Kyoto Travel Guide

Fushimi Inari Taisha, one of Kyoto's most iconic landmarks, is the head shrine of approximately 30,000 Inari shrines across Japan. Known for granting blessings in business prosperity, abundant harvests, and household safety, it attracts numerous visitors from both Japan and abroad.

The main highlight is the "Senbon Torii," a series of vermilion torii gates. The mystical tunnel of torii gates, enveloped in an enchanting atmosphere, is a popular scenic spot symbolizing Fushimi Inari Taisha. Additionally, the approach leading to Mount Inari is dotted with numerous torii gates and shrines, allowing visitors to experience Kyoto's unique history and culture while strolling through the area.

The beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons is another attraction, and the early morning or evening hours are relatively less crowded, allowing you to enjoy a magical atmosphere. As a classic Kyoto sightseeing spot, this shrine is a must-visit destination representing Japan.

Arashiyama is a natural tourist attraction in the western suburbs of Kyoto, including the Souvenir the Togetsukyo Bridge and the Sagano area. The cherry blossoms and red maples here are very famous, and the beautiful Sagano bamboo forest also reveals the unique charm of Kyoto. In addition, there are many famous temples and shrines scattered around Arashiyama.

Iconic Landscape - Togetsukyo Bridge

The Togetsukyo Bridge, which spans the Katsura River, is the landmark of Arashiyama. The wooden structure of the bridge and the wooded mountains behind it form a beautiful landscape painting. Arashiyama Park (divided into three parts: Kameyama, Nakanoshima, and Rinchuan Temple) next to the Katsura River is a popular leisure spot. There are large areas of cherry blossoms and maple forests planted in the park. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the maple leaves turn red, the scenery is particularly spectacular, attracting many tourists to come and watch. In December, there is also a lantern festival in this area, when lanterns are hung on the streets, which is very unique. On the hillside of Arashiyama Park (Kameyama area), you can also find a memorial poem monument for "Arashiyama in the Rain".

Temples and shrines

There are many temples and shrines in the Arashiyama area, and Tenryuji Temple, located in the center, is a must-visit place. Tenryuji Temple is famous for its exquisite landscape gardens and is known as the first of the "Five Great Zen Temples in Kyoto". Many people come here to pray.

Sagano Bamboo Forest

There is a short bamboo forest between the north side of Tenryuji Temple and Nonomiya Shrine. The trail is lined with towering Nonomiya bamboos, making it a popular tourist spot in the Arashiyama area. In the summer, you can enjoy the leisurely atmosphere and the breeze when walking in the bamboo forest. During the Arashiyama Lantern Festival, the lights are lit up, which is very interesting in winter.

Cycling Tours

Cycling is a great way to travel around Arashiyama and Sagano. Riding a bicycle between suburban houses and temples and shrines is both labor-saving and relaxing. Gioji Temple, Daikakuji Temple, Jojakkoji Temple, Nison-in Temple, and Kano Nenbutsu-ji Temple are all worth visiting. You can also go to the Iwatayama Monkey Park on the mountain, where you can not only see many wild monkeys, but also get a bird's eye view of Kyoto. You can find a bicycle rental shop near Arashiyama Station.

Train Tours

Taking the Sagano sightseeing train to visit Arashiyama and Hozukyo is a very romantic thing. The train runs along the railway over Hozukyo, with cherry blossoms in spring, gurgling streams in summer, red leaves in autumn, and silvery white in winter. The train runs between Torokko Saga Station (next to JR Saga Arashiyama Station) and Torokko Kameoka Station, and the scenery along the way is different when Round-trip in and out.

Cruise

If you have enough time, you can also go to Kameoka to experience rafting or Cruise on the Hozu River, passing through the picturesque countryside canyons and after several rapid sections, you can reach the Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama.

Delicious cuisine

You can also eat many delicious Japanese desserts, barbecue and other dishes in Arashiyama, especially in Babacho and Sanjo-dori near Togetsukyo Bridge. The eye-catching restaurant signs and enthusiastic service staff there make people feel very friendly!

The Kyoto Railway Museum is a transportation-themed venue that combines exhibitions with interactive experiences, comprehensively showcasing the development of Japan's railway system. The museum displays over 50 authentic trains, ranging from classic steam locomotives and Shinkansen bullet trains to commuter cars from various eras. Visitors can not only enter the train cars but also try interactive activities like train driving simulators and operating railway signals. The museum preserves the Meisho Steam Locomotive Roundhouse, where operational steam trains are demonstrated daily - making it one of the most popular photo spots. The venue features family-friendly zones, railway-themed restaurants, and observation decks, making it ideal for family visitors and railway enthusiasts to plan a full-day itinerary.

Kinkaku-ji, officially named Rokuon-ji, is a temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism located in the Kita Ward of Kyoto, Japan. It was originally built in 1397 when Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, converted the mountain villa of the Saionji family into a temple. The temple's main building, the Shariden, is known as the "Golden Pavilion" because its exterior is covered in gold leaf. The temple's name, Rokuon-ji, is derived from Yoshimitsu's posthumous name, Rokuon-in. Kinkaku-ji combines the cultures of nobility, samurai, and Zen Buddhism, symbolizing Japan's Kitayama culture, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

The Golden Pavilion is a three-story structure, each level showcasing a different architectural style. The first floor, known as "Hō-sui-in," is built in the style of the Heian period's noble palaces. The second floor, "Chō-on-dō," reflects the style of the Kamakura samurai. The third floor, "Kukkyo-chō," is designed in the manner of a Chinese Zen Buddhist temple, topped with a golden phoenix, symbolizing auspiciousness. The pavilion is beautifully reflected in the Mirror Pond, harmonizing with the surrounding islands, rocks, and the famous pine tree, Riku-shū-no-matsu, earning it the description of a "paradise on earth." Throughout history, Kinkaku-ji has suffered numerous calamities, including being burned down by a novice monk named Hayashi Shōken in 1950. It was subsequently rebuilt in its original form in 1955, and the gold leaf was fully restored in 1987, giving it its current dazzling appearance.

Kinkaku-ji is not only a national treasure of Japan but also a symbol of aesthetics and philosophy, made famous by the novel of the same name by Yukio Mishima. The temple's garden is intricately designed, allowing visitors to enter with paper talismans inscribed with blessings, experiencing the blend of traditional Zen spirit and natural beauty.

Kifune Shrine is a historic shrine located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan. It attracts many tourists with its unique natural beauty and mysterious atmosphere. The shrine was built in the 8th century AD and is dedicated to the water god. It is a holy place to pray for rain and marital happiness. The shrine is located between green mountains and green waters, surrounded by dense forests, and is especially famous for its red leaves in autumn and snow scenery in winter.

The shrine's complex includes the main hall, the inner palace and the central palace, which are distributed along the trails in the valley. Visitors can visit these buildings along the stone steps, passing by the embellished red lanterns and the streams intertwined with the sound of flowing water, creating a peaceful and sacred atmosphere.

Kifune Shrine is about 30 minutes' drive from the center of Kyoto. It is recommended to take the tram to Kibuneguchi Station and then walk or take a bus to get there. There are many traditional Japanese restaurants around the shrine, serving local specialties.

• Offers a lot of entertainment inside.

• Enjoy the panoramic view from Kyoto Tower's observatory deck.

• Get a new angle on sightseeing famous sights such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Toji Temple and so on.

Standing tall in front of Kyoto Station, Kyoto Tower is one of the landmarks of Kyoto, remembered by almost every visitor to the city. The tower itself is designed in the shape of a candle, while the observatory deck provides a great place to look out over the streets of Kyoto and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding shrines, temples, and Higashiyama mountains. In addition to the observatory, a restaurant, hot spring, and hotel can be found inside the tower.

△ The elegant white and slim structure of Kyoto Tower was built with the motif of a lighthouse.

△ A glance at the night view of Kyoto

△ The 100-meter observation deck is the highest in the city of Kyoto and provides picturesque panoramic views of the former capital.

On this land, the first aquarium was born. Rainwater falling between the Tamba Mountains and the Ashiu Primeval Forest turns into clear springs, then streams, soon converging into great rivers that ultimately flow into the sea. The interconnected ecosystem from source to ocean, along with diverse symbiotic life forms, is recreated within the aquarium. Moreover, Kyoto Aquarium is not just about exhibits—it regularly hosts hands-on learning activities like "Close Encounters" and guide sessions led by caretakers. The aquarium aims to become a comprehensive edutainment facility where Kyoto's children can connect with water and its diverse inhabitants. It also reduces energy consumption through solar power and supports breeding programs for Kyoto's rare species. As a flagship facility in an eco-model city, it is committed to nature conservation.