[Japan Winter Vacation 2023] 3D2N in Kyoto

I last visited Kyoto in 2017, and it was actually my favorite city within the Kansai region among others. I decided to re-visit this city again by staying there for 2 days, instead of just a day trip as per what we did previously.

 

We took the JR train from Okayama to Kyoto which took about 2hours+ of travelling on the rapid train service. Upon reaching Kyoto JR station, we took the local subway from Kyoto JR station to Sanjo Station, and Dhawa Yura Kyoto is just a stone's throw away from the subway. The entrance of the hotel sliding panel door looked pretty discreet, as it looked hidden but was adjacent to the bustling road.

The Dhawa Yura Kyoto Hotel made me feel as if I was travelling back through time from modern Japan to the Samurai era. It was a perfect blend of East meeting West!

The Dhawa Yura Kyoto by Banyan Tree Group is a boutique hotel located right next to the Sanjo station and not far from the Gion District. Upon entering the hotel premises, I was greeted by a metallic silver bonsai tree as well as an artificial bamboo grove, which stretched up from the restaurant below all the way up to the lobby.

The hotel is located in a rather convenient location, whereby it is just a 10 min walk away from Yasaka Shrine and Kyoto's ancient Geisha district of Gion. In the hotel, there is a small fitness room which is open 24/7 for in-house guests. Baby used it during his stay before sleeping at night!

 There is also a lovely lounge called ‘The Nest’ in the front area, where we could relax and enjoy drinks and sweets from Kyoto for free. It was a nice gesture from the hotel to guests.

I was pleasantly surprised by my stay experience. The sizeable bed was undeniably comfortable, and I really enjoyed the raised tatami floor area by the window which was a very unique in-room feature.

 

The pantry is stocked with coffee machine, TWG/Japanese green tea-making facilities.

 

The spa-luxurious bathroom amenities are from the Parisian spa brand Clarins.

We walked over to the Gion District right after we checked in to the hotel and unloaded our luggage. We made our way there by foot, and the sky turned dark around 5pm as dusk comes early during winter.

We went for a Kaiseki experience at Gion Kirara, and this restaurant is one of the few kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto’s Gion district that allows walk-ins. We were fortunate to have been offered Tatami seating.

 Kyoto is known for its beautiful scenery and deep history, but for many, it’s the food that keeps them coming back again and again. Kaiseki in Kyoto is a bucket list item for many foodies including me, as Kaiseki is one of Japan’s most famous traditional cuisines, so there’s no better to get it than at Kyoto - an area famous for its deep traditions!

 Gion Kirara serves delicious set meals which are made with seasonal ingredients.

From the flavor to the atmosphere, everything was authentic. Traditional kaiseki-style dishes were paired with our selected drinks.

Kyoto is home to a great number of Japanese restaurants that offer the best Kaiseki meal experiences that you won’t be able to find anywhere else! Ordering Kaiseki typically can be kind of expensive, butI felt it was definitely worth the price and will be one of the most memorable dining experiences of your stay in Japan. Gion Kirara is highly recommended if you are looking for a unique dining experience in Gion!

I feel that the best time to visit Yasaka Shrine is in the evening or at night, as the whole area is illuminated by lanterns. It makes the shrine lovely at night and enables for a wonderful stroll to enjoy the traditional Japanese atmosphere.

Yasaka Shrine is well-known for the Gion Festival (Gion Matsuri) which is one of the largest festivals in Japan.

 

The lanterns are covered in kanji-writing, and we took several random photos at the shrine.

We chanced upon another Miffy Storehouse Kitchen & Bakery again, but this time it was the Kyoto’s branch! We took some photos at their photo-wall!

Breakfast at the hotel is served at the '54th Station Grill', and it is situated on the lower ground floor next to the previously mentioned Bamboo Forest decoration. The sumptuous breakfast consisted of the usual Western breakfast staples with a Japanese fare.

The buffet spread includes pork sausages, bacon, mushrooms and hash browns, along with healthy Japanese selections such as salmon fillet, Tamagoyaki, miso soup and seaweed.

 

We had our egg made to order to our own choice. There was also several choices of juices, teas and coffees that were refilled whenever required.

After our breakfast, we visited a unique Japanese-style Starbucks located in the tourist area of Ninenzaka, with a tatami mat section. The building was very beautifully decorated in a traditional Japanese style.

The Gion Kyoto Starbucks officially called the ‘Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya Tea House’ in Higashiyama - is one of the most historical and well-preserved districts in the city. It is also the world's first Starbucks joint with tatami seating.

It's a great place to experience a traditional Japanese atmosphere along with tasty coffee. This tea house is in a highly populated tourist area, so expect crowds and make sure you have time to spare.

Kyoto is one of the best-known cities in Japan that is home to many famous shrines/temples, and the Kiyomizu-dera is the most iconic temple in Kyoto, therefore it is a Must-Visit when you are in Kyoto.

The Kiyomizu-dera is a popular cherry blossom viewing spot, and attracts people from all over Japan. For me, I prefer the Fall season in Japan as i want to enjoy viewing stunning Autumn leaves!

Both Baby and I chanced upon this little café as we were coming down from Kiyomizu-dera. It's pretty crowded everywhere, but there was a narrow (almost) hidden path where this little traditional-looking café was located. This a sweet-specialist shop selling its signature Warabimochi amongst other delicious Matcha treats.

I love the mochi with peanut soy-powder and brown sugar syrup, and every bite was heavenly. They served yummy Kyoto dessert, and it is a must-visit especially for dessert lovers!

We had sushi for dinner, and we settled at Kurazushi - one of the biggest conveyor belt sushi chains in Japan. There are no waiters in this restaurant and everything is technologically managed, thus adding to the fun dining experience.

At Kura, the starting price for a plate of sushi for JPY125 onwards. 

During my trip, there was a collaboration campaign on-going with the TV animation ‘SPY×FAMILY’. During our meal, we tried our luck to win a prize in the Bikkura Pon! game with five sushi plates. We failed a few times, and we kept eating more plates!! Yes, this time we won! We received Erasers decorated with ‘SPY×FAMILY’ characters!

I love the raised tatami floor daybed-cum-living area by the window with a contemporary classical design with Japanese traditional elements. This hotel is highly recommended!

Stay tuned for my next outing, as we left Kyoto and travelled to Osaka.