Neighbourhood · Kyoto

Kyoto Station area: what to see and do

京都駅周辺

The blocks around Kyoto Station, the city's main rail and bus hub, from Higashi Hongan-ji in the north to To-ji in the south. It suits first-time visitors on short stays, travellers doing day trips to Nara, Osaka or Hiroshima, and anyone arriving with heavy luggage.

14 places Kyoto, 3 min walkGojo, 14 min walk 5 min to Kyoto Station

The glass and steel facade of Kyoto Station seen from the plaza in front
Kyoto Station Building · Photo: Sjaak Kempe / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Your dates

Sights

  1. Temple

    To-ji 東寺

    Founded at the start of the Heian period as one of two guardian temples at the capital's south entrance, To-ji is part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.

    Toji (Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 6 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

  2. Landmark

    Kyoto Station Building 京都駅ビル

    The station building opened in 1997 for the 1200th anniversary of Kyoto's founding and was designed by architect Hara Hiroshi.

    Kyoto (JR lines, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 1 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  3. Viewpoint

    Kyoto Tower 京都タワー

    A 131 m tower completed in 1964, standing across the road from the north (Karasuma) exit of Kyoto Station.

    Kyoto (JR lines, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 2 min walk · Paid entry · 45 min

  4. Temple

    Nishi Hongan-ji 西本願寺

    Head temple of the Honganji branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, built in 1591 under Toyotomi Hideyoshi and part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.

    Kyoto (JR lines, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 15 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  5. Temple

    Higashi Hongan-ji 東本願寺

    Head temple of the Otani branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, founded a few blocks east of Nishi Hongan-ji in 1602.

    Kyoto (JR lines, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 8 min walk · Free entry · 40 min

  6. Garden

    Shosei-en Garden 渉成園

    A detached garden of Higashi Hongan-ji, a few blocks east of the main temple, with a pond, bridges and teahouses laid out around a stroll path.

    Kyoto (JR lines, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 10 min walk · Paid entry · 40 min

  7. Museum

    Kyoto Railway Museum 京都鉄道博物館

    Opened by JR West in 2016, the museum displays over 50 retired trains from steam locomotives to shinkansen across three floors, plus a working roundhouse from 1914.

    Umekoji-Kyotonishi (JR Sagano Line), 3 min walk · Paid entry · 2 h 30 min

  8. Museum

    Kyoto Aquarium 京都水族館

    An aquarium opened in 2012 in Umekoji Park, about 1 km west of Kyoto Station.

    Umekoji-Kyotonishi (JR Sagano Line), 7 min walk · Paid entry · 2 h

  9. Nature

    Umekoji Park 梅小路公園

    A 13.7 ha city park west of Kyoto Station with lawns and a children's play area, and the Kyoto Railway Museum and Kyoto Aquarium at its edges.

    Umekoji-Kyotonishi (JR Sagano Line), 3 min walk · Free entry · 1 h

Food, drink and markets

  1. Food

    Kyoto Ramen Koji 京都拉麺小路

    A corridor of ramen shops on the 10th floor of the Kyoto Station building, south of the grand stairway, with shops serving regional styles of ramen from around Japan.

    Kyoto (JR lines, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  2. Market

    To-ji Kobo-ichi Flea Market 弘法市

    A monthly market on the 21st in the grounds around To-ji, with stalls selling second-hand kimono, antiques, pottery, tools, plants and street food.

    Toji (Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 1 h 30 min

  3. Food

    Shinpuku Saikan (main shop) 新福菜館 本店

    A ramen shop that began as a street stall in 1938 and stands on Takakura-dori a few minutes east of Kyoto Station.

    Kyoto (JR lines, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 4 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

  4. Food

    Honke Daiichi Asahi (Takabashi main shop) 本家第一旭 たかばし本店

    A long-established Kyoto ramen shop at the Takabashi corner east of Kyoto Station, serving soy sauce ramen with sliced pork.

    Kyoto (JR lines, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 4 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

Shopping

  1. Shopping

    Kyoto Tower Sando 京都タワーサンド

    A shopping and food complex that opened in April 2017 on the lower three floors of the Kyoto Tower building, facing Kyoto Station.

    Kyoto (JR lines, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 2 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

Getting there

  • Kyoto (Tokaido Shinkansen, JR Kyoto Line, JR Sagano Line, JR Nara Line, Karasuma Line, Kintetsu Kyoto Line), 3 min walk
  • Gojo (Karasuma Line), 14 min walk
Kyoto Station
5 min
Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing
20 min
Yasaka Shrine (Gion)
25 min

Travel time (public transport)

For visitors

  • Direct trains to Kansai Airport, Osaka, Nara and the Shinkansen, plus the main city bus terminal
  • The largest concentration of hotels in the city, from hostels to full-service hotels
  • Shops, department stores and restaurants inside and around the station, open into the evening
  • Walking distance to Higashi Hongan-ji, Nishi Hongan-ji, To-ji, Kyoto Tower and Umekoji Park
  • Less traditional atmosphere than the city centre or Higashiyama
  • Downtown and Gion are a subway or bus ride away rather than a walk
  • Buses from the station terminal to major sights are often crowded

Nearby areas

Staying here

Hotels around Kyoto Station had a median rate of US$293 per night in the latest weekly sample. Full-service hotels next to and facing the station, many chain and business hotels, capsule hotels and hostels, and a few family-run ryokan in the blocks around Higashi Hongan-ji.

Where to stay around Kyoto Station: stations, pros and cons, hotel types

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

Sources · Verified 24 September 2026