Kyoto’s Enchanted Alleyways: Stunning Night Photos
Day 1: Shinkansen Whiplash + Imperial Kyoto + Sunset in Higashiyama
Kyoto is the antidote to Tokyo overload. Fewer skyscrapers, more traditional neighborhoods, and an absurd number of shrines/temples packed into a city that still feels somehow calm—until you walk into that one tourist street and immediately regret having legs.
Kyoto also carries serious history. It became Japan’s imperial capital in 794 (then called Heian-kyō) and remained the heart of court culture for centuries. Even after the capital moved to Tokyo in the Meiji era, Kyoto kept its identity as the country’s cultural heavyweight—like the quiet kid in class who doesn’t talk much because he’s already read the entire textbook.
We visited in August, which means: beautiful light, dramatic skies… and humidity that makes you question every life choice that led you to wearing clothes.
We rolled into Kyoto mid-afternoon on the bullet train from Tokyo. All I can say is: wow. It goes so fast you don’t “take photos out the window”—you think about taking photos out the window, and the landscape is already 10 miles behind you.
Kyoto felt like a nice change from Tokyo—less crowded, lower skyline, and more “old Japan” vibes. We grabbed daily bus passes and figured out the system fast. Japanese transit is insanely efficient and well-marked. Of course we still took the wrong bus a couple times, because we’re talented like that.
Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho)
We started at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which served as the residence of Japan’s emperors until the imperial move to Tokyo in 1869. The palace complex has gone through fires and rebuilds over the centuries, and the imperial residence was permanently established at its current location in 1331.
The gates, gardens, and wide gravel paths feel calm and ceremonial—like Kyoto politely reminding you it ran the country for a very long time. There are also nighttime tours (separate ticket) that we didn’t return for. Add it to the “next time” list, right after “sleep” and “not melt.”
Evening: Higashiyama Ward + Kiyomizu-dera at sunset
After a heat-survival siesta, we crossed the Kamo River and headed to Higashiyama, home to traditional streets, endless shrines, and the densest concentration of tourists I’ve ever seen moving as one organism. Get there early if you want photos without 400 strangers in matching hats.
We timed it for Kiyomizu-dera toward sunset. The temple dates back to the late 8th century and is famous for its wooden stage built without nails, jutting out over the hillside with a big view over Kyoto. It’s one of those places that looks unreal even when your camera is fogging up from humidity.
Afterward, we wandered near the river into the “purple” twilight hours (my favorite light). Higashiyama was chaos, but it doesn’t take long to step off the main drag and breathe again.
There are tons of shopping and eating options in this area. Watch out for the prices though.
Day 2: Sunrise Yasaka Pagoda + Shopping Arcades + The Golden Pavilion (and a dragonfly friend)
I woke up ridiculously early (because photographers are masochists) and Ubered back to Higashiyama since early buses weren’t convenient. The goal: Yasaka Pagoda with no tourists.
Sunrise: Hōkan-ji (Yasaka Pagoda)
The Yasaka Pagoda (Hōkan-ji) sits right in the middle of classic Higashiyama streets and is one of those Kyoto scenes that looks staged even when it’s real. The Kyoto tourism site notes the pagoda is about 46 meters tall and is tucked between major sights like Kiyomizu-dera and Yasaka Shrine—basically, it’s hiding in plain sight.
Early morning was magic: quiet streets, soft light, and only a few other photographers creeping around like we’re in a respectful ninja club.
Original painting and fine art prints available
Original painting and fine art prints available
Mid-morning reality check
My son wasn’t feeling great (weeks of nonstop travel catches up eventually). We’d been running hard, and I’m not famous for taking rest days. I headed back, grabbed breakfast takeout, and tried to pretend that vending machine coffee is “fine.”
Teramachi + Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcades
Near our hotel we hit Teramachi and Shinkyogoku—covered shopping streets where you can smell bakeries from blocks away. Pro tip: not much opens early, which is personally offensive to anyone who’s been up since sunrise chasing light.
Afternoon: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Then I hopped a bus to Kinkaku-ji, the famous Golden Pavilion in northwest Kyoto. Historically, the site became the villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who began building his Kitayama residence here in 1397—an aesthetic flex meant to evoke a “paradise on earth” vibe. After his death, the villa was turned into a Zen temple (officially Rokuon-ji), and the Golden Pavilion became the headline act.
The gardens are spectacular. The pavilion itself is… honestly a little garish (it’s basically Kyoto’s gold-plated mic drop), but it’s iconic for a reason.
Also: I made a friend. A dragonfly landed on my hand and just stayed there long enough for me to wonder if I’d been chosen as the new ruler of insects. I survived.
Photographs of the Tokiwacho Pagoda. Bonus pagoda spotting
Kyoto is full of “accidental discoveries”—another pagoda, another gate, another shrine around the corner. It’s why the city feels like Japan’s cultural capital: you can’t walk five minutes without stumbling into something historic, beautiful, or both.
Evening: back to “tourist hell” (because the photos are worth it)
We returned to Higashiyama because… yes, it’s crowded, but the photo ops are ridiculous. I also wanted to hit an art supply store and stock up on Holbein paints (cheap in Japan, and I have the self-control of a kid in a candy store).
Paints purchased. Photos done. We ended the night with a great meal near the Kamo River—one last round of purple twilight and street shots before calling it.
Day 3: Fushimi Inari Taisha (Torii Gates, Foxes, and the Perfect Final Morning)
Last day. We got up early (again) for Fushimi Inari Taisha—the shrine famous for thousands of vermilion torii gates climbing the mountain.
Fushimi Inari is dedicated to Inari, associated with good harvests and (very importantly) success in business. The Japan National Tourism Organization notes the shrine is said to have been founded in 711, and the approach up Mt. Inari is lined with an iconic corridor of torii gates—part of the “endless gates” image everyone recognizes.
We took a taxi to the entrance because early buses weren’t frequent and involved multiple transfers. Once you’re there, the torii tunnels keep going, the trails get quieter as you climb, and the whole place turns from “major landmark” to “surprisingly peaceful hike.”
Also: fox statues everywhere. Foxes (kitsune) are considered messengers of Inari, so you’ll see them throughout the grounds like little stone supervisors judging your cardio.
After the hike, we cleaned up, headed to the station, and took the bullet train back to Tokyo.
Vacation over.
Insane amount of pictures shot? Check.
Great memories with my son? Check.
An irresponsible quantity of new watercolor paints? Also check.
References:
Hotels
Hotel M’s Est Shijo – Karasuma
Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA
Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto– luxury hotel
Coffee
Unfortunately, most bakeries and coffee shops in don’t open until 7:30 a.m. For photographers chasing summer sunrises, that means being up hours before your first shot of caffeine—an impossible situation. I was convinced I’d die of coffee deprivation before then. My advice: stock up the day before on supermarket iced coffees and drink just enough to survive until the cafés open (a strategy I tested and can confirm works).
There also vending machines where you can buy bottled coffee. Yes, not the best coffee in the world but a quick-fix for early-morning caffeine addictions. Use a credit card.
Tours
Find things to do in – day trips (museums and public transport), and more:
https://expedia.com/affiliates/expedia-home.h5p5bhV
Travel Guides
Here is the recently published Lonely Planet Guide. This is what I used to plan the trip (in conjunction with the all-beloved internet):
Lonely Planet Japan Travel Guide
Another travel guide available for :
Flights:
My son and I took the train from Tokyo . Kyoto does have an airport though:
Trains:
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Ryan Fox AWS, NWS, TWSA
Ryan Fox Painting
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