Kyoto
The cultural capital of Japan.
Famous for its classical Buddhist temples, gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines, tea ceremonies and geisha, Japan’s millennium-old former capital diligently keeps the nation’s history and traditions alive and flourishing.
Must-see spots in Kyoto.
The Gion
Kyoto’s largest geisha district, the Gion reflects the best of traditional Japanese culture, architecture and cuisine.
Pontocho Alley
Arguably the single most atmospheric street in all of Kyoto. Full of restaurants, bars and the occasional geisha.
Kiyomizu Temple
Kiyomizu is quite possibly Japan’s most dramatic temple complex. Best seen at sunset and illuminated at night.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kyoto’s most famous shrine, featuring thousands of red torii gates running up Mt. Inari. Catch it early to beat the crowds.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Otherworldly bamboo grove nestled on the grounds of a local temple. Gets very crowded, so get there early in the morning.
Nanzen-ji Temple
Among the preeminent Zen Buddhist temples. Known for its entry gate, screen paintings and, especially, picturesque rock garden.
Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion
A golden temple set on the grounds of one of Kyoto’s best landscape gardens.
Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka
A preserved district reflecting the heyday of Kyoto’s traditional ‘machiya’ architecture. Like stepping back into a past era.
The best day trips from Kyoto.
Osaka
Japan’s third-largest city and culinary capital. A bit of grunge and warmer people make Osaka notably different from Tokyo.
Nara
A small city of temples and shrines most notable for its many (semi-tame) deer, mochi makers, and its massive bronze Buddha statue.
Koyasan
A holy mountain hosting many Buddhist temples and a 1,300-year-old cemetery nestled in an old-growth cedar forest.
Himeji Castle
The largest and most-beautiful castle in Japan, and one of the few preserved following the end of Japanese feudalism in 1868.
Sample Kyoto daily itineraries.
Kyoto itinerary # 1. (Eastern Kyoto)
7:00 AM: Fushimi Inari Shrine
Perhaps the most-famous shrine in Kyoto with thousands of vermillion torii gates. Getting there early will let you beat the crowds and get your photos in!
8:00 AM: Tea (or coffee) & taiyaki in Fushimi
Grab a quick bite to eat at the many food stalls just outside the shrine after your visit.
9:30 AM: Nanzen-ji Temple
Get Zen at one of Japan’s preeminent Zen temples. The grounds make for prime koyo (maple leaf) viewing in the fall, and make sure to see its famous rock garden inside.
11:30 AM: Lunch at Izuju Sushi, the Gion
For lunch, take a taxi from Nanzenji Temple to the Gion, Kyoto’s largest geisha and entertainment district (known as a ‘hanamachi’). The Gion was made most famous among Westerners as the primary setting of the novel ‘Memoirs of a Geisha.’
12:30 PM: Explore the Higashiyama District (Shirakawa Street, Hanamikoji Street, Yasaka Shrine, Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka Streets)
Leisurely walk through the historic pedestrian streets of the Gion, stopping by the small shops for traditional souvenirs. Don’t miss the amazing Starbucks in an old machiya on Ninenzaka Street!
4:00 PM: Kiyomizu Temple at sunset
End your walk through Higashiyama District at Kiyomizu, one of the most-celebrated temples in Japan and a beautiful spot to watch the sunset (at around 4:30). Linger a bit to enjoy the autumn illuminations at the temple.
6:00 PM: Geisha performance at Gion Corner
Probably the easiest and most sure-fire way to catch a geisha show is at Gion Corner. Performances include ‘maiko,’ apprentice geisha, performing a host of traditional art forms like shamisen and koto playing.
7:00 PM: Dinner & drinks at Enen Yakiniku in Pontocho Alley
A ten-minute walk from Gion Corner, Pontocho is a narrow, highly-atmospheric alley full of restaurants and bars in old traditional wood buildings.
8:30 PM: Drinks at Bee’s Knees
A speakeasy-style craft cocktail bar in Kyoto just a quick walk from Pontocho!
Kyoto itinerary # 2. (Western & Northern Kyoto)
7:30 AM: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Grab a train from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station to see the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. Standing among the dense 60-foot-tall bamboo stalks is a truly otherworldly experience, particularly in the early morning when you’ve beaten the crowds that arrive by mid-morning.
8:00 AM: Coffee & pastries at % Arabica Arashiyama
Enjoy a coffee on the banks of the scenic Katsura River overlooking the Togetsukyo Bridge.
9:00 AM: Sagano Scenic Railway & Hozugawa River Cruise
Leaving from Saga-Arashiyama Station, the Sagano Scenic Railway is an old-fashioned train that follows the Hozugawa River Gorge through a forest of maple trees, making for amazing koyo viewing in autumn. Afterwards, take the train (30 minutes) or raft the Hozugawa River back to Arashiyama (2 hours).
12:00 PM: Lunch & shopping at Nishiki Market
Take the train from Arashiyama Station to Karasuma Station and walk to Nishiki Market. Known as ‘Kyoto’s kitchen, Nishiki features well over 100 shops with fish, produce, tea, sake, pickles, traditional handicrafts and more, along with multiple small Japanese restaurants.
2:30 PM: Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion
Take a bus or taxi from Nishiki Market to Kinkaku-ji, one of the most famous temples in Japan. Covered in gold leaf, the view of the temple across its adjacent pond is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in Japan.
4:00 PM: Wander the Kamishichiken geisha district
A quick five-minute taxi from Kinkaku-ji takes you to one of the lesser known hanamachi (geisha districts) in Kyoto. Kamishichiken boasts much of the same traditional Kyoto ambiance as the Gion with far fewer tourists.
5:30 PM: Dinner & drinks at Wagyu Don MATSUWO
Located in Kamishichiken, Matsuwo serves grilled wagyu beef and other Japanese fare.
7:00 PM: Autumn Illuminations at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
End your evening in Kamishichiken at the nearby Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, which illuminates its autumn trees until 8:00 PM.