Season 3 · Episode 6
Kyoto
A thousand years of temples, gardens and quiet ritual.
By Sorin Mihailovici · Travel by Dart · Last updated July 2026
If you want to understand old Japan, you go to Kyoto. Spared the worst of the 20th century, it kept what much of the country lost: imperial temples, moss and gravel gardens raked into stillness, geisha hurrying between engagements in Gion, and a sense of ritual woven into ordinary life.
This is my short first take while I write the full, fact-checked guide. Press play above to watch the episode, and check back soon for the complete story of Kyoto. See also my Japan episode and my Geisha special, filmed here in Kyoto.
Kyoto: traveler questions
Where is Kyoto?＋
Kyoto is a city in the Kansai region of central Japan and was the country's imperial capital for over a thousand years. It's a standalone Travel by Dart episode, distinct from my main Japan film, which the two cross-reference.
What is Kyoto famous for?＋
Kyoto is Japan's cultural heart — home to thousands of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, Zen rock gardens, traditional wooden machiya houses and the historic geisha districts like Gion. The full guide is coming soon.
How is Kyoto different from Tokyo?＋
Where Tokyo is modern and fast, Kyoto preserves old Japan: imperial history, traditional crafts, tea culture and ritual. I explore the details in the complete article and in my separate Geisha special.