Immersed in Kyoto: A Collection of Photos from This Beautiful City
This is my photo collection from a trip to Kyoto, Japan.
Welcome to my photowalk of Kyoto, Japan. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Japan multiple times, and Kyoto always feels like a place I’ll never get sick of exploring. It’s a city that perfectly balances history and modernity, with its old temples, beautiful streets, and wonderful people. I plan to keep returning for as long as I can.
If you’ve read my San Diego post, you know the drill. This one is going to be super photo-driven. Think of it as a walk through Kyoto with me and my camera, stopping to reflect on some of the shots I feel best capture the city’s charm and character. Let’s dive in and explore Kyoto together.
Gion Matsuri
One of the most unexpected parts of the trip was randomly arriving in Kyoto during Gion Matsuri, completely unaware it was happening. For those who don’t know, Gion Matsuri is one of Japan’s most famous festivals, celebrated with elaborate floats, vibrant street parades, and massive crowds. Walking into the heart of the festivities without any clue felt like stumbling onto a human conveyor belt. The energy of the crowds, the smells of the food, and the stunningly detailed floats made it an unforgettable surprise. Honestly, I don’t think I captured this experience right at all, but it was my first night in the city, and I was so overwhelmed by it all!
Like I was saying I wish I captured this festival in a much more detailed way and maybe one day i’ll go back and do that. But I just remember getting off the train and not having a clue what was going on so I found myself not being able to focus.
Nights out around town.
Kyoto and Japan as a whole is my favorite place to wander the streets at night. Maybe it’s because of all the neon lights, or maybe it’s because it’s so peaceful. I’m not really sure, but it’s one of the only places in the world where I truly enjoy shooting at night.
For this image, I seriously waited a good 20 minutes for a person, bike, animal, or ANYTHING to fill the empty space on the left. But no one ever came, and I was starting to feel like a creep. It’s not a strong image, but that’s what these posts are about. I had an idea here because I loved the moment I was in, so I wanted to capture that. Sometimes, the vision doesn’t always work out but night out itself was beautiful.
Shrines and Temples
Fun fact about Kyoto: It’s old. Like, really old. I bet you couldn’t have guessed that! Naturally, the city is full of beautiful temples and shrines. So if you ever visit Kyoto, you’re going to find yourself exploring these iconic sites—unless you get lost in Yodobashi Camera and never make it out (trust me, it could happen).
To be honest, I’m super pleased with this set of images. Sure, some of them are standard shots everyone gets when they visit the city, but take the photo right above this text, for example. I woke up super early to make sure I got it without anyone in the frame. While I know it’s a photo that’s been taken thousands of times, that’s not always the point.
Sometimes, it’s about the experience of capturing the image, the effort you put into getting it and how you felt while taking it. Looking at a photo you’ve taken should bring a smile to your face because of the memory it represents, not just because it’s a “perfect shot.”
Bonus Round
Here are some images I wasn’t sure what to do with, but I still really like them. So, I’m sharing them with you anyway. Sometimes, a photo doesn’t need a story it just needs to be appreciated.
This photo makes me think about old Kyoto versus new Kyoto. If you look at the Yasaka Pagoda photo, the roads have almost the exact same path in them. When I was working on my zine about Japan, I placed those images side by side and didn’t even notice the similarity until later. It’s just a small detail, but I thought it was really cool. Scroll up and see if you see it also or tell me i’m just a crazy person!
Until next time.
That’s it for my photowalk around Kyoto. This city never fails to inspire me, from its historic temples to its quiet streets at night, and even the surprises, like stumbling into Gion Matsuri on my first night. Every corner of Kyoto holds something special, and I know I’ll keep coming back to explore more of its magic. Honestly, I think you should too!
Photography isn’t just about the perfect shot; it’s about the experience, the effort, and the way a moment makes you feel. That said, I’m damn proud of some of these images in this set, and I know I grew a lot on this past trip to Japan. Whether it’s waking up before sunrise to capture an empty street or simply enjoying the process of wandering with a camera, it’s those little moments that stick with you.
Thanks for coming along on this walk with me. If you’ve been to Kyoto, I’d love to hear about your favorite places and experiences in the city. And if you haven’t, I hope this inspires you to visit someday. Until next time, keep wandering, supporting each other and capturing the world around you.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for reading—I truly appreciate it! Writing and sharing these posts has been such an unexpected joy, and it’s all because of you. If you’d like to show some extra love, consider subscribing, upgrading to a paid subscription, or sharing this post with a friend. You can also find me on Instagram at @Lagomvisuals. Thanks for being here, and I can’t wait to share more with you soon!
Oh I wanna go to Japan so bad now haha! I love that you shared images that weren’t “perfect” or “bangers” too becasue that’s really important online and shows others that it’s not all perfect shots!