Travel video guide
Ralph & Sam in Kyoto: 12 Spots From the Video
This guide turns 2 Days in Kyoto Japan Vlog 🇯🇵 Best Restaurants, Cafes, Nishiki Market Food, Japan Travel Guide 2025 from Ralph & Sam into a practical restaurant map with 12 saved spots around Kyoto and Izumisano. The mapped places include a restaurant stop, a cafe stop, and a donut shop. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Ralph & Sam enjoyed a slow-paced exploration of Kyoto, emphasizing the beauty of living like a local in a quiet neighborhood Machiya. They were particularly impressed by the blend of historical architecture and modern creativity, such as a cafe built around a small shrine and a restaurant serving fresh sashimi with blue cheese chawanmushi.
What this map is good for
- Planning a japanese restaurant stop or short itinerary in Kyoto.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 12 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Honke Owariya Main Branch
Japanese Restaurant in 322 Niōmontsukinukechō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0841, Japan, Niōmontsukinukechō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - Yakiniku Aje Kiyamachidonguri
Japanese Restaurant in 144-3 Tennōchō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8013, Japan, Tennōchō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Price level: Cheap
Hours: Hours available - Kansai International Airport
International Airport in 1番地 Senshūkūkōkita, Izumisano, Osaka 549-0001, Japan, Senshūkūkōkita, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan - Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma
Hotel in 41 Motoakuojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8091, Japan, 41, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Hours: Hours available - cité coffee roastery & vintage
Coffee Shop in 375-4 Konyachō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8130, Japan, Konyachō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Hours: Hours available - Dontsuki
Japanese Restaurant in Japan, 〒600-8047 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Suhamachō, ６７３−５ もみじの小路 H6, Suhamachō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Hours: Hours available - Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
Tourist Attraction in 烏丸通七条上る Tokiwacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8505, Japan, Tokiwacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Hours: Hours available - WEEKENDERS COFFEE TOMINOKOJI
Cafe in Japan, 〒604-8064 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Honeyanochō, ５６０ 離れ, Honeyanochō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Price level: Medium
Hours: Hours available - koé donuts kyoto
Donut Shop in 557番地 Nakanochō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8042, Japan, Nakanochō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Price level: High
Hours: Hours available - ONLY Shijō Karasuma Store
Tailor in 678 Motohōnenjichō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8144, Japan, Motohōnenjichō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Hours: Hours available - Nishiki Market
Market in Higashiuoyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8055, Japan, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan - DE FRITES STAAN
Restaurant in Japan, 〒604-8042 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nakanochō, ５４２ ２ DE FRITES STAAN, Nakanochō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Hours: Hours available
Food notes from the video
- Tempura bowl
- Burnt corn rice
- Strawberry syrup onigiri
- Castella cake
- Beef and onsen egg soba
- Mixed rice crackers
- Chicken and mentaiko onigiri
- Sashimi (yellowtail, sea urchin, scallop)
- 2 more included in the app.
Experiences captured
- Rode the Hello Kitty themed Haruka train
- Stayed in a traditional wood-detailed Kyoto hotel
- Visited a flea market at a 1602 temple
- Explored a 100-year-old Machiya dessert shop
- Walked along the Kamo River
- Shopped for vintage kimonos and recycled fabric bags
- Visited the 400-year-old Nishiki Market
- Purchased a reusable ceramic coffee filter
Planning notes for Kyoto
Shimomaruyachō is a district located in the Nakagyō Ward of Kyoto, Japan. Historically, the area is part of the central urban core that developed during the Heian and Edo periods. Its heritage is characterized by its proximity to the Kamo River and its role within the traditional grid system of the former capital. Historical Heritage and Architecture The district contains several structures that exemplify Kyoto’s architectural history. A notable landmark is the 1928 Building (formerly the Osaka Mainichi.
Must-try foods nearby
- Halal Wagyu Sukiyaki
A quintessential Kyoto experience featuring A5-grade Japanese Black beef. At hotspots like Wagyu Sukiyaki Kyoto PANGA in Shimomaruyachō. - Shojin Ryori (Buddhist Vegan Cuisine)
Originally the diet of Zen monks, this multi-course meal is inherently halal-friendly. - Yudofu (Simmered Tofu)
A specialty of Kyoto, particularly around the Nanzen-ji and Kiyomizu areas. Soft. - Halal Chicken Ramen
A modern favorite in Kyoto's halal scene. Establishments like Ayam-Ya Karasuma serve a rich, creamy broth made entirely from halal-certified chicken without MSG. - Kyo-Yuba (Tofu Skin)
A delicate Kyoto delicacy made from the skin that forms on top of boiling soy milk. It is served in various forms: fresh (sashimi-style), fried, or simmered in clear broth.
When to go: The best months to visit Shimomaruyachō are late March to mid-April for cherry blossoms or November for vibrant autumn foliage, though these peak periods bring heavy crowds and higher prices. Spring and autumn offer mild, pleasant weather.
Local tips
- Use Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Tozai Line for the most direct subway access to this central neighborhood.
- Pay for your meal at the front counter rather than at the table, as is standard in most local establishments.
- Refrain from talking on your mobile phone while using public transportation to respect the quiet environment.
- Place your cash or credit card in the small tray provided at registers instead of handing it directly to the staff.
What travelers are noticing
- Kyoto Summer Special Openings 2026: Rare public access to modern architecture and Toyotomi-era heritage sites in the Nakagyo area.
- Sustainable Tourism Apps: Viral adoption of real-time congestion monitoring tools by the Kyoto City Transportation Bureau to manage 2026 crowds.
- Post-Sakura 'Shinryoku' Travel: A 2026 trend focusing on the translucent 'new green' foliage and quieter temple experiences following the peak cherry blossom season.
Extra place context
- Nishiki Market
Known as 'Kyoto's Kitchen,' this historic market offers numerous Muslim-friendly snacks. Visitors can find traditional Kyoto pickles (tsukemono), fresh soy milk donuts, and various seafood skewers that naturally meet halal requirements.
food - Nishiki Market
Known as 'Kyoto's Kitchen,' this vibrant, 400-year-old market is a sensory feast located just steps from Shimomaruyachō.
shopping
Official tourism resource
The official tourism website for Kyoto City, managed by the Kyoto City Tourism Association (DMO KYOTO) to provide travel information and sustainable guidelines.
Planning questions
Where did Ralph & Sam eat in Kyoto?
This guide maps all 12 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in Kyoto.
What are the must-try foods in Kyoto?
Creator picks from the video include Tempura bowl, Burnt corn rice, Strawberry syrup onigiri, Castella cake. Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this restaurant map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.