Our first 24hrs in Kyoto!

Jet lag is still absolutely kicking our bums so despite having slept a solid eight hours, our eyes shot open at 5:00am. At least we didn’t feel too terrible, more like slightly confused humans who had no idea what time zone their bodies belonged to. We stayed in bed for a while, letting the early morning quiet settle in, before deciding it was time to get up and actually make something of the day.

We got ourselves ready and headed straight out the door in search of breakfast. Our first stop? The ever reliable 7-Eleven. It’s starting to become a theme lately hasn’t it?? A smoothie for me, a sandwich (or two… let’s be honest) for Jayde and just like that, fuel for the morning secured.

We jumped on the train and made our way to our first official stop Fushimi Inari-Taisha.

This shrine is famous for its endless rows of bright orange torii gates that wind their way up the forested hillside. And honestly? Seeing them in real life was magical. The colours glowed even in the soft morning light, and although a few people were already trickling in, it still felt peaceful enough to enjoy.

Without wasting time, we started the climb. The path takes you through thousands of torii gates, small shrines, and little stalls selling charms and snacks. It’s definitely a workout…. a proper uphill trek but it was absolutely worth it. We pushed all the way to the very top, where we were rewarded with quiet forest paths and beautiful views across Kyoto. The whole loop took us about 45 minutes, and it was the most incredible way to begin the day.

After finishing the loop, we wandered through the surrounding streets where old tea houses, tiny restaurants, and souvenir stalls lined the pathways. It was buzzing with people by this point, so we didn’t linger too long, but we still ducked into a few shops that caught our eye. Kyoto’s mix of old wooden buildings and lively crowds creates such a cool vibe. Definitely something different to what we have been experiencing in other countries!

Our wandering eventually led us to Tofuku-ji, a serene Zen Buddhist temple known for its sweeping wooden bridges and pristine gardens. Compared to Inari, it felt calmer and quieter. We strolled through the grounds, admiring the traditional architecture and leafy surroundings, taking short breaks just to breathe it all in.

From there, we continued walking and eventually arrived at Kiyomizu-dera one of Kyoto’s most iconic temples. Its massive wooden veranda juts out over the hillside, offering sweeping views of the city. The bright orange pagodas, the sound of wooden sandals on the stone paths, the bustle of visitors it was vibrant and beautiful. We took our time exploring, snapped some photos, and then moved on before we were over the wild crowds.

Next up was the lively Nishiki Market a long, bustling food market packed with snack stalls, seafood, spices, sweets, and about a thousand things we couldn’t identify. It was chaotic in the best way. At one point we found ourselves in every knife shop there was, admiring the incredible craftsmanship of all of the beautiful knives. It was Jayde’s heaven and if he could, he would have taken them all home.

As the sky began to dim, we made our way back toward our accommodation, passing through Pontocho Alley a narrow atmospheric lane lined with lanterns, bars, and tiny restaurants overlooking the river.

By the time we finally walked through our door, our step count had ticked over 30,000. A huge day, but such a good one filled with temples, food and wandering.

Kyoto, we’re off to a pretty unforgettable start.Read more