Sample itinerary
A Slow Day in Kyoto
Written by Manami, a Kyoto and Kansai curator
This is a real sample written by one of our curators, shared to show the kind of day we build. Nothing here is a stock template.
Morning
08:30
A healthy breakfast with a view over the Kamo River. Fully vegan, with no dashi concerns.
Credit cards accepted. No reservation, as breakfast cannot be reserved.
10:00
The contrast between the traditional wooden gate and the Roman-style red brick aqueduct is striking and very photogenic.
Grounds and the aqueduct are free; sub-temples are cash only. No reservation.
11:30
A capacity limit keeps it quiet, so you can take in the moss and the sound of the water in peace.
An advance online time-slot reservation is required. The entrance is very modest and easy to walk past.
Lunch and Afternoon
13:00
A few minutes' walk from Murin-an, so no travel fatigue. Famous yudofu, or simmered tofu, in a beautiful garden setting.
The Shojin Ryori, the vegan course, must be reserved a few days ahead. Credit cards accepted.
14:30
A beautiful thatched gate and raked white sand, with the deep silence of the forest.
Closes early at 16:00, and there are many mosquitoes in summer. Easiest to reach by taxi from Junsei.
16:00
Mo-an (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Hidden gemA Taisho-era teahouse up a mountain with a view over Kyoto. For strict vegans, use it for a drink rather than food.
Reaching it takes about 15 minutes of walking on mountain paths.
Dinner
18:30
A memorable experience that teens especially love: 100 percent vegan ramen in a dark room surrounded by digital projection mapping by teamLab.
Cashless only. An advance online reservation is required.
Before you order
A note on eating vegetarian in Kyoto: many dishes labelled as vegetable can still be made with fish dashi, so it is always worth confirming before you order.
Show this to staff
私は肉、魚、だしを食べません
I do not eat meat, fish, or dashi.
Free guide
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Start with our free guide to eating vegetarian in Japan without accidentally eating fish. It covers hidden dashi, reading menus, and finding places that genuinely cater to plant-based diets.
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