Kyoto was Japan’s ancient capital for over 1,000 years before the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1868 and as such, it is home to Japan’s largest concentration of cultural landmarks. Surrounded by scenic mountains and watered by long-flowing canals and rivers, Kyoto is a city in which nature seems to play a starring role that is only complemented by the huge number of Buddhist temples (apparently 1,700) and Shinto shrines (800) that highlight its beauty.
As Japan’s ancient political and cultural centre, it features a large number of important buildings from Japan’s history not to mention cultural institutions like tea houses and kaiseki restaurants. Importantly, unlike Tokyo, the city and its landmarks were spared during the Second World War, making it a perfect place to learn about Japan’s past. Kyoto is today undeniably a very modern city with great transport links to places like nearby Osaka, Nara and Himeji. However, with 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, not to mention everything else going for it, Kyoto is also a city like Rome in which it seems absolutely impossible to do everything. Still, it’s worth a try. Here’s our list of what to see and do in Kyoto.
Interesting Landmarks and Areas
One of the biggest draws to Kyoto is its history and one of the best places to get a sense of its historical importance is Nijo Castle. Built by the Tokugawa shogunate in the 17th century as their Kyoto residence to oversee the Imperial Court, Nijo Castle features an impressive array of fortifications, including a wall and moat, fantastically preserved palaces with spectacular ancient artworks (also listen to Ninomaru’s so-called nightingale floor, named due to the way it squeaks to warn of anyone treading on it), and gardens.
Nijo Castle
Not far from Nijo Castle lies the vast and peaceful Imperial Palace Grounds, the former residence of Japan’s emperors prior to their move to Tokyo following the 1869 Meiji Restoration. Keep an eye out for the 17th century Sento Imperial Palace and most of all enjoy a walk around its beautiful and surprisingly untouristed gardens. Maruyama Gardens is another good place to relax and enjoy the seasons, especially for cherry blossom viewing.
Close to Maruyama Gardens is the traditional Higashiyama district and Gion, filled with temples, shrines, shops and restaurants. Filled with historic streets and people in traditional dress, this is one of the most beautiful parts of the city although it is probably the most touristy. Nishiki Market is also relatively nearby, with many traditional shops for souvenirs and places to sample local food.
Togetsu-kyō Bridge
Arashiyama is another very popular spot with many more temples and things to do. Once a resort for the nobility, its most notable landmarks include the stunning Togetsu-kyō Bridge and the famous bamboo grove. There are also many good shops and restaurants in this area for those looking for something to eat or a souvenir. Cross the bridge and admire the river before heading up to the Arashiyama monkey sanctuary to see Japanese macaques in the wild playing with each other. Also nearby is the highly recommended Sagano Scenic Railway, which takes you through the countryside on an old-fashioned train. There are also traditional boats nearby that’ll take you on a short cruise of the river and its valley.
View from Sagano Scenic Railway
If you arrive in the city via train, which many tourists do, you’ll first notice the spectacular Kyoto station, which is a sprawling modern complex filled with shops and restaurants. Just outside you can see the controversial yet iconic Kyoto Tower, contrasting with the traditional architecture found elsewhere in the city. Regardless of your opinion of it (we quite like the building), it offers unbeatable views of Kyoto and the surrounding countryside. You can even see Osaka in the distance.
View over Kyoto from Kyoto Tower
Kyoto is also famous for sake, especially its Fushimi district, and there is nowhere better to get acquainted with Japan’s national drink than here. We recommend exploring the Fushimi sake district and its history, as well as paying a visit to the Gekkeikan Okura sake museum to see how sake is made and experience a sake tasting.
Kyoto is filled with amazing stories that surround its temples and narrow streets. Yokai (Monster) Street is a good place to experience one of these stories, with dozens of homemade monsters standing guard outside the street’s shops to commemorate a night hundreds of years ago when the city’s inanimate objects came to life. The city is also just a great place to relax and although there is so much to see and do, one of our favourite things to do after exploring the city’s many shrines and temples is to sit by the Kamogawa river and its herons and watch the world go by with a drink as hawks circle overhead. So what shrines and temples should you visit?
Kamogawa River
Buddhist Temples
As mentioned above, Kyoto has a colossal number of shrines and temples, more than can be seen than maybe even a lifetime. That said, here are our very favourites. To begin with, Kinkakuji, or the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen Buddhist temple in the north of Kyoto. Built as shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu retirement villa in the 15th century, its impressive grounds and iconic building covered in gold leaf attract many visitors. It also has a beautiful tea house to take in the surroundings over a cup of matcha.
Kinkakuji
Another major temple is Kiyomizudera, famous for its large wooden terrace and views over Higashiyama and Kyoto below. It is particularly popular in the spring and autumn due to its surrounding cherry and maple trees, while it also has a waterfall divided into three streams whose waters all offer different blessings. The nearby Kōdaiji Temple and Entoku-in Temple are also beautiful, with the latter being particularly peaceful. Within walking distance is Sanjūsangen-dō, a temple built in 1164 that houses 1001 statues of the goddess of mercy Kannon and one of our favourites. Seeing all of these statues together is among the most impressive sights in Kyoto. Another impressive statue of Kannon is in Ryozen Kannon temple, dedicated to those who died during the War in the Pacific.
Higashiyama
Dating back to 794, Toji Temple is also worth a visit, famous for having Japan’s tallest pagoda. Other impressive temples include Higashi Honganji (look out for a rope made from hair) and Ninna-ji Temple. Once used as an Imperial palace, Ninna-ji features a wide range of buildings of different styles with some dating back to the early 17th century; this is one of our favourites. Eikando Temple Daikaku-ji and Chion-in Temple are also all worth a visit if you have time.
Shinto Shrines
The Fushimi Inari shrine is likely the most famous shrine in Kyoto and perhaps even in all of Japan. Dedicated to the Shinto god of rice Inari, who has fox messengers, this ancient shrine is most renowned for the thousands of red torii gates leading up behind it into the mountains. While this can be a bit touristy, walk up through the gates for around half an hour and you’ll have fewer people and fantastic views too.
Fushimi Inari
Next to the Kamogawa river you have Kamigamo-jinja shrine and Shimogamo-jinja shrine, both beautiful places nestled in nature and dedicated to protecting Kyoto. We particularly recommend Kamigamo-jinja (founded 678, making it one of the oldest shrines in Japan) for its beautiful buildings and peaceful grounds. Another relatively untouristed shrine worth visiting is Yasui Konpiragu shrine in Gion, which has a boulder with a hole in it that women crawl through to end a bad relationship or start a good one. We also recommend Kitano Tenmangu, dedicated to a scholar who was unfairly exiled and associated with the god of education. It houses beautiful buildings and hosts a flea market on the 25th of each month.
Yasaka shrine and Heian shrine are also two large shrines well worth a visit.
Getting There and Getting Around
All in all, Kyoto is a great place to visit and is easily accessible via train from Tokyo and Osaka. While Kyoto does have a subway system, it doesn’t go everywhere you may need. However, there are buses that run frequently although these do get busy. Taxis are also abundant and not too expensive. Kyoto also features a number of famous museums such as the Manga Museum. It is also in an excellent position to make day trips to places like cyberpunk Osaka, traditional Nara and Himeji and its famous castle.
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