Kyoto: history, temples, shrines, food, rules｜Japanese Podcast #85

Kyoto: history, temples, shrines, food, rules｜Japanese Podcast #85

Hello everyone thank you for joining us on the Japanese Podcast with Hana I hope you’re all doing well IIn this episode, ‘m going to be talking about things you should know before visiting Kyoto. Kyoto has such a long history it’s impossible to cover it all in one podcast. There are also so many tourist spots and delicious Kyoto food so I’ll be talking about those things today The reason I’m talking about Kyoto now is because Kyoto is famous for its autumn leaves. The cherry blossoms in Kyoto are beautiful in spring and the autumn leaves are also very beautiful. It’s a place I really love So, I thought that there would be a lot of Japanese people going to Kyoto in the fall and there would also be a lot of foreign tourists so if any of you are planning to go to Kyoto I thought that some people might enjoy their visit more if they listened to this and gained a little more knowledge and understanding about the history and city of Kyoto so I’d talk about Kyoto today. First of all, have you ever been to Kyoto? I’m sure there are many of you who have been there or who have seen it in photos or videos but the atmosphere is completely different from the atmosphere of the big city of Tokyo and it’s a place where many of Japan’s old, beautiful buildings, temples, shrines, and more remain. Kyoto’s history dates back to 794. It’s now 2025, so that was 1,231 years ago. At that time, Kyoto was established as the capital and for over 1,000 years it developed as the political and cultural center of Japan. The current capital of Japan is Tokyo Although it’s Tokyo now if we look back in history Japan’s capital was in Kyoto for over a thousand years. That’s why Kyoto is a historically rich city with many temples and shrines that developed over time. There are also many traditional cultures that originated in Kyoto for example, the tea ceremony and flower arrangement. And one reason why so many old buildings remain is because of World War II. During the war, cities like Tokyo and Osaka were completely burned down and destroyed. However, Kyoto did not suffer much damage. Because of that Kyoto still has many historical sites in fact, there are 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the city. That shows how Kyoto is one of Japan’s most iconic tourist destinations. I think what makes Kyoto special is how old traditions and modern elements blend beautifully together. Kyoto’s history is extremely long over a thousand years so I can’t talk about everything in detail but to put it very simply Kyoto was the capital for about a thousand years where many cultures were born and many magnificent buildings were constructed. It’s not just that there are old buildings many grand and impressive ones still remain today, and that’s Kyoto. Next, I’d like to introduce a few must-visit sightseeing spots in Kyoto. tourist spots that you absolutely cannot miss if you go to Kyoto Kyoto is so famous that many of you might think “Yeah, I already know that,” no matter what I talk about, but I’ll start with the most classic ones. First, of course, Kiyomizu-dera Temple It’s really famous. The reason Kiyomizu-dera is so well-known is because of its large wooden stage. That wooden stage is architecturally impressive and incredibly beautiful, and in every season cherry blossoms in spring, colorful leaves in autumn it’s beautiful. So it’s a place that attracts countless visitors and tourists from all over. There’s a street leading up to Kiyomizu-dera lined with many shops where you can enjoy street food and shopping, and the whole area is packed with tourists. The last time I went there was about two years ago and it was so crowded I could barely walk and it’s a pretty steep hill, too. Some people might want to take a taxi or bus but it’s often so crowded that you can hardly move. There are also many tour buses so that area is extremely congested. If you’re not a fan of crowds the only option is to go really early in the morning. It’s still crowded even in the evening so if you don’t plan to go inside the temple I’d recommend visiting at night for the atmosphere or early in the morning. These days, many people also try to avoid crowds by going early in the morning or enjoying the city at night so honestly you just have to endure it. If you really want to go just be mentally prepared there will be a lot of people. Next, another very famous place is Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. I think almost everyone knows this one it’s famous for its “Senbon Torii,” thousands of red torii gates lined up in rows. Those rows of torii gates are iconic and make it a very photogenic spot. Tourists from all over Japan and the world come to take photos and videos there. I think there are a lot of people who edit out other visitors in their photos because taking a picture with no people in the background is really difficult. I’m sure you’ve seen those photos where someone is standing alone among rows and rows of red torii gates striking a pose but honestly, that’s almost impossible to do because it’s always so crowded. You could take a photo like that only if you go very early in the morning and become one of the first visitors Otherwise your photos will probably be full of people. Of course, you can always edit the photo later to remove people, but it’s good to keep this in mind. Those Instagram-style photos of a person standing alone surrounded by torii gates are almost impossible to take in real life. The torii gates are set along a mountain path so it takes about one to two hours to reach the top Maybe not quite two hours, but definitely at least one. As you climb higher toward the top the number of people gradually decreases. As you climb higher toward the top the number of people gradually decreases. Most people get tired and turn back halfway so if you keep climbing to the summit you’ll find fewer people and might be able to take some nice photos with the torii gates. You might be wondering “Why are there so many torii gates here?” The reason goes back to the Edo period about 300 to 400 years ago. Back then, merchants and businesspeople deeply believed in the deity worshiped at this shrine called Inari. Originally, Inari was known as a deity of agriculture people prayed for good harvests and abundant crops. Over time, visiting the shrine came to be associated with business success and prosperity. So merchants and business owners started visiting Fushimi Inari Shrine and when their businesses succeeded they donated red torii gates as a way to express gratitude. Each torii carries both a prayer for business success and a message of thanks for past prosperity. If you look closely you can see the names of companies shops, or individuals engraved on each gate You might even recognize the names of some well-known companies or stores. It’s not limited to businesses individuals can also donate a torii if they wish. I don’t remember the exact price but it varies by size large ones can cost several hundred thousand yen. Since Fushimi Inari is on a mountain you can enjoy a great view of Kyoto as you climb so I really recommend it for the scenery too. I’ve climbed all the way to the top once and it was pretty tough. The path is mostly stairs and mountain trails so my legs were shaking from exhaustion but I’m really glad I did it. The view is beautiful and you can really feel the traditional atmosphere of Japan. Each temple or shrine has a different deity that it’s dedicated to. For example, some shrines like Fushimi Inari have deities for business success others are for academic achievement health and longevity or safe childbirth each one has its own type of blessing. Depending on the place you go each shrine has a different god It’s fine to visit just for sightseeing but if you have a wish or goal you can choose which shrine or temple to visit based on that. Kyoto has so many temples and shrines that it’s impossible to visit them all and sometimes the crowds can be overwhelming. So if you have a particular wish in mind I think it’s best to choose your destination based on that. Now autumn leaves season is just around the corner when the trees turn shades of orange red, and yellow, creating beautiful scenery and the best spots to visit change accordingly. Some temples and shrines are especially famous for their autumn colors so if you’re planning to visit Kyoto soon you might want to choose your destinations based on that. One place I recommend is a temple called Genkō-an. This temple has two famous windows the “Window of Enlightenment,” which is round, and the “Window of Confusion,” which is square. The autumn leaves you can see through those windows are absolutely stunning truly beautiful. If you look it up online, you’ll find pictures right away and I think they’re really beautiful. So I really recommend going there. Another popular one is a temple called Tōfuku-ji. There’s a bridge at this temple and the autumn leaves you can see from that bridge are really famous and incredibly beautiful. The best time to see the autumn leaves depends on the weather and temperature each year so it’s hard to say exactly but around November is usually a good time to enjoy them. There’s also a place called Eikan-dō. This place is also super famous for its beautiful autumn leaves. They also have night illuminations here. It’s dark at night, of course. They light up the area creating a dreamy magical atmosphere that’s completely different from the daytime. It’s a limited-time event and I really recommend it. Personally, I prefer the illuminated autumn leaves at night rather than the daytime ones. Of course, it depends on personal taste but try looking up some pictures and if you find a place that makes you think “Wow, I want to go there!”, then definitely visit It’s truly beautiful. I really love Kyoto’s autumn leaves They’re absolutely stunning and the combination of temples shrines, and colorful leaves is just perfect I hope you all get to see it for yourselves. There are many places around the world where you can see red and yellow autumn leaves but I really hope you’ll experience Japan’s version where the leaves blend beautifully with temples and shrines. Next, I’d like to talk a little about some famous foods in Kyoto. When you think of famous Kyoto foods what comes to mind? One of them is matcha (green tea). Matcha is extremely famous in Kyoto There’s a place called Uji which is one of Japan’s most well-known matcha-producing regions. So you’ll find matcha parfaits, matcha ice cream matcha chocolates, and of course, matcha lattes. They’re all rich in flavor, with a strong aroma and taste of green tea that’s why they’re so popular. There are tons of matcha desserts at cafes in Kyoto so if you love matcha you’ll definitely think, “Kyoto is the best!” To be honest, I’m not a big fan of matcha so I don’t go out of my way to drink matcha lattes or eat matcha cakes or ice cream but I did try a matcha cheesecake once. It was a cheesecake with a bit of matcha mixed in and it was really delicious. I had it at a shop near Kiyomizu-dera Temple and it was so good that I realized, “Oh, I can actually eat matcha!” But aside from that I usually prefer chocolate or vanilla over matcha Still, for matcha lovers Kyoto is truly a paradise. My favorite, though, is warabi mochi. You all know mochi (rice cake), right? Mochi is made from glutinous rice and has that chewy stretchy texture do you like it? Many of you probably know mochi but there’s also something called warabi mochi which is a little different. It’s also a kind of mochi but it’s made from warabi (bracken root starch). Regular mochi is made from rice but warabi mochi is made from bracken. There’s a dessert where warabi mochi is topped with roasted soybean flour (kinako) and I absolutely love it. You can find warabi mochi at regular supermarkets too but those are actually fake versions not the real thing. They’re cheap and easy to find but they’re fake. But if you go to Kyoto you can try authentic, high-quality warabi mochi it’s incredibly delicious and I really hope you get the chance to taste it. Warabi mochi is covered with kinako powder that’s roasted soybean powder and sometimes people pour a sweet syrup called anmitsu over it before eating. I love it so much that whenever I go to Kyoto I always eat warabi mochi. So even if you’re not a fan of matcha and think Kyoto desserts aren’t for you I really want you to try warabi mochi at least once. Now lastly, I’d like to talk about some things to be careful about in Kyoto manners and rules that you should know. I’d like to go over those with you. First of all this became quite a big issue and got a lot of attention there are maiko (apprentice geisha) in Kyoto. Do you all know what maiko are? They’re women who paint their faces white and perform traditional dances and in certain areas you can sometimes see them walking around You might also see them coming out of buildings and getting into cars. When tourists see that they often find it fascinating and want to take photos or videos. I totally understand that I’d be surprised too and I’d probably want to take photos or videos as well. But this has actually caused serious problems people disturbing and it’s been an issue for quite some time. Because of that, there’s now a regulation creating “no-photography zones” for maiko. So taking photos of them in those areas is completely prohibited. In the Gion area even if you see a maiko you must not take photos or videos It is prohibited Also, Kyoto still has many traditional streets and old, beautiful, and unique buildings. But there have been many cases where visitors wander into small alleys or private residential areas which causes problems. This can happen to both Japanese and foreign tourists sometimes people just don’t realize but many people actually live there. Some even live near temples or in beautiful old houses that look like historic buildings. So please remember never to enter areas marked as private or off-limits. And if you’re not sure like, “Is this someone’s home or a tourist spot I can go into? I recommend looking around first to see if there are any warning signs or notices. I’ve done that myself I thought, this house is so pretty Maybe it’s a museum or a shop but it turned out to be a private house with a sign saying “Do not enter.” So it’s easy to make that mistake without realizing it but please be very careful about that. And of course, there’s the issue of trash. Littering, throwing garbage on the street is absolutely unacceptable not just in Japan but anywhere in the world. It dirties the city, so it’s prohibited. This isn’t limited to Kyoto but as the number of tourists increases so does the number of people who ignore the rules and litter. Even if something is acceptable in a tourist’s home country there are many things that are not allowed in Japan. Japan has its own rules, manners and laws, and “I didn’t know” isn’t an excuse. So please keep that firmly in mind. The reason I’m saying this a bit firmly is because I went to Nara about a month ago. You know, the area with the deer and the Great Buddha. When I went there, there were of course Japanese visitors, but far more foreign tourists. That in itself isn’t a problem at all but I saw many people eating food or drinking while walking around. I saw that That’s fine unless it’s an area where signs specifically say it’s not allowed. So I was walking down the path and there were three people walking in front of me. They looked like foreign tourists and they were eating and drinking as they walked. When they finished eating and drinking they just threw their trash onto the ground and kept walking as if nothing happened. When I saw that I was like no wonder the streets get dirtier as tourism increases. Even if it clearly says “Don’t throw trash on the street” in Japan I think there are still people who just don’t know that. In their own culture, it might be normal to think “It’s fine to throw trash on the street someone will clean it up later.” Every country and culture has different habits so that was the moment I really felt how Japan’s original atmosphere could disappear because of that. Seeing people finish their food and casually toss their trash on the ground made me think this is really sad I hate this Please don’t make the streets dirty. No matter what country or place you’re in you should never throw trash on the street. When you’re traveling, you’re probably staying at a hotel or Airbnb, so it’s not like you have to bring the trash back to your home. Please throw your trash away once you return to your hotel or use a trash bin if you find one at a store. In this episode, I talked about the things I want you to know before visiting Kyoto. We talked about Kyoto’s history tourist spots, food, and manners. I also shared some recommendations for autumn leaves and other tips. For those who have been to Kyoto how was it? Do you like Kyoto? And for those planning to visit Japan would you like to go to Kyoto? Kyoto has a completely different atmosphere from Tokyo with shrines, temples and beautiful old scenery I love it. It’s the kind of place that makes me want to visit anytime. But that doesn’t mean Kyoto is a countryside area. There’s a great mix of modern-looking buildings and the traditional atmosphere of temples and shrines You can really feel a unique atmosphere that’s unlike any other city. Also, when you go to Kyoto you’ll notice that to preserve the city’s old streets even convenience stores like Lawson, FamilyMart and 7-Eleven which usually have bright and colorful designs are painted in brown or darker tones instead. Other shops als change their colors to match the city’s scenery. There are the same kinds of shops you’ll find anywhere in Japan but the atmosphere feels completely different. You can enjoy the unique atmosphere and scenery that only Kyoto has. My recommendation is of course, visiting the famous tourist spots, but also walking a bit farther and exploring Kyoto’s quieter streets. If you go one street away from the main roads you’ll find many less crowded areas where you can really feel Kyoto’s atmosphere. Taking a slow relaxed walk through those areas can make for a nice trip. Everyone has their own preference for city atmospheres but if you come to Japan Kyoto is definitely a place you should visit at least once. If you enjoyed this kind of episode where I introduce one specific city please let me know in the comments I’m thinking of doing more episodes about other cities too. Before we end, I have an announcement. I currently have memberships on YouTube and Patreon. If you’d like access to the video transcripts or want to support this podcast, please consider joining my membership. And to everyone who has already joined thank you so much! Thanks to your support I’m able to keep doing this so I’m truly grateful. That’s all for today’s episode. Thank you so much for listening until the end. Have a nice day, everyone See you next time!

01:02 Recent Weather
03:00 Birthday
07:13 Points for Choosing a Restaurant
12:23 Train Announcements
17:12 iPhone Repair
23:19 Nachi Falls – Wakayama Trip
27:59 Outro

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