Destination
Type of Activity
Editors Pick
Read MoreArashiyama Area
The gateway to Kyoto’s lush western hills, famous for forested mountains and bamboo grooves, this area is 20-minutes by car from the city center and worthy of a day trip. It can be packed with tourists from all over Japan,...
Read MoreDaitoku-ji Temple
This extensive temple complex houses twenty-four sub-temples, eight of which are open to the public. If you are interested in Zen culture, this is a place to visit. Ryosen-in holds early morning zazen (Zen meditation sittings). Also, don’t miss the...
Read MoreFushimi-Inari-Hike
Active types will enjoy this hike, which starts at Inari Station and leads up Inari-san (765 feet). You will have a great view over southern Kyoto and can visit Tofuku-Ji Temple on the way back down to Tofuku-ji Station (where...
Read MoreFushimi-Inari-Taisha
This shrine was dedicated to the gods of rice and sake. It’s a popular sight and the complex consists of five shrines spread out across the wooden slopes of Inari-san mountain. The path meanders 2 ½ miles up the mountain...
Read MoreGion District
Kyoto's most charming central neighborhood is filled with tiny wooden townhouses (machiyass), which line the ancient streets and have glowing paper lanterns hanging beside their front doors. If you’re lucky you will catch a glimpse of the beautiful, elaborately dressed...
Golden Pavilion, KyotoRead MoreGolden Pavilion (Rokuon-ji Temple)
One of the most iconic monuments in Kyoto, the Golden Pavilion was originally built in 1397 and its sides are covered with gold leaf. Getting a photo in front of the dazzling building is a Kyoto rite of passage (crowds...
Read MoreIndagare Tours: In-Home Cooking Class
Spend a half-day with a Japanese local who will welcome you into his or her home. Once there, learn to cook traditional and more modern Japanese dishes, like cabbage with miso dressing, spicy burdock root salad, Japanese omelet, red miso...
Read MoreKoke-Dera (Saiho-ji Temple)
To get permission to enter this famous moss garden (koke-dera), you have to make a reservation several weeks in advance, making it somewhat challenging for visitors. But for anyone interested in Zen practice, it’s worth the extra effort. If you...
Read MoreKyoto Imperial Palace
The palace complex is enclosed by a long wall and consists of several gates, halls and gardens. It can be visited only on guided tours held by the Imperial Household Agency. You need to apply for permission in advance with...
Read MoreNanzenji Temple
This temple was originally a retirement home for Emperor Kameyama (in 1264) but was later dedicated as a Zen temple. The present building dates from the 17th century. Nanzenji is now the headquarter of the Rinzai school and has been...
Read MoreNijo Castle
Within the confines of this ancient and vast castle are lovely gardens and the Ninomaru Palace. The most beautiful things inside are the superb wall paintings of tigers, eagles, pine trees, white Japanese apricots and the wonderful “nightingale” floors. They...
Read MoreNishiki Market
A must-visit in Kyoto, Nishiki Market is a narrow, five-block-long shopping street lined by more than 100 shops and restaurants. Known as “Kyoto's Kitchen,” this lively retail market specializes in all things culinary, including fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware,...
Read MoreNomura Museum
On your way to Nanzenji Temple, stop at the small but wonderful Nomura Museum, which was founded by business magnate Nomura Tokushichi, himself a great artist. This museum is only open in spring and fall. It features a very interesting...
Read MorePhilospher’s Walk (Tetsugaku No Michi)
You can easily bike to this famous path in eastern Kyoto where a rustic path runs about 1.5 km (1 mile) along the Lake Biwa Canal from Ginkaku-ji Temple to Nyakuo-ji Shrine. It was a favorite route of philosopher Nishida...
Read MoreRyoan-ji Temple
On the outskirts of Kyoto (take a taxi to get here), the Zen temple of Ryoanji was founded in 1450. Originally the site of a villa, nestled among the forested slopes of the mountains, it was converted into a Zen...
Read MoreSakura
One of the busiest times in Kyoto is sakura, when the city explodes with cherry blossoms (and visitors). The timing changes every year depending on the temperature, but the cherry blossoms usually bloom in March or April. The Japanese language...
Read MoreSanjusangen-do
This holy building was founded in 1164 and is 390 feet long. Inside are 1,001 Buddhas (the largest is in the center), and a visit is impressive and quite moving. It’s just down the road from the Hyatt Regency and...
Read MoreShugaku-in Imperial Villa
This village was built by Emperor Gomizuno-o in 1629 as a retirement retreat. Come here to see its three beautiful gardens and tea houses.
Read MoreTenryu-ji (Heavenly Tiger) Temple
The main attraction at this temple is the 14th-century Zen garden. The temple is a popular place to sample Zen vegetarian cuisine (shojin ryori), which has its origins in Buddhist asceticism: great attention is given to the presentation and tofu...
Read MoreTo-ji Temple
About a fifteen-minute walk south from Kyoto station, this temple has a five-story pagoda, which has burned down several times since the temple was erected in 794. The current one, however, dates to 1643 and at 57 meters (187 feet)...
Read MoreTofuku-Ji Temple
This temple was intended to compete with Nara’s Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji (hence the name.) It is considered one of Kyoto’s main Zen temples. The huge San-mon gate is the oldest Zen main gate in Japan. The present complex includes twenty-four...
