Yes, I know it will be busy everywhere. No, they cannot change their plans. It is what it is. I’m sure the usual suspects of spots will be busy, but are there places you visited/things you did previous Golden Weeks that were enjoyable? Lesser visited spots/recommendations/ideas would be great!
by gotbannedlolol
2 comments
Kurama Yama Dera should be cooler and probably less crowded. Pro tip: get off a stop early at kibune Guchi and walk to kibune, the hike over the mountain through Kinone Michi to arrive at Kurama Yama Dera and finish at the rotenburo in kurama (if it’s still open or reopened after COVID)
Get accommodation reserved and locked down by last week. Other than that, just stay out of the normal crazy bits in the middle (so, Kyoto Station north to Sanjo-ish). Fushimi Inari might be a bit nuts. We always just stayed out of the middle bit until later at night, then went to Kiyamachi as usual.
The northeast quadrant out of Shugakuin on the toy train line is wonderful and peaceful: around the Shugakuin Rikyu and Manshuin, and there is a nice river park that runs easterly to the foot of Hie. Kurama might be nice, as said. Takaragaike area gets busier with locals, but it’s not Gion Crazy. Ohara could be good, but the access is a bottleneck, and once you get stuck, you’re stuck. You could take them for a nice student Gakushoku lunch at the KyotoU cafeterias in Hyakumanben, but check the opening hours.