New to Kyoto? Read my list of the top 10 must-see attractions in Kyoto to add to your travel itinerary. If keen to explore more of rural Japan, read my posts on Takayama, the Spring Festival and Shirakawa-go.
| TOP 10 MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS IN KYOTO, JAPAN |
| 1. Fushimi Inari Taisha |
| 2. Tenru-ji |
| 3. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove |
| 4. Arashiyama Monkey Forest |
| 5. Oi River Cruise |
| 6. Nishiki Market |
| 7. Gion District |
| 8. Philosopher’s Path |
| 9. Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) |
| 10. Nijo Castle |
Where to Stay in Kyoto
Before you get busy viewing the top 10 must-see attractions in Kyoto, your accommodation needs to be sorted out!
Where to Stay in Central Kyoto
We stayed in a lovely hotel centrally located just across the street from the Nishiki Markets, which made getting something to eat very easy! Hotel Resol Trinity is a green hotel, with the choice to opt out of daily room cleans.
Like many hotels in Japan, toiletries are supplied as well as a selection of teas and other beverages. In your room, pyjamas are provided, and the bathroom has a fog-free mirror!
Facilities include a spa, bar and restaurant. Near the hotel entrance, you’ll find a small museum dedicated to the life and work of renowned Japanese potter, artist, and writer, Kawai Kanjiro.
The hotel also hosts several cultural performances per week in the hotel foyer, such as a Geisha performance. Make sure you check out what’s on and when, so you don’t miss it.
We had a great stay at Hotel Resol Trinity Kyoto and happily recommend it for your stay in Kyoto.
Where to Stay in Kyoto for a Luxury, Traditional Experience
If you are interested in an authentic, traditional lodging experience that is also located centrally in Kyoto’s dense urban area, then a short 1 or 2-night stay at this traditional Machiya townhouse would be an unforgettable luxury experience. A stay at Guest House MICaSA is an experience in itself where you not only get to stay in a beautiful traditional townhouse but experience the hospitality of a local kimono dyer and get a peek at the operations of a traditional kimono dye house.
This machiya townhouse was constructed over a century ago but has undergone beautiful renovations. Located only a seven-minute walk from the central Kyoto train station of Karasuma Oike, it is surprisingly light on tourist traffic due to being tucked away in a narrow backstreet.
This place is gorgeous – think tatami mats, kumiko shoji screens, woodcraft using traditional joinery and a choice of beds or traditional futons. Read about the Guest House MICaSA here for more details. It is the type of Japanese stay that dreams are made of. Stunning!
For other accommodation options, click on this link to explore further.
Top 10 Must-See Attractions in Kyoto
1. Fushimi Inari Taisha – The Iconic Torii Gates
Fushimi Inari Shrine is a Shinto Shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of red torii gates, which straddle a number of walking trails leading to the forest of sacred Mount Inari. The shrine honors Inari, the Shinto God of rice. People believe that foxes are Inari’s messengers, so you can see many fox statues throughout the grounds.
Enter the Shrine beneath a giant Romon gate and appreciate the stunning Main Hall. Beyond the Hall and associated buildings lays the beginning of the hiking trail, which starts with two dense, parallel rows of torii gates. The torii gates are donations by individuals and companies, with the donator’s name inscribed on the back of each gate.
The entire trail to the summit of Mount Inari takes about 2-3 hours. If like us, you don’t have time to do the entire trail, you can walk part of the way and return down the other parallel trail.
Tourists often crowd the shrine, making it far from the peaceful, meditative experience it was intended to be. However, if you time your visit for early morning or late afternoon/early evening, like we did, you avoid the tour buses, and the experience will be quite lovely.
How to get to Fushimi Inari Taisha
Japan excels at train travel, and you can easily reach Fushimi Inari Shrine by train from Kyoto Station. A quick 5-minute train ride to JR Inari Station will get you there.
2. Tenryu-ji – World Heritage Zen Temple
This Kyoto attraction as well as the following three attractions are all located close together in the Arashiyama area. It makes sense then, to visit them all in the same day. I recommend starting at the Tenyru-ji Temple first, as the Bamboo Grove is attached to it, and you might avoid the huge crowds if you arrive early.
Tenryu-ji was first established in 1339 by the shogun Ashikaga Takauji. Over the centuries, it has gone through many cycles of destruction by fire followed by rebuilding, until it’s final rebuild in the late 19th century to its present form.
The temple complex consists of the Hatto (once a meditation hall now a ceremonial hall), the temple living quarters, the Hojo a large building made up of two sections mainly used for ceremonial events. On the ceiling of the Hatto room, is a large painting of a cloud dragon and continuing with the cloud dragon theme, is a beautiful ink painting on sliding doors (fusuma) in one of the smaller meeting rooms.
There are various other buildings to explore in the temple complex, but the Sogenchi Teien (Sogen Pond Garden) was a highlight for me. The garden remains as it was designed 700 years ago, as a strolling pond garden, that can be enjoyed from various perspectives. Sit in front of the Hojo temple and admire the Zen gardens’ features such as the carp stones. Legend has it that if a carp can scale the stones up the waterfall, they will transform into a dragon.
3. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove – Natural and Other Worldly
Adjacent to the Tenryu-ji temple is the awe-inspiring Arashiyama Bamboo grove. Follow signs in the gardens of Tenryu-ji to find the entrance to the bamboo grove behind the outer buildings.
It gets busy! Timing is everything here if you want to experience the serenity of the place as it was intended. When we went, crowds poured onto the path weaving through the towering bamboo groves. It was impossible to hear the bamboo singing in the swaying breeze or feel a sense of peace as we walked beneath their canopy.
I suggest going early in the morning or late afternoon. It’s tricky I know, as there are only so many hours in the day. Some things just have to be done in the middle of the day.
I found the bamboo grove smaller than expected, and you can complete the walk in a short amount of time. There is a villa at the top of the Grove that offers wonderful views of Kyoto. We skipped walking to Okochi-Sanso Villa, which charges an entrance fee but is reportedly less crowded than the grove.
In a fenced-off restricted section of the Bamboo Grove, you often see rickshaw drivers carrying passengers dressed in traditional Japanese costumes, ready to have their photos taken with the iconic green background.
Combination private Rickshaw ride and Immersive Dining Experience
For a truly special experience you can combine a private rickshaw tour of Arashiyama, with a special, one-of-a-kind meal savoring the delights of Kappo cuisine at Arashiyama Kumahiko, a traditional Kyoto-style restaurant near the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge.
Experience Japanese food culture as the chef skillfully prepares your dishes right before your eyes. Begin with a special sake known as Kumahiko, crafted specifically for the restaurant. Learn all about the local and seasonal ingredients that are used in preparing the dishes you are about to enjoy, by engaging in conversations with the chef as he prepares your meal according to your preferences! Finish with a special dessert designed specifically for Kumahiko.
Images supplied by Wabunka
For an unforgettable dining experience and to read more details about it, click on the link here.
4. Arashiyama Monkey Forest – Wildlife Park
Crossing the bridge over the Oi River will bring you to the entrance of the Iwatayama Monkey Park, sometimes called the Arashiyama monkey forest. It is a bit of a hike up the hill to get to the monkeys though, so wear some comfy walking shoes.
As you slowly make your ascent, there are signs along the way instructing you on how to interact with the monkeys safely. Warnings to not stare at the monkeys or not to touch the monkeys, builds the anticipation and the excitement for when we finally get to meet them. I say finally, because it seemed like the hike up the hill would never end! Luckily it is downhill on the way back. 😁
When you reach the top, you can enjoy fantastic views of Kyoto and watch Japanese Macaque monkeys (or snow monkeys) roaming freely in their natural habitat. You have the option to feed the monkeys or simply observe them.
I have visited several monkey parks/forests in other countries where the monkeys are aggressive and will steal phones, jewelry or whatever they can get their hands on. The monkeys here appeared passive and mostly ignored the guests, so you don’t need to worry about being accosted by rogue monkeys!
5. Oi River Cruise, Arashiyama – Natural Serenity
There are several ways you can book one of the Oi River cruises. Tour operators like Viator and Get Your Guide offer several options, or if you prefer flexibility, you can stroll down to the booking booth by the river and book the next available boat when you’re ready.
The cruise starts in Arashiyama, climb aboard a traditional Yakatabune boat, a wooden boat steered by an oarsman for a private cruise. Yakata-bune is an old-fashioned popular style of boat. This was the luxurious way for princes and princesses to indulge themselves. Glide over the gentle waves of the Oi River, while admiring the landscapes of Arashiyama.
During the cruise, you’ll see trees and plants in all their seasonal glory: the vibrant colours of Japanese maples in autumn, the snow in winter, the pink petals of the cherry blossom trees in spring, and the lush greenery in summer.
Dinner cruises are on offer, or you can opt for just the cruise. During our cruise, a vendor pulled up alongside us with beverages and snacks for sale, so no-one went hungry.
A Very Special Oi River Cruising Experience
Looking to step up your Oi River cruising experience into something really special? My friends at Wabunka offer this unforgettable houseboat experience. Drift along the Oi River on a traditional houseboat, accompanied by the graceful sound of the shinobue (bamboo flute), played by renowned Japanese flutist, Kazayu Sato. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, drifting down the Oi river as aristocrats did a thousand years ago.
Arashiyama Kimono Forest – the other ‘forest’ in Arashiyama
If you plan to catch the train to or from Arashiyama, make sure you check out the Kimono Forest, located at Arashiyama station on the Keifuku Arashiyama line. It is a vibrant art installation featuring 600 pillars wrapped in traditional kimono fabric. They illuminate the pillars at night, making it a mystical sight.
6. Nishiki Market – A Culinary Adventure
Literally across the street from our hotel – Hotel Resol – is the fantastic 400year-old, undercover, Nishiki Markets. There is one long main, undercover street to wander along which offers a variety of food to taste, sake to try and souvenirs to purchase. The aroma that fills the air is divine!
If you’re like me, you’ll will find yourself coming back here again and again to try different foods. The whole market area is a shopping precinct, so make sure you explore what’s on offer in the surrounding malls and streets as well.
7. Gion District – Geisha Culture and Tea Houses
I watched Memoir of a Geisha on the plane over to Japan, which got me all excited to see this district of Kyoto.
Gion is Kyoto’s most famous geisha district. It is filled with shops, restaurants and teahouses, where geisha and young apprentices (Maiko), entertain. You might be hoping to spot a real geisha in the area, but I didn’t see any while we were there. If you are lucky enough to see a geisha making their way to an engagement, be respectful. People consider it rude to ask for a photo or to stop them from going about their business.
If you have some cash to spend, you can attend a traditional teahouse and enjoy entertainment by a Geisha or an apprentice Geisha.
I wish so much that we had pre-booked an experience like this before we traveled to Japan. To me, the traditional tea ceremony performed by a real Geisha or Maiko (an apprentice Geisha) epitomises the Gion district in Kyoto. Although, a little expensive, it would be an unforgettable experience. Wabunka offer a such an experience in a traditional ochaya banquet house in Kamishichiken, the oldest of Kyoto’s five geisha districts. You get to watch a maiko’s (apprentice geisha) elegant dance and learn about her culture, and enjoy matcha prepared by the Maiko.
To find out more details and to book the experience click on the link here.
Images supplied by Wabunka
A more affordable option is a cultural show performed daily at Gion Corner for foreign tourists. The show introduces visitors to several traditional Japanese arts including a tea ceremony, ikebana (flower arranging) and bunraku (puppet show). A lot of hotels now offer similar shows for their guests.
Gion also attracts tourists because of its high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses. We even spotted a very traditional looking Starbucks!
As you might expect, the most popular street is very crowded, but it’s worth wandering around. Trying to get that iconic photo of the 3 tired pergola without a sea of bodies in it, is near impossible!
8. Philosopher’s Path – Springtime Cherry Blossoms
We chose to walk the Philosopher’s Path first up in the morning. I’m so glad we did, as we managed to avoid the crowds, making it a peaceful and tranquil experience. Being Spring, the hundreds of cherry blossoms that line the path were in full bloom which added to the beauty of this walk.
The Philosopher’s Path is a serene 2 kilometre path that follows along the Lake Biwa canal. It is named after the philosopher, Nishida Kitaro, who is said to have meditated here during his walks to Kyoto University.
The path is dotted with temples and shrines along the way, so give yourself plenty of time to fully explore it.
9. Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) – Zen and Gold
Kinkaku-ji is a Zen temple. In 1397, Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of Ashikaga Shogunate, built the Kitayama palace centred around the golden Kinkaku. When it was founded, it was the centre of politics and culture and was used to welcome the Emperors of Japan and their trading partners from China.
After the shogun passed away the temple became designated as a special historic site and registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1994.
When I visited it was a wet miserable day, but even on a dull day, the golden pavilion is dazzling! The top two floors are covered entirely in gold leaf. Perched atop is a golden Phoenix. On a clear day the temple reflects beautifully in the surrounding pond.
The temple complex is surrounded by beautiful gardens that are lovely to stroll through. As with most of Kyoto’s top attractions, crowds are aplenty. Apart from the viewing area of the Golden Pavilion, where tourists are stopping to take photos, the crowds seem to move along steadily (maybe that’s because they were getting rained on?!).
10. Nijo Castle – Shogun History and Architecture
Nijo-jo Castle has witnessed some of the most important events in Japanese history since it was built in 1603, by the first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
The castle has served as the residence of the Shogun when in Kyoto. It has been the garrison for samurai guards, and it was here in 1867 that the 15th Shogun announced the end of Tokugawa rule – the last Shogun. Political control of Japan was to be returned to the emperor, ushering in the Meiji Period. Feudal society ended and modern Japan was born.
Nijo Castle can be divided into three areas: the Honmaru (main circle of defense), the Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense) and some gardens around them. The entire castle grounds and the Honmaru are surrounded by stone walls and moats.
Enter the castle grounds through the main gate, then enter the Ninomaru through the stunning Chinese-style Karamon Gate. The castle’s main attraction, the Ninomaru Palace is located here.
The palace consists of multiple separate buildings that are connected with each other by corridors with nightingale floors, so named as they squeak when stepped upon, alerting residents of intruders. The palace rooms are covered with tatami mats and feature decorated ceilings and beautifully painted sliding doors (no photos allowed inside).
If you are looking for more ideas on things to do in Kyoto, here are some more activity ideas that might be of interest to you. Click on this link to read more.
Day Trip to Osaka
If you are travelling with children and have time to explore a little further afield, a trip by train down to Osaka to visit one of the theme parks is a great day out. Friends in our group opted to do this on one of our days in Kyoto and spent the day at Universal Studios. They pre-booked to skip the line on the rides and from all reports they were glad they did!
We were only in Kyoto for 3 nights, so only had time to visit these top 10 must-see attractions while we were there. I’m sure Kyoto has other treasures to offer, which seems to me, a perfectly valid excuse to return to Kyoto in the not-too-distant future!
This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Kyoto.
Deb Morrow is a wife and mum of two in her 50’s, who works in education. She has a passion for travel and through sharing her travel experiences, tips and recommendations, wants to encourage other women her age to start making time for themselves, grab their besties, and go see the world!
