Kyoto

Sights

• Fushimi Inari – Thousands of red torii gates up the mountain – almost empty early in the morning.
• Kinkaku-ji – The Golden Pavilion reflected in its pond.
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove – A path between towering bamboo stalks in the west of the city.
• Kiyomizu-dera – A wooden temple on the hillside with views over the city.
• Gion – The old quarter of tea houses – please don't photograph geishas.
• Philosopher's Path – A canal-side walk lined with cherry trees.

Food & nightlife

• Nishiki Market – «Kyoto's kitchen»: pickles, tofu and matcha sweets.
• Kaiseki – The refined seasonal multi-course cuisine of Kyoto.
• Tea ceremony – Matcha the traditional way, often with a short introduction.
• Pontocho – A narrow riverside alley lined with small restaurants.

Day trips

• Nara – The Great Buddha at Todai-ji and tame deer in the park.
• Osaka – Street food in Dotonbori and the castle, a short train ride away.
• Himeji – The white castle, one of Japan's finest.

Good to know

When to go

March–May, October–November

Getting around

Buses and two metro lines, plus bikes; by train from Kansai Airport and by Shinkansen from Tokyo.

Tipping

Tipping is not customary.

Power

Plug type A/B, 100 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.

Currency

Japanese Yen (JPY)

Plan your trip to Kyoto together

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.

Plan with Pickeed

More in Japan

• Tokyo
• Osaka
• Hokkaido
• Hiroshima