calmness that characterize it {especially in the early hours of the morning, before the area fills up with tourists}.

It's very hard not to fall in love with Kyoto, the ancient capital city of Japan.

There's a reason it's considered one of the most romantic destinations around the world. The old streets are clustered with low wooden houses, the traditional Japanese architecture, the beautiful Zen gardens, the thousands of temples scattered throughout the city and its surroundings {which is why it's known as the “City of Temples”} and the gentle geishas I managed to spot on the famous streets of Gion {honestly, it's a little tricky to see real geishas, since almost everyone who comes to the area dresses up as a geisha for the experience} – all these are able to preserve the ancient and rich historical character of Japan side by side with the modernized big city.

There are so many things to do, see and taste in this city, so when it was time to leave after almost a week of enjoying the sights and unique atmosphere of the city to go to the next destination – Tokyo, I felt a small pinch in the heart.

And Tokyo is the destination that has been at the top of my bucket list for over a decade, so that means a great deal about the charming Kyoto 🙂

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