Kyoto Points of Interest: The Best Highlights & Our Tips

Kyoto: Sights and Suggested Routes

When we started our travel planning for Kyoto, we were initially completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of temples and attractions.

On top of that, the individual highlights in Kyoto are sometimes quite far apart, so you need to plan fairly carefully if you want to see as much as possible in a relatively short amount of time.

To make your planning easier, we’ll walk you through the order in which we visited the temples and share our tips for a route through Kyoto.

We had read the advice that you should definitely buy the Kyoto Bus Pass, which lets you ride all buses in Kyoto for an entire day for 500 yen.

In our experience, this usually isn’t worth it if you book a hotel in Kyoto in a good location — and we were also able to use the Japan Rail Pass for train travel.

In each section, we’ve noted whether the bus pass makes sense for that particular day trip.

Of course, we didn’t see every single temple — which would be impossible in just a few days anyway. Still, we hit the most important Kyoto points of interest as well as some lesser-known spots that don’t appear on every list.

Eastern Kyoto

To get started, we spent the first day exploring the temples in the east of Kyoto. These temples are all close to the city center, which makes this tour a great choice for day one. All the sights are within walking distance, so you can skip the Kyoto Bus Pass on Day 1.

By the end of the day our feet were a little sore, but overall the distances between the temples aren’t so great that taking the bus would be worth it.

#1 and #2 Gion District and Kennin-ji

We walked through the Gion district — which has evolved over the years into the center of Japanese geisha culture — on our way to Kennin-ji temple. Dating back to the 12th century, Kennin-ji is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto. The sprawling temple complex is well worth a visit and isn’t as overrun with tourists as many other temples.

Even though it’s not the most spectacular temple in the city, it’s a really solid introduction to the world of Kyoto’s temples.

Our verdict: Worth a visit, but not a must-see.

#3 Yasui-konpira-gu

When you explore Kyoto on foot, you keep stumbling upon small, hidden temples that you’d never have found if you’d just taken the bus from point A to point B.

That’s exactly what happened with the Yasui-konpira-gu shrine, which we came across by chance after our visit to Kennin-ji. At first glance, this small shrine doesn’t stand out at all among all the large, well-known temples in Kyoto.

But there’s one quirky thing: on the temple grounds stands a large stone covered all over with slips of paper. At the bottom of this stone there’s a hole — and actual adults really do crawl through it, first in one direction and then back the other way. You really do see everything.

We naturally wanted to know what it was all about. Here’s the explanation: the stone has the power to help you with your relationships with other people. If you wish to build a relationship with someone — or end one — this stone is for you.

Here’s how it works:

1. First, you must pray in the temple’s main hall.
2. Then you buy one of the paper slips that are stuck to the stone for 100 yen.
3. You write your wish on the slip of paper.
4. Then you crawl through the stone from front to back while reciting your wish.
5. After that, you crawl back through in the other direction, continuing to recite your wish.
6. When you’re done, you stick your slip of paper among all the others, and the magical stone takes care of the rest.

Sounds pretty good, right?

Our verdict: A genuine off-the-beaten-path find that we highly recommend.

#4 Kodai-ji

Kodai-ji is a Zen temple that we really loved. Surprisingly, there were relatively few tourists here — probably because tour groups don’t visit, so only independent travelers make their way here.

The expansive temple complex includes a Zen garden and a small bamboo grove, which we of course put to good use for some photos.

Our verdict: One of the most beautiful temples in Kyoto and an absolute must-see.

#5 Entoku-in

Entoku-in is a small sub-temple of Kodai-ji, located directly across the street. The temple has a pleasant garden, but is otherwise not particularly spectacular.

That said, Entoku-in occasionally hosts illumination shows in the evenings, which are supposed to be seriously worth seeing.

Our verdict: Not a must-see.

#6 Chion-in

Chion-in is a temple of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, a particular form of Buddhism that is especially popular in Japan.

The highlight here is the enormous entrance gate, behind which steps lead up to the temple. The main hall was under renovation during our trip around Japan and was hidden beneath a massive corrugated metal structure.

The interior of the hall was partially accessible, however, and during our visit a large ceremony with many worshippers was taking place.

Our verdict: Because of the construction work, the temple wasn’t a highlight for us. But by now it’s surely a wonderful sight to see in Kyoto.

#7 and #8 Higashiyama District and Kiyomizu-dera

To wrap up the day, we visited Kiyomizu-dera. Dating back to the 8th century, Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most famous temples in Kyoto and accordingly the destination of every tour group in the city.

Even the charming streets leading up to it — Ninnen-zaka and Sannen-zaka — exude the character of “old” Kyoto.

Since Kiyomizu-dera is one of the city’s most famous attractions, the streets are correspondingly packed with tourists and souvenir shops. If you have time, it’s best to veer off the main roads and explore the side streets.

The main hall of Kiyomizu-dera was undergoing renovation and was hidden behind an impressive bamboo scaffold. That’s not such a big deal though, since the hall isn’t particularly photogenic from the outside anyway.

Our verdict: Kiyomizu-dera is of course a must-see in Kyoto — the setting alone, with views over the city, is magnificent.

South & Near the Train Station

On the second day, we started with the southern part of Kyoto. The temples there are no longer within walking distance, but can be reached by train in just a few minutes.

If you have a JR Rail Pass, the ride costs you nothing. If not, the fare is the equivalent of only about $2. You can pay with your Suica Card.

The Kyoto Bus Pass is again not worth it for this day trip.

#1 Fushimi Inari Shrine

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is an absolute highlight of any visit to Kyoto. The shrine itself is relatively unspectacular, but the red torii gates you walk through on the way up the mountain are all the more impressive.

There are more than a thousand of these red gates in total, all of which are donations from individuals or companies. At the bottom, the torii are packed very closely together, then gradually spread further apart as you climb higher.

Down at the first torii it’s still very crowded, and getting decent photos amid the masses of people is nearly impossible. Fortunately, tour groups don’t go very far up the mountain, so it gets less and less crowded the higher you go. With a little patience, you can get some great shots.

Our verdict: An absolute standout that you can’t afford to miss.

Morning tour to Fushimi Inari Shrine

#2 Tofuku-ji

After Fushimi Inari, we walked to Tofuku-ji. This Zen temple ranks among the most beautiful places we visited in Kyoto — and honestly, on our entire trip through Japan. Surprisingly, relatively few tourists make their way here.

The temple grounds are wonderfully idyllic, with an old wooden bridge, a small stream, lots of greenery, and beautiful gardens.

Our verdict: Apparently a true local favorite — but one you absolutely should not miss.

#3 To-ji

South of the train station lies the To-ji temple. It dates back to the 8th century and is best known for its five-story pagoda, which rises up in the beautiful temple garden.

Since To-ji isn’t on the typical tourist routes, it’s not particularly crowded here.

Our verdict: A lovely temple away from the crowds — but also not an absolute must-see.

#4 and #5 Higashi Hongan-ji and Nishi Hongan-ji

To finish the day, we also checked out the two Hongan-ji twin temples near Kyoto Station. The two temples look very similar from the outside.

What’s particularly worth seeing is the gold-adorned interior of the enormous halls, which are unlike anything else of their scale in Kyoto. Both temples are only five minutes apart and make a great conclusion — or alternatively a great starting point — for this day trip.

Our verdict: A nice way to wrap up the day thanks to their proximity to the station, but not an absolute highlight in Kyoto.

Northwest & Center

For the third day, it’s definitely worth buying a Kyoto Bus Pass. Since the temples in the northwest unfortunately can’t be reached by train or subway, the bus is the only option.

#1 Kinkaku-ji – The Golden Pavilion

We kick things off with one of Kyoto’s absolute highlights: Kinkaku-ji. The pavilion sits picturesquely beside a small lake, and with its façades completely covered in gold, it’s a real showstopper.

If you’d like some peace and quiet here, you should be right at the ticket counter when the temple opens at 9 AM. Tour groups crowd through the rather narrow paths, so the pavilion is beautiful regardless — just don’t expect a relaxing experience.

Our verdict: The Golden Pavilion looks stunning, of course. That said, the crowds unfortunately take away from the experience a bit. Nowhere in Kyoto was more packed than this.

#2 Ninna-ji

About two kilometers west of Kinkaku-ji lies the Zen temple Ninna-ji. The temple has a lovely garden and is a particularly popular spot during cherry blossom season. The grounds feature a cherry tree park that must look absolutely magnificent if you’re planning Japan’s cherry blossom season as your travel time for Japan.

We were there toward the end of cherry blossom season, so unfortunately many of the blossoms had already fallen. It was still lovely, though.

If you’re up for it, you can also make a stop at Ryoan-ji temple on the way between Kinkaku-ji and Ninna-ji — it’s known for its beautiful rock garden.

Our verdict: During cherry blossom season, this temple is an absolute highlight. If you’ve already made the long trip out to the Golden Pavilion, the short detour here is totally worth it.

#3 Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace is located in the center of Kyoto and was the seat of the Japanese emperor for many centuries. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the emperor moved to Tokyo, which has been Japan’s capital ever since.

Many travel guides and online sources state that advance permission is required to visit the Imperial Palace — but that’s no longer the case.

The grounds are now freely accessible. A free English-language guided tour is also offered daily at 10 AM and 2 PM.

Our verdict: A vast complex and an interesting glimpse into the world of the powerful. That said, if we had to choose between the Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle, we’d go with the castle.

#4 Nijo Castle

About a kilometer from the Imperial Palace lies Nijo Castle. The castle was once the residence of the shoguns — the leaders of the samurai.

The castle buildings are very impressive, and the walking route through the gardens is well worth seeing. The castle is especially famous for its squeaky floorboards, which were supposedly built that way intentionally so that no one could enter undetected.

They say the squeaking sounds like a nightingale. We think it sounds more like bats.

Our verdict: Nijo Castle is seriously impressive, and a visit is definitely one of the top picks in Kyoto.

Western Kyoto

On day four, we head a bit further out from the center of Kyoto again. In the western part of the city lies the Arashiyama district, home to some of Kyoto’s most famous sights.

Arashiyama is also a popular destination for tour groups, so be prepared for huge crowds — but there are also some wonderful spots that hardly anyone wanders into. If you want to do the full day trip, we recommend starting no later than 9 AM, otherwise you’ll be cutting it close.

Getting to Arashiyama

The JR Sagano Line takes you from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station in about 15 minutes. With the JR Pass, the ride is free; otherwise it’s 240 yen.

Buses also run to Arashiyama, but the journey takes considerably longer and is less comfortable than the train.

The Kyoto Bus Pass is not worth it on this day either. The buses that take you to the more distant sights within Arashiyama are already outside the pass’s coverage area, so you’d have to pay extra anyway.

#1 Tenryu-ji

The sights in Arashiyama that attract the most visitors are all along the main street, which is lined with souvenir shops and leads to the Togetsukyo Bridge (a).

Tenryu-ji, along this street, is the most important temple in Arashiyama. The enormous garden is particularly impressive. Separate tickets are required for the temple buildings and the garden, and the ticket for the buildings isn’t worth it. Since the garden path passes right in front of the buildings, you can already see everything from there.

Our verdict: The garden is definitely worth it; the temple itself less so.

#2 Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama

From the garden of Tenryu-ji, you walk directly into Arashiyama’s famous bamboo grove. A fairly wide path leads through the enormous bamboo forest. Everyone wants to get a selfie beneath the towering bamboo — getting good photos requires a lot of patience, though, as the tourist crowds push through here just as they do everywhere else.

Our verdict: The bamboo grove is impressive, but the masses of people here are simply overwhelming. For selfies among bamboo plants, we’d actually recommend Kodai-ji (Day 1) or the Adashino Nenbutsu-ji temple, which is also located in Arashiyama.

Half-day hike through the bamboo grove

#3 Adashino Nenbutsu-ji

Up to this point, our visit to Arashiyama hadn’t impressed us all that much, and we can’t recommend making the trip out here just for the bamboo grove and Tenryu-ji alone.

For us, the true highlight of Arashiyama is the northwest. In the far northwest lies the Adashino Nenbutsu-ji temple, which was almost completely empty when we visited.

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji is home to a cemetery with more than 8,000 stone figures — truly impressive! Right next to the temple there’s also a bamboo grove which, in contrast to the famous one in central Arashiyama, is completely deserted.

Our verdict: Adashino Nenbutsu-ji was our absolute favorite in Arashiyama, and the entire northwestern area is simply beautiful.

#4 Walk through the Northwest of Arashiyama

The walk from the train station to the northwest of Arashiyama is very scenic, with many lovely temples along the way. That’s why we’d definitely recommend walking at least one direction. We took the bus on the way there and walked back.

No crowds of tourists make their way out to the northwest, and you suddenly find yourself in an idyllic suburb with traditional houses and many small temples.

It’s well worth spending a while exploring this area.

Romantic Train in Arashiyama

A perfect way to wrap up a day trip to Arashiyama is a ride on the so-called Romantic Train. The vintage train rattles through gorgeous scenery in about 25 minutes from Torokko Saga Station to Torokko Kameoka Station, located about seven kilometers to the west.

The ride follows a gorge along a wide river, passing through tunnels and over two bridges that look like something out of an adventure. Scenically, it’s certainly not the most spectacular train ride in the world — not like, say, the train ride from Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka — but it’s still worthwhile.

Right at the end, the conductor — who seemed nearly as old as the train itself — even sang us a little song.

The ride is especially beautiful in the fall when the trees are ablaze with color. During that time, you should book tickets several days in advance, and it can also get crowded during cherry blossom season.

You can buy tickets at Kyoto Station directly at the JR ticket counter, or on-site if the train isn’t full. When we went, there were still seats available.

The last train departs at 4:01 PM from Torokko Saga Station, which is located right next to Saga-Arashiyama Station. The destination, Torokko Kameoka, is about a ten-minute walk from Umahori Station, from which a JR train runs back to Kyoto.

Instead of taking the train ride as a finale to the day, it also works well as a starting point. From Kyoto, you take the JR to Umahori and then board the first Romantic Train at 9:29 AM to Arashiyama. Since the route is single-track, it’s just as scenic in one direction as the other.

Our verdict: A great way to end the day in Arashiyama!

Kyoto City Tours and Special Tours

Of course, Kyoto is great to explore on your own, but sometimes it’s nice to head out with a local guide.

We looked into special city tours and tours around Kyoto that let you discover the city from a completely different perspective and are guaranteed to give you some genuine insider tips.

All tours can be booked conveniently online (grab an eSIM for Japan if you want to book relatively spontaneously while you’re there) and take place with an English-speaking guide.

Kyoto from a local’s perspective: On this private tour, you’ll discover Kyoto through the eyes of a local, with a focus on interesting spots off the tourist trail. This tour is ideal for your first day in Kyoto. Your guide will walk you through those first steps in the city and share a wealth of tips for your time there, which you can then explore on your own in the days that follow.

Tea ceremony in Kyoto: A Japanese tea ceremony is a truly special experience, and Kyoto is a perfect place to take part in one.

Cycling tour through Kyoto: It doesn’t always have to be the bus or your own two feet. Why not explore Kyoto by bike? That’s exactly what this tour offers.

Kyoto highlights with a private guide: This tour is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have much time but wants to see as many of Kyoto’s points of interest as possible. A private guide takes you to the most important attractions on this 2.5-hour tour.

Food tour through Kyoto: This culinary tour through Kyoto is a treat for food lovers. Together with a guide, you’ll visit a food market where you can sample lots of local specialties.

Getting Around

The sights in Kyoto are relatively spread out and some are even located in the suburbs. We planned each day so that the individual stops could be reached on foot. That doesn’t always work out perfectly, though, and getting around Kyoto without a bus or subway at some point is just not realistic.

Buses in Kyoto

Unlike other forms of getting around in Japan, the most widely used form of transportation in Kyoto is the bus. Buses will take you to every corner of the city, no matter how out-of-the-way. That said, riding the bus is not particularly comfortable — the buses are usually packed, and they stop every two minutes, so it takes forever to get from A to B. We therefore tried to avoid buses as much as possible and take the train whenever we could.

A single bus ride costs 230 yen and can most easily be paid with an IC card. If you were in Tokyo beforehand, you can use your Suica card in Kyoto as well.

From three or more rides per day, the Kyoto Bus Pass is worth it, giving you unlimited rides per day for 500 yen.

The bus pass is available at Kyoto Station, at tourist information offices, and at other major stations throughout the city.

We only used the bus pass on the third day, when we visited the temples in the northwest. On the other days, we took the bus at most once or twice.

In Japan, you board the bus from the rear and exit from the front. When you get off, you pay your fare either with your IC card or in cash (exact change only!).

If you’re riding with a bus pass, you only need to validate the pass when you get off on the first ride; after that, you simply show it to the driver.

Subway and Regional Trains in Kyoto

Faster and more comfortable than the buses in Kyoto are, as a rule, the subways and especially the regional trains. The subways mainly run through the city center, while the regional trains are best suited for visiting the temples around the downtown area.

We’ve noted in our daily itinerary above which trains go to which sights.

Our Hotel Recommendations

Staying in Kyoto is unfortunately not a cheap affair. Especially during peak travel season in spring and fall, the already high prices climb even higher.

We strongly recommend a hotel in the center of Kyoto, as otherwise the already long distances between sights become even longer. Good locations for exploring Kyoto’s attractions include the area around Kyoto Station, as well as everything north of the station on either side of the main shopping street, Karasuma Dori.

Our Hotel in Kyoto: Tabiya Hotel

We had originally booked an apartment through Airbnb in Kyoto, which turned out to be a complete disaster. So we ended up moving into a hotel after all, and were lucky to find a free room at the Tabiya Hotel. The city was 97% (!) booked up, so we were fortunate.

Note: The Tabiya Hotel is unfortunately currently closed, and we don’t know if it will reopen. You’ll find more hotel recommendations for Kyoto below, so there’s sure to be something for you!

The Tabiya Hotel is located on a quiet side street east of Karasuma Dori. Restaurants, shops, and the Shijo subway station are right around the corner. The eastern temples and the train station are also not far away. A perfect location!

The rooms were truly tiny — even smaller than our hotel in Tokyo. But everything was very new and modern, the bed was comfortable, the toilet seat was of course heated, and the Wi-Fi was great. It’s amazing how quickly you get used to things in Japan.

Just don’t bring large suitcases, because space is tight. The room was cleaned daily, and in the morning you can help yourself to a small free breakfast (yogurt and pastries) from the refrigerator in the hallway.

Our tip: We stayed in the Tsuyukusa room and felt very comfortable. We’d suggest requesting one of these rooms: Wakaba, Tsusjukusa, Kaki, and Matsuba. These all face the street at the front and have a large panoramic window, which made our room feel very cozy and, above all, very bright. The rooms at the back — Koiai, Akane, and Sakura — only have a small window.

More Hotels in Kyoto

Our hotel had only eight rooms, and it’s not unlikely that your preferred hotel in Kyoto will be fully booked at some point. So we’ve put together a few other recommended hotels in Kyoto for you.

Restaurants in Kyoto

In Kyoto, too, we discovered some great restaurants that we’d love to share with you.

Musashi: Conveyor Belt Sushi in Kyoto

Musashi is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Kyoto — and what a place it is! The plates are a bit pricier than at other conveyor belt sushi restaurants, costing 146 yen or 346 yen for the special items.

The selection and quality are absolutely outstanding, which is why we ended up going back three times. There are two Musashi locations in Kyoto: one is in the back of Kyoto Station on Hachijo Dori, and the other is in the city center at the corner of Sanjo Dori and Kawaramachi Dori. We liked the one in the station a little better, but both are excellent.

Both restaurants are very popular, so wait times are not unusual. We always arrived before 6 PM and got a seat right away every time.

Hours: 10 AM to 10:30 PM (at the station); 11 AM to 10 PM (in the city)

Tadka: Indian Restaurant in Kyoto

Tadka on Oshikoji Dori is a delicious Indian restaurant in Kyoto. If you’re looking for something other than Japanese food, Tadka is a great alternative.

The menu isn’t very large, but many dishes are completely vegetarian or even vegan. Everything we tried was extremely tasty and authentic, which is why we ended up coming back a second time.

The clientele is made up mostly of young Japanese with a hipster or eco-conscious vibe — something we rarely encountered on our trip. Very pleasant!

Hours: 12 PM to 3 PM and 6 PM to 10:30 PM. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Organic House Salute: Vegan Restaurant in Kyoto

Organic House Salute, five minutes from the train station, is a cute, fully vegan restaurant. You take off your shoes at the entrance and sit at low tables directly on the floor.

The menu is relatively small. The dishes are delicious, and the various cakes are the perfect finishing touch!

Hours: 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and on weekdays additionally from 5 PM to 6:45 PM. Closed Thursdays.

Tenkaippin: Delicious Ramen in Kyoto

Tenkaippin is a small chain of ramen restaurants in Kyoto. They serve very tasty ramen — the classic Japanese noodle soup — some of the best we had on our entire trip.

Our tip: We ordered the ramen dish that came with the option to season it ourselves to our own taste.

Hours vary by location. Most are open daily and stay open late into the evening.

Day Trips from Kyoto

Many travelers take day trips from Kyoto to Nara and Osaka. Like Kyoto, Nara is a former capital with many impressive temples. The JR Miyakoji Line gets you from Kyoto to Nara in about 45 minutes.

Read our article about Nara

Another popular day trip destination from Kyoto is Osaka. Japan’s third-largest city is reachable by train in just over half an hour and has plenty of great sights to offer as well.

Our tip: Since you spend day after day in Kyoto walking from one temple to the next, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend taking the day trip to Nara from Kyoto. The appeal of Nara is somewhat diminished when you’re coming from an equally historic city.

Instead, we recommend not just doing Osaka as a day trip from Kyoto, but actually spending several nights in Osaka.

The day trip to Nara is better done from Osaka, since the contrast with the modern metropolis is more striking than the contrast with the equally historic Kyoto.

Another popular excursion from Kyoto is Amanohashidate, a sandbar stretching more than three kilometers across the bay of Miyazu, north of Kyoto.

Getting there from Kyoto is a bit more complicated and not exactly cheap.