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KYOTO Travel Guide
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Interactive Kyoto Map ‐ find hotels and ryokan near Kyoto's must-see destinations!
KYOTO'S CAN'T MISS SPOTS!With thousands of special, unique locations to explore throughout the city, it can be a bit intimidating for the uninitiated to jump head first into Kyoto without some guidance. At JAPANiCAN, we humbly suggest the following locations as "must-see spots" - check them out, you won't be disappointed!
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KYOTO FUN FACTS
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Originally built in 1397 to serve as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Kinkaku-ji is an iconic symbol of Kyoto. 
With a sharp contrast between its white sand and the red shrine building, this shrine creates something of an elegant atmosphere in Kyoto. 
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiyomizu-dera dates back to 798 and gets its name from the waterfall within the complex, which originates from three streams running off the nearby hills. 
This Medieval city district is overflowing with ancient teahouses and restaurants, lining narrow cobblestone streets and immaculately-kept canals. 
With over 1600 shrines and a population of just over 1.4 million, there is approximately one shrine per 875 people in Kyoto - that's a lot of shrines! 
In order to be a geisha in Kyoto, you must be shorter than 160cm(5'3") and be able to walk comfortably in 10cm (4-inch) heels. 
Gion is the setting of much of Arthur Golden's novel Memoirs of a Geisha . 
Over 170 monkeys live in the Iwatayama Monkey Park on the slopes of Mount Arashiyama. 
During the Edo Period, one's wish was said to be granted if you jumped from the deck of Kiyomizu-dera and survived the 13 meter (43 foot) fall. 
When it became the seat of the Imperial Court in 794, Kyoto was originally named Heian-kyo, meaning "tranquility and peace capital". 
Kyoto was originally arranged in accordance with traditional Chinese geomancy following the model of the ancient Chinese capital of Chang'an (present-day Xi'an). 
The video game company Nintendo - one of Kyoto's most famous companies - was founded in 1889 and was at one point a taxi company. 
Kyoto Station is the second-largest train station in Japan. 
Kyoto's Sister Cities include Boston, Paris, Cologne, Prague, Florence, Kiev, Xi'an and Guadalajara, Mexico. KYOTO TOP HOTEL OFFERINGS
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| Tawaraya Ryokan Built in the early 18th century, Tawaraya Ryokan boasts more than 300 years of history and tradition. Enjoy a truly authentic Japanese experience. |
New Miyako Hotel Just a 2 minute walk from JR Kyoto Station's Hachijo Exit, the New Miyako Hotel offers its guests the perfect introduction to Kyoto's famous Kinki district. |
Hiiragiya Bekkan Built in 1818, this elegant ryokan is made entirely of Japanese cypress and reflects the timeless atmosphere of its historic surroundings. The seasonal Japanese kaiseki dishes are exceptional. |
Kyoto Tokyu Hotel Next to Nishi Hongan-ji Temple and close to Kyoto Station, the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel boasts its own traditional Japanese garden complete with flowing waterfalls and bamboo groves, providing truly authentic Kyoto-style atmosphere. |
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Kyoto is home to many unique locations, each offering visitors a wide range of activities, hotels and ryokan to enjoy. Below are a few of Kyoto's most famous neighborhoods, each worth exploring!
Area : Kyoto Station | Nijo Castle | Gion | Shijokawaramachi | Imperial Palace | Arashiyama
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Interactive Kyoto Map ‐ find hotels and ryokan near Kyoto's must-see destinations!
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KYOTO TOP TOUR OFFERINGS
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| Kyoto 1 Day Tour Experience Kyoto, Japan's capital from 794-1868. Visit Nijo Castle, the Golden Pavilion, and walk through the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Watch traditional Japanese artisans work their craft, and enjoy the sweeping views from Kiyomizudera Temple. |
The Shinkansen Tour - Free Plan Kyoto 2 Days Travel by Shinkansen, Japan's famous Bullet Train, to Kyoto and explore the area at your own pace for two days. Discover 1,200 years of history in Kyoto, Japan's capital from 794 to 1868! |
Kyoto Special Night Start the evening in style by participating in a tea ceremony and having dinner at a traditional Japanese inn. After dinner, take in Gion's unique atmosphere by taking a stroll down its preserved district's back streets. You may even be lucky enough to see a Maiko! |
Kyoto & Nara 1 Day See the main sights of both Kyoto and Nara, all in one day! Visit Nijo Castle and the Golden Pavilion. In Nara, visit Todaiji, the world's largest wooden structure and home of the Great Buddha. Mingle with the deer at Nara Park and marvel at the lanterns at Kasuga Taisha Shrine. |
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Our guided tours are given by Kyoto experts who speak English and who are happy to help improve your understanding of this magnificent city.
Theme: Morning Tour | Afternoon Tour | Night Tour | Excursion | From Tokyo to Kyoto
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KYOTO GUIDE
Kyoto is the cultural heart of Japan, where tradition and modernity meet in harmony. Here you can rest in the shade of Buddhist temples that have stood for over a thousand years or peruse the offerings of ultramodern department stores. You can join in a time-honored tea ceremony or unwind with a cup of coffee at a fashionable cafe. Only in Kyoto is it possible to cross paths with a real geisha as you stop for a snack at a convenient store. You can take a deep breath of the crisp mountain air as you stroll leisurely through a bamboo thicket. Or you can savor the sight of cherry blossoms overhead as you picnic with the locals on the banks of the Kamogawa River. When you're done seeing the old, a new city that's taken pains to be convenient for visitors from overseas awaits. At just a little over an hour from Kansai International Airport, Kyoto is close enough for anyone.
Locations of Interest
With its 2000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, as well as palaces, gardens and architecture intact, Kyoto is one of the best preserved cities in Japan. Among the most famous temples in Japan are Kiyomizu-dera, a magnificent wooden temple supported by pillars off the slope of a mountain; Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion; Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion; and Ryoan-ji, famous for its rock garden. The Heian Jingu is a Shinto shrine, built in 1895, celebrating the Imperial family and commemorating the first and last emperors to reside in Kyoto. Three special sites have connections to the imperial family: the Kyoto Gyoen area including the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Sento Imperial Palace, homes of the Emperors of Japan for many centuries; Katsura Imperial Villa, one of the nation's finest architectural treasures; and Shugaku-in Imperial Villa, one of its best Japanese gardens.
Other notable sites in Kyoto include Arashiyama and its picturesque lake, the Gion and Pontocho geisha quarters, the Philosopher's Walk, and the canals which line some of the older streets. The Shijo-dori area includes intersections with Karasuma Street (Shijo Karasuma), Kawaramachi Street (Shijo Kawaramachi) and the Kamo River (Shijo Bridge) and features several department stores, such as Daimaru, Hankyu, and Takashimaya - as well as many other excellent shopping opportunities.
The "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" are listed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. These include the Kamo Shrines (Kami and Shimo), Kyo-o-Gokokuji (To-ji), Kiyomizu-dera, Daigo-ji, Ninna-ji, Saiho-ji (Kokedera), Tenryu-ji, Rokuon-ji (Kinkaku-ji), Jisho-ji (Ginkaku-ji), Ryoan-ji, Hongan-ji, Kozan-ji and the Nijo Castle, primarily built by the Tokugawa shoguns.
Transport
Kyoto is conveniently accessible from both Tokyo and Osaka. From Osaka's Kansai International Airport, JR Rapid trains and airport limousines provide quick and easy transportation. From Tokyo's Narita Airport it's simple to connect to the Shinkansen bullet train, which will whisk you straight to Kyoto. Once you're in Kyoto, getting around should be no problem. The public transportation system in Japan is arguably the world's best. Railways provide access to virtually all areas of the country, and trains running behind schedule are almost unheard of. Kyoto is no exception, and it is covered by an extensive network of buses, subways, and private railways.
If you plan on visiting regions of Japan apart from Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, and Wakayama) we recommend that you buy a Japan Rail pass before coming to Japan. It will allow you unlimited travel for one, two, or three weeks on all trains operated by Japan Rail, with the single exception of the Nozomi Shinkansen.
Climate and Clothing
Average temperature: 14.9C (58.8F). Record high 33.5C (92.3F); record low: -4C (24.8F). Rainfall: 545.4mm (Japan's rainy season is June and July, during which it rains almost continuously). Kyoto, nestled amid rolling mountains, has a relatively mild climate, while summers can be hot and humid and winters cold, spring and fall are pleasant and thoroughly enjoyable.
Clothing
Summer : Dress lightly, as summer is very humid. Be aware of the sudden temperature change when entering an air-conditioned building. Nights in midsummer will be hot and sticky.
Winter : Winters can be cold, so dress appropriately. Wear an overcoat or jacket outside. However, all major facilities, such as museums, hotels, department stores, restaurants, and so on use air-conditioning, so include these stops in your itinerary for a break from the cold as needed.
Spring and fall : have mild temperatures, with spring rains common. A light coat or sweater, something you can shed in the warm afternoons, should be quite enough.
* "Kyoto Guide" text quoted from Kyoto Travel Guide (official) website.
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