8 spots โ sorted by traveller rating
Urasenke, one of the three great tea families of Japan, offers English-guided tea ceremony demonstrations in a preserved machiya townhouse setting. Learn to observe and participate in chado (the Way of Tea) โ the precise choreography of preparing and receiving matcha in a tatami tearoom, an art practiced and refined at this same Kyoto location since the 16th century.
Participate in an authentic Japanese tea ceremony (chado) in a traditional machiya or temple garden โ learning the precise movements and Zen philosophy behind every gesture.
Learn to prepare classic Kyoto dishes โ dashi stock, simmered vegetables, tofu dishes โ in an intimate class led by local chefs, usually including a market visit to Nishiki beforehand.
A UNESCO-listed shogun palace with the famous 'nightingale floors' that chirp when walked upon โ a security feature against assassins. The Ninomaru Palace interiors are exceptionally preserved.
The open-sided Sagano Romantic Train runs through the Hozu River gorge between Saga-Torokko and Kameoka โ 25 minutes of spectacular forest and river scenery in an old-fashioned sightseeing train.
Rent a beautifully styled kimono from shops near Gion or Higashiyama and spend the day strolling Kyoto's stone-paved alleyways โ the experience transforms photographs and deepens connection to the city.
Kyoto's flat city centre and wide riverside paths make it ideal for cycling โ rent a bike near Kyoto Station and cover temples, canal paths, and Nishiki Market in a single morning.
Active film studio and theme park where samurai dramas, period films, and ninja movies are regularly produced, Uzumasa Eigamura lets visitors walk through the working Edo-period street sets, watch live action scenes being filmed, and participate in hands-on ninja training and samurai costume photoshoots. Ninja and geisha cosplay experiences are available year-round.
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