Originally Posted by
HawaiiO
Kyoto is super crowded with tourists!
arashiyama and the gion area were even more crowded than before covid.
Going up to kiyomizu is like being on yamanote line at rush hour.
Going to *the* most famous areas in Kyoto during fall foliage season (and a long weekend in Japan) and then complaining about crowds is certainly...a choice.
I tell people going to Kiyomizudera/Sannenzaka/Nienenzaka area that they should arrive no later than 7am (very easy with North American jetlag), it gets bright very early and the temple opens at 6; take advantage of this fact.