Off-the-beaten-path Experiences in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

If you visit Kyoto during peak season, you’ll most likely encounter the crowds on the main shopping streets, in the popular temples, and even while waiting at a bus stop…

On my last visit I went looking for some unique cultural experiences and off-the-beaten-path places in Kyoto, where you won’t see any crowds at all, even though they’re still tourist-friendly and worth visiting.

One of the highlights of my trip to Japan was hosted in a cosy living room, in a local home in Kyoto.

Alongside five other tourists, I got to see an intimate concert played with traditional Japanese instruments.

Even if you know nothing about Japanese music or its instruments, everything is explained in English before and during the performance.

The hosts gave us a warm welcome and I felt they really wanted to teach us about Japanese culture and appreciated our interest in it. I’d say there was a feeling of mutual appreciation in the room.

After the concert I stayed for a music workshop and learnt how to play a song on the koto, a string instrument. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).