4 things to do in Kyoto in winter

From the autumn leaves season in early December to Christmas, various places in Kyoto are lit up at night. The illuminations in temple gardens are particularly beautiful.

We will also introduce it on our website, but the Kyoto City Tourism Association website has the most detailed information.

Famous spots that are packed with people during the day have a mysterious atmosphere with few people at night.

In Japan, there is a New Year's custom called "Shogatsu." Kyoto was once the capital of Japan, and many different events have been held there for over 1,000 years.

There are also special foods that can only be eaten at the beginning of the year, such as rice porridge with seven herbs and osechi. These can be enjoyed at many restaurants.

True Wabi-Sabi is found in winter

Wabi-sabi is a uniquely Japanese aesthetic sense, a sense of simplicity and love for ever-changing things.

This is also evident in the tea ceremony and Zen thought. Conversely, the spirit of enjoying gorgeous, ornate things is called "miyabi," and Kyoto is the city that has perfected both "wabi-sabi" and "miyabi."

Winter is a time when Kyoto's wabi-sabi beauty is brought out to the fullest. Enjoy the natural scenery as it is, quiet and lonely, and seemingly capable of changing at any moment.

Winter in Kyoto is often sunny

Winter is the sunniest time of the year in Kyoto. Due to global warming, snow falls once every few years, and there is a high probability of sunny and warm days during the day.

Winter is a great time to enjoy popular sightseeing spots at your own pace, as there are fewer tourists and hotel prices are cheaper.
E-Bikes are perfectly comfortable to ride even in winter. You can get around remote sightseeing spots such as Kinkaku-ji Temple, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and the Philosopher's Path faster and more enjoyably than with any other form of public transport. Why not try our guided tours and rental services?