Ep 125: Kyoto on Points:What We Did, What We Loved & What I'd Do Differently

Sometimes going on a trip is better than no trip at all and our three nights in Kyoto proved it. We fit in so much, I have zero regrets, and I'm sharing everything: what we did, what I'd do differently, and why you don't have to do it perfectly to have an incredible time.

In This Episode You'll Learn

✔ How we got from Tokyo to Kyoto on the bullet train using the Smart Ex app and what we learned about IC cards (Suica vs. ICOCA) for the whole family

✔ Why we stayed at the Hyatt Place Kyoto and how we booked it using free night certificates and points

✔ Our honest review of Nishiki Market what to eat, how much time to give yourself, and how it's cash only

✔ What the Samurai Ninja Museum experience was actually like (hint: throwing stars and blowing darts are involved)

✔ The Sakura Light Festival at Nijo Castle, a cherry blossom illumination event I stumbled upon that ended up being magical

✔ Why I switched our Day 2 plans and prioritized Fushimi Inari first, and why I'd do it again

✔ The VoiceMap app walking tour that made Fushimi Inari one of the coolest experiences of the whole trip

✔ The "secret" bamboo grove at Fushimi Inari, what I know, what I couldn't find, and what I'd do differently

✔ Our full Nara day: feeding the deer (it's a little chaotic, here's what to know), seeing the Great Buddha, and why both my kids said Nara was their favorite

✔ Ramen Row at Kyoto Station how to find it, why it's worth it, and what we ordered