Kyoto

~ amesploss

Things to do in Kyoto with a toddler, and things to avoid…

We visited Kyoto in October, when the leaves were changing. It was very beautiful and made for some great views. The weather was cool, but once you got moving around and climbing all the hills and stairs Kyoto has to offer, you quickly shed the layers. Our son has just turned 2 and was still in the “terrible” phase of that age, so although he was too small to do some of the hikes, he also was old enough to want to be free of his carrier, so there was a lot of protesting on his part. Kyoto really has the “old Japan” feel and we will definitely be going back as he gets older and is able to manage all the walking on his own. Almost all of the places we visited were not stroller friendly, so if your child tires easily or is of an age they need to be carried, I recommend a hiking carrier.

What we did:

Fushimi Inari Taisha

This is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Kyoto. This mountain side shrine boasts “thousands of tori gates” (and thousands of stairs) on the path up the sacred mountain, Inari. It’s very popular because it’s very beautiful and photogenic. It’s best to get there early in the morning to avoid large crowds. We hiked to the halfway point and then turned around because our son was tired of being in the carrier and we were tired of carrying him. The trails are mostly all stairs, so be prepared for that. You don’t have to go to the top or even the half way point to enjoy it. The shrine (located at ground level) is beautiful to see, and seeing the tori gates all lined up is very cool. It’s impressive to see so we will make sure friends and family coming to visit get a chance to go. Now that our son is older and able to manage the stairs on his own, we will be going back.

Tofukuji Temple

After we finished the “1000 Tori Gate” hike, we decided to explore the neighborhood a bit, find some coffee, and just do some non-stairs walking for a bit. About 30 minutes into walking, we arrived at the Tofukuji Temple, which is a large Buddhist temple, established in 1236. The temple also has a beautiful garden, and it was a great place to let our son out of his carrier so he could stretch his legs. The fall foliage was in full effect and really added to the beauty of the garden.

 Kiyomizu-dera

There is no better place to spend that “golden hour” than Kiyomizu-dera. First, the walk to get here is half the fun, although it’s all up hill, you get to meander up a street lined with amazing shops and dining. There were a ton of pottery places with handmade wares, souvenir shops, fan shops, food stands, and more. We went back to this area several times to shop and eat. When you make your way to the top of the hill, you are rewarded with a beautiful Buddhist Temple and grounds. When you visit close to sunset, you’ll get to experience the glowing views of Kyoto from the large Veranda. If you have a light weight stroller, you can mange it at this location. Pushing it up the hill is a bit of a challenge, but it also comes in handy for hauling all your purchases on your way up. This whole area has that “old Japan” feel so it’s very popular among visitors and locals alike. You will also see a lot of Geisha, and people wearing traditional kimono’s in this area. There is a lot to see in this area, so when we go back I think it would be nice to dedicate a whole afternoon into evening exploring this area. Nearby are the Thousand Stone Buddahs, several Pagodas, and more.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

We did visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace grounds, but unfortunately it was still during heavy Covid restrictions and we were unable to enter the palace or palace gardens without a prior reservation. Despite not being able to do much there, our son enjoyed just running around the park and stretching his legs. Perhaps the next time we go, we will be able to tour the palace or palace gardens, but if not, there are a ton of other things on our “to-see” list in Kyoto. If you do want to see the Imperial Palace, I would recommend checking the website first and making a reservation in advance, just in case.

You really can’t go wrong in Kyoto, there is a lot of that “old world” feel, and it makes you feel like you’ve taken a step back in time. Here are some things on our list for next time, that you might find interesting in researching more. If we get to them, I will certainly update this post with my experience.

While in Kyoto, there are a few places on the outskirts that we want to also try to see:

If you have the time, you can add on to your trip to Kyoto with a stop in Nara and continue on to Osaka. They are all pretty close and an easy trip when taking the trains. We haven’t been to Nara yet, but have plans to visit. We have been to Osaka, and I will post about it soon.

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Published by amesploss

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