Our Kyoto. Where locals go

Experience Kyoto like a local with this bilingual guide to 180 off-the-beaten-path spots cherished by residents.

This unique Japanese–English guide introduces 180 spots recommended by twenty-six Kyoto residents from all walks of life in collaboration with the editorial team at Kyoto-kan, an official Kyoto City website. Readers eager to escape the crowds and well-worn tourist sites will find this insider’s view of the city a delightful alternative to standard guidebooks.

The spots featured range from cafés, bars, Japanese-style pubs, and Italian and Chinese restaurants to shops specializing in tofu, dried goods, wine, chopsticks, and more. Recommendations for local products include both long-beloved standards and well-kept secrets; also covered are seasonal festivals and events like the Gion Festival, the Daimonji bonfires, and antique markets as well as settings where daily life in the city unfolds—the banks of the Kamo River, Mount Daimonji, the city’s bus network. Each recommendation—whether a place, product, or experience—represents a distinctly local point of view.