Our Kyoto – Where Locals Go

Over the past three Japanese summers we’ve spent around nine months in Kyoto, researching the city slowly and thoroughly through books (many that we sell!), magazines, local friends and repeated visits to the same places over time. From this, we’ve put together a Kyoto Tips page on our blog, focusing on places away from the main tourist routes. While Kyoto can feel crowded, most tourists concentrate on a small number of sites, leaving many very special places to enjoy away from the crowds.

On one of the last days of our most recent trip we discovered this guide book and were surprised to see how many of our own favourite places in it, alongside many new places we hadn’t heard of. Based on what we already know about Kyoto, we consider this guide very well researched and reliable. We will be using this book on our next visit.

We highly recommend reading it before you go. Kyoto is made up of small, family-run businesses, each with their own schedules and opening hours, so planning ahead is essential to make the most of your time and to thoughtfully cluster places together.

About the book: Eager to escape the crowds and well-worn tourist sites? This insider’s view of Kyoto offers a delightful alternative to the standard guidebooks. ‘Our Kyoto’ introduces 180 spots recommended by 26 residents from all walks of life, in collaboration with the editorial team from an official Kyoto City website. Featured spots range from cafes, bars, Japanese-style pubs, and Italian and Chinese restaurants to shops specialising in tofu, wine, chopsticks, dry goods, and more. Also covered are seasonal festivals and events like the Gion Festival, the Daimonji bonfires, and antique markets. Chapters are organised by city ward, making it easy to explore several nearby locations together.

Paperback, Japanese & English, 274 Pages, 10 x 15cm.