Are you heading to Kyoto for KYOMAF and thinking, “Since I’m already here, I’d love to do some sightseeing too”?

Yuki Kaji and Sumire Uesaka, the KYOMAF 2026 Okoshiyasu Ambassadors, have introduced a variety of Kyoto attractions in a series of short videos. Visiting the same places they explored could make your KYOMAF trip even more memorable.

In this article, we have put together a sightseeing itinerary featuring locations from the videos, including Kamigamo-jinja Shrine and Arashiyama, while keeping travel between destinations relatively simple. After immersing yourself in the world of KYOMAF, why not spend the following day following in the ambassadors’ footsteps and experiencing Kyoto’s scenery and culture?

*The information in this article is accurate as of August 1, 2026. Please check the latest information before visiting.
*This article is an independent feature produced by the KYOTO CMEX Portal Site and does not contain official information.

Where did the KYOMAF 2026 Okoshiyasu Ambassadors visit?

Miyako Messe, the venue for KYOMAF

According to research conducted by KYOTO CMEX, the two Okoshiyasu Ambassadors visited the following locations in their short videos.

Yuki Kaji
Kibune area: Kifune-jinja Shrine and Ugenta (restaurant) 
Downtown Kyoto area: Kintsugi Studio kulukulu
Short video for reference

Sumire Uesaka
Arashiyama area: Togetsukyo-bridge and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Kamigamo area: Kamigamo-jinja Shrine and Aoiya Yakimochi Sohonpo (cafe)
Downtown Kyoto area: Kyoto Confectionery Museum
Short video for reference

The Karasuma Line: a key route for getting around kyoto

Trying to visit all these places in a single day would be quite exhausting. It may technically be possible, but you would have little time to enjoy each destination at a relaxed pace—and would probably be worn out by the end of the day. September in Kyoto is also still very hot.

Many people may be planning to spend one day at KYOMAF and add an extra day for sightseeing. With that in mind, we have created an itinerary that makes it relatively easy to get around while still allowing you to enjoy Kyoto just like the Okoshiyasu Ambassadors.

Even if you cannot visit them all, we hope this itinerary will be helpful for anyone who wants to enjoy the world of manga and anime at KYOMAF and fit in a little sightseeing afterward—at your own pace.

Enjoy a refreshing Kyoto Morning at Kamigamo-jinja Shrine

As mentioned above, Kyoto remains quite hot in September, when KYOMAF takes place. Temperatures are usually milder in the morning, however, so why not visit Kamigamo-jinja Shrine while it is still relatively cool and begin your day on a refreshing note?

It is one of the historic sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage property. With a history stretching back to before the Heian period, it is one of Kyoto’s oldest and most prestigious shrines. It is also known as the final destination of the Aoi Matsuri, one of Kyoto’s three major festivals.

Try a Japanese traditional sweets, Yakimochi

Two varieties of yakimochi were available.

A number of teahouses and souvenir shops welcome visitors around the shrine. In her video, Uesaka tried a yakimochi at Aoiya Yakimochi Sohonpo. Another well-known yakimochi shop in the area is Jinbado, which is also worth visiting.

I bought some to take home. Each rice cake is filled with smooth red bean paste and has a simple yet refined sweetness. They are best eaten before the rice cake becomes firm. Please see the shop’s official website for further details.

Kamigamo-jinja Shrine Official Website
Aoiya Yakimochi Sohonpo Official Website (Japanese only)

Discover the history and flavors of Kyoto confectionery (Kyo-gashi) at the Kyoto Confectionery Museum

Tawaraya Yoshitomi is in the foreground, with the Kyoto Confectionery Museum behind it.

After returning to Kitaoji Station from Kamigamo-jinja Shrine, take the subway for two stops to Imadegawa Station. The Kyoto Confectionery Museum is just a short walk from the station, making it very easy to reach.

Inside, you will find a variety of fascinating exhibits introducing the history of Japanese confectionery. The museum also has a tea room where visitors can enjoy matcha together with a piece of fresh wagashi made by Tawaraya Yoshitomi, a long-established Kyoto confectionery company.

Kyoto Confectionery Museum Official Website (Japanese only)

Try Japan’s traditional repairing arts Kintsugi

Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese technique used to repair broken ceramics and other items with lacquer and gold.

Because the method makes it possible to preserve and continue using damaged objects, it has also attracted attention in recent years from the perspective of sustainability.

From the Kyoto Confectionery Museum, take the subway and transfer to the Tozai Line at Karasuma Oike Station. Travel one stop and get off at Nijojo-mae Station. Kintsugi Studio kulukulu, which Kaji introduced in his video, is located nearby.

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nijo-jo Castle is also close by, so anyone interested may want to visit both places.

Advance reservations are recommended for the kintsugi experience. Several different plans are available, so please check the studio’s official website for details.

Kintsugi Studio kulukulu Official Website
Nijo-jo Castle Official Website

One of the most famous destination of Kyoto, Arashiyama

Photographed from Togetsukyo Bridge

Arashiyama is probably one of the first places that comes to mind when people think of sightseeing in Kyoto. Even if you have visited before, why not take this opportunity to explore the area at a more relaxed pace?

The places Uesaka visited were two of Arashiyama’s most popular attractions: Togetsukyo Bridge and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Both are famous for their beautiful scenery and attract large numbers of visitors. If possible, visiting outside peak hours may allow you to explore the area at a more leisurely pace.

Another attraction not to be missed in Arashiyama is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tenryu-ji Temple. This Rinzai Zen temple is known for its magnificent garden, which is one of the leading Zen monks of the Muromachi period. The garden incorporates the surrounding mountains into its design as borrowed scenery and is well worth seeing.

Arashiyama also offers leisure activities such as the Sagano Romantic Train and Hozugawa River boat rides. There is easily enough to see and do in the area to fill an entire day, so be sure to plan your visit in advance!

Conclusion

After (or before) enjoying KYOMAF, why not continue your trip by exploring some of the Kyoto locations visited by the two Okoshiyasu Ambassadors? Seeing the places featured in their videos for yourself may make you feel as though you are travelling around Kyoto together with them.

This article introduced Kamigamo-jinja Shrine, the Kyoto Confectionery Museum, Kintsugi Studio kulukulu and Arashiyama. You can see that the suggested route takes you from northern Kyoto toward the western part of the city, allowing you to travel between the destinations relatively smoothly.

Kyoto is still very hot in September, so do not feel that you have to visit every location in one day. Choose the places that interest you most and enjoy exploring them at your own pace. Along with KYOMAF, we hope you will make the most of Kyoto’s unique scenery and culture!