Kyoto Prefecture

Things to Do in Kyoto

Things to Do in Kyoto, Japan - Kyoto Attractions

Things to Do in Kyoto

Ways to tour Kyoto

Book these experiences for a close-up look at Kyoto.

Mansagama-pottery wheel experience-
8
Pottery Classes
from $22.49 per adult
Kyoto Early Bird Tour
19
Bus Tours
from $121.43 per adult (price varies by group size)
Traditional Tea Ceremony wearing a Kimono in Kyoto MAIKOYA
123
Cooking Classes
from $64.31 per adult (price varies by group size)
Highlights & Hidden Gems With Locals: Best of Kyoto Private Tour
21
City Tours
from $86.17 per adult (price varies by group size)
Tea Ceremony in Kimono with licenced teacher
11
Cooking Classes
from $39.58 per adult (price varies by group size)
Nighttime All-Inclusive Local Eats and Streets, Gion and Beyond
38
Night Tours
from $104.00 per adult (price varies by group size)
Arashiyama Rickshaw Tour and Japanese Foot Spa Combo in Kyoto
8
Private and Luxury
from $87.24 per adult (price varies by group size)
Nishiki Market Breakfast Walking Food Tour
41
Private and Luxury
from $38.86 per adult
Kyoto Virtual Tour
27
Walking Tours
from $13.49 per adult (price varies by group size)
1.5 Hours Kyoto Insider Sake Experience
53
Night Tours
from $56.28 per adult

Day Trips

From quick jaunts to full-day outings.

Top Attractions in Kyoto

1. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

Historic Sites • Religious Sites

Southern Kyoto

•

Open now

This building has been here since 1589, and the entire shrine itself predates back to 711, far preceding the foundation…

2. Kinkakuji Temple

Religious Sites

Northern Kyoto

By Lifenotmundane

Set within a serene lake and Zen gardens, it is a creation of a powerful overlord who spent his retirement years on…

3. Sanjusangendo Temple

Historic Sites • Religious Sites

This massive temple includes the largest collection of life-sized Buddhas in the world.

4. Monkey Park Iwatayama

Zoos

Western Kyoto

The Iwatayama Monkey Park is a peaceful sanctuary for a big troupe of Japanese macaques, located at the summit of Mt.

5. Nijo Castle

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Castles

City Center

Admission tickets from $11.17

This castle has displays of many aspects of the original site's functions.

6. Gion

Neighborhoods • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Gion

The alleys and streets are made up of shops, restaurants, b&b’s and private residences that appear timeless in style…

7. Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

As a world-renowned UNESCO heritage site, this temple is flooded by visitor from all around the globe every day.

8. Arashiyama

Neighborhoods • Scenic Walking Areas

Western Kyoto

The green filtered light and canopy of upright bamboo trunks creates a unique living cathedral ambience .

9. Tofuku-ji Temple

Historic Sites • Religious Sites

Southern Kyoto

These 2 structures are surrounded by a number of ancient temple buildings with Zen architecture.

10. SAMURAI & NINJA MUSEUM with EXPERIENCE

Speciality Museums

Shinkyogoku Shopping District

Admission tickets from $49.47

By matthewsE9855AD

Learn about the history of samurai and ninja AND experience shuriken throwing and samurai armor!

11. Eikando Zenrinji Temple

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Religious Sites

By CanadianBoys

This Temple site comprises many buildings and has been modernized recently and includes an elevator, toilets with all…

12. Ginkakuji Temple

Religious Sites

By unescotravelbug

This Zen Temple is one of many Zen temples in Kyoto; nested on the foothill of Higashiyama where Japan's Higashiyama…

13. Katsura Imperial Villa

Historic Walking Areas • Gardens

By davidmR4183QL

It's possibly become easier to book an English-language tour

14. Toji

Religious Sites

Southern Kyoto

Kyoto teems with UNESCO World Heritage Sites - a single city hosting 17 sites of historical significance, not to…

15. Sannenzaka Ninenzaka

Points of Interest & Landmarks

Admission tickets from $22.49

By TravelusMaximus

You'll see gleeful young Kyoto-ites in colourful kimonos and glorious, mysterious geisha floating by silently.

16. Kyoto Railway Museum

Speciality Museums

Shimogyo-ku

Spans the entire development of rail engines in the world and focusses on changes inside Japan.

17. Ninna-ji Temple

Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings

Northern Kyoto

Completed in 888, the fourth year of the Ninna era, this temple has a wealth of history and was once know as the Omuro…

18. Nishiki Market Shopping District

Points of Interest & Landmarks • Flea & Street Markets

Shinkyogoku Shopping District

This narrow market, about quarter of a mile long, houses over 120 different retail outlets, some of which have been…

19. Kennin-ji Temple

Religious Sites

Gion

By sbk_globaltravel

The Twin Dragons painting on the ceiling is really amazing and a highlight of this temple.

20. Mt. Kurama

Mountains • Points of Interest & Landmarks

By revbriangraham

Each Shrine has its own Energy; health, prosperity, relationships, family, children.

21. Nanzen-ji Temple

Religious Sites • Gardens

There are many wonderful sights here from the view out across the city from the balcony of Sanmon Gate to the Hojo ro...

22. Okochi Sanso Garden

Gardens

Western Kyoto

There's even some great views of the city and some delicious matcha tea and cake to finish off the walk.

23. Sanzen-in Temple

Religious Sites

I basically went to see the tiny stone statues , but enjoyed the entire area .

24. Kyoto Station Building

Architectural Buildings • Shopping Malls

Shimogyo-ku

Inside the building is a huge chasm that rises 15 stories high with a cascade of lifts that disappear into the sky, an…

25. Pontocho District

Neighborhoods

Pontocho

This area transports you back in time , to a time of traditional Japanese architecture and customs.

26. Philosopher's Walk

Scenic Walking Areas

Approximately 3 kilometersof endless cherry blossom trees that line up both banks of a stream that wounds through…

27. Tenryuji Temple

Religious Sites

Western Kyoto

It is nice to stop in while walking along the bamboo grove, the garden is gorgeous to look at, and filled with differ...

28. Kodai-ji Temple

Religious Sites

The temple is a complex with gardens and constructions designed for the original owner to be immersed in a zen state of…

29. Kyoto Botanical Garden

Gardens

Northern Kyoto

By pamelaao2018

The conservatory is huge and filled with interesting plants from different ecological areas.

30. Shugakuin Imperial Villa

Historic Sites • Gardens

Northern Kyoto

In the 1960s, the Imperial Household bought 80,000 m2 of paddy fields and farmlands to preserve the Villa’s picturesque…

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Walking Tours

Full-day Tours

Half-day Tours

Frequently Asked Questions about Kyoto

The top attractions to visit in Kyoto are:

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The best day trips from Kyoto according to Tripadvisor travelers are:

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