The main area for sightseeing in Kyoto. There are 17 World Heritage Sites including Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Kinkaku-dera Temple (Rokuon-ji Temple). Kyoto is also home to Gion and Arashiyama, both of which are filled with the atmosphere of the ancient capital and offer a wide variety of sightseeing opportunities, including walking around the city and eating out.
The ancient capital of Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan for a long time. You can visit many famous temples such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kinkaku-dera Temple (Rokuon-ji Temple), and Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. You can also tour around the Arashiyama and Kibune areas, where you can enjoy the natural beauty of the area, and the Gion area, which is ideal for walking around town!
There is also a wide variety of gourmet food available, including lunch in a machiya townhouse, authentic Kyoto kaiseki cuisine, and obanzai (traditional Japanese dishes). This sightseeing area also offers a variety of traditional cultural experiences, such as dressing up in kimono and tea ceremony, which are perfect for the atmosphere of the ancient capital.
To enjoy sightseeing in Kyoto
The Kyoto area is filled with famous temples registered as World Heritage Sites, such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple (Shikakuen-ji Temple), Kodai-ji Temple, and Tenryu-ji Temple, as well as nationally renowned shrines, such as Yasaka Shrine, Heian Shrine, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, and Matsuo Taisha Shrine.
Visitors can experience Japanese traditions, history, and culture by experiencing tea ceremony and tatami room games in Higashiyama and Gion, where machiya townhouses stand side by side, or by soaking up the atmosphere of the ancient capital at Noryokoyoko (summer evening tea-lighting on the Kamo River).
The area is also rich in natural beauty, with bamboo forest walks in Sagano in spring, the Daimonji Gozan Okuribi bonfire in summer, autumn leaves changing colors, and snow-covered Togetsu Bridge in autumn in Arashiyama, Ohara, famous for Sanzenin Temple, and the mysterious atmosphere of Kibune Shrine and Kurama Temple in the mountains of Ukyo Ward.
The area around Kyoto Station, the gateway to Kyoto's sightseeing, is also well served by sightseeing around the station, including Honganji Temple, Toji Temple (Kyo-o-gokoku-ji), and Tofuku-ji Temple.
History of Kyoto
Kyoto has served as the capital of Japan for a long time since the capital was relocated to Heian-kyo in 794. In the late Heian period, aristocrats and warriors took the lead, and many temples and shrines were built and the Higashiyama area developed.
Later, when the Muromachi shogunate was established in Kyoto, a purely Japanese culture developed, including the Kitayama and Higashiyama cultures. The city was eventually destroyed during the Onin War, but under the policies of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Kyoto once again flourished and became one of the three largest cities along with Edo (Tokyo) and Osaka (Osaka).
The city became the scene of turmoil at the end of the Edo period (1603-1867), with the Shinsengumi, a group of samurai who opposed the Meiji Restoration, and others taking part in the uprisings.
During the Pacific War, Kyoto was not subjected to air raids, and many of its valuable cultural assets and buildings were unscathed, making it a tourist destination that conveys Japanese culture to this day.
Local gourmet foods, food culture, and specialties of Kyoto
Kyoto offers many fashionable and healthy local gourmet foods, such as vegetarian cuisine using soybeans, including yudofu and yuba dishes, Kyoto kaiseki using an abundance of Kyoto vegetables, and town cafe lunches popular among women. You can enjoy such purely Japanese delicacies as traditional hamo (hamo duck) dishes and Saikyo zuke (fish marinated in Saikyo miso, a type of fish marinated in miso).
On the other hand, Kyoto is actually a treasure trove of B-class gourmet food. In particular, ramen is characterized by Kyoto ramen, a soup made from chicken stock that is simmered until it becomes a thick, white soup, and the Ichijyoji area, a fierce battleground, is crowded with famous ramen stores featuring white soup.
In the city center, there are many long-established Chinese noodle shops, and recently new ramen shops have opened, selling ramen with a thick broth made from a combination of chicken stock and pork bones.
Kyoto is also rich in souvenirs, from Kyoto pickles such as Shibazuke, Senmaizuke, and Suguki, to Japanese sweets such as Yatsuhashi, Mamemochi, kompeito, Kintsuba, and Warabimochi, all of which are highly appreciated as sweet treats. There is also a wide variety of crafts such as bamboo crafts, Gamaguchi, Nioidama, and Kyo-kumi-string.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple has a long history dating back to the Nara period (778).The temple grounds are located halfway up Mount Otowa in the eastern part of the temple and cover an area of approximately 130,000 square meters. The main hall, also called "Kiyomizu-no-butai" (stage of Kiyomizu), which was rebuilt in the early Edo period, is a national treasure,It is registered as one of the UNESCO Worl...»
Toji Temple, officially known as Kyoo Gokokuji Temple, is one of the East and West official temples built in 794 after the capital was relocated to Heian-kyo. It is located to the east and west of Rajomon, the main gate of the capital. It was later designated by Kukai as the fundamental center of Shingon esoteric Buddhism, a role it still plays today. To-ji Temple has maintained its original layo...»
The approach to Kiyomizu-dera Temple is lined with traditional architecture that attracts a steady stream of tourists,The five-story pagoda with a pure Japanese style, hon-gawara roof stands tall in this neighborhood.The 46-meter-high five-story pagoda is a landmark. The five-story pagoda, called "Yasaka-no-to" (Yasaka Pagoda), is located in the precincts of Hokanji Temple,The temple itself is co...»
Also known as Ginkakuji Temple, its official name is Jishoji Temple.It was built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th barbarian general of the Muromachi Shogunate, as his villa "Higashiyama-den" after he handed over the shogunate to his son.He lived an elegant life of seclusion, enjoying calligraphy, painting, and the tea ceremony. Higashiyama-den was built in 1482,After the death of Ashikaga Yoshimasa...»
Kifune Shrine is located at the source of the Kamo River flowing through Kyoto,Kifune Shrine is the head shrine of about 500 Kifune Shrines in Japan, which are dedicated to the God of Water. The shrine is located in a thickly forested gorge between Mt,In front of the shrine flows the Kibune River, which is located upstream from the Kamo River. The date of construction is unknown, but it is belie...»
One of the five Tendai monasteries. One of the most sacred places in the northern part of Kyoto. The main hall, Oujogokurakuin (a temple with a significant cultural value), is famous. The hydrangeas in the rainy season and maple trees in the fall are magnificent. ...»
Noryo-doko along the Kamogawa River is a place where the generous and chic culture of the townspeople of the Edo period has been passed down from generation to generation. About 100 restaurants are open, offering a variety of cuisines including Kyoto cuisine, Italian, French, and café food, while enjoying the waterside scenery with the mountains in the background....»
The shrine is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, known as the god of learning. This shrine is the head shrine of all Tenmangu shrines in Japan. The main shrine and worship hall, both national treasures, are representative of Momoyama culture. Remnants of the shrine's original moat can be seen in the shrine grounds, which have been designated as a historic site. The 25th of every month is the "Tenjin...»
Yasaka Shrine is nicknamed "Yasaka-san" (meaning "Yasaka-san" in Japanese) and is known for its "Gion Matsuri" festival.Gion Festival, one of the three major festivals in Japan, began as a shrine festival. The main shrine, rebuilt by Tokugawa Ietsuna in 1654, is a national treasure,The west tower gate, south tower gate, dance hall, Tamamitsu Inari shrine, and ema hall, which were rebuilt in 1497,...»
Nijo Castle, a plain castle, was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603. Ieyasu was the victor in the Battle of Sekigahara.Ieyasu built Nijo Castle to protect Kyoto and to serve as a lodging house for his troops traveling to Kyoto,In the same year, Ieyasu was inaugurated as the first shogun of the Edo shogunate. At the end of the Edo period, the 15th shogun of the Edo shogunate, Yoshinobu Tokugawa, an...»
The Kyoto Imperial Palace is located in the center of Kyoto City. The Kyoto Gosho is a vast area measuring approximately 700 meters from east to west and 1,300 meters from north to south, and during the Edo period (1603-1867), it was an official town with more than 200 residences of various sizes.In 1869 (Meiji 2), after the capital was moved to Tokyo, Emperor Meiji, deeply saddened by the rapidly...»
The shrine was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the relocation of the capital to Heian, and is flanked by the 24-meter high Otorii (Grand Gate), a registered tangible cultural property of Japan. The shrine pavilion, painted in bright vermilion and green, is modeled after the Chodoin Temple. The vast garden is home to rare bird species, the Mino tortoise, which grows grass on...»
Sanjusangendo is a Buddhist temple outside the precincts of Myohoin Temple and is lined with 1,001 statues of the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. It is called Sanjusangendo because there are 33 pillars in the inner sanctuary. It is home to many national treasures and important cultural properties, including statues of the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Kannon, standing statues of the ...»
Kamigamo Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto with a history dating back to 677.Its official name is Kamowakeikazuchi-jinja, and together with Kamo-gozo-jinja (Shimogamo-jinja), also located in Kyoto City, it is called Kamo-jinja. On the shrine grounds, the main hall and gonden, rebuilt in 1863, are national treasures,Most of the 34 buildings, many of which were constructed during the Edo...»
One of the oldest shrines in Kyoto,Its official name is Kamomioja Shrine.Together with Kamo Betsurai-jinja Shrine (Kamigamo Shrine), also located in Kyoto City, the two shrines are called Kamo Jinja. The shrine grounds are designated as a historic site,Kamo Goso-jinja Two buildings, the East Main Hall and the West Main Hall, are designated as National Treasures,The two East and West Main Building...»
Tofukuji Temple is the head temple of the Tofukuji School of Rinzai Zen Buddhism, located in Higashiyama Ward. It is a famous temple that conveys the Zen Buddhism culture of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, and is ranked fourth among the "Five Temples of Kyoto" established after Ashikaga Yoshimitsu built Shokokuji Temple.The oldest and largest temple complex in Japan was so magnificent that it ...»
Also called "Noryoyoko," this is a summer tradition in the Kansai region. The wooden floors are set up just above the Kibune River, the source of the Kamo River,The breeze gently moves through the verdant trees in the mountain gorge,You can enjoy Kyoto cuisine while listening to the breezes of the Kibune River and the murmuring of the river....»
At 8:00 p.m., the "Dai" is first lit on Nyoigatake (Mt. Higashi), followed by the "Myohou" on Mt. The fire burns quietly for about 30 minutes....»
Kuramadera Temple is known as the place where Ushiwakamaru trained. The main hall, Kondo, and other buildings are scattered among the deep groves of trees, and the Kurama-san Reihouden is also located here. ...»
Established in 1886 (Meiji 19), it is the oldest park in Kyoto City. It is the oldest park in Kyoto City. The park is centered around a circular Japanese garden, and has a number of Japanese-style restaurants and teahouses, each with its own unique atmosphere depending on the season. It is also one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto, and the nighttime cherry blossoms, including the ...»
This museum was established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the railroad. The museum preserves and exhibits 18 representative SL cars that were manufactured in Japan from the early Taisho era to the 1950s, and were in service in various parts of Japan until 1975, including 6 dynamically preserved cars.The museum also features a "fan-shaped garage" built in 1914 and a "former...»
The first Zen temple in Kyoto. The temple is lined with pagodas and pagodas. The Wind God and Thunder God (national treasure) by Tawaraya Sotatsu is famous. Zen meditation and Dharma talks are held on the second Sunday of every month. ...»
Onishi Honganji Temple is the head temple of the Honganji sect of Shinshu Jodo. This is a large temple with the main hall (Amida Hall), the Mikado (Daishi Hall), and other large buildings lined up and surrounded by a Tsukiji wall. The Karamon Gate, a national treasure, also known as "Nipporimon," is a must-see. The temple has many cultural assets, including national treasures and important cultura...»
Higashi Honganji Temple is the head temple of the Otani sect of Shinshu Buddhism, officially known as Shinshu Hongyo. It consists of two halls: the Mikado Hall, where a wooden statue of Shinran, the founder of the sect, is enshrined, and the Amida Hall, where the principal image of Yayoi Buddha is enshrined. The present building was rebuilt in 1895. It is known as one of the largest wooden structu...»
The Kyoto Gyoen is located in the center of Kyoto City. The Kyoto Gyoen area, which stretches approximately 700 meters from east to west and 1,300 meters from north to south, was a lord's town with more than 200 mansions of various sizes during the Edo period (1603-1868).In 1869 (Meiji 2), after the capital was moved to Tokyo, Emperor Meiji, deeply saddened by the rapidly deteriorating condition o...»
The head temple of the Jodo sect. It stands on the site where Honen Shonin built a hermitage in Yoshimizu, where he began to propagate the Jodo sect and where he passed away. The temple is lined with a large temple complex, including the Mikageido and the large bell tower. The Sanmon Gate, a national treasure, is the largest in Japan. Date of construction: 1234 ...»
Exhibitions of Kyoto's history, crafts, arts, folklore, archaeology, and visual materials...»
Shokokuji Temple is the head temple of the Shokokuji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism and the center of Zen Buddhism administration and Gozan literature. The coiling dragon painted on the ceiling of the Dharma Hall is known as the "Narukiryu (crying dragon). The Jotenkaku Art Museum houses a collection of paintings, calligraphy, and Buddhist statues from the Gozan culture and the best of ...»
The first aquarium in Japan to use only artificial seawater,One of the largest inland aquariums in Japan, with three floors. The aquarium features a 6-meter-high large tank representing the Sea of Japan, the Kyoto Satoyama Zone that recreates the original landscape of Japan, and a dolphin stadium that doubles as a performance space, all of which are carefully designed to let visitors feel the nat...»
The tower is 131 meters high, named after the population of Kyoto City of 1.31 million at that time, and was designed in the image of a lighthouse. The 131-meter-high tower, built in December 1964, is the symbol in front of Kyoto Station and the tallest building in Kyoto City....»
Opened in 1903 as the second zoo in Japan. It has about 130 species of animals and 500 exhibits. It is also called Okazaki Zoo because of its location in Okazaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. It is also known for having many of Japan's first breeding cases....»
The botanical garden is composed with emphasis on natural vegetation, including seasonal flowers and grasses, an arboretum with hundreds of species of perennial grasses, and a natural forest. 100,000 plants of about 11,000 species are planted. Botanical and horticultural consultations are held every Wednesday.' In the fall of 1991, one of the largest greenhouses in Japan was completed. ...»
This is a specialty pickled food of Kyoto, which thinly sliced Shogoin turnips are salted and pickled with seasonings such as mirin. Its origin dates back to more than a hundred years ago, when a person called Tozaburo Ohfuji, who was a servant of the Imperial Palace, first made this food with ideas from pickled turnips called“obanagawazuke”. He searched around for the best seasonings, flavor, pic...»
Mix flour and water and knead well, wash off the starch, extract the gluten, add glutinous rice powder and steam or boil. This is the method of making “namafu”. “Awafu” is a product with millet added during the process of making the dough of this namafu. It adds a good crispy texture to the original soft and springy texture of namafu. It can be eaten in any ways such as dengaku (baked and coated w...»
Kaburamushi is a representative obanzai (Kyoto-style home cooking) of winter. This dish uses guji (tilefish) and Shogoin turnip as its main ingredients. Turnip is grated and mixed with the white of an egg, steamed together with guji, ginkgo nuts, Jew’s ear mushroom and lily bulb, and topped with 銀あん(clear soy sauce based paste).The sticky paste tangle well with soft guji, and it warms your body in...»