Don't forget to VOTE for the attraction you like in the video at 10:30 :) Share your Kyoto travel story below, your top 5 attractions or what you loved about #kyoto and I'll pin the best comment or list to the top! Japan location photos on instagram: instagram.com/onlyinjapantv Thanks for watching! -john
John, thank you for another wonderful video! My husband and I visited both temples and were very impressed by both: Kingakuji looks absolutely stunning but Ginkakuji feels more humble and in harmony with it's natural surroundings. I highly recommend visiting both (even with those crowds) but Ginkakuji is definitely number 1 for me. My top 5 (or more) would be: * Kiyomizudera (the walk uphill through that busy shopping street is fun (so much to see, eat, buy!) and arriving at the temple complex is worth the journey. It's breathtakingly beautiful!) * Fushimi inari (we arrived at dusk, so we experienced it with a bit of daylight when we started walking the torii path. We didn't make it to the top of the mountain but the nighttime views were absolutely wonderful) * Ginkakuji (and after that we walked the Philosopher's Path, which was especially beautiful due to the cherry blossom season. I loved how the fallen sakura petals made the water in the canal look pink. It was a relaxing walk and we took our time to enjoy it.) * Kinkakuji (Yes, you can buy the postcard, but for me personally it's still an important experience to see the real thing. I'm glad we made the effort to visit it.) * Byōdō-in (Outside Kyoto in Uji. We stayed at 鮎宗 along the river Uji with this wonderful UNESCO Heritage Site just about in our backyard. It has a beautiful garden and the museum is very interesting. Uji is also high on my list of recommendations. If you stay in Kyoto then make sure to visit Uji, the cradle of tea culture in Japan! * Miyako Odori (Not a place but an event that I really wanted to throw into the mix! It can only be seen in the month of April: every Spring the maiko and geisha of Kyoto perform cherry blossom dances during the Miyako Odori. This is probably the best chance for tourists and the general public to experience the art of the geiko community. You have to make reservations well in advance but if you're interested then this is a definite must-see.) Sorry for my lengthy comment but I hope it adds a bit to your story. (^_^)
Kyoto was overwhelming with their number of temples. It is an experience I'll never forget. Top floor of Kyoto Station has the best tonkatsu I've ever had, to boot :D
Thanks for the video filled with pertinent content! I visited Japan last fall. And this is exactly the type of video i was searching for to help me plan my visit. Saving this for my next visit.
Thanks! It's a shame RUclips won't suggest this video because it has "temple" and "shrines" which is considered religious and controversial words :( but it's useful anyway for visitors to see what the experience is like.
@@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN thumbs up for your video. Thumbs down for RUclips for not promoting great content creator. Keep up the great work and positive energy!
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I still gotta say Kinkakuji is my favorite. I went to Kinkakuji during the fall and Ginkakuji during the spring though, so maybe that affected my overall feeling.
Same here, I visited Kinkakuji in fall on a beautiful day with blue sky and she was very beautiful. Visited Ginkakuji in Spring and Ginkakuji was not so pretty. Yes, definitely lesser people at Ginkakuji.
I think it depends on what you’re looking for. The history of Kinkakuji is quite important to Japanese and the gold is stunning but the crowds kill the feeling of an important Kyoto Temple and turns it to a Disney-esque attraction. It’s hard to get lost in that beautiful pond when you’re getting pushed in the back by people wanting photos :p Maybe they need a one in - one out policy? Quota on tickets? Online reservation? 🤔 It is what it is :) it’s still in my top 5 but as a total experience, for me, Ginkakuji wins because it feels like a temple close to nature despite the people around it.
The rain really adds beauty (that cant be captured by a picture) to the surrounding area. Though it is not comfortable visiting on a rainy day. Thanks John for showing us the beauty of the Pavilions on the rain
I'm glad you guys introduced Japanese culture. It's a very contrasting temple. In my case, when I was a student, I preferred to Kinkakuji, and when I became an adult, I preferred to Ginkakuji. ✨
I was in Japan two months ago, and had half a day in Kyoto. My friend and I rented bicycles from near the train station, and drove to the Golden Temple. Gives a different perspective on the city, and you don't necessarily feel like a tourist and you can sort of avoid the crowds. I can really recommend it!
I went to both 20 years ago, in 1998 summer, and the vision of Kinkakuji on a bright summer day is incredible. I bet if I went there today and see it again, I will still be amazed. If there are two things that are still fresh on my memory from my trip to Japan it is the first sight of Kinkakuji when I reached the end of the path way toward it; and the other thing that I still remember was visiting Hiroshima and seeing the Japan flags raised half-staff (I happened to visit Hiroshima on the bomb day).
Nice video as always! But my favorite part was at 3:00 and how the water was so clear you could see the reflection and the colors of the building flipped exactly
One of our best days in Japan last year was when we rented bikes near Kyoto station and went North to (1) Kinkaku-ji Temple. We then headed West to (2) Hirosawa Pond and (3) Osawa-no-ike pond. The winding roads from the temple to the ponds were beautiful as it takes you to residential areas of Kyoto that are less touristy. We then made our way to (4) Arashiyama Bamboo grove and the adjacent park to get to (5) Katsura River. The view from the bottom of the park beside the river was stunning. The trees were so lush, there were boats in the river and you can see (6) Togetsu Bridge in the distance. We then made our way to the bridge, crossed it then hugged the river as far as we can (those bike blanes were awesome!) before we went back to the streets to make our way back to the bike shop. It was a beautiful sunny spring day and we enjoyed our day immensely even if some areas were crowded (Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama). On a side note, I enjoyed our visit to Kinakaku-ji more than Kiyomizudera. We also biked our way to the Philosopher's Path before visiting Kiyomizudera and it was drizzling that day. The latter was really crowded with people. The architecture and views at Kiyomizudera were still beautiful so I'll still recommend it (we bought a bunch of souvenirs in the shopping streets!) so it's still worth a visit. :)
Seems like there’s more to see and wander through at Ginakakjui. More to make a day trip out of, to me! ❣️ plus, you can see more afterwards! Thank you for this!💕
I enjoyed both but I'll vote for Ginkaku-ji (silver.) If someone is looking to save time I would say cut out Kiyomizu-dera and see both Silver & Gold 😉 Honestly Kinkaku-ji (Gold) is stunning and it would be a real shame for someone to miss out on chance to see it in their lifetime. On the other hand Kiyomizu-dera offered nothing special IMO and was super crowded and I just felt miserable. I don't think its fair to say there is nothing to do near the Golden pavilion. There is *a LOT* to see and do on Kinukake Road. It may not be on the same scale as the philosophers path but Kinukake Road has many temples and fantastic restaurants that are also worth checking out. Must of which are not nearly as crowded as the mail attraction of the golden pavilion. My *Number 1* pick on a Kyoto must see experience would be Eikandocho / Zenrinji, This place is brilliant and climbing Garyu-ro (Spiral Staircase) all the way up to Tahoto was what some might call a spiritual experience and your sense of accomplishment will be rewarded with a stunning view of Kyoto. Number 2 would be Eikandocho / Zenrinji has some of the best fall colors IMO. The grounds are amazing! If you have a tight schedule hit Tetsugaku-no-michi (Philosophers Path.) Start at Higashiyama Jisho-ji and follow it down to Nanzen-ji stoping at all the temples along the way. There's your 1-5 and then some... Will there be crowds? Sure. Will you be stopped by local children to speak english? Yes, but that's part of the experience IMO. You will get one heck of an memory and tons of photo opportunities. Plus you can bang it out all out in one day. If you have another day hit 6. Kinkaku-ji and the Kinukake Road or 7. Fushimi Inari-taisha or 8. Arashiyama.
Hmm ... that's a tough one. Cutting out Kiyomizudera is a little crazy because it's the area that's really nice, from Ninenzaka and Maruyama Park, it's gorgeous and full of shopping. Kinkakuji is okay IF you stay a short time and move fast to the other side OR tie it in to a WEST side day with Ryoanji and maybe Arashiyama - but I'd rather spend an extra day on the EAST side. It's a fun debate!!!
lyhthegreat there are a lot of positives to the west side and it’s not far from Arashiyama but if you hit Kinkakuji in mid day - forget about it! 😂 but yes, the east side is loaded with attractions including Gion which is the city center.
I went to Kyoto four years ago and I’m actually going again next week! I’m so excited, I’m probably biased. I really like Kinkakuji. I went during Golden Week and it wasn’t suffocatingly crowded. You can also walk up the mountain behind Kinkakuji. Once you get to the top I remember vendors, snacks, and the ability to watch a traditional tea ceremony. I might have actually got a little too close to nature because I got an ant bite while I was walking around Kinkakuji. Lol. I can’t wait to visit Ginkakuji next week!
Kevin is the King of Osaka! I can’t argue with that!! The rain is beautiful if you don’t mind getting wet - writing this while it’s raining here in Tokyo (rainy season now).
In April 2019 my husband and I are heading to Japan for 30 days; 10 of which we are staying in Osaka and will be traveling to see Kyoto for a few of the days. This video (and many others you have made) has really helped us seeing where we want to go. I received that post card of Kinkakuji and my husband thinks that is good enough and we should just stick to the east side of Kyoto Great video!!!
Interesting comments and I admit they're both beautiful but as I am not a fan of huge crowds I think my feet would lead me to Ginkakuji first and possibly leave Kinkakuji to later in the day. The silver pavilion looks like a place I'd be happy to sit and relax in with all those beautiful trees but keep the alien like cicadas away.
Hi John, you got me, at minute 3:24, passing by, from right to left, with the green cap and sunglasses. This is incredible to me because before I went to Japan, last May, I saw many of your videos, your videos were a great help to me, to better plan my trip and to better understand the japanese way of life. I could never imagine that when in Japan I would be filmed by you in one of your "Only in Japan" videos, that's incredible. Best regards from Portugal and thanks for your videos, keep up the good work!
WOW!! I tried to respect those who were in the video by blurring their faces. It was hard but we could still see you walk by!! Thanks for being a part of the series now, Luis! All the best from Tokyo, John
I went 3 times to Kyoto, and each time (for various reasons) I only had the time to visit Kiyomizu-dera. It was 10-12 years ago so I guess it was way less crowded than today... Everyone told me "no need to go to Kinkakuji, Kiyomizu-dera is the best place", but in all honesty, next time I'm in Kyoto, even if I have to kill for it, I WILL BE GOING TO KINKAKUJI. I'm not missing it this time, I don't care if everyone is disappointed by it! I want to see it once in my life!! I'm not even going near Kiyomizu-dera next time!! (For those who never went to Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera is (or used to be?) extremely beautiful and peaceful, I liked it a lot, it's just that I want to see something else in Kyoto at last lol)
Hey John! Sorry I couldn't be there for the live stream on Instagram. Just got back from a fun day in the city! Finally saw Christopher Robin. It was awesome! Anyway, I like Kinkakuji more than Ginkakuji. I really like the bright color of Kinkakuji and I also have the Nanoblock set for it.
Ginkaku-ji is the better one for me. The whole walking through a beautiful zen garden is just surreal. And depending on the season, you get to interact with the temple garden in the most natural way. Even the moss covering the slopes on the way up some stairs is just beautiful. Took some macro photos of the moss that looked just like a miniature forest. You also get so many vantage points to admire the entire place from all angles.
Kinkakuji is gold pavilion looks beautiful with that lake.but, ginkakuji the silver pavilion was so awesome !!it was closely attached to nature. Best spot in the world. I choose ginkakuji is Kyotos famous temples.thanks john for making this superb video.waiting for next one!!!🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵
From Instagram. Thank you for your hardwork John, bringing great info from Japan for us. Btw if you could please make videos about halal food. Love from Indonesia
Thanks for this video, John! I really had Kinkakuji in mind for my trip this September but knowing that it would be best for just a few photos shows that it isn't better than Ginkakuji. I was going to skip Ginkakuji but you just changed my mind. Thanks!
Kiyomizu Dera in the late afternoon and early evening was the best ride in Kyoto for me. Fushimi Inari was different, the all folk things involving the foxes brings a misterious and magical japanese youkai and yuurei sense, but as beautiful as Kyomizu! I finished the tour of Kyoto at Gion, I've walked a lot, but enjoyed it so much! I went to Japan in the spring of last year and can't wait to go one more time! Thanks for the videos, John! I wanted to knew the Only in Japan before, but now I'm gettig a good list for what to do for the next trip!
I just returned to the states from 10 days in Japan. Oddly enough, my family and I also did a Golden Pavilion vs. Silver Pavilion comparison as we rode the shinkansen to Tokyo, and we agree with you guys. Even foot sore and exhausted from the heat during our trek along the Philosopher's Path, Ginkakuji had more of an impact on us than Kinkakuji did the following day. Yes, we all got that iconic shot of the Golden Pavilion, yet the Silver Pavilion left it's image not only in our cameras, but also in our souls. The gardens around Ginkakuji felt more magical, and regardless of the summer crowds, I still obtained a sense of peace while wandering them. P.S. I always get a kick out of your head to head videos with Kevin.
Not a temple but I love the monkey park in Arashiyama. I can sit there for hours watching the antics of the monkeys. And you can even buy peantus and sweet potato to feed them! So much fun. You should do a video on it!
Ginkakuji is my favourite as I love the surrounding gardens but it's a wonderful feeling to be standing infront of Kinkakuji, taking that iconic photo. I'm moving to Kyoto next year with my family so there will be plenty of time to enjoy the attractions.
Some of my favorite memories in Kyoto took place on that little shopping street Kevin described that leads to Ginkaku-ji. I totally agree with you guys. I've only been to Kyoto twice, but when I think of Kyoto and the things I've done there, I think more about places like Ginkaku-ji than Kinkaku-ji: atmospheric and natural but with the distinct Japanese cultural flair. For top five I've gotta go: 5.) Nishiki Market 4.) Literally where you guys are sitting in the video, Gion district along the banks of the Kamogawa 3.) Ginkaku-ji 2.) Arashiyama, in particular the area past the famous bamboo grove along the Katsuragawa 1.) Fushimi Inari (I even have a kisune and torii tattoo, that's how much I love this place, haha!)
Thank you John and Kevin, you made a though choice a lot easier for me :). I'll be visiting Japan this September and October and Kyoto is also on my list.
I remember the video bout Fushimi Inari Shrine in the night and since then I want to go there to feel the night ambience. Thanks to you both for another awesome video, it was so much pleasure to watch ^^/
Great episode, I like better Kyoto in the rain, gives such a nice / cozy feeling. Always fun to see Kevin!!! 😊 I am a big fan of his channel, Kuma's kitchen.
They're both beautiful but I'll give the slight edge towards Ginka-kuji namely due to it being slightly bigger and having lovely gardens. It also feels like there's more to see around the surrounding area (e.g., philosophers path).
I got some great Shots of Kinkakuji in my visit in 2017, the day we went it was crowded, but not as much as shown here, you could still walk around with no issue. We only spent one day in Kyoto, before we headed to Osaka, and didn't have time (but wanted to) to see Ginkakuji.
the gold colour of kinkakuji, is it really made of gold? btw, i enjoyed this episode very much, thank youu....!! oh, i'm also so excited to see this channel is on its way to 1 million subscribers. way to go, john! yeay, 1 million subs, here we come....!
I must revisit Ginkakuji. I don't recall it being so beautiful but that was because years ago I was one of those tourists being herded around. I loved the sound of the raindrops hitting your umbrella.
I am Brazilian, I lived in Japan for 4 years and all places in that country are impeccable. The most amazing that are super old preserved places are wonderful. In Brazil there is no such care to preserve history.
100% agree, Ginkakuji is less crowded, amazing surrounding nature and situated in Higashi kyouto:the most beautiful part of the city. I strongly recommend visiting Eikandou ji, expecially during kouyou ( when momiji's leaf turn red).
Its said that the Golden and Silver Pavilion mythologies are what inspired the 2nd gen Pokemon series, Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver, and Legendary Pokemon Ho-oh and Lugia, respectively. Pokemon silver was my favorite game! Awesome video!
Hi John and Kevin, Great video. I thought Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji were both pretty great. I went pretty early and must of lucked out because it was WAY quieter than that. But that's where my luck ran out though, my digital camera died at Ginkaku-ji. I have visited quite a few of your top 5s. Not Kiyomizu-dera though. It was super busy and I had seen enough temples/shrines for one day. Maybe next time. I'm off to have Ramen for dinner :D
I went to see Ginkakuji in 2007 when I was there! It was very hot and humid, and there were wasps or bees coming from the sand, but otherwise it was beautiful! I loved it. I never got to see Kinkakuji though... Next time for sure - but I'll have to get there really early, lol!
Thank you for this great video, John! 👌🏼 We’ve been to Kinkakuji and it’s beautiful. Haven’t been to Ginkakuji yet but we’ll definitely visit this coming November. Thank you for the great insight 🙂
On my first trip to Kyoto we hit Kinkakuji and Ryoanji and was somewhat disappointed. The second time we wandered down the Philosopher's path and hit Ginkakuji and liked it a lot more. Although Kinkakuji is more picturesque, I felt there's just more to do and see in the Ginkakuji grounds making it more enjoyable overall. Having said that, pretty much everyone is going to go see Kinkakuji. My favourite Kyoto spots: Fushimi Inari Kyomizudera (gorgeous in the fall) Arashiyama (the boat ride in autumn was very pleasant) Ginkakuji Kyoto Station (seriously, I love this station! :)
Great video and very informative, per usual. Ginkakoji gets my vote. Can’t wait to see both. My wife’s parents live in Kyoto, so we will definitely explore all of Nipon and Kyoto. 4 thumbs up.
Both are essential. Ginkakuji just has a wow factor that few places can match, but Ginkakuji offers many more interesting views with something new at every turn.
Another good thing about Kinkakuji is that no matter how crowded it is, you can still get views and photographs with no people in them whereas Ginkakuji is nearly impossibly to photograph without tourists in the shots.
I really agree on the Ginkaku-ji: the first time that I went to visit the Kinkaku-ji I had huge expectations (given by my japanese culture teacher that adores it) and after the tour I really felt disappointed because after the feelings that Kiyomizu-dera, Ginkaku-ji and Eikan-do gave me, well the Kinka didn't impressed me. I went to Fushimi Inari at night and it was also raining: it was the best because I could hear animals running in the woods and I also found a mother cat with her babies (maybe a kitsune in disguise?). Anyway I think that also the Eikan-do should be a part of your list: I always go there when I'm in Kyoto 'cause I feel at peace... So for me: 1. Eikan-do - 2. Kiyomizu-dera - 3. Ginkaku-ji - 4. Fushimi Inari Taisha - 5. Kodai-ji =)
Don't forget to VOTE for the attraction you like in the video at 10:30 :) Share your Kyoto travel story below, your top 5 attractions or what you loved about #kyoto and I'll pin the best comment or list to the top! Japan location photos on instagram: instagram.com/onlyinjapantv Thanks for watching! -john
ONLY in JAPAN thanks for the vid John!!!! 👍
I think you're right, especially if you only have 1 day. I've got a trip coming up in a few months and I think you've just changed my itinerary!
I'm here in Fukuoka this is my first time in Japan finally my dream come true thank you Lord God bless us all
I was wondering why some bath houses don't let people with Tattoos in. Could you do a video on it.
Medserr Serrano Welcome to Fukuoka 👍
Pokemon Gold/Silver versions make sense now.
The sight of the Sliver Pavilion in the rain was so beautiful I cried.
John, thank you for another wonderful video!
My husband and I visited both temples and were very impressed by both: Kingakuji looks absolutely stunning but Ginkakuji feels more humble and in harmony with it's natural surroundings. I highly recommend visiting both (even with those crowds) but Ginkakuji is definitely number 1 for me.
My top 5 (or more) would be:
* Kiyomizudera (the walk uphill through that busy shopping street is fun (so much to see, eat, buy!) and arriving at the temple complex is worth the journey. It's breathtakingly beautiful!)
* Fushimi inari (we arrived at dusk, so we experienced it with a bit of daylight when we started walking the torii path. We didn't make it to the top of the mountain but the nighttime views were absolutely wonderful)
* Ginkakuji (and after that we walked the Philosopher's Path, which was especially beautiful due to the cherry blossom season. I loved how the fallen sakura petals made the water in the canal look pink. It was a relaxing walk and we took our time to enjoy it.)
* Kinkakuji (Yes, you can buy the postcard, but for me personally it's still an important experience to see the real thing. I'm glad we made the effort to visit it.)
* Byōdō-in (Outside Kyoto in Uji. We stayed at 鮎宗 along the river Uji with this wonderful UNESCO Heritage Site just about in our backyard. It has a beautiful garden and the museum is very interesting. Uji is also high on my list of recommendations. If you stay in Kyoto then make sure to visit Uji, the cradle of tea culture in Japan!
* Miyako Odori (Not a place but an event that I really wanted to throw into the mix! It can only be seen in the month of April: every Spring the maiko and geisha of Kyoto perform cherry blossom dances during the Miyako Odori. This is probably the best chance for tourists and the general public to experience the art of the geiko community. You have to make reservations well in advance but if you're interested then this is a definite must-see.)
Sorry for my lengthy comment but I hope it adds a bit to your story. (^_^)
Kyoto was overwhelming with their number of temples. It is an experience I'll never forget. Top floor of Kyoto Station has the best tonkatsu I've ever had, to boot :D
Kevin is right the silver one is great
Thanks for the video filled with pertinent content! I visited Japan last fall. And this is exactly the type of video i was searching for to help me plan my visit. Saving this for my next visit.
Thanks! It's a shame RUclips won't suggest this video because it has "temple" and "shrines" which is considered religious and controversial words :( but it's useful anyway for visitors to see what the experience is like.
@@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN thumbs up for your video. Thumbs down for RUclips for not promoting great content creator. Keep up the great work and positive energy!
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I still gotta say Kinkakuji is my favorite. I went to Kinkakuji during the fall and Ginkakuji during the spring though, so maybe that affected my overall feeling.
Same here, I visited Kinkakuji in fall on a beautiful day with blue sky and she was very beautiful. Visited Ginkakuji in Spring and Ginkakuji was not so pretty. Yes, definitely lesser people at Ginkakuji.
When the sky is blue and the sakura trees are in full bloom, the reflection in the pond is magical.
TokiYuYu 丶
I think it depends on what you’re looking for. The history of Kinkakuji is quite important to Japanese and the gold is stunning but the crowds kill the feeling of an important Kyoto Temple and turns it to a Disney-esque attraction. It’s hard to get lost in that beautiful pond when you’re getting pushed in the back by people wanting photos :p
Maybe they need a one in - one out policy? Quota on tickets? Online reservation? 🤔 It is what it is :) it’s still in my top 5 but as a total experience, for me, Ginkakuji wins because it feels like a temple close to nature despite the people around it.
Hm, maybe the winter would be a good time to visit? Less crowds? And snow is also beautiful.
Your channel is a favorite of mine whenever it comes to Japan! Love from the Philippines!
Yess onlyinjapan is my favourite anime
What it's not an anime kid.
What were u looking at ?
@@huckledevil just joke
The rain really adds beauty (that cant be captured by a picture) to the surrounding area. Though it is not comfortable visiting on a rainy day. Thanks John for showing us the beauty of the Pavilions on the rain
my pick, based solely on this video and the Golden Pavillion livestream, is the Silver Pavillion . even the rain looked more appealing there ... :)
I'm glad you guys introduced Japanese culture. It's a very contrasting temple. In my case, when I was a student, I preferred to Kinkakuji, and when I became an adult, I preferred to Ginkakuji. ✨
I was in Japan two months ago, and had half a day in Kyoto. My friend and I rented bicycles from near the train station, and drove to the Golden Temple. Gives a different perspective on the city, and you don't necessarily feel like a tourist and you can sort of avoid the crowds. I can really recommend it!
Wow what a great channel! I am about to travel to Japan for first time. This is so awesome!!
It really cracks me up how much John hates rain, where as if I was there that's all I would ever hope for and I find it makes everything more magical
I love the rain - good for the trees! Being IN the rain all afternoon with wet shoes, not so much. Isn't there a difference?
I'm a simple man. I see Kevin, I smash the like button!
lol me too. I love his channel Kuma's Kitchen as well.
Saw both on my honeymoon! Gotta go with Ginkakuji! Love the show, am hopelessly addicted!
I went to both 20 years ago, in 1998 summer, and the vision of Kinkakuji on a bright summer day is incredible. I bet if I went there today and see it again, I will still be amazed. If there are two things that are still fresh on my memory from my trip to Japan it is the first sight of Kinkakuji when I reached the end of the path way toward it; and the other thing that I still remember was visiting Hiroshima and seeing the Japan flags raised half-staff (I happened to visit Hiroshima on the bomb day).
You're videos are what truly sparked my love for Japan. Keep up the amazing work John!
The rainy scenery of the Ginkakuji looks so beautiful!😍😍
Nice video as always! But my favorite part was at 3:00 and how the water was so clear you could see the reflection and the colors of the building flipped exactly
I love your videos!! Wish we got to see more of them! 😭🤗🤗🤗😂
One of our best days in Japan last year was when we rented bikes near Kyoto station and went North to (1) Kinkaku-ji Temple. We then headed West to (2) Hirosawa Pond and (3) Osawa-no-ike pond. The winding roads from the temple to the ponds were beautiful as it takes you to residential areas of Kyoto that are less touristy. We then made our way to (4) Arashiyama Bamboo grove and the adjacent park to get to (5) Katsura River. The view from the bottom of the park beside the river was stunning. The trees were so lush, there were boats in the river and you can see (6) Togetsu Bridge in the distance. We then made our way to the bridge, crossed it then hugged the river as far as we can (those bike blanes were awesome!) before we went back to the streets to make our way back to the bike shop. It was a beautiful sunny spring day and we enjoyed our day immensely even if some areas were crowded (Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama). On a side note, I enjoyed our visit to Kinakaku-ji more than Kiyomizudera. We also biked our way to the Philosopher's Path before visiting Kiyomizudera and it was drizzling that day. The latter was really crowded with people. The architecture and views at Kiyomizudera were still beautiful so I'll still recommend it (we bought a bunch of souvenirs in the shopping streets!) so it's still worth a visit. :)
Thanks for the great Episode!! Best way to wake up for a work day!!
Love your videos. Visiting Kyoto, Osaka & Tokyo in October. Can't wait!
Thank you for this video, bringing back charming memories about the atmosphere in those beautifull places.
Seems like there’s more to see and wander through at Ginakakjui. More to make a day trip out of, to me! ❣️ plus, you can see more afterwards! Thank you for this!💕
Just beautiful I have no words!
I enjoyed both but I'll vote for Ginkaku-ji (silver.) If someone is looking to save time I would say cut out Kiyomizu-dera and see both Silver & Gold 😉 Honestly Kinkaku-ji (Gold) is stunning and it would be a real shame for someone to miss out on chance to see it in their lifetime. On the other hand Kiyomizu-dera offered nothing special IMO and was super crowded and I just felt miserable. I don't think its fair to say there is nothing to do near the Golden pavilion. There is *a LOT* to see and do on Kinukake Road. It may not be on the same scale as the philosophers path but Kinukake Road has many temples and fantastic restaurants that are also worth checking out. Must of which are not nearly as crowded as the mail attraction of the golden pavilion. My *Number 1* pick on a Kyoto must see experience would be Eikandocho / Zenrinji, This place is brilliant and climbing Garyu-ro (Spiral Staircase) all the way up to Tahoto was what some might call a spiritual experience and your sense of accomplishment will be rewarded with a stunning view of Kyoto. Number 2 would be Eikandocho / Zenrinji has some of the best fall colors IMO. The grounds are amazing! If you have a tight schedule hit Tetsugaku-no-michi (Philosophers Path.) Start at Higashiyama Jisho-ji and follow it down to Nanzen-ji stoping at all the temples along the way. There's your 1-5 and then some... Will there be crowds? Sure. Will you be stopped by local children to speak english? Yes, but that's part of the experience IMO. You will get one heck of an memory and tons of photo opportunities. Plus you can bang it out all out in one day. If you have another day hit 6. Kinkaku-ji and the Kinukake Road or 7. Fushimi Inari-taisha or 8. Arashiyama.
Hmm ... that's a tough one. Cutting out Kiyomizudera is a little crazy because it's the area that's really nice, from Ninenzaka and Maruyama Park, it's gorgeous and full of shopping. Kinkakuji is okay IF you stay a short time and move fast to the other side OR tie it in to a WEST side day with Ryoanji and maybe Arashiyama - but I'd rather spend an extra day on the EAST side. It's a fun debate!!!
yea western kyoyo has got like only 2 attractions while the east has got way more if you are tight on time.
lyhthegreat there are a lot of positives to the west side and it’s not far from Arashiyama but if you hit Kinkakuji in mid day - forget about it! 😂 but yes, the east side is loaded with attractions including Gion which is the city center.
Nosh Abroad how long did that take to right?
Lisa Aleman it’s easy when you cut n paste from a PC
I went to Kyoto four years ago and I’m actually going again next week! I’m so excited, I’m probably biased. I really like Kinkakuji. I went during Golden Week and it wasn’t suffocatingly crowded. You can also walk up the mountain behind Kinkakuji. Once you get to the top I remember vendors, snacks, and the ability to watch a traditional tea ceremony. I might have actually got a little too close to nature because I got an ant bite while I was walking around Kinkakuji. Lol. I can’t wait to visit Ginkakuji next week!
Go when there are ripples on the water, and when the sunlight reflects those moving ripples onto the temple itself; it looks magical.
I really enjoy the content you and Kevin put out. Can’t wait to see what more you guys have in store for us!
Temples in Japan are simply stunning
went there in the winter in feb....it started snowing as soon as we were allowed to enter....made for some beautiful pics and experience
Your videos are at a TV-quality level, I've watched them all except the live ones. Thank you for bringing us quality content!
I'm with Kevin on this, I love the look of rain and trees, and Kinkakuji is definitely the underrated but more beautiful one.
Kevin is the King of Osaka! I can’t argue with that!! The rain is beautiful if you don’t mind getting wet - writing this while it’s raining here in Tokyo (rainy season now).
Temple of the Golden Pavilion is one of my most favorite novels ever! I would love to see it in person one day!
You convinced me Ginkakuji ! Kyoto is always special for me, first place I stayed in Japan and where I got married, cheers
In April 2019 my husband and I are heading to Japan for 30 days; 10 of which we are staying in Osaka and will be traveling to see Kyoto for a few of the days. This video (and many others you have made) has really helped us seeing where we want to go. I received that post card of Kinkakuji and my husband thinks that is good enough and we should just stick to the east side of Kyoto
Great video!!!
I am living right now in Japan,,,I love Yokoto so much...
We love your videos! Brazilian fans living in the UK. Always watching you live on Instagram.
Hey John! It's here YaY!!! watching now and look forward to hearing what Kevin thinks about his homes attractions!
Interesting comments and I admit they're both beautiful but as I am not a fan of huge crowds I think my feet would lead me to Ginkakuji first and possibly leave Kinkakuji to later in the day. The silver pavilion looks like a place I'd be happy to sit and relax in with all those beautiful trees but keep the alien like cicadas away.
Hey John you should do an episode dedicated to Japanese umbrellas and how they are made......maybe a trip to Kyoto with Kevin???? 😁
8:42 come on, that view is absolutely gorgeous 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 i love rainy days
I love this channel it gives me idea’s where I should go when I make it to japan
the raindrops brought the Beauty of the PLACE.. really GOOD for the tourist..
Hi John, you got me, at minute 3:24, passing by, from right to left, with the green cap and sunglasses. This is incredible to me because before I went to Japan, last May, I saw many of your videos, your videos were a great help to me, to better plan my trip and to better understand the japanese way of life. I could never imagine that when in Japan I would be filmed by you in one of your "Only in Japan" videos, that's incredible. Best regards from Portugal and thanks for your videos, keep up the good work!
WOW!! I tried to respect those who were in the video by blurring their faces. It was hard but we could still see you walk by!! Thanks for being a part of the series now, Luis! All the best from Tokyo, John
I went 3 times to Kyoto, and each time (for various reasons) I only had the time to visit Kiyomizu-dera. It was 10-12 years ago so I guess it was way less crowded than today...
Everyone told me "no need to go to Kinkakuji, Kiyomizu-dera is the best place", but in all honesty, next time I'm in Kyoto, even if I have to kill for it, I WILL BE GOING TO KINKAKUJI. I'm not missing it this time, I don't care if everyone is disappointed by it! I want to see it once in my life!!
I'm not even going near Kiyomizu-dera next time!!
(For those who never went to Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera is (or used to be?) extremely beautiful and peaceful, I liked it a lot, it's just that I want to see something else in Kyoto at last lol)
Hey John! Sorry I couldn't be there for the live stream on Instagram. Just got back from a fun day in the city! Finally saw Christopher Robin. It was awesome! Anyway, I like Kinkakuji more than Ginkakuji. I really like the bright color of Kinkakuji and I also have the Nanoblock set for it.
Thanks for another great video Jhon!!!! Love it
Absolutely beautiful and serene footage in the rain.
Ginkaku-ji is the better one for me. The whole walking through a beautiful zen garden is just surreal. And depending on the season, you get to interact with the temple garden in the most natural way. Even the moss covering the slopes on the way up some stairs is just beautiful. Took some macro photos of the moss that looked just like a miniature forest. You also get so many vantage points to admire the entire place from all angles.
I love only in Japan Go, but I Loooooove Only in Japan. I wait for these videos. Makes my entire evening here in NYC metro. Keep up the awesome work.
Kinkakuji is gold pavilion looks beautiful with that lake.but, ginkakuji the silver pavilion was so awesome !!it was closely attached to nature. Best spot in the world. I choose ginkakuji is Kyotos famous temples.thanks john for making this superb video.waiting for next one!!!🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵
Your channel never upsets John!
Visited Kyoto 2 weeks ago. Did not get a chance to visit Ginkakuji. I’m biased and voted for Kinkakuji 😬 John, thank you for the amazing videos!!!!
From Instagram. Thank you for your hardwork John, bringing great info from Japan for us. Btw if you could please make videos about halal food. Love from Indonesia
I LOVE your professional style! With all the background-informations, keep it up ;-)
Thanks for this video, John! I really had Kinkakuji in mind for my trip this September but knowing that it would be best for just a few photos shows that it isn't better than Ginkakuji. I was going to skip Ginkakuji but you just changed my mind. Thanks!
I enjoyed going to Kyoto Raiway Museum! It was unique and historical learning about the trains!
Kiyomizu Dera in the late afternoon and early evening was the best ride in Kyoto for me. Fushimi Inari was different, the all folk things involving the foxes brings a misterious and magical japanese youkai and yuurei sense, but as beautiful as Kyomizu! I finished the tour of Kyoto at Gion, I've walked a lot, but enjoyed it so much! I went to Japan in the spring of last year and can't wait to go one more time! Thanks for the videos, John! I wanted to knew the Only in Japan before, but now I'm gettig a good list for what to do for the next trip!
Enjoyed riding around Kyoto in my rental bicycle and rode by that same exact spot next to the Kama River.
I recently loved Japan and I wish I could go there and Japan is a really cool place to go to
I just returned to the states from 10 days in Japan. Oddly enough, my family and I also did a Golden Pavilion vs. Silver Pavilion comparison as we rode the shinkansen to Tokyo, and we agree with you guys. Even foot sore and exhausted from the heat during our trek along the Philosopher's Path, Ginkakuji had more of an impact on us than Kinkakuji did the following day. Yes, we all got that iconic shot of the Golden Pavilion, yet the Silver Pavilion left it's image not only in our cameras, but also in our souls. The gardens around Ginkakuji felt more magical, and regardless of the summer crowds, I still obtained a sense of peace while wandering them.
P.S. I always get a kick out of your head to head videos with Kevin.
Not a temple but I love the monkey park in Arashiyama. I can sit there for hours watching the antics of the monkeys. And you can even buy peantus and sweet potato to feed them! So much fun. You should do a video on it!
I’m Japanese. I am happy because you always tell many not Japanese,
I wanna go to japan for foreigner.
Ginkakuji is my favourite as I love the surrounding gardens but it's a wonderful feeling to be standing infront of Kinkakuji, taking that iconic photo. I'm moving to Kyoto next year with my family so there will be plenty of time to enjoy the attractions.
Awesome video of the temples in Kyoto Japan John Eric from Patreon thanks for early release
thanks for your high quality produced videos. keep up the good work John.
Some of my favorite memories in Kyoto took place on that little shopping street Kevin described that leads to Ginkaku-ji. I totally agree with you guys. I've only been to Kyoto twice, but when I think of Kyoto and the things I've done there, I think more about places like Ginkaku-ji than Kinkaku-ji: atmospheric and natural but with the distinct Japanese cultural flair.
For top five I've gotta go:
5.) Nishiki Market
4.) Literally where you guys are sitting in the video, Gion district along the banks of the Kamogawa
3.) Ginkaku-ji
2.) Arashiyama, in particular the area past the famous bamboo grove along the Katsuragawa
1.) Fushimi Inari (I even have a kisune and torii tattoo, that's how much I love this place, haha!)
You can’t miss visiting either of them. Try visiting in the winter off season is great.
I like both!! Great work!!
Thank you John and Kevin, you made a though choice a lot easier for me :). I'll be visiting Japan this September and October and Kyoto is also on my list.
I remember the video bout Fushimi Inari Shrine in the night and since then I want to go there to feel the night ambience. Thanks to you both for another awesome video, it was so much pleasure to watch ^^/
学生の頃、修学旅行で行きましたが外国の方が多く、長崎県民の私が何故か嬉しくなりました。
Great episode, I like better Kyoto in the rain, gives such a nice / cozy feeling. Always fun to see Kevin!!! 😊 I am a big fan of his channel, Kuma's kitchen.
Thank you for another great video, John!
Thanks for another great video, they are quite valuable as a trip planner of sites and places to visit.
They're both beautiful but I'll give the slight edge towards Ginka-kuji namely due to it being slightly bigger and having lovely gardens. It also feels like there's more to see around the surrounding area (e.g., philosophers path).
I got some great Shots of Kinkakuji in my visit in 2017, the day we went it was crowded, but not as much as shown here, you could still walk around with no issue. We only spent one day in Kyoto, before we headed to Osaka, and didn't have time (but wanted to) to see Ginkakuji.
I love the suggestions, but the place I most like in Kyoto was Tenryu-ji. Fantastic place, especially in autumn.
the gold colour of kinkakuji, is it really made of gold? btw, i enjoyed this episode very much, thank youu....!! oh, i'm also so excited to see this channel is on its way to 1 million subscribers. way to go, john! yeay, 1 million subs, here we come....!
OMG!!!!! I live in Japan!!!! Thank you for making this video!!!! 💜💜💜
arishiyama bamboo forest , Gion/Shijo , the haunted house at Hanami time. kiyomizudera, fushimi Inari, Kyoto Tower
Thank you for all your hard work on these amazing videos!! Love
I must revisit Ginkakuji. I don't recall it being so beautiful but that was because years ago I was one of those tourists being herded around. I loved the sound of the raindrops hitting your umbrella.
I am Brazilian, I lived in Japan for 4 years and all places in that country are impeccable. The most amazing that are super old preserved places are wonderful. In Brazil there is no such care to preserve history.
100% agree, Ginkakuji is less crowded, amazing surrounding nature and situated in Higashi kyouto:the most beautiful part of the city. I strongly recommend visiting Eikandou ji, expecially during kouyou ( when momiji's leaf turn red).
Its said that the Golden and Silver Pavilion mythologies are what inspired the 2nd gen Pokemon series, Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver, and Legendary Pokemon Ho-oh and Lugia, respectively. Pokemon silver was my favorite game!
Awesome video!
Hi John and Kevin, Great video.
I thought Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji were both pretty great. I went pretty early and must of lucked out because it was WAY quieter than that. But that's where my luck ran out though, my digital camera died at Ginkaku-ji. I have visited quite a few of your top 5s. Not Kiyomizu-dera though. It was super busy and I had seen enough temples/shrines for one day. Maybe next time.
I'm off to have Ramen for dinner :D
Ginkakuji in the rain, looks magical.
I went to see Ginkakuji in 2007 when I was there! It was very hot and humid, and there were wasps or bees coming from the sand, but otherwise it was beautiful! I loved it. I never got to see Kinkakuji though... Next time for sure - but I'll have to get there really early, lol!
Thank you for this great video, John! 👌🏼 We’ve been to Kinkakuji and it’s beautiful. Haven’t been to Ginkakuji yet but we’ll definitely visit this coming November. Thank you for the great insight 🙂
On my first trip to Kyoto we hit Kinkakuji and Ryoanji and was somewhat disappointed. The second time we wandered down the Philosopher's path and hit Ginkakuji and liked it a lot more. Although Kinkakuji is more picturesque, I felt there's just more to do and see in the Ginkakuji grounds making it more enjoyable overall. Having said that, pretty much everyone is going to go see Kinkakuji. My favourite Kyoto spots:
Fushimi Inari
Kyomizudera (gorgeous in the fall)
Arashiyama (the boat ride in autumn was very pleasant)
Ginkakuji
Kyoto Station (seriously, I love this station! :)
I love jojakkoji! It was very quiet and loved all the green!
Great video and very informative, per usual. Ginkakoji gets my vote. Can’t wait to see both. My wife’s parents live in Kyoto, so we will definitely explore all of Nipon and Kyoto. 4 thumbs up.
Both are essential. Ginkakuji just has a wow factor that few places can match, but Ginkakuji offers many more interesting views with something new at every turn.
Another good thing about Kinkakuji is that no matter how crowded it is, you can still get views and photographs with no people in them whereas Ginkakuji is nearly impossibly to photograph without tourists in the shots.
I really agree on the Ginkaku-ji: the first time that I went to visit the Kinkaku-ji I had huge expectations (given by my japanese culture teacher that adores it) and after the tour I really felt disappointed because after the feelings that Kiyomizu-dera, Ginkaku-ji and Eikan-do gave me, well the Kinka didn't impressed me. I went to Fushimi Inari at night and it was also raining: it was the best because I could hear animals running in the woods and I also found a mother cat with her babies (maybe a kitsune in disguise?). Anyway I think that also the Eikan-do should be a part of your list: I always go there when I'm in Kyoto 'cause I feel at peace... So for me: 1. Eikan-do - 2. Kiyomizu-dera - 3. Ginkaku-ji - 4. Fushimi Inari Taisha - 5. Kodai-ji =)
I love the rain. I enjoy being underneath something and hiding from it as it falls all around me.