Kyoto Away from the Crowds

Kyoto Prefecture's major attractions can get crowded, so we suggest ways to tweak your plans to enjoy it in a more relaxed way. Yamashina, 5 minutes from JR Kyoto Sta., has temples connected to the imperial family and pottery workshops. Otsu, 1 stop further, sits on Lake Biwa and retains vestiges of its prosperous, post-town past. And, take a leisurely walk to the Golden Pavilion to find truly hidden treasures in the backstreets, and discover nature on a trail run through the mountains in the city's west.