Kyoto

Unlike Tokyo, Kyoto feels over-touristed. Japan has been experiencing a surge in tourism and one can feel it in Kyoto. In some ways being a city that has many tourists makes travel easier. Anyone in the hospitality industry speaks some English. Vegetarian food is much easier to find and Kyoto has some impressive vegan restaurants. But the flip slide is that in Kyotot one doesn't feel immersed in a different culture but rather Kyoto feels similar to other major tourist attractions.

Kyoto is famous for its temples and shrines. These temples are not as grand religious moments elsewhere such as the grand cathedrals of Europe but that's not surprising as the tenets of Buddhism are not aligned with impressive buildings. Many of the temples were not purpose-built and were initially villas for the wealthy and powerful when Kyoto was the capital of Japan. Once I realized this, the size and location of the temples made more sense.

The best part of the temples is the lovely gardens. Even so, I was a bit underwhelmed by the experience. I expected my short time in Kyoto to be an introduction that would leave me wanting more but I'm likely to choose to visit other parts of Japan when I return. The temples are worth seeing but given the crowds and the fact they were not awe-inspiring for me, I'm not convinced they are worth a second trip.

Travel tip: I found this Kyoto One-Day Itinerary very helpful.