Things to do in Kyoto

Featured order: how consistently and how prominently the cited sources feature each sight. An order, not a score. About and methodology

1. 1

   Shrine · Fushimi

   Fushimi Inari Taisha 伏見稲荷大社

   The head shrine of Inari, the Shinto deity of rice, known for thousands of vermilion torii gates over trails climbing Mount Inari (233 m).

   Inari (JR Nara Line), 1 min walk · Free entry · 2 h

   
2. 2

   Temple · Kiyomizu-Gojo

   Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺

   Founded in 780 on the Otowa waterfall in the eastern hills and part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.

   Kiyomizu-Gojo (Keihan Main Line), 20 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

   
3. 3

   Temple · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano

   Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) 金閣寺（鹿苑寺）

   Formally Rokuon-ji, the former retirement villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, whose top two floors are covered in gold leaf.

   Kinkakuji-michi bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 204, 205), 7 min walk · Paid entry · 40 min

   
4. 4

   Nature · Arashiyama

   Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 嵯峨野竹林の小径

   Paths through dense bamboo groves between Tenryu-ji's north gate and Okochi Sanso, in the Sagano area of Arashiyama.

   Arashiyama (Keifuku Arashiyama Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

   
5. 5

   Street · Gion

   Hanamikoji-dori 花見小路通

   The main street of the Gion geisha district, running south from Shijo-dori to Kennin-ji.

   Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 30 min

   
6. 6

   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

   
7. 7

   Temple · Okazaki

   Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) 銀閣寺（慈照寺）

   Built in 1482 as the retirement villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa and converted into a Zen temple after his death.

   Ginkakuji-michi bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 5, 17), 10 min walk · Paid entry · 45 min

   
8. 8

   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

   
9. 9

   Street · Okazaki

   Philosopher's Path 哲学の道

   A stone path of about 2 km along a canal of the Lake Biwa Canal system, between Ginkaku-ji and the Nanzen-ji area.

   Ginkakuji-michi bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 5, 17), 8 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

10. 10

    Temple · Arashiyama

    Tenryu-ji 天龍寺

    Founded in 1339 by shogun Ashikaga Takauji and ranked first among Kyoto's five great Zen temples.

    Arashiyama (Keifuku Arashiyama Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

    
11. 11

    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

    
12. 12

    Shrine · Gion

    Yasaka Shrine 八坂神社

    Founded more than 1350 years ago at the east end of Shijo-dori, between Gion and the Higashiyama district.

    Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 20 min

    
13. 13

    Temple · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano

    Ryoan-ji 龍安寺

    A Zen temple converted from an aristocrat's villa in 1450, known for its rock garden of 15 rocks set in raked pebbles, viewed from the Hojo.

    Ryoanji (Keifuku Kitano Line), 10 min walk · Paid entry · 45 min

    
14. 14

    Temple · Okazaki

    Nanzen-ji 南禅寺

    Head temple of one of the schools of Rinzai Zen, at the foot of the Higashiyama hills.

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

    
15. 15

    Landmark · Imperial Palace

    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

16. 16

    Shrine · Okazaki

    Heian Shrine 平安神宮

    Built in 1895 for the 1100th anniversary of the capital's founding, with main buildings modelled on a reduced-scale Heian period palace and a large torii gate on the approach.

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

    
17. 17

    Street · Kiyomizu-Gojo

    Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka 産寧坂・二寧坂

    Two stepped, stone-paved lanes on the approach to Kiyomizu-dera, lined with preserved wooden shops, cafes and restaurants.

    Kiyomizu-Gojo (Keihan Main Line), 15 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

    
18. 18

    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

    
19. 19

    Temple · Fushimi

    Tofuku-ji 東福寺

    A large Rinzai Zen temple founded in 1236 and known for its autumn colours seen from the covered Tsutenkyo bridge.

    Tofukuji (JR Nara Line, Keihan Main Line), 10 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h

    
20. 20

    Street · Kawaramachi

    Pontocho 先斗町

    A narrow alley running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori one block west of the Kamo river, packed with restaurants and bars from inexpensive yakitori to exclusive traditional dining.

    Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 3 min walk · Free entry · 45 min

21. 21

    Street · Gion

    Gion Shirakawa 祇園白川

    A stretch of the Shirakawa canal north of Shijo-dori, lined with willows, restaurants and ochaya, around the small Tatsumi bridge.

    Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 20 min

    
22. 22

    Temple · Gion

    Kodai-ji 高台寺

    A Rinzai Zen temple founded in the early 1600s by Nene in memory of her husband Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

    Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 15 min walk · Paid entry · 45 min

    
23. 23

    Temple · Okazaki

    Eikan-do (Zenrin-ji) 永観堂

    A Jodo sect temple north of Nanzen-ji known for its autumn colours, its hillside Tahoto pagoda and a statue of the Amida Buddha with his head turned to the side.

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

24. 24

    Shrine · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano

    Kitano Tenmangu 北野天満宮

    A shrine to Sugawara no Michizane, revered as the deity of learning, with a grove of nearly 2000 plum trees that bloom from February to March.

    Kitano-Hakubaicho (Keifuku Kitano Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 40 min

    
25. 25

    Shrine · Imperial Palace

    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

    

• Free things to do in Kyoto 58 places

  Places with free entry, from temple grounds and shrines to markets and riverside walks.

• Kyoto on a rainy day 70 places

  Museums, covered arcades and halls that stay dry when it rains.

• Kyoto early in the morning 28 places

  Places at their best early, at opening time or before the day crowds.

• Kyoto at night 30 places

  Places to go after dark: lit streets, shrines open at night and evening views.

• Autumn leaves in Kyoto 23 places

  Places known for their autumn colour.

• Cherry blossoms in Kyoto 17 places

  Places known for their cherry blossom.

• Kyoto with kids 21 places

  Places that work well with children.