Guest post - Roni in Japan - part 2

A Dreamy Walk Through Kyoto: Temples, Traditions, and... Cold Nights in Tiny Houses

After years of dreaming about Japan, my wish finally came true – and it all started with Osaka (which you can read about in my first post). But the real magic began the moment we stepped into Kyoto – a city that feels like stepping straight into the pages of history. If you love Japanese culture, this is the place to be. From ancient wooden houses to magnificent shrines, Kyoto is a living museum where the past and present coexist beautifully.

And yes, we saw geishas. Not just tourists in rented kimonos, but real geishas, gracefully making their way through the alleys. It was surreal.

Kyoto: Where Every Step Feels Like a Time Machine

Kyoto is made for wandering. And by “wandering,” I mean walking—a lot. At times, I felt like a contestant in Stephen King’s The Long Walk – except the fear that pushed me forward wasn’t punishment, but the worry that I wouldn’t see everything. And believe me, there’s so much to see.

Every temple we visited had its own charm, but my top advice? Visit the small, lesser-known shrines. These hidden gems are used by locals, not tourists, and carry a quieter, more authentic energy.

My Favorite Temple Wasn’t Even in Kyoto...

Oddly enough, my most unforgettable experience wasn’t in Kyoto itself, but in Ikoma. The Hozan-ji Temple absolutely stole my heart. It’s located deep in the mountains, and even the journey there is part of the magic. You take a cable car—shaped like a cat (yes, really!)—that climbs up through the forest, offering views that feel plucked from a Studio Ghibli movie.

At the top, there’s a quiet path lined with statues on both sides. We spent nearly three hours up there and saw maybe ten people total. No tourists, just peace. It felt like a secret place meant only for those who truly seek it.

Becoming a Samurai for a Day

Another unforgettable bucket-list moment: I got to experience being a samurai for a day! This wasn’t just about dressing up—although that part was awesome. We were also taught about the customs, values, and lifestyle of the samurai. We trained with wooden swords, learned a few basic attack and defense techniques, and even got to hold a real katana (lighter than I expected!).

The tour ended in a museum where they walked us through Japanese history, especially the Samurai Era. I was particularly proud when they mentioned Oda Nobunaga—I already knew a ton about him thanks to my obsession with Japan. See? It’s not just about anime—it’s a real passion for their culture!

The Truth About Living in Japan (Spoiler: I Couldn’t)

Despite how much I love Japan, Kyoto is also where I realized something: I could never actually live here.

Why? Space. Or rather, the lack of it.

I had heard about small apartments, but I thought that was mostly in places like Tokyo. Turns out, even outside Kyoto, houses are tiny. My one-bedroom apartment back home feels like a palace in comparison to some of their three-room homes.

Restaurants? Same story. Most places are just narrow hallways with a counter. Some had tables for four, but that’s about the max. While I loved the open kitchens and the chance to watch chefs work their magic, it wasn’t exactly the kind of place where you’d linger for hours. But that’s also part of their culture—work, eat, go home.

Regrets? One: Staying in a Traditional House

Trying to be the ultimate Japan tourist, we booked a stay in a traditional Kyoto house. Sounds romantic, right? In reality… not so much.

Despite being a two-story house, it somehow felt smaller than my studio apartment. And cold. I mean really cold. I had to get up in the middle of the night to put on sweatpants and a hoodie, and I still needed to wrap up in blankets.

And forget about privacy—those paper-thin bamboo doors mean you hear everything. The bedrooms upstairs were tiny. Our tatami mattress stretched from one wall to the other, leaving no room to move around. Luckily, we’re both short—otherwise it would’ve been impossible.

The toilet was outside, and the stairs down to it were so steep that my boyfriend actually fell once. Thankfully, it was near the bottom and he didn’t get hurt—but we were both much more careful after that.

Kyoto Still Won My Heart

Even with all of that—the cold, the small spaces, the fall down the stairs—Kyoto remains my favorite city in Japan. It’s truly the best place to experience “old” Japan.

Next up: Tokyo—the final stop on our journey. But that’s a story for another post.