Japan attracts tourists for its unusual atmosphere, excellent cuisine, historical monuments and advanced technologies. The former capital of the country – Kyoto city, is especially famous for temples, which sights are the reminder of the great imperial times.
If you would like to see all of them, a few days will not be enough, but you can check the main ones. What are Kyoto tourist attractions and main places to visit for its guests? Keep reading our first timer’s guide on best things to do in Kyoto in 2024.
You can book a tour with a local guide here .
Visit Famous Kyoto Temples
There are seventeen beautiful temples and shrines in Kyoto and each one impresses visitors with its uniqueness.
Inari Shrine
One of main Kyoto tourist attractions is temple of the abundance goddess – Inari, with 10 thousand gates, called torii, that lead to it. This is a whole temple complex, which is decorated with numerous kitsune statues. The exact date of the construction of Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is unknown, but in 965 the imperial family began to patronize it.
Pure Water Temple – Kiyomizudera
It is another tourist attraction in Kyoto. Kiyomizudera was founded in 778 and rebuilt in 1633. Being in this temple complex, you should definitely visit the beautiful veranda, which is interesting, firstly, because it was built without a single nail, and secondly, because it offers a magnificent view of the city. Also, the temple of water in Kyoto impresses with a ritual waterfall, after which it was named.
Three different springs flow there, you can drink water from each of them. Do not forget to make a wish: here they often ask for longevity, good luck, success in personal life. Before or after visiting this temple, be sure to take a walk along Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka streets. Traditional wooden houses have been converted into shops where you can buy souvenirs, visit cozy cafes and restaurants.
Kinkaku-ji
Also known as the Golden Temple of Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji is a pavilion built for one of the shoguns who lost interest in life and retired from the world to contemplate the beautiful and clean lake. His dwelling was built on the shore of the lake, covered with sheets of pure gold. Today, it keeps the relics of the Buddha and shows tourists the painting that adorns the interior halls of the building.
Yasaka Shrine
Literally within walking distance of Kiyomizudera, this is one of the most frequently visited Shinto shrines. It is famous for the Gion Matsuri summer festival which takes place every year in July.
Near the temple there is a park called Maruyama, which is very popular during cherry blossom season. If your trip to Kyoto falls on March-April, then be sure to look here.
Nijo Castle
It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is famous for its beautiful gardens, the palace also has “nightingale floors”. This is a kind of alarm that alerted the owner of the castle about approaching thieves or murderers. The nails were hammered into the floor in a special way, when they were stepped on, the floors began to make sounds similar to the chirping of birds.
Zen Rock Garden and bamboo forest
Among popular Kyoto tourist attractions is the Zen rock garden, located on the territory of the Ryoanji Temple. It has a hypnotic effect: contemplation of stones of bizarre shapes, shades and sizes distracts from unnecessary thoughts, allowing you to think about the higher, find peace of mind.
Which is not surprising: it was originally created for the meditations of the temple monks. The mysteries of this charming Kyoto landmark are revealed only through silent reflection, which today is only available immediately after the opening of the garden, when there are no tourists yet.
Sagano District
Visiting Kyoto, don’t miss Sagano district, located in the western part of the city. There, you’ll find one of the popular tourist attractions – well known bamboo forest in Japan.
It is not difficult to find it, as it is a part of Arashiyama Park. This place has gained popularity among tourists due to its incredible beauty, as well as due to the special sound that occurs as a result of the contact of the wind with slender bamboo stems.
Those who have ever been to Sagano Bamboo Forest claim that this sound is vaguely reminiscent of music and has an extremely calming effect, giving a sense of harmony.
If you want to see Kyoto from above, climb the tower of the same name. From a height of 100 meters, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city. The tower is located near Kyoto Station, so you can visit it when you arrive in the city or before you leave it.
Must-Do Things in Kyoto
- You can rent a kimono and take beautiful atmospheric photos as a keepsake. There are kimono rental shops all over Kyoto. If you are going on a trip during the high season, then be sure to take care of the rental in advance.
- Among popular Kyoto tourist attractions is Nishiki market, also called “Kyoto’s Kitchen”. It is a narrow and long street with many small restaurants. There you can taste the most popular Japanese delicacies.
- Visit the geisha area. In total, there are 5 geisha districts in Kyoto, each of them is very atmospheric. The most popular is Gion. If you are lucky, you may see a geisha with her teacher walking between the tea houses. During the cherry blossom season, the geisha district hosts a bright and memorable performance of Miyako Odori.
- Enjoy a tea ceremony. The Japanese do not just pour boiling water into a teapot with tea leaves, the traditional tea ceremony is the observance of certain rules of conduct. The ritual of proper drinking of tea will help you get closer to Japanese culture. Why not do it in Kyoto, where the tea ceremony originates from.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto
In fact, you can visit it the same time as Tokyo – almost all-year round. It is really hot here in the summer, keep this in mind while planning your trip. Comfortable weather in Kyoto comes in early April, when cherry blossoms, and at the end of November – this period is also called the time of red maples. But there are a lot of tourists during these periods.
December – February. The coldest time in Kyoto.
March – May. The ideal weather is set, the best for visiting Kyoto. Sakura begins to bloom at the end of March. The peak of flowering occurs in the first week of April. The influx of tourists is huge at this time, hotel rooms can be booked in advance. The same excitement occurs in the first week of May, when the Japanese celebrate Golden Week.
From June to August, it’s hot in Kyoto. As the temperature rises, so does the humidity level. It often rains in June and July, while August sees the highest temperatures. But there are much fewer tourists at this time.
In September – November, Kyoto is again filled with tourists, who have already come to look at the colorful fall of the leaves.
But whenever a tourist goes to Kyoto, the travel plans should definitely include the ancient Japanese capital – Nara. To get from Kyoto to Nara, you need to spend about an hour on the road if you leave from the central station by train. If you want to visit several Japanese cities during your trip, you may want to purchase a JR Pass.
Where to stay in Kyoto
The best idea is to find a hotel in the center of Kyoto or in the Higashiyama area. Many bars, restaurants and tourist attractions are within walking distance. Metro lines also pass here, so there will be no problems with movement.
Another option for accommodation is next to Kyoto Station. Kyoto Station is the city’s main transportation artery. From here it will be convenient to organize transportation not only within the city, but also in other parts of Japan.
The Higashiyama area is located along the Kamo River. It is divided into north and south, where the most popular attractions such as Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Shrine, and Ninnen-zaka / Sannen-zaka streets are located here. Both the northern and southern parts of Higashiyama are ideal for exploring Kyoto, but stay closer to the Gion area if possible.
Arashiyama. Surely you have seen photos on social networks on the background of a bamboo grove more than once. This area is located away from the central part of Kyoto, but here you can feel the closeness to nature and tranquility. There are several bizarre shops and temples here.
