Kyoto Snapshots

Sandals, gardens and Nishiki Market

Amber Mezbourian Apr 05, 2013 - 1 min read

Wander through the covered Nishiki market and sample a variety of different types of food from around Japan. Many shops offer free tasters, so this is the perfect time to be brave and taste something new.

Kyoto has two large flea markets, on the 21st and 25th of each month - the perfect opportunity to pick up a quirky souvenir. Used kimonos sell for as little as Y1000, and there's also a wide variety of antiques and other crafts available.

There's something pleasingly minimalist about these wooden buckets, lined up in the grounds of a temple.

On a rainy day, Kyoto's gardens are beautiful - and quiet!

Wooden sandles on sale in Nishiki market - just one of the many traditional souvenirs you can pick up here.

You're bound to run into at least one school group on tour whilst in Kyoto!

The grounds of Kiyomizudera are deserted in the rain ... the ideal time to visit if you want to enjoy it in peace.

Rich mossy slopes at Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion. The gardens in Kyoto are so well-maintained that it's unlikely you'll see a leaf out of place.

Miniature toriis at the Fushimi Inari shrine, where you can also walk through hundreds of the full-sized red gates.

People flock to Kyoto to admire the sakura (cherry blossoms) in the spring. Do it the Japanese way - take a picnic and relax for the afternoon under the flowers.

Another popular time to visit is in November, when the leaves turn fiery and autumnal. This is at Kiyomizudera, where the leaves are lit up at night.

The bamboo forest at Arashiyama makes for a pleasant shady stroll.

Colourful kimonos in the crowds at Arashiyama.

It's not just about temples. Kyoto Tower is a landmark in its own right, whilst the station building is a stunning piece of modern architecture.

Bamboo makes an attractive natural covering for a wooden trough.

Everyone knows Kyoto. It receives over 30 million visitors a year and the crowds can be intense, but take the time to explore just a little and you’ll find winding cobbled alleyways lined with intimate restaurants, notice small temples tucked between nondescript office blocks, and catch glimpses of peaceful gardens in otherwise built up areas. In fact, part of its charm is just wandering around and seeing what you happen to stumble across. Don't let the huge numbers of visitors put you off - there's a reason why so many people go to Kyoto, and it's worth adding to your itinerary, too.

Amber Mezbourian @amber.mezbourian

I spent three years living in Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET Programme, not knowing what to expect but with images of Tokyo, geisha and Mount Fuji in my mind. I was placed in Yamagata prefecture in a small rural town that I couldn't find in any guidebook. I learnt to sno...