Full family day in Kyoto with a local

You could ring the bells at the interactive Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Eastern Kyoto, check out the view from Yasaka Pagoda less than one mile away, or head a little further north and explore the Botanical Gardens while the young ones zip down the playground slide.

Nature lovers may choose to head 30 minutes out of central Kyoto to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, where forest walks and a visit to Iwatayama Monkey Park are sure to keep the whole family entertained. Hungry? Your local insider will be happy to scope out the best family-friendly restaurants in the district – and decipher the kids’ menus. When it’s time for dessert, keep sweet teeth happy with Kyoto’s famous melonpan ice cream or funky-flavored shaved ice – why not try the bamboo?

“But will the kids enjoy it?” You won’t have to ask again. Your host has it covered, and now the whole family – you included – is guaranteed a stress-free, kid-approved vacation. Temple-hopping across central Kyoto could get old really quickly for the kids, but a bullet train driving simulation at the Kyoto Railway Museum? Yes, please!

Give the kids a lesson in the comic book drawing at the International Manga Museum, or let them learn the traditional art of samurai swordsmanship at the Kyoto Samurai Experience. A kimono class is a perfect way to appreciate Japanese culture and dress up in something beautiful, or a dolphin show at the aquarium is an ideal end to an eventful, educational, and, above all, exciting family adventure.