Kyoto: Hidden Temples & Lantern Alleys
Last updated: October 6, 2025
Dawn, dusk, and side streets—the hours when Kyoto exhales.
Dawn Garden
Choose a small temple garden at opening—soft raking marks and moss still beaded with night.
Backstreet Shrine
A fox shrine down a residential lane; a bell, a bow, and a small red gate.
Lantern Alley
After dark the alleys glow—paper lanterns and grill smoke on cool air; keep voices low.
Practical & Bases
- Base: central Kyoto; bikes help reach small shrines; use bus for hills.
- Etiquette: line quietly; no flashes at night; respect private homes along alleys.
