Kyoto on a rainy day

Museums, covered arcades and halls that stay dry when it rains. 70 places, the most featured first.

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  1. Landmark · Nijo Castle

    Nijo Castle 二条城

    Built from 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu and part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.

    Nijojo-mae (Tozai Line), 3 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 30 min

  2. Market · Kawaramachi

    Nishiki Market 錦市場

    A narrow covered street five blocks long, one block north of Shijo-dori, lined with more than a hundred food shops and stalls selling pickles, fish, sweets, tofu and kitchen knives.

    Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 1 h

  3. Temple · Kiyomizu-Gojo

    Sanjusangen-do 三十三間堂

    The popular name of Rengeo-in, founded in 1164.

    Shichijo (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 40 min

  4. Temple · Kyoto Station

    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

  5. Landmark · Kyoto Station

    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

  6. Food · Kyoto Station

    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

  7. Viewpoint · Kyoto Station

    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

  8. Temple · Kyoto Station

    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

  9. Temple · Kyoto Station

    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

  10. Museum · Kyoto Station

    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

  11. Museum · Kyoto Station

    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

  12. Museum · Shijo-Karasuma

    Kyoto International Manga Museum 京都国際マンガミュージアム

    Opened in 2006 in a former elementary school, the museum's walls are lined with shelves of manga that visitors can take down and read.

    Karasuma Oike (Karasuma Line, Tozai Line), 2 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 30 min

  13. Museum · Shijo-Karasuma

    Museum of Kyoto 京都文化博物館

    A museum of Kyoto's history and culture at the corner of Sanjo and Takakura streets, with a permanent exhibition and changing special exhibitions.

    Karasuma Oike (Karasuma Line, Tozai Line), 3 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

  14. Shopping · Kawaramachi

    Teramachi and Shinkyogoku Arcades 寺町京極・新京極

    Two parallel covered shopping streets running between Shijo and Sanjo.

    Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 1 h

  15. Shrine · Kawaramachi

    Nishiki Tenmangu 錦天満宮

    A small shrine at the eastern end of Nishiki Market, facing Shinkyogoku, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning.

    Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 4 min walk · Free entry · 10 min

  16. Temple · Gion

    Kennin-ji 建仁寺

    A Zen temple at the southern end of Hanamikoji, founded by Eisai, the monk who brought Zen and tea cultivation to Japan.

    Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 7 min walk · Paid entry · 45 min

  17. Temple · Gion

    Chion-in 知恩院

    Head temple of the Jodo sect, entered through a Sanmon gate 24 m tall and 50 m wide from the early 1600s.

    Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 10 min walk · Paid entry · 45 min

  18. Landmark · Gion

    Minamiza Theatre 南座

    A kabuki theatre at the east end of Shijo bridge, founded in the early Edo period on the same site.

    Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 1 min walk · Paid entry · 30 min

  19. Museum · Kiyomizu-Gojo

    Kyoto National Museum 京都国立博物館

    Opened in 1897, one of Japan's four national museums.

    Shichijo (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 30 min

  20. Temple · Kiyomizu-Gojo

    Rokuharamitsu-ji 六波羅蜜寺

    A temple between the Kamo river and Higashiyama whose treasure hall holds Heian and Kamakura period sculpture, including the standing statue of the monk Kuya.

    Kiyomizu-Gojo (Keihan Main Line), 7 min walk · Paid entry · 30 min

  21. Museum · Okazaki

    Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art 京都市京セラ美術館

    The municipal art museum in Okazaki, facing the National Museum of Modern Art across the approach to Heian Shrine.

    Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 8 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 30 min

  22. Museum · Okazaki

    National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto 京都国立近代美術館

    A national museum of modern art and design in Okazaki, opposite the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art.

    Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 7 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 15 min

  23. Landmark · Nijo Castle

    Nijo Jinya 二条陣屋

    A former inn for feudal lords visiting Kyoto, fitted with hidden passages, trap doors and escape routes for the guests' security.

    Nijojo-mae (Tozai Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

  24. Shopping · Nijo Castle

    Sanjo-kai Shopping Street 三条会商店街

    A covered neighbourhood shopping arcade of about 800 m on Sanjo-dori between Horikawa and Senbon streets, with around 180 shops and restaurants serving local residents.

    Nijo (JR Sagano Line, Tozai Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  25. Shopping · Imperial Palace

    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

  26. Garden · Imperial Palace

    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

  27. Museum · Fushimi

    Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum 月桂冠大倉記念館

    A museum of sake making run by Gekkeikan, a brewer founded in Fushimi in 1637, housed in an old brewery building.

    Chushojima (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 45 min

  28. Landmark · Fushimi

    Teradaya 寺田屋

    A reconstruction of the inn where Sakamoto Ryoma was attacked by shogunate forces before the Meiji Restoration.

    Chushojima (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 30 min

  29. Shopping · Fushimi

    Otesuji Shopping Arcade 大手筋商店街

    A four-block covered shopping street west of Momoyama-Goryomae Station, with local shops and restaurants, including a few that sell Fushimi sake.

    Fushimi-Momoyama (Keihan Main Line), 2 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

  30. Temple · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano

    Daitoku-ji 大徳寺

    A walled Zen temple complex founded in 1319 with nearly two dozen subtemples.

    Kitaoji (Karasuma Line), 15 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 30 min

  31. Temple · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano

    Myoshin-ji 妙心寺

    A large Rinzai Zen complex with about 50 subtemples.

    Hanazono (JR Sagano Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

  32. Shopping · Kyoto Station

    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

  33. Food · Kyoto Station

    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

  34. Food · Kyoto Station

    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

  35. Cafe · Shijo-Karasuma

    Inoda Coffee (main shop) イノダコーヒ 本店

    The main shop of a Kyoto coffee company founded in 1940 as a coffee bean business, on Sakaimachi-dori just south of Sanjo.

    Karasuma Oike (Karasuma Line, Tozai Line), 8 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  36. Shopping · Shijo-Karasuma

    Daimaru Kyoto 大丸京都店

    A department store on Shijo-dori at the Karasuma crossing, with food halls on its basement floors selling Kyoto sweets, pickles, bento and prepared dishes, and restaurants on the top floor.

    Karasuma (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 1 min walk · Free entry · 1 h

  37. Museum · Shijo-Karasuma

    Kyoto Art Center 京都芸術センター

    A public arts centre in the 1931 building of the former Meirin Elementary School, which opened in 1869 and closed in 1993.

    Shijo (Karasuma Line), 6 min walk · Free entry · 40 min

  38. Shopping · Shijo-Karasuma

    Shinpuhkan 新風館

    A shopping complex built around the 1926 former Kyoto Central Telephone Office, designed by Yoshida Tetsuro, with a new wing supervised by Kengo Kuma.

    Karasuma Oike (Karasuma Line, Tozai Line), 1 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  39. Shopping · Kawaramachi

    Kyoto Takashimaya 京都高島屋

    A department store at the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing, part of the Kyoto Takashimaya S.C.

    Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 1 min walk · Free entry · 1 h

  40. Cafe · Kawaramachi

    Smart Coffee スマート珈琲店

    A coffee shop in the Teramachi arcade near Sanjo, open since 1932 and roasting its own beans.

    Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae (Tozai Line), 4 min walk · Free entry · 40 min

  41. Cafe · Kawaramachi

    Rokuyosha Coffee 六曜社珈琲店

    A coffee house on Kawaramachi-dori just south of Sanjo, founded in 1950, with two separate rooms: a ground floor cafe and a basement that turns into a bar in the evening.

    Sanjo (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 40 min

  42. Cafe · Kawaramachi

    Tsukiji coffee house 築地

    A kissaten founded in 1934 in a lane just north of the Shijo-Kawaramachi crossing, with an ornate interior designed by its first owner.

    Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 1 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

  43. Cafe · Kawaramachi

    Francois Coffee House フランソア喫茶室

    A coffee house opened in 1934 beside the Takase canal south of Shijo, with an Italian Baroque style interior modelled on the hall of an ocean liner.

    Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 2 min walk · Free entry · 40 min

  44. Shopping · Kawaramachi

    Ippodo Tea (Kyoto main store) 一保堂茶舗 京都本店

    The main store of a Japanese tea merchant whose history on Teramachi-dori goes back to 1717, selling matcha, gyokuro, sencha and hojicha.

    Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae (Tozai Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 40 min

  45. Shopping · Kawaramachi

    Kyukyodo (main store) 鳩居堂 本店

    A shop founded in 1663, originally as a pharmacy, on Teramachi-dori at Aneyakoji.

    Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae (Tozai Line), 4 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

  46. Food · Kawaramachi

    Mishima-tei (main restaurant) 三嶋亭 本店

    A sukiyaki restaurant founded in 1873 at the corner of the Teramachi arcade and Sanjo-dori, with a butcher counter at the front selling beef to take home.

    Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae (Tozai Line), 6 min walk · Free entry · 1 h 30 min

  47. Nightlife · Kawaramachi

    Taku Taku 磔磔

    A live music venue on Tominokoji-dori south of Bukkoji, in a sake storehouse built in 1917.

    Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 10 min walk · Paid entry · 2 h 30 min

  48. Cafe · Gion

    Kagizen Yoshifusa (Shijo main store) 鍵善良房 四条本店

    A wagashi maker on Shijo-dori in Gion that has been part of the district since the mid Edo period.

    Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 40 min

  49. Landmark · Gion

    Gion Corner ギオンコーナー

    A theatre in the annex of the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo on Hanamikoji that stages a short evening show of seven traditional arts, including kyomai dance by maiko, tea ceremony, ikebana, koto music, gagaku, kyogen and bunraku puppetry.

    Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

  50. Food · Gion

    Gion Izuju 祇園 いづ重

    A Kyoto-style sushi shop founded in the Meiji era at the corner facing the stone steps of Yasaka Shrine.

    Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 8 min walk · Free entry · 40 min

  51. Cafe · Gion

    Gion Tsujiri (Gion main store) 祇園辻利 祇園本店

    The Gion store of an Uji tea merchant founded in 1860, on Shijo-dori east of the Kamo river.

    Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 3 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  52. Shopping · Gion

    Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu 一澤信三郎帆布

    A maker of canvas bags on Higashioji-dori south of Sanjo, in a line of business dating from 1905.

    Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

  53. Shopping · Gion

    Furukawacho Shopping Street 古川町商店街

    A covered neighbourhood shopping street about 220 m long with around 40 shops, between Sanjo-dori and the Shirakawa canal near Higashiyama Station.

    Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 3 min walk · Free entry · 20 min

  54. Museum · Kiyomizu-Gojo

    Kawai Kanjiro's House 河井寬次郎記念館

    The house, studio and climbing kiln that the potter Kawai Kanjiro designed in 1937 and lived in for the rest of his life, near Gojozaka.

    Kiyomizu-Gojo (Keihan Main Line), 10 min walk · Paid entry · 45 min

  55. Cafe · Kiyomizu-Gojo

    Kasagiya かさぎ屋

    A sweets shop on the Ninenzaka stone steps, open since 1914, serving ohagi, zenzai and other red bean sweets.

    Kiyomizu-Gojo (Keihan Main Line), 15 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

  56. Temple · Kiyomizu-Gojo

    Chishaku-in 智積院

    The head temple of the Chizan branch of Shingon Buddhism, at the east end of Shichijo-dori.

    Shichijo (Keihan Main Line), 14 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

  57. Museum · Okazaki

    Hosomi Museum 細見美術館

    A private museum opened in 1998 on Niomon-dori in Okazaki, showing rotating exhibitions from the Hosomi family collection of Japanese art, strong in Rimpa painting and works by Ito Jakuchu.

    Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 8 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

  58. Museum · Okazaki

    Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design 京都伝統産業ミュージアム

    A museum of Kyoto's traditional crafts in the basement of the Miyako Messe exhibition hall, just south of Heian Shrine, with displays and explanations of the city's crafts from textiles to lacquer and ceramics, plus yuzen dyeing workshops and artisan demonstrations.

    Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 10 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

  59. Shopping · Okazaki

    Kyoto Handicraft Center 京都ハンディクラフトセンター

    A crafts store in two buildings on Marutamachi-dori north of Heian Shrine, open since 1967, selling Kyoto and Japanese crafts such as damascene, woodblock prints, pottery, dolls and kimono.

    Jingu-Marutamachi (Keihan Oto Line), 10 min walk · Free entry · 1 h

  60. Temple · Arashiyama

    Daikaku-ji 大覚寺

    A former villa of Emperor Saga, converted into a temple in 876 and long headed by members of the imperial family.

    Saga-Arashiyama (JR Sagano Line), 20 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

  61. Museum · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano

    Nishijin Textile Center 西陣織会館

    The showroom of the Nishijin weaving industry association at Horikawa and Imadegawa, with daily kimono shows, displays on the history of Nishijin weaving, demonstrations by artisans and a shop.

    Horikawa Imadegawa bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 9), 1 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

  62. Nightlife · Nijo Castle

    Coffee House Jittoku Coffee House 拾得

    A live music venue on Omiya-dori north of Nijo Castle, opened in 1973 in a converted sake storehouse more than a century old, with its original beams and pillars.

    Nijojo-mae (Tozai Line), 12 min walk · Paid entry · 2 h 30 min

  63. Temple · Imperial Palace

    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

  64. Nightlife · Imperial Palace

    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

  65. Food · Fushimi

    Kizakura Kappa Country キザクラカッパカントリー

    A complex run by the Fushimi sake brewer Kizakura, with the Kizakura Sakaba restaurant serving its sake and Kyoto beer brewed on site, and a free museum on sake making and on the kappa, the water creature that is the brewer's mascot.

    Chushojima (Keihan Main Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 1 h 15 min

  66. Food · Fushimi

    Torisei (main restaurant) 鳥せい 本店

    A chicken restaurant run by Yamamoto Honke, the Fushimi brewer of Shinsei sake founded in 1677, opened in 1976 inside a former sake storehouse.

    Fushimi-Momoyama (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 1 h 15 min

  67. Nightlife · Fushimi

    Fushimi Sakagura Koji 伏水酒蔵小路

    A covered food alley between the Otesuji and Nayamachi shopping streets, with a long sake bar pouring from the 18 breweries of the Fushimi Sake Brewers Association and eight small restaurants.

    Fushimi-Momoyama (Keihan Main Line), 4 min walk · Free entry · 1 h 30 min

  68. Landmark · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano

    Funaoka Onsen 船岡温泉

    A public bathhouse in Murasakino that opened in 1923 as the bath of the Funaoka-ro inn and has been a neighbourhood sento since the early Showa period.

    Senbon-Kuramaguchi bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 206), 7 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

  69. Temple · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano

    Senbon Shakado (Daiho-on-ji) 千本釈迦堂（大報恩寺）

    A temple founded in 1221 whose main hall, completed in 1227, survived the Onin War and is the oldest wooden building in the old city of Kyoto, designated a National Treasure.

    Kamishichiken bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 50), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 40 min

  70. Cafe · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano

    Sarasa Nishijin さらさ西陣

    A cafe and evening bar in the Fujinomori-yu bathhouse building of 1930, which keeps its coffered ceiling and walls of Japanese majolica tiles.

    Senbon-Kuramaguchi bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 206), 11 min walk · Free entry · 1 h

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