Things to see and do on a trip to Kyoto

Kyoto is one of the most spectacular cities in Japan. All thanks to the cultural legacy and the tradition hidden in its streets and numerous temples recognized as World Heritage Sites. The city still preserves traditional buildings, tea houses, beautiful palaces and well-kept gardens, which makes it one of the favorite destinations for tourists. Among all the things to do in Kyoto you can not miss the blooming cherry blossoms in spring, which floods the city with colors and gives it a unique charm.

Thinking of spending your vacations in Japan? In this post we will share everything you need to know to prepare your trip to Kyoto as well as the main points of interest. There are more than 1,500 temples in the city, but which ones are really worth visiting? We’ll tell you all about them! We also recommend the best neighborhoods to stay and give you other tips to move around the city without problems. And let’s not forget about the cuisine. Find out where and what to eat in Kyoto.

What are the best places to visit in Kyoto?

1. Fushimi Inari Thaisha Shrine

Curiously this shrine remained anonymous for many years, and it wasn’t until the release of the movie Memoirs of a Geisha when it became really popular. In fact, today it is one of the most tourist spots in the country and therefore we recommend going there very early to avoid avalanches of tourists. The most spectacular thing about this temple are the thousands of toriis (traditional Japanese arches or gates) that run 4km over the mountain. It is an incredible walk that we recommend quite a lot as it is a must see in Kyoto.

The shrine is located 4km from the city and can be reached from Kyoto Central Station by train, which takes 8 minutes. The shrine is always open and admission is free. Sightseeing tours in different languages are also organized during the day.

2. Nijo Castle, another must-see in Kyoto

Nijo Castle is the perfect example of classical Japanese palatial architecture of the Edo period. It was built in 1603  and used as an imperial palace for many years until it was donated to the city and opened to the public. The most curious thing about the castle is ‘the roaring’ of the wooden floor, a detail carried out deliberately to hear the presence of enemies. Today you can visit it from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and the entrance fee is 600 yen. The best way to get there is the subway, which drops you off at the Nijojo-mae stop.

3. Kiyomizu-dera, the temple to visit in Kyoto

Among more than 1500 temples in Kyoto, this is probably the most spectacular thanks to the incredible views of the city. It sits atop a hill, but beyond the views, the temple is famous for the harmonious ensemble of pagodas and buildings that make it up. The temple, also known as the Temple of Pure Water, dates back to 778, but was rebuilt a thousand years later and to this day restoration work is still underway.

The temple can be reached by bus 100 or 205 from the city, which will drop you off at the Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-Zaka bus stop. From there you have to walk up the hill. Visiting hours are from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, but we recommend going early to avoid the organized tours that flood the site. The entrance fee is 300 yen.

4. The Geisha Quarter

The Gion district, also known as the Geisha quarter, is probably the most authentic area to visit in Kyoto. Although geishas are no longer as common as they were 400 years ago, there are still about 1,200 left in the country. And in fact, if you’re lucky you may come across one of them or their apprentices (maiko) on your walk through the district. However, the best way to see them is at the maiko shows. You will also find numerous restaurants and tea houses, mainly in Hanamikoji and Pontocho streets, the most traditional of the district.

5. Kinkaku-ji Temple

This temple, recognized as a World Heritage Site, is one of the most spectacular temples in Kyoto. It is known as the Golden Pavilion because of the color of its facade, covered with gold leaf. In front there is a beautiful pond called Water Mirror and one of the most spectacular gardens in the country. The temple dates back from 1397, but had to be rebuilt after a monk set it on fire. The best way to get there is by bus 101 and 205. The complex is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and the entrance costs 400 yen.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

Things to do around Kyoto

1. Nara, the ancient capital of Japan

Nara is a common destination for a day trip when staying in Kyoto. The city was the former capital of Japan, so it also retains a certain traditional touch. The main sights are the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, the temples of Todaiji, Kofukuji, Horyuji, Heijo Palace and Nara Park, home to more than 1200 deer that can be fed. From Kyoto it can be reached in 45 or 75 minutes, depending on the train we choose.

2. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Located 10 km away from the city, this forest is one of the most incredible places to visit in Kyoto. It is home to more than 50 varieties of bamboo, some of which are more than 20 meters tall and have many years of history. It is a haven of peace that changes according to the time of day as the light filters differently through the trees. For this reason, many recommend visiting it a couple of times if you have the opportunity. The forest also hides temples, pagodas and other buildings of interest. It can be easily reached by train or bus from Kyoto, and takes barely 30 minutes.

What to see in 1 day in Kyoto

It’s a shame to spend less than a week touring the city and its surroundings, but if you don’t have much time, here’s a selection of the must-sees in Kyoto. The main drawback when organizing a one-day itinerary is that the points of interest are a bit far from each other, so you will have no choice but to take public transport and organize your schedule very well. The best you can do is to choose a couple of places that we have recommended at the beginning of the post like the Fushimi-Inari Thaisha Shrine or the temple of Kiyomizu-dera. And then spend the rest of the day walking the streets of Gion, the Geisha district, where you can also eat in traditional restaurants and visit teahouses.

Where and what to eat in Kyoto?

There is a wide range of restaurants of all kinds in Kyoto. However, in the best ones it is common to have long queues as the premises are small. That is why we recommend you to go to the places that catch your attention at lunchtime instead of going at dinnertime. Also keep in mind that many restaurants do not accept cash and many others are only open until noon. The most typical dishes of the city are Miso soup, Sashimi, Yudofu, Okonomiyaki and matcha Mochi. These are some of our favorite restaurants in the city.

• Chao Chao Sanjo Kiyamachi: at this restaurant you can try the best gyozas in Japan. The menu costs 10€ and includes 12 gyozas, beer and side dishes. You can also order a la carte.
• Katsukura: is a restaurant next to the train station where you can try the tonkatsu – panko crusted pork fillet. They have different tonkatsus and prices range from 10€ to 16€.
• Ramen Sen No Kaze: the specialty is ramen and they have several menus that include beer and gyozas. Prices range between 6€ and 11€. The most curious thing is that you can reserve your food in special machines that tell you when your order will be ready.

Where to stay in Kyoto

Kyoto is a large city with the neighborhoods not exactly well connected. It is therefore advisable to look for accommodation near the places that interest us most to avoid wasting time in transportation. We recommend booking accommodation well in advance, as there is not enough supply in the city to meet the demand, and prices are expensive. Here is a list of some suggestions.

• WeBase Kyoto: is a nice hostel very close to the city center. It has shared areas like the kitchen and dining room and they offer breakfast for 6€. It is a very nice and clean place where you can book private rooms for between 30€ and 100€.
•  Good Nature Hotel: it is a beautiful five-star hotel with impeccable decoration and services such as the parking, bar or restaurant. The price of the room is 120€ and includes breakfast.
• Rakuro Kyoto: is a cozy and simple 3-star hotel with a bar and laundry service. Nightly rates start at €50 and traditional Japanese breakfast costs €11.

How to get to Kyoto

Kyoto is one of Japan’s major cities, so it is very well connected to the rest of the country. However, despite being a very common tourist destination, it does not have an international airport, so it is most common to make a stopover in Tokyo. From Tokyo you can get there by bullet train, which takes between 2h40m and 4 hours and costs 13,000 yen, by plane or by bus, which is the cheapest option but also the one that takes the longest. From Kyoto you can also travel by bullet train or plane to major cities such as Osaka, Nagoya or Hiroshima.

In general, to travel in Japan, it is recommended to buy the JR Pass. It is a pass that gives access to all types of public transportation, including the bullet train. Prices depend on the time, but it is definitely worth it and makes it much easier to move around, especially if we are going to travel around the country.

What should I consider before traveling to Kyoto?

• The official currency of Japan is the yen.
• The best time to travel to Kyoto is October, when it is no longer so hot and there are not so many tourists.
• It’s best to avoid changing money at the airport, as their prices are high.
• Japan is spoken Japanese, although being a tourist city, English is spoken in many places and there are also signs in this language.
• The tap water is drinkable.
• From Spain it is not necessary to have a visa if you are traveling for less than 90 days. But you must have a valid passport and be able to justify that the trip is for tourism with hotel reservations.
• Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• Wear the names of the hotel in writing.
• Tipping is not customary in Japan.
• There are restaurants where they only accept credit cards.
• The country is generally very safe, but just in case, be careful with your belongings.

How to prepare what to see on your trip to Kyoto

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all of its possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travelers’ experiences
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers what to see in Kyoto.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Kyoto