Last Updated: Jul 10, 2024

Kurama & Kibune

A Pair of Dual Allures in Northern Kyoto

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium.

While this article was originally written during the pandemic, all of the locations and information featured are still valid…

— Donny Kimball

It’s really no secret that I’ve not been a fan of Kyoto over the years. Though I am sympathetic towards the plight of the city now that the pandemic has ground all inbound travel to a halt, Japan’s former capital used to suffer greatly from overtourism. Even during the days when Kiyomizu-dera and other popular sights were swarmed with hordes of tourists, there were always a handful of yet-to-be-discovered allures such as the venerable Iwashimizu Hachimangu. While the more mainstream spots were honestly nigh unbearable at times, these attractions were rarely, if ever, crowded.

On that note, I’d like to introduce the topic of this week’s article. In this piece, we’ll be taking a look at the dual hamlets of Kurama and Kibune. Located in the northernmost reaches of Kyoto, these two towns feel far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city’s center. In fact, were it not for their proximity to the rest of the charms in Kyoto, you’d be easily forgiven for mistaking that you…