The Thoughtful Visitor's Guide to Kyoto

The fascinating city has become wildly popular-and often wildly crowded. Here's how to do it the right way.

- Joanna Kawecki

WITH ITS TEMPLES, GARDENS, and Imperial Palace, Japan's former capital, Kyoto, is no stranger to tourism. A cultural and political hub for more than a thousand years, the city is renowned for its stewardship of tradition. But during the decade that I've lived in Japan, I've witnessed Kyoto's transformation from a tranquil destination to one that's often uncomfortably flooded with tourists.