Landmarks in Kyoto
12 places across 8 neighbourhoods, 4 of them free to enter, the most featured first.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Landmark · Kiyomizu-Gojo
Yasaka Pagoda (Hokan-ji) 八坂の塔（法観寺）
The five-storied pagoda of Hokan-ji, the last remaining structure of the temple, rising above the lanes between Kiyomizu-dera and Yasaka Shrine.
Kiyomizu-Gojo (Keihan Main Line), 15 min walk · Paid entry · 15 min
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Landmark · Arashiyama
Togetsukyo Bridge 渡月橋
Arashiyama's central landmark over the Katsura river, first built in the Heian period and last reconstructed in the 1930s, with forested mountains behind.
Arashiyama (Keifuku Arashiyama Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 20 min
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Landmark · Arashiyama
Sagano Scenic Railway 嵯峨野観光鉄道
A sightseeing train running 7 km from Torokko Saga Station, next to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, to Torokko Kameoka along the Hozu river gorge in about 25 minutes.
Saga-Arashiyama (JR Sagano Line), 1 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 30 min
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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
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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
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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
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Landmark · Arashiyama
Kimono Forest キモノフォレスト
An installation of about 600 clear pillars wrapped in Kyo-yuzen dyed kimono fabric, set up in 2013 around the platforms and paths of the Randen Arashiyama Station.
Arashiyama (Keifuku Arashiyama Line), 1 min walk · Free entry · 15 min
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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
Other categories
More by season and situation
- 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.