Kyoto Travel Guide

Fushimi Inari Taisha is located at the western foot of Mount Inari in southern Kyoto and serves as the head shrine of all Inari shrines across Japan. According to legend, in 711 AD, the deity Inari, who governs bountiful harvests and prosperous commerce, was enshrined here, and the shrine has thrived with worshippers for centuries. Its signature view is the vermilion "Senbon Torii," a seemingly endless tunnel of torii gates stretching up the mountain behind the main hall. This iconic scene is not only one of Kyoto's most representative images but also widely recognized due to the famous scene in the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha," where a young girl runs through the torii gate tunnel.

A short walk east from JR Inari Station brings you to the entrance. Passing through the towering vermilion torii gate and proceeding along the main approach, you'll encounter the romon gate, said to have been donated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1589 to pray for his mother's recovery. Beyond it lie the main hall and other principal structures. Stone fox statues are ubiquitous throughout the shrine, as foxes are considered messengers of the rice god Inari, often depicted holding keys or rice ears in their mouths. Before worshiping, visitors can purify their hands at the temizuya beside the main hall following the illustrated instructions, then clap their hands to pray at the main hall - prayers here often relate to business prosperity and financial fortune. Drawing omikuji fortunes and writing ema votive tablets are common practices; fox-faced ema can be personally decorated with expressions, while miniature torii-shaped ema are equally charming. Fox-shaped omamori amulets make popular souvenirs.

Go around to the back of the main hall to find the entrance to the Senbon Torii. Hundreds upon hundreds of torii gates line the path all the way to the summit of Mt. Inari, with weathered, faded gates densely interwoven with bright vermilion ones. When sunlight filters through the gaps, the scene is particularly spectacular, making it a popular spot for photography enthusiasts. Each torii gate was donated by an individual or company, with the donor's name and date inscribed on the back. The path up the mountain is not a straight line; it includes both wide passages that seem to stretch on forever and smaller, parallel paths. Rest areas and sacred sites are scattered along the way, and most travelers come specifically for this mountain trail. After walking for about half an hour, the torii gates gradually become sparse. Upon reaching the Yotsutsuji intersection halfway up the mountain, you can overlook the Kyoto cityscape. Many people also make a special trip up the mountain at night to see the night view. Many travelers turn back here, but if you persist to the summit, the mountain path forms a loop. Several small shrines are distributed around the summit area, and a round-trip generally takes two to three hours, which is also equivalent to experiencing a traditional "Oyama Meguri" (mountain pilgrimage).

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!

Gion, located in the area around Shijo-dori between the Kamo River and Higashioji-dori, is a famous geisha district in Kyoto. The streets are quiet and leisurely during the day, perfect for browsing local souvenir shops or whiling away the time in a teahouse or restaurant. As evening falls, lanterns are lit one by one, and you might occasionally brush shoulders with geisha or maiko dressed in their finery, rushing to their performances. Most of the streets and buildings in this area retain their old-world charm, with the narrow, deep wooden machiya townhouses being particularly characteristic of Kyoto: a house that looks only 5 or 6m wide from the front can often extend more than 20m deep.

Extending south from Shijo-dori all the way to Kenninji Temple, Hanamikoji-dori is lined with teahouses and restaurants with exquisite facades. Among them are many restaurants specializing in kaiseki, with light and voices faintly filtering from behind wooden lattice windows and fabric curtains. The Shirakawa Canal to the north is a bit further from Shijo-dori and much quieter than Hanamikoji-dori. Rows of willow trees line the banks, and teahouses and restaurants overlooking the water are scattered along the river, making it a great place for a leisurely stroll.

Many tourists come specifically to catch a glimpse of the geisha. To experience geisha culture, you can visit the area near the southern end of Hanamikoji-dori, where they specialize in performances of traditional Kyoto arts, including Kyo-mai dance, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, koto, gagaku, kyogen, and bunraku, all in one show. You can also find kimono rental shops in the area, where you can change into a kimono with classic patterns, put on hair accessories, and walk around taking photos in the quaint streets. Every July, Gion hosts one of Kyoto's most representative traditional festivals, which lasts for approx. 1 month. During the parade, flutes and drums play in unison on the floats, performing ancient festival music—a great opportunity to experience the summer atmosphere of Kyoto.

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.

Yasaka Shrine is located at the eastern end of Shijo-dori in Gion, Kyoto, and was formerly known as "Gion-sha." It serves as the head shrine for approx. 3,000 Gion-affiliated shrines across Japan. Legend has it that during the Heian period, when an epidemic swept through Kyoto, people held the "Gion Goryo-e" ritual here to pray for peace. This ritual has continued for over a thousand years and gradually evolved into the Gion Matsuri, which spans the entire month of July: massive "Yamaboko" floats parade through the city center, and on the night of Yoiyama, the streets are filled with swaying lanterns. It is counted among Japan's three major festivals, alongside the Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo and the Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka.

Walking through the large torii gate into the grounds, the first thing that catches your eye is the dance stage adorned with lanterns. When the lanterns light up at night, it creates an iconic scene of Gion's nighttime. The main hall features a unique architectural style known as "Gion-zukuri," where the main sanctuary and the worship hall are sheltered under a single large roof. Within the grounds, the Okuninushi Shrine is dedicated to the deity of matchmaking, Utsukushigozen Shrine is dedicated to the deity of beauty. A spring known as "Beauty Water" bubbles up in front of the shrine, and women in kimono and maiko often come here to pray. The shrine is adjacent to Maruyama Park, and you can walk along Higashiyama to reach Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and visiting in the evening lets you experience the Gion atmosphere, which feels quite different from the daytime once the lanterns are lit.

Kinkaku-ji is a Zen temple of the Shokoku-ji branch of the Rinzai sect. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, built his Kitayama villa on the site of the former Saionji family estate. After his death, it was converted into a temple according to his will, and the temple was named after his dharma name, "Rokuon-in-dono." As a representative of Japan's Kitayama culture, the temple and its gardens are listed as a World Heritage site as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto."

The temple's landmark is the three-story Reliquary Hall standing by the Kyoko-chi (Mirror Pond): the first floor, "Hossui-in," is in the Shinden-zukuri style of Heian aristocrats; the second floor, "Choon-do," adopts the style of Kamakura samurai residences; and the third floor, "Kukkyo-cho," imitates a Chinese Zen Buddhist hall. The three cultures of court nobles, samurai, and Zen Buddhism are gathered in this one pavilion, and a phoenix stands on the roof ridge. The outer walls of the second and third floors are covered in gold leaf, which is the origin of the name "Kinkaku-ji"; the pavilion reflects on the pond's surface, and together with islands like Crane Island and Turtle Island, and the famous rocks and strange stones scattered among them, it has long been compared to a reproduction of the Pure Land in this world. The current Zen temple was rebuilt to its original appearance after being destroyed by arson, and it only attained its present look after the gold leaf was completely reapplied.

The visitor route is basically a loop around the garden: the lakeside not far from the entrance is a classic spot for photographing the reflection of Kinkaku-ji, and along the way, you can also see the "Rikushu-no-matsu" (Land Boat Pine), said to have been planted by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu himself, and the Ginga-sen (Galaxy Spring), which is said to have provided water for his tea.

Kifune Shrine is tucked away in the Kifune Valley in the northern suburbs of Kyoto and serves as the head shrine for the worship of the water deity across Japan. Its founding date is difficult to verify, but shrine records state that Tamayori-hime, the mother of Emperor Jimmu, traveled upstream in a yellow boat and enshrined the water deity who governs rain here. The name "Kifune" is derived from the legend of the "yellow boat." Since ancient times, this has been a sacred site where the imperial court prayed for rain; a black horse was offered during droughts, and a white horse during prolonged rain. Later, people began using wooden plaques painted with horses instead of live horses, which is why the shrine is considered the birthplace of the Japanese ema (votive tablet).

The shrine buildings are divided into three sections along the valley: the Main Shrine, Yui-no-yashiro, and Okumiya. The long stone steps at the entrance, lined with vermilion lanterns, are an iconic scene, with the stream flowing beside them. Sacred water from the mountains is channeled in front of the Main Shrine; for the "water fortune slip," you must gently place the paper slip on the water surface, and the fortune only appears when it touches the water. The Yui-no-yashiro is dedicated to the deity of matchmaking and is famous for helping people find good relationships. Continuing upstream along the creek leads to the Okumiya, where the boat-shaped stone beside the shrine is said to have been transformed from the small boat that Tamayori-hime arrived in.

The Kifune Valley is deep, secluded, and cool, making it a place where people from Kyoto have gone to escape the summer heat since ancient times. Every summer, traditional dining platforms are set up over the Kifune River. The fresh greenery of late spring, the autumn leaves of late autumn, and the white snow of winter falling on the lanterns and stone steps create beautiful scenery. The three shrine buildings are connected by a riverside path, allowing you to explore them as you walk.

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.

• 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.

Sanzen-in is located in the mountains of Ohara, in the northern suburbs of Kyoto. It is a Monzeki temple, known alongside Shōrenin Temple and Myōhō-in Temple as one of the "Three Monzeki Temples of the Tendai sect." The temple's name is derived from the Tendai doctrine of "Ichinen Sanzen" (three thousand realms in a single moment of life). Its origins are said to trace back to a monk's cell founded by a high priest on Mount Hiei. Since members of the imperial family began entering the priesthood here, the head priests were often Imperial Princes. It moved to its current location in Ohara during the Meiji period and has become a representative ancient temple in the Ohara area.

The visit begins at the Goten-mon Gate, followed by a walk through the Kyakuden (Guest Hall) and the Shinden (Imperial Hall). The Shuheki-en Garden outside the Kyakuden is a pond-viewing garden, said to have been built by the Edo-period tea master Kanamori Sowa. It features an old cherry tree known as the "Namida-no-Sakura" (Tearful Cherry Tree). Inside the Shinden, which was built in imitation of the Shishinden at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Gosenbo-ko service, originating from court traditions, is still held annually. The Yusei-en Garden, which spreads out in front of the hall, is a stroll-style pond garden covered in moss and shaded by cedar and cypress trees. Looking from the eaves corridor toward the Ojo Gokuraku-in Hall on the opposite side of the pond is a classic view here. The Ojo Gokuraku-in Hall was built during the Heian period, and its boat-bottom-shaped ceiling is painted with colorful celestial beings. Inside the hall, the Amida Triad statues have downcast eyes and serene postures, and several stone child Jizo statues are scattered throughout the moss garden.

The temple offers different sights throughout the four seasons: in spring, mountain cherry blossoms and rhododendrons tint the garden; summer brings fresh greenery; fall features autumn leaves; and winter offers snowy scenery. Starting in mid-June each year, thousands of hydrangeas bloom in succession along the cedar-forested slopes in the Hydrangea Garden deep within the temple grounds. Varieties such as small hydrangeas and star hydrangeas take turns blooming, and the flowering season can last until July.

Kamo River is a river that runs through the urban area of Kyoto from north to south, with a total length of over 30 km. It starts from the Sajikigatake area in the north, flows through bustling areas such as Demachiyanagi, Shijo, and Gion, and then merges into the Katsura River. The water is clear, and the banks are paved with walking and cycling paths. It has long been a place where Kyoto residents live by the water and go for leisure walks, and today, it is also a place for tourists to get close to the daily rhythm of this city.

The highlights of this river change with the seasons: in spring, cherry blossoms bloom along both banks, and egrets are often seen foraging in the river; in late autumn, the leaves along the banks are dyed in warm colors, and the cool river breeze is perfect for a stroll. On warm, sunny evenings, people sit at almost equal distances along the riverbank between Sanjo Bridge and Shijo Bridge. Along the west bank is Pontocho, which is densely packed with restaurants. In summer, shops here set up riverside dining decks on the riverbed, where people sit on terraces overlooking the river, dining while enjoying the river breeze and watching the sunset slowly sink into the water.

Rurikō-in Temple is located in the Yase area at the foot of Mount Hiei in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto. It was originally a mountain villa before being converted into a temple. The "Sanroji-no-niwa" garden leading from the temple gate to the entrance is covered in moss with winding stone steps, while the "Ruri-no-niwa" garden in front of the study hall is carpeted with moss and maple trees. In spring and summer, it is shaded by fresh greenery, and in late fall, the maple leaves turn from yellow to orange and then red, with fallen leaves covering the moss, making it a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves in Kyoto.

The second floor of the study hall holds the temple's signature scene: the lacquered table by the window is polished to a mirror-like shine, reflecting the entire maple forest outside along with the sky. The reflection and the real scenery meet, creating a stunning view. Visitors can experience sutra copying at the table and enjoy the natural scenery framed by the window.

The highlights within the temple change with the seasons, with the fresh greenery of spring and summer and the red leaves of late fall each offering their own charm. After your visit, you can take a walk along the nearby riverside path to experience the unique natural and cultural atmosphere of the Yase mountains.