Neighbourhood · Kyoto

Imperial Palace and Demachiyanagi: what to see and do

京都御所・出町柳

The streets east of Kyoto Gyoen park up to Demachiyanagi, where the Kamo and Takano rivers meet. It suits travellers who want quiet, green surroundings with subway and Keihan access.

12 places Jingu-Marutamachi, 10 min walkMarutamachi, 15 min walk 25 min to Kyoto Station

Old pine trees leaning over the pond in the Sento Imperial Palace garden
Sento Imperial Palace · Photo: CH L / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Your dates

Sights

  1. Landmark

    Kyoto Imperial Palace 京都御所

    The residence of the imperial family until 1868, set inside Kyoto Gyoen park.

    Imadegawa (Karasuma Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 1 h

  2. Shrine

    Shimogamo Shrine 下鴨神社

    One of Kyoto's oldest shrines and part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, at the junction of the Kamo and Takano rivers.

    Demachiyanagi (Keihan Oto Line, Eizan Main Line), 15 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  3. Nature

    Kyoto Gyoen National Garden 京都御苑

    A park about 1300 m long and 700 m wide around the Imperial Palace and Sento Palace, with gravel paths, lawns and tree groves.

    Marutamachi (Karasuma Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  4. Garden

    Sento Imperial Palace 仙洞御所

    A secondary palace built in 1630 for retired emperors, now visited for its stroll garden around the North and South ponds.

    Marutamachi (Karasuma Line), 15 min walk · Free entry · 1 h

  5. Nature

    Kamogawa Delta 鴨川デルタ

    The point at Demachiyanagi where the Kamo and Takano rivers meet, with turtle-shaped stepping stones across both rivers.

    Demachiyanagi (Keihan Oto Line, Eizan Main Line), 2 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

  6. Garden

    Kyoto Botanical Gardens 京都府立植物園

    The prefectural botanical garden beside the Kamo river in north Kyoto, with outdoor gardens and a large conservatory.

    Kitayama (Karasuma Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 30 min

  7. Shrine

    Kamigamo Shrine 上賀茂神社（賀茂別雷神社）

    One of Kyoto's oldest shrines and part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, about 3.5 km up the Kamo river from Shimogamo Shrine.

    Kamigamo-jinja-mae bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 4), 5 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  8. Temple

    Shokoku-ji 相国寺

    A large Rinzai Zen temple north of the Imperial Palace, head of the school that also runs Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji.

    Imadegawa (Karasuma Line), 8 min walk · Free entry · 1 h

  9. Shrine

    Goo Shrine 護王神社

    A shrine on Karasuma-dori facing the west side of Kyoto Gyoen, moved here in 1886 by order of Emperor Meiji.

    Marutamachi (Karasuma Line), 11 min walk · Free entry · 15 min

Food, drink and markets

  1. Food

    Demachi Futaba 出町ふたば

    A Japanese sweets shop founded in 1899 on Demachi-dori, west of the Kamo river, known for mame-mochi: soft rice cakes studded with red peas and filled with smooth red bean paste.

    Demachiyanagi (Keihan Oto Line, Eizan Main Line), 6 min walk · Free entry · 15 min

  2. Nightlife

    Club Metro CLUB METRO

    A club and live venue in operation since 1990, entered from inside Jingu-Marutamachi Station.

    Jingu-Marutamachi (Keihan Oto Line), 1 min walk · Paid entry · 3 h

Shopping

  1. Shopping

    Demachi Masugata Shopping Street 出町桝形商店街

    A covered neighbourhood arcade of about 160 m west of the Kamo river, with fruit and vegetable shops, a supermarket and small eateries.

    Demachiyanagi (Keihan Oto Line, Eizan Main Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

Getting there

  • Jingu-Marutamachi (Keihan Oto Line), 10 min walk
  • Marutamachi (Karasuma Line), 15 min walk
  • Imadegawa (Karasuma Line), 15 min walk
  • Demachiyanagi (Keihan Oto Line, Eizan Main Line), 14 min walk
Kyoto Station
25 min
Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing
20 min
Yasaka Shrine (Gion)
20 min

Travel time (public transport)

For visitors

  • Kyoto Gyoen, the Imperial Palace and the Kamo river banks for walks and running
  • Keihan trains south to Gion-Shijo and Fushimi-Inari, and Eizan trains north to Kurama and the foot of Mount Hiei
  • Shimogamo Shrine and the Kamogawa Delta within walking distance
  • Few major sights compared with Higashiyama and downtown
  • Quiet in the evening, with limited nightlife
  • About 25 minutes to Kyoto Station

Nearby areas

Staying here

Hotels near the Imperial Palace and Demachiyanagi had a median rate of US$375 per night in the latest weekly sample. Mid-range hotels along Karasuma-dori and Kawaramachi-dori, small inns and guesthouses, machiya rentals in the residential blocks, and hostels near Demachiyanagi.

Where to stay near the Imperial Palace and Demachiyanagi: stations, pros and cons, hotel types

Prices and availability come from the booking sites and can change.

Sources · Verified 24 September 2026