An expert guide to help you experience the best of Kyoto
Images credited to Ollie Ronin are protected under copyright law, all other images fall under the CC license
Overview
Kyoto is well-known as the ancient capital of Japan, with a rich history full of interesting stories, thousand-year-old temples, and charming traditional streets. It's the birthplace of many famous Japanese cultural aspects such as geisha, matcha, the kimono. It was the capital city for 1000 years, with so much of Japanese history centred around Kyoto and the surrounding areas. There are over 1600 Buddhist temples and over 400 Shinto shrines, so it can be quite challenging to decide where to go and what to see during your short time here, so we've developed this list to make everything easier.
Table of Contents
FAQ
The Top Ten Things To Do In Kyoto
Sunrise at Fushimi Inari
Sunrise at Kiyomizudera
Explore the Traditional Streets of Higashiyama
Visit the Nintendo Museum
Walk along the Philosopher's Path
Drinks & Dinner in Pontocho Alley
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days should you spend in Kyoto?
The answer to this question is of course a little subjective, it depends on how much you love Japanese history, how much you love art and culture, and how long you have for your entire trip to Japan, but generally speaking you should spend a minimum of 3 days in Kyoto. Most travellers say they wish they had spent more time in Kyoto as there's so much to see and do, and it's such a charming city. It also serves as a good base for day trips to Nara and Osaka, especially if you want to avoid changing hotels every few days. On the other hand, it's a common complaint for people to get bored with all the temples and shrines and miss the bustling energy and nightlife of a big city. Another factor is the time of year, the aesthetics of Kyoto will be a lot less appealing in winter and a lot more charming in spring and autumn, so consider all of these aspects when planning your trip.
Where are the best areas to stay in Kyoto?
The best areas to stay in Kyoto are downtown, Gion, and Higashiyama. These areas provide the best combination of convenience, atmosphere, and easy access to attractions. We've published articles ranking accommodation in those 3 areas based on our expert knowledge and thousands of customer reviews, you can check them out below.
Is it worth going to the super busy attractions?
This one is also a little subjective, but in many cases the answer is yes, although it depends. For example, with Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and Kiyomizudera, the answer is absolutely yes! They are truly unique and amazing places to visit, offering a wonderful experience even with large crowds of people. They also have opening hours that make it possible to reduce the crowds, which is a huge bonus. Some attractions, such as the Golden Temple, are more debated among fellow travellers. Some people think it's totally worth it, but many claim it's overrated compared to Fushimi Inari or Kiyomizudera.
How do you escape the crowds?
Escaping the crowds is certainly possible, and quite easy if you know where to look and how to time things. Much of it depends on the season, for example, the philosopher's path only becomes super busy during the cherry blossom season, but it's a lovely place to visit during summer and autumn. Or Eikando, which is an amazing temple, only becomes super busy during autumn, but it's well worth a visit throughout the year. For the other popular destinations, the number one rule is to arrive as early as possible, usually before 6am. This is easy with Fushimi Inari, the Bamboo Forest, and Kiyomizudera Temple, but other attractions which aren't open until 9am such as the Golden Temple, are going to be busy no matter what time you go.
Is it worth getting a tour guide in Kyoto?
Kyoto is truly an incredible city filled with many hidden temples, amazing restaurants, and interesting stories. If you want to maximise your time here, get away from the tourists, and gain a deeper understanding of the various attractions, then a tour guide is the best option.
The 10 Best Things To Do In Kyoto
1. Fushimi Inari Shrine
Fushimi Inari receives more visitors than any other attraction in Japan, and it's easy to see why. This massive grand shrine (Taisha) occupies an entire mountain, contains over 10,000 torii gates, and features numerous pathways that meander around the mountainside. The large number of visitors are mostly concentrated in the main shrine area near the entrance, which takes about 30 minutes to explore. The remaining visitors continue hiking to the viewpoint - taking an additional 40 minutes to hike, which is highly recommended not for the viewpoint (it's a little underwhelming) but simply to experience less people. It's an easy hike consisting of pavement, steps, and picturesque torii gates. Once at the viewpoint, you have the option to continue hiking around the mountain, which is a great way to really escape the crowds and experience the true atmosphere that Fushimi Inari offers. The best experience comes from arriving at sunrise, it's completely different when it's not covered in hoards of tourists and is well worth sacrificing some sleep.
You can read a comprehensive guide on our dedicated page here: Fushimi Inari
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
Average Time: 30 mins - 2 hours
2. The Temples & Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama
Arashiyama is a famous area in western Kyoto situated along a gorgeous river and is well-known for its bamboo forest and ancient temples. The bamboo forest is completely natural and features a narrow path that runs through the forest for about 300 meters. The main photogenic area is only about 100 meters, so it becomes very crowded, but arriving in the early morning can help reduce the crowds and provide a more peaceful experience. There is so much more to Arashiyama than just the bamboo forest, and it's worth a full day to explore, with beautiful temples, lovely cafes, restaurants, a monkey park, and the Hozu river.
You can read a comprehensive guide on our dedicated page here: Arashiyama
The Temples & Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
Average Time: 2 - 8 hours
3. Kiyomizudera Temple
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Kiyomizudera is a stunning temple located on the mountainside of eastern Kyoto, in a district known as Higashiyama. It's surrounded by historically preserved streets and traditional buildings which provide an authentic Japanese atmosphere. The temple grounds are quite large, featuring 2 pagodas, a large terrace, and a beautiful garden. It's popular year-round and includes both cherry blossom and maple trees. Although it gets extremely busy, it also opens at 6am which is the perfect way to avoid the crowds.
You can read a comprehensive guide on our dedicated page here: Kiyomizudera
Kiyomizudera Temple
Opening Hours: 6am - 6pm
Cost: ¥500 per person
Average Time: 40 mins
4. Explore Higashiyama
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Perfectly combined with Kiyomizudera temple, the Higashiyama district is an amazing place to explore. You can spend a couple of hours walking among the traditionally preserved streets and finding ancient pagodas, shrines, numerous temples, street food, souvenir shops, and lovely cafes. This area does get very crowded, but it's still worth the visit. It's only crowded during the daytime, so if you arrive in the early morning or go there in the evening, you'll find quiet and peaceful streets perfect for photos or just having a nice walk after dinner.
You can read a comprehensive guide on our dedicated page here: Higashiyama
Explore Higashiyama
Business Hours: 9am - 6pm
Cost: Free to explore
Average Time: 2-4 hours
5. Visit the Nintendo Museum
The newly opened Nintendo Museum is the perfect way to add variety to sightseeing in Kyoto, offering a much-needed break from all the temples and shrines. It's a fun and engaging experience for all ages, with a wide range of interactive exhibits, games, memorabilia, and a fun cafe/restaurant. They also have an exclusive gift shop where you can find Nintendo Merchandise that isn't available anywhere else in the world.
You can read a comprehensive guide on our dedicated page here: The Nintendo Museum
The Nintendo Museum
Opening Hours: 6am - 6pm
Cost: ¥3300 per person
Average Time: 2-3 hours
6. Walk along the Philosopher's Path
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
The Philosopher's Path is a stunning 1.5km stone path located in north-eastern Kyoto. It's most famous for the hundreds of cherry trees that decorate the path, creating a dreamy atmosphere that usually occurs around the 1st week of April. But it's also beautiful during summer and autumn - summer brings lush green foliage and autumn brings some early autumn leaves. The path is only a 5-minute walk to the beautiful Silver Pavilion temple (Ginkakuji), and the street that leads to the temple is lined with small shops, cafes, and street food vendors.
You can read a comprehensive guide on our dedicated page here: The Philosopher's Path
The Philosopher's Path
Opening Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
Average Time: 30 mins - 2 hours
7. Drinks & Dinner in Pontocho Alley
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Pontocho Alley is one of the most beautiful streets in Japan. It's a narrow alleyway that contains a variety of traditional restaurants, many Japanese bars known as izakayas, and of course some charming tourist-friendly venues. Even if you don't stay for drinks or dinner, it's a lovely place for an evening walk to experience the unique and traditional atmosphere of Kyoto.
You can read a comprehensive guide on our dedicated page here: Pontocho Alley
Pontocho Alley
Business Hours: 5pm - late
Cost: ¥2000 - ¥10,000
Average Time: 1-2 hours
8. Visit Eikando Temple
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Eikando Temple is an amazing temple complex located about 10 minutes walk south of the Philosopher's Path. It's an architectural marvel famous for its "reclining dragon" staircase and two-story pagoda. It becomes very popular and busy during the autumn leaf season, but this coincides with a restriction preventing access to the staircase, so it's a more fulfilling experience from late spring to early autumn, with lush green foliage, warm summer rain, and a peaceful atmosphere without many people.
You can read a comprehensive guide on our dedicated page here: Eikando Temple
Eikando Temple
Opening Hours: 9am - 4pm
Cost: ¥600
Average Time: 30 mins
9. Uji Matcha & Byodo-in Temple
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Uji is a small city located just 30 minutes south-east of Kyoto and famous for being the birthplace of matcha tea. It's a wonderful place to walk around and features a number of old tea shops, cafes, restaurants, and temples. Some of the tea shops offer a matcha making experience that teaches you how to grind and prepare your own matcha tea. The most famous temple in Uji is Byodo-in Temple, which features on the 10 yen coin and also includes an interesting museum.
You can read a comprehensive guide on our dedicated page here: Byodo-in Temple
Uji and Byodoin Temple
Opening Hours: 8:30am - 5:30pm
Cost: ¥700
Average Time: 1-2 hours
10. Visit The Golden Temple
One of the most famous temples in Japan and the final item on our list is of course, the Golden Temple, known in Japanese as Kinkakuji. The temple achieves this visually striking display thanks to its pure gold leaf, which completely covers the second and third floors. Although you can't enter the building, the pathway lets you get within a few meters of the temple so you get to see the architecture and gold leaf up close. There's no way to avoid the crowds with this one, although it tends to be less busy during winter.
You can read a comprehensive guide on our dedicated page here: The Golden Temple
The Golden Temple
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm
Cost: ¥500
Average Time: 30 mins
