Kyoto with Kids: Temples, Monkeys, Chestnuts & Questionable Footwear Choices

After the bright lights and nonstop energy of Tokyo, our next stop was Kyoto… which basically feels like you time-traveled straight into old Japan. Think temples, quiet streets, traditional houses, and enough history to make you feel very cultured while also handing your child a snack for the fifth time that hour.

If you are in Tokyo, Kyoto is absolutely worth doing. We took the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train), and it was around two-ish hours depending on the train. Fast, clean, efficient, and unlike my children, always on schedule.

First Stop: The Orange Temple Gates Dreams Are Made Of

We went straight to Fushimi Inari Taisha, the famous temple with all the endless orange torii gates.

It was stunning. Peaceful. Beautiful. Very “I should be meditating,” while simultaneously yelling, “Stay where I can see you!”

We went in the fall, so the orange gates with the orange leaves were chef’s kiss perfection. Great photo spot. Also, we got lucky and saw women dressed in traditional kimono walking by, which made the whole place feel even more magical.

Street Food: As Always, Our Main Hobby

Right outside there are little shops and food stalls, so naturally we ate our way through Kyoto.

We had roasted chestnuts, red bean sweets, random snacks I pointed at, and whatever smelled delicious. Pro tip: maybe do not eat an industrial-sized bag of chestnuts in one sitting. Someone in our travel group made that sacrifice for science.

Best Meal in Kyoto: Ramen That Changed Me

We ate at Engine Ramen Kyoto and let me be clear: this ramen was elite.

Top tier. Life-affirming. Worth the wait. Worth the trip. Worth writing poetry about.

If you go, go hungry.

Dinner Where We Accidentally Lived Like Royalty

One night we went to Washoku Sato Ishibashi Branch, a popular Japanese chain known for traditional meals.

And somehow we ate like absolute kings for what felt like pocket change.

Multiple dishes, full table, everyone happy, nobody fighting, and the bill was suspiciously low. Honestly one of my favorite kinds of travel moments.

If you love trying local chains where residents actually eat, this was such a fun experience.

The Golden Temple & Why I Would Skip the Stroller

Next we visited Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion.

Absolutely gorgeous. Looks like something out of a movie.

However… if you have a stroller, prepare for character development.

Kyoto in general felt less stroller-friendly than Tokyo. More gravel, more hills, more uneven paths, more opportunities to question your upper body strength.

Samurai Night: Every Boy’s Dream

That evening we went to the Samurai Ninja Museum Kyoto and my boys were in heaven.

They got to dress like samurai, throw ninja stars, learn the difference between samurai and ninja, and fully live out their warrior fantasies.

For the record: samurai were noble warriors who served feudal lords. Ninja were covert spies and stealth specialists. Basically, one was official military and the other was secret-agent energy.

My children left ready to defend the family honor.

Our Hotel: Great Location, Tough on the Spine

We stayed at Hotel GranMS Kyoto, and the location was fantastic. Clean, convenient, and a great home base for exploring the city.

But yes, it had the traditional floor-style bedding setup.

So if you’ve ever wanted to sleep on something that feels like a yoga mat with cultural significance, this is your moment.

We were happy. My family slept great. My back filed several complaints by morning.

Still worth it for the experience.

Breakfast at the Market = 10/10

The next morning we ate breakfast at Nishiki Market.

Traditional Japanese breakfast, delicious, fresh, and shockingly affordable. I remember thinking, “How is this meal cheaper than a sad airport muffin?”

Bamboo Forest: Photos Do Not Do It Justice

Then we headed to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

Beautiful. Calm. Towering bamboo everywhere.

The kind of place where everyone whispers automatically, even children who have never whispered in their lives.

Monkey Mountain: Cardio with a Reward

After that, we hiked up to Iwatayama Monkey Park.

And when I say hike, I mean HIKE.

Wear sneakers. Bring water. Do not wear a kimono and wooden sandals, which I witnessed one brave American woman attempt. Her husband looked like he was rethinking every decision that led them there.

At the top? Totally worth it.