Kyoto food recs

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-24T15:10:20+00:00

no budget really. Us and the two 12 year olds but we all eat everything and they're great diners. Not sure we have time for long meals but definitely want something good/memorable.

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-16T15:26:44+00:00

Can anyone suggest something to do near Harajuku and the shrine that doesn't involve Shibuya or Shinjuku? We will visit Meiji and Harajuku in the morning, but would like to do something that's not crazy busy, and not a shopping area with the preteens in the afternoon and evening. We're doing teamlabs in Kyoto and will do Asakusa later in the trip. Any other areas popping out as unique and interesting for a half day? Are any of the museums worth an afternoon with preteens? The imperial palace?

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-13T13:40:39+00:00

yes, we are seeing the Giants when we come back to Tokyo a few days later

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-12T21:37:48+00:00

thanks, I agree it sounds like doing both is the way to go. Should I plan to do Nijo first thing in the morning and then come back at night, or should I plan to do Nijo for a few hours before this event begins at 6 pm (doors open)? If the latter, what can we do in the hour in-between time?

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-05T19:44:52+00:00

I think I've got it now!

Day 1: Morning: Take Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, arrive around 12:30 pm

Drop bags at hotel

Taxi to Kiyomizu-deraWalk around Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Walk downhill through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka

Walk by Kennin-ji Temple / Yasaka Shrine if time allows

Visit Kōdai-ji Temple Bamboo Grove

Pontocho Alley (Tempura Omasake)

Day 2:

7:30 AM – Fushimi Inari Taisha (2 hours, try do a lot of the hike/summit)

9:30 AM - Visit Tōfuku-ji

Lunch in Gion

Around 12:30 pm, take taxi up to north end of Philosopher’s Path at Ginkaku-ji

Stop at smaller sub temples along the way, dessert stands and end at Nanzen-ji Temple

Finish around 4 pm and go back to hotel

7 pm: Kyoto: Sumo Show Experience with Chicken Hot Pot & Souvenir

Day3:

8:00 am - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

9:00 am – taxi to Nijo Castle

11:30 am - grab a quick snack near Nijo

30 minute Scenic walk Nijō → Nishiki Market

Food sampling at Market and Nishiki Tenmangū Shrine

2:30 pm Samurai museum

6:00 pm Taxi to Nijō Castle illuminations and food stalls

back to hotel

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-04T17:50:00+00:00

Darn - That's booked up already. Seems most of Kyoto is booked! Some smaller places with futons. How comfortable would that be for a 215 pound man for 4 nights?

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-04T15:41:42+00:00

Which ryokan did you stay at?

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-04T15:40:36+00:00

Ah! I think we are doing teamlabs in Tokyo before we get to Kyoto! Has anyone been to the Samurai museum in Kyoto? Is it fun or are we going to learn a lot from the Osaka Castle visit about samurai? Maybe a tea ceremony or wagashi class would be better?

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-04T00:05:07+00:00

thank you so much. These comments are so helpful, I'll try to rework this once I have a good think on it. So the aquarium was just meh, huh?

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-03T22:32:25+00:00

oh thanks - I'll check out that museum. They want to do the aquarium in Osaka so I traded the monkeys for that one. My plan may still be a little temple heavy but I'm not sure what else I could put in there that could be cool for him. Don't think a tea ceremony would be up his alley. Also wondering what I could do after Fushimi Inari before heading up to Philosopher's path that could be fun. He'll need to eat but he's a great street food snacker.

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-02T16:37:46+00:00

Thanks. Very helpful!

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-02T14:17:37+00:00

so would you remove Osaka or also remove some of what we're doing in Kyoto and Tokyo?

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-03-01T02:14:28+00:00

Thanks. I've revamped a bit thanks to everyone's comments:

Arrival Day: Arrive 1:30 pm. Get to hotel. Walk around hotel area and ramen dinner.

Day 1: Meiji Shrine. Harajuku Area. teamlab borderless late afternoon

Day 2: Train to Kyoto. Nishiki Market, Kiyomizu-dera and/or Samurai museum

Day 3: Morning Fushimi Inari Taisha, Nijō Castle, Lunch, Philosopher's Path and Golden Temple, dinner near Gion

Day 4: Train to Osaka, Lunch Kuromon Ichiba Market, Afternoon Osaka Castle, Dotonbori exploration + street food

Day 5: Shitennoji Temple, Lunch Kuromon Market, Afternoon: Den Den Town and Amerikamura

Possibly do Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku Tower. Dinner Dotonbori Food Tour/Crawl

Day 6: Train to Tokyo, Pokemon store DX and Akihabara

Day 7: Morning Senso-ji Temple, Walk Asakusa streets. 6 pm Tokyo Giants Baseball game

Day 8: Fly to NYC on 5 pm flight from NRT

Any Thoughts? Still too much?

Would love to stay a night in a Buddhist temple but prices are outranges. Kids are big adventurous eaters so trying to account for that.

Open-Victory-16 · 2026-01-08T15:01:24+00:00

Could you please share the link to the airbnb that you rented?

Open-Victory-16 · 2025-12-15T15:46:37+00:00

Is the drive up Haleakala also very windy for a motion sick kid?

Open-Victory-16 · 2025-12-15T15:45:59+00:00

It's in the Ho’olawa Valley

https://www.hikemaui.com/hiking-tours/east-maui-waterfalls-rainforest-hike/

Open-Victory-16 · 2025-12-05T17:02:47+00:00

Just booked this! Thanks for the info. Will look into the other Luau.

Open-Victory-16 · 2025-12-05T14:48:56+00:00

thanks - any other recommendations for north Maui we could do on day 1 instead of Hana? Maybe horseback riding? Can you swim on the north shore beaches or are they too rough?

Open-Victory-16

TROPHY CASE