Plan Your Kyoto Trip, Japan
Top Things to Do in Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari Taisha: Mountainside Shinto shrine dating from 711 A.D.
- Kiyomizu-dera: Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa known for the scenic views afforded from its sizable veranda.
- Kinkaku-ji: Historic, tranquil temple with a gold-leaf facade set amid landscaped gardens & a reflecting pond.
- Nijō Castle: Built in 1603, this cypress-wood castle with extensive gardens was a home for the shogun Ieyasu.
- Yasaka Shrine: This Shinto shrine was erected in 656 A.D.
- Byōdo-in Temple: Tours are offered of this iconic temple with a scenic pond & garden, plus a building with artifacts.
- Senbon Torii (Thousand Torii Gates): Mountainside shinto shrine featuring a path with thousands of traditional red gates & stairs.
- Ginkaku-ji: This 15th-century Zen temple features picturesque gardens & a sand mound shaped like Mount Fuji.
- Shimogamo Shrine: Legendary 2,000-year-old shrine & excavation site set in a tranquil, riverside forest.
- Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama: Popular area atop Mt.
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: A popular sightseeing path runs uphill through this forest of towering bamboo stalks.
- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine: Shrine with 10th-century origins featuring annual festivals to mark natural & historical events.
Also see the Kyoto destination guide for local food, getting around and the best time to visit.