An Elegant Autumn in Kyoto City

This autumn, give your Kyoto holiday a Muslim twist! 
 

Kyoto is one of Japan’s most popular destinations, and no wonder — the elegant cultural capital is home to some of the world’s most beautiful gardens and temples, with over a thousand years of rich history to boot. This alone would make it worth visiting, but few people know that it has quietly become much more Muslim-friendly over the years! 

Thanks to the efforts of small businesses and local Muslim associations, it’s become much easier to find suitable food, lodgings and even cultural experiences specifically targeted to Muslim travelers. The city even has a masjid.  

In this article, we outline a few special things to do in Kyoto City, including sightseeing, delicious Muslim-friendly Japanese restaurants, a day trip from the city, and even a kimono rental experience with a hijabi twist. Arm yourself with a JR Kansai Area Wide Pass and a one-day Kyoto subway or bus pass, and you’ll be all set for your adventures in Kyoto. 
　

Enjoy Fiery Fall Foliage 

While Kyoto is beautiful year-round, we can’t deny that visiting in autumn does have an extra-special feeling to it — it’s probably the gold and scarlet pops of colour around the city as all the trees start preparing for winter! The locals and visitors are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to enjoying autumn leaves. 

One crowd favourite is Kiyomizu-dera Temple overlooking the Higashiyama area. It’s extremely popular, but one look at the carpet of crimson leaves below the main hall or the “Kiyomizu Stage” is enough to understand why. If you’re in town during late November, the temple even runs special evening hours for autumn leaf illuminations. 

Another great place is Nijo-jo Castle. While visitors go primarily to see its lavish interiors, wandering around the surrounding garden with its red maples and yellow gingko in autumn is simply divine. If you’re keen to be engulfed in views of autumn foliage, head over to the Kyoto Botanical Gardens, Japan’s oldest public botanical garden established in 1924. With gardens, forests, lawns and a greenhouse covering 24 hectares (59 acres), you’re guaranteed your fill of autumn beauty and then some. 

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Stroll Around Downtown Kyoto

There are few better ways to explore the pretty side streets of Kyoto than on foot — and even better, to do it while wearing a kimono. Many shops downtown now offer kimono rental services, but Yumeyakata in the Gojo district offers a special twist to the usual offerings. In addition to a beautiful and modest kimono, you can rent a matching hijab with traditional Japanese patterns. Isn’t that wonderfully fashion-forward? 

Now that you’re decked out in kimono, it’s time for a walk! Just up the Kamogawa River is the Gion area and its beautifully preserved machiya (wooden townhouse) architecture, which provides a lovely backdrop for photographs. Wander down its side streets and you may even spot some geiko and maiko (geisha and geisha-in-training) scurrying from door to door, running errands or on their way to dance practice. 

If you want to learn about the craft of Kyoto, head over to the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design. This is where you can dive deeply into the world of traditional crafts, from elaborately dyed kimono to intricately carved masks. Afterwards, you can also head over to Nishiki Market and the surrounding covered arcades to sample food (at your own discretion, as there are no halal-certified stalls in the market) and shop for local souvenirs. 

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Eat Your Way Through Town

Spanning genres from vegan and Turkish to Chinese and Indian, Kyoto’s restaurant scene is much more diverse than people realise, in part to cater to visitors but also the resident international student population. Muslim travelers certainly have more to choose from than before.

Located in the heart of downtown Kyoto, Istanbul Saray is a favourite amongst Muslim travelers for its delicious Turkish cuisine. 

Craving Japanese noodles, but having a tough time knowing what’s safe and Muslim-friendly? The solution is to try something vegan! Hop on a bus and head over to the quiet neighbourhood north of Shimogamo Shrine to Towzen, a little ramen shop located down an unassuming little street. It serves up some truly delicious soy milk ramen, with a creamy, umami-packed soy milk broth that packs a punch. 

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Take a Day Trip to Nara

No visit to Kyoto is complete without a day trip to neighbouring Nara City. Even if it’s only for a few hours, the opportunity to explore Todai-ji Temple, Isuien Garden and Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara Park while getting close and personal with the deer in town is just unmissable! 

Did you know Kyoto had options like these for Muslim travelers? We hope this article inspires you to visit Kyoto this autumn and try out some of these delightful experiences for yourself. Japan is looking forward to welcoming you back! Learn more about how you can enjoy Japan as a Muslim traveler through this guide.

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