Introducing recommended spots for a trip to Kyoto with your dog

Pets are important members of the family, but many of them, especially dogs, get lonely easily. My family includes a Bichon Frise named Wan, who is very cuddly and gets lonely easily. Even in our small house, he is always by someone's side. I feel guilty when I go out for a little while... I want to take him on a trip, but I don't know where I can go, eat, and stay with my pet, and I don't have the time to look into it, so it's a bit of a hassle. I hope this article will help you and enjoy your trip with your dog! Please note that the most suitable means of transportation will vary depending on the breed and personality of your dog, so I will not provide any information on them.

sightseeing

Speaking of Kyoto, you could say that all of it is a tourist spot, but that doesn't mean you can enjoy it everywhere with your dog. In fact, there are many places where you can't bring your dog, such as important cultural properties. In this article, we will introduce tourist spots where you can enjoy an exciting experience with your dog.

The first installment is a "sightseeing edition" of Kyoto, one of Japan's most famous tourist destinations.

Arashiyama

Let's start with the classic tourist spot. Arashiyama is known for its beautiful bamboo forest. You can take your dog for a walk on the paths! However, as it is a world-famous tourist spot, it is often crowded. There are two recommended ways to visit the area. The first is to visit early in the morning. The other is to take a rickshaw. This is because you can go to a special area that you can only get to by taking a rickshaw, and you can enjoy the beautiful bamboo forest with few people. Please note that it costs 1,000 yen per car (not per pet) to bring pets on the ride.

Gion Shirakawa

Gion Shirakawa, one of Kyoto's iconic sights, is a town that developed as a temple town for Yasaka Shrine, located downstream of Shirakawa River where it flows from the Okazaki Canal into the Kamo River. In the area around Shinbashi and Tatsumibashi, where sophisticated teahouse buildings stand side by side, you can enjoy beautiful townscapes with cobblestone roads and swaying willows along the Shirakawa River. In spring, you can also enjoy beautiful townscapes with cherry blossoms. You'll want to look back on the photos you take of your dog and the townscape as you take a walk!

Jingu Street

This is an introduction to the long and beautiful walking path from Heian Shrine to Maruyama Park. Heian Shrine was restored in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heian. It was built with prayers for peace on all four seas, to convey to future generations the will of the many people who dedicated themselves to restoring Kyoto to its former glory after it had fallen into decline due to the relocation of the capital, and you can experience the atmosphere of Kyoto's early days 1200 years ago. Dogs are not allowed on walks, but you can bring them inside if you carry them in a cart or bag.

Leaving the great torii gate of Heian Shrine and heading south along Jingu-michi, you will see Shoren-in Temple on your left, which has long been known as one of the three gate sites of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, the head temple of the Tendai sect. The surrounding area is lined with attractive shops, including general goods stores, bag stores, antique stores, and Japanese sweets stores, making it difficult to choose. You can also enter the stores by using a cart or bag-in.

Beyond Shoren-in Temple is Chion-in Temple, the head temple of the Jodo sect of Buddhism. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed inside Chion-in Temple, but the Sanmon Gate, a national treasure, is a spectacular sight even when viewed from the outside.

If you go a little further, you will arrive at Maruyama Park. With its gate at the entrance, a bridge over the gourd pond, and a Japanese garden, this park is a perfect place to take a break after a long walk.

Kifune Shrine

Head a little north from Kyoto city to Kifune Shrine. Visiting Kifune Shrine is called Sansha Mairi, and involves visiting the main shrine, inner shrine, and Yuisha shrine at the foot of Mount Kifune. Surrounded by water and forest, Kifune allows you to enjoy the rich nature while touring the shrine grounds. With the red lanterns lined up on both sides, the deep nature, and the solemn atmosphere, you'll definitely be glad you made the effort to get up a little early. Your dog will be very satisfied with the long walk and may sleep soundly on the way home.

Nanzenji Temple and Suirokaku

Nanzenji Temple has the Sanmon Gate and Chokushimon Gate, which are designated as Important Cultural Properties. Nanzenji Temple is the head temple of the Nanzenji branch of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism, the first imperially commissioned Zen temple in Japan, and has the highest status among all Rinzai sect temples in Japan. The view from here is sure to soothe your mind and provide a time of healing.
The Suirokaku Suirokaku, located next to Nanzenji Temple, is the Lake Biwa Canal, which carries water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto, stretching over 20km in length from Kannonji in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture to Horizume-cho in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is an artificial canal that has been in active use since its completion in the Meiji period. Made of bricks stacked in an arch shape, it has a tasteful and well-designed look, and is sure to make a great photo with your dog.

summary

In this first article, we introduce ways to enjoy travel with your dog, and we introduced "Kyoto." Many people think that traveling with their dog is difficult. Recently, the number of dog-friendly hotels and restaurants has been increasing, and in the future, it may become easier to travel with your dog. We hope that this article will inspire you to "go to Kyoto with your dog!"