Our Kyoto: Where Locals Go is a unique Japanese–English guide introducing 180 spots recommended by 26 Kyoto residents from all walks of life in collaboration with the editorial team at Kyoto-kan, an official Kyoto City website. Readers eager to escape the crowds and well-worn tourist sites will find this insider’s view of the city a delightful alternative to standard guidebooks.
The spots featured range from cafés, bars, Japanese-style pubs and Italian and Chinese restaurants to shops specializing in tofu, dried goods, wine, chopsticks and more. Recommendations for local products include both long-beloved standards and well-kept secrets; also covered are seasonal festivals and events like the Gion Festival, the Daimonji bonfires and antique markets as well as settings where daily life in the city unfolds – the banks of the Kamo River, Mount Daimonji, the city’s bus network. Each recommendation, whether a place, product or experience, represents a distinctly local point of view.
Chapters are organised by city ward (e.g. Nakagyo, Higashiyama), making it easy to explore several nearby locations together. A QR code on the opening pages links to a custom Google map featuring all 180 spots and individual QR codes for each location are included at the back of the book for convenient navigation. With a layout that introduces each site alongside a single photograph, the book also invites readers to enjoy simply browsing through its pages as they would a photo collection.
Our Kyoto is perfect for those who want to discover Kyoto’s lesser-known charms and experience local culture and everyday life just as residents do.
Seigensha, 274pp, 10cm x 15cm, illustrated paperback, 2025
