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Eastern Kyoto is full of incredible temples and shrines, so we decided to spend a full day exploring them! It really wasn’t enough time either – there are some cute shops and stops along the way that captured our attention as we went along, so we actually had to go to two of the temples another day! There was so much to do and see in so little time. We visited the Heian Shrine, the Shorenin Temple, the Chion-In, and the Yasaka Shrine, and we also wandered around the small streets to shop in the Higashiyama neighborhood.

We ended our adventure in Eastern Kyoto by participating in a Traditional Tea Ceremony at Camellia. There we learned from a tea master how proper matcha green tea is made and heard the history behind it. Since we’d been doing all of the exploring on our own thus far, it was really great to get a bit of a history lesson from the tea master – we loved the tea ceremony! It was the perfect activity to do on a rainy day too.

I’m so glad I ordered this Vince cardigan – not only did I pick up this camel color, but I bought it in black too! They’ve been so useful and versatile to throw on over tees, lace camis and other light layers. While they were definitely great for travel, I’ve actually been throwing them on most as an added layer while I work at my desk all day. I don’t like wearing constricting pieces like turtlenecks when I know I’m going to be inside all day, so these cardigans are a nice compromise that keep me comfortable and warm without the hassle. Also, the length of these cardis is perfect for pairing with leggings (love this everyday pair!) – I love wearing leggings, but only if I know my top or jacket will cover my behind!

Stay tuned for more photos, content and a city guide from Japan! Be sure to check out all my other great travel posts here.