Kyoto 京都府
Collect in Kyoto
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Right now in Kyoto
Nothing on this page is at its best in , so here is what comes next.
October: Autumn
Myoshin-jiFresh spring greenery, and autumn leaves in November
Keage InclineCherry blossoms, late March to early April
Nijo CastlePlum blossoms in late February, cherry blossoms late March into April, maples in November
Shimogamo ShrineAoi Matsuri procession on May 15
Kodaiji TempleAutumn leaves and night illumination, late October to mid-December
Aoi MatsuriProcession on 15 May each year
Yoshida ShrineSetsubun festival with bonfire, 2-4 February
Kitano Tenmangu ShrinePlum blossoms February-March; maple garden lit up in autumn
Kyoto Botanical GardenHydrangeas in mid-June; lotus pond in bloom in July
Ninnaji TempleLate-blooming Omuro cherries, usually around mid-April
Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kyoto GyoenWeeping cherries by Konoe Pond, late March to mid-April
Ryoanji TempleAutumn colour around the Kyoyochi pond garden
Arashiyama and Togetsukyo BridgeCherry blossoms in early April; autumn colours in the second half of November
Kawaramachi-dori and Shijo KawaramachiGion Matsuri float processions in July
Suirokaku aqueductCherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in November
Kamo River riverbanksCherry blossoms in early April, autumn leaves in November; riverside dining decks May to October
Gion MatsuriParades 17 and 24 July; Yoiyama evenings 14-16 and 21-23 July
Jidai MatsuriProcession on 22 October each year (postponed a day if it rains)
Yasaka ShrineHatsumode crowds over New Year; Gion Matsuri in July
Agon Shu Hoshi MatsuriEarly-to-mid February, on a weekend or holiday
Kyoto Tamba/Kameoka Yume Cosmos GardenCosmos peak in mid-to-late October
Sannenzaka and NinenzakaLovely in spring and autumn; early morning is quietest.
Kiyomizu-deraCherry blossom in early April and autumn leaves in late November, with evening illuminations both seasons.
Tenryu-jiMaples in November and cherry blossoms in early April.- 銀閣寺Ginkaku-jiAutumn leaves in mid–late November; the Togudo hall opens for special spring and autumn viewings.
- 哲学の道Philosopher's PathFamous for cherry blossoms over the canal in early April; maples in November.
- 東寺To-jiCherry blossoms around the pagoda in early April; autumn leaves and illuminations in November.
Walks
3 walks around Kyoto
Places close enough to walk between. Collect every stamp on a route to complete the walk.
Kinukake-no-michi きぬかけの路
Three World Heritage temples along one quiet road in north-west Kyoto, then the great Zen complex of Myoshin-ji.
KinkakujiAny time of year20 min walk
Ryoanji TempleBest in November10 min walk
Ninnaji TempleBest in April20 min walk
Myoshin-jiBest in April–May, November
Higashiyama to Nanzen-ji 東山
From Kiyomizu-dera's hillside through the lanes of Higashiyama to the old incline railway and the brick aqueduct at Nanzen-ji.
Jishu ShrineAny time of year10 min walk
Kodaiji TempleBest in November20 min walk
Keage InclineBest in March–April10 min walk
Suirokaku aqueductBest in April, November
Gosho to Shijo 御所から四条
The open gardens of the Imperial Palace, then south down Teramachi's covered temple street into the busy heart of the city.
19 places
Temples & shrines
The big names and the quiet ones, from gold pavilions to neighbourhood shrines.
Northwest · on a walk
Myoshin-ji
Best in April–May, November
Northwest
Daitoku-ji
Any time of year
North
Shimogamo Shrine
Best in May
Higashiyama · on a walk
Kodaiji Temple
Best in November
Higashiyama
Yoshida Shrine
Best in February
Northwest
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
Best in February–March, November
Northwest · on a walk
Ninnaji Temple
Best in April
Arashiyama & west
Suzumushi-dera
Any time of year
Higashiyama · on a walk
Jishu Shrine
Any time of year
Northwest · on a walk
Ryoanji Temple
Best in November
Northwest · on a walk
Kinkakuji
Any time of year
Higashiyama · on a walk
Suirokaku aqueduct
Best in April, November
Higashiyama
Yasaka Shrine
Best in January, July
Higashiyama
Kiyomizu-dera
Best in April, November
Arashiyama & west
Tenryu-ji
Best in April, November
- 伏見稲荷大社On our list
South
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Any time of year
- 銀閣寺On our list
Higashiyama
Ginkaku-ji
Best in November
- 三十三間堂On our list
Higashiyama
Sanjusangen-do
Any time of year
- 東寺On our list
Kyoto Station
To-ji
Best in April, November
7 places
Gardens, rivers & hills
Somewhere to slow down: riverbanks, gardens, parks and views from the hills.
Higashiyama · on a walk
Keage Incline
Best in March–April
North
Kyoto Botanical Garden
Best in June–July
Arashiyama & west
Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge
Best in April, November
Central
Kamo River riverbanks
Best in April, November
Further afield
Kyoto Tamba/Kameoka Yume Cosmos Garden
Best in October–November
Arashiyama & west
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Any time of year
- 哲学の道On our list
Higashiyama
Philosopher's Path
Best in April, November
2 places
History & landmarks
Castles, palaces and old buildings that tell the story of the place.
Central
Nijo Castle
Best in March–April, November
Central · on a walk
Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kyoto Gyoen
Best in March–April
4 places
Festivals
Worth planning a trip around. Check the dates before you go.
North
Aoi Matsuri
Best in May
Central
Gion Matsuri
Best in July
Higashiyama
Jidai Matsuri
Best in October
Further afield
Agon Shu Hoshi Matsuri
Best in February
5 places
Streets, food & shopping
Covered arcades, old streets and places to eat.
Central · on a walk
Teramachi-dori temple street
Any time of year
Central · on a walk
Kawaramachi-dori and Shijo Kawaramachi
Best in July
Higashiyama
Gion and Hanamikoji
Any time of year
Higashiyama
Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka
Best in April, November
- 錦市場On our list
Central
Nishiki Market
Any time of year
3 places
Sights & views
Towers, bridges, stations and the modern side of town.
Northwest
Uzumasa Kyoto Village
Any time of year
Kyoto Station
Kyoto Station Building
Any time of year
Kyoto Station
Nidec Kyoto Tower
Any time of year
2 places
Day trips
Further out, but worth the journey.
Further afield
Amanohashidate
Any time of year
Further afield
Eizan Cable Car and Ropeway
Any time of year
Food
What to eat in Kyoto
Local dishes worth seeking out, and the kind of place to find them.
Yudofu湯豆腐
Silky Kyoto tofu simmered at the table in a pot of kelp broth and dipped in soy-based sauce — one of the city's signature winter dishes.
Around Nanzen-ji, Kiyomizu, Maruyama Park and Saga/Arashiyama (near Tenryu-ji and Seiryo-ji), where temple-side restaurants have served it for generations. Best in the cold months, November to February.
Nishin sobaにしんそば
Hot buckwheat noodles topped with a fillet of sweet-simmered dried herring — a dish that originated in Kyoto.
Traditional soba shops all over the city, especially around Gion and Shijo-dori. A warming winter favourite, served year-round.
Obanzaiおばんざい
Kyoto home-style cooking: small plates of seasonal vegetables, tofu and dried foods built on gentle dashi.
Small counter restaurants and izakaya in central Kyoto (Shijo–Karasuma and Pontocho side streets); many also offer set lunches. Changes with the season's vegetables.
Kyo-tsukemono (Kyoto pickles)京漬物
Kyoto's pickled vegetables, such as thin-sliced turnip senmaizuke, sour suguki and purple shibazuke, eaten with rice.
Pickle shops in Nishiki Market and specialist pickle makers around the city; they travel well as souvenirs. Senmaizuke is a winter speciality.
Saba-zushi鯖寿司
Thick bars of salt-cured, vinegared mackerel pressed onto rice — a festive Kyoto dish born from fish carried over the 'Mackerel Road' from Wakasa Bay.
Long-standing sushi shops in Gion, department-store food halls, and around Demachi, the old end of the Mackerel Road. Traditionally made for festivals; autumn mackerel is prized.
Yuba湯葉
Delicate sheets of skin lifted from heated soy milk, eaten fresh with soy sauce or in hot pots and kaiseki.
Yuba specialists in central Kyoto around Karasuma-Rokkaku and Nishiki Market, and in temple vegetarian (shojin) cooking.
Matcha and kyogashi抹茶と京菓子
Whisked green tea with Kyoto's seasonal sweets — fresh bean-paste namagashi with thick tea, dry higashi with thin tea.
Teahouses and confectioners across the city, the Nishijin area's old sweet shops, and Uji south of Kyoto for tea. Namagashi designs change with every season.
Yatsuhashi八ツ橋
Kyoto's classic souvenir sweet of rice flour, sugar and cinnamon — crisp baked koto-shaped crackers, or soft 'nama' triangles folded around red bean paste.
Souvenir shops at Kyoto Station and on the approaches to Kiyomizu-dera; flavours include cinnamon and matcha.
Sources: Kyoto Tourist Information Center 'Kyo Navi' – Yudofu, Yuba & Fu guide (PDF) · Food & Drink – Kyoto City Official Travel Guide · Kyoto Souvenirs You Can't Leave Without! – Kyoto City Official Travel Guide · 鯖寿司 – Wikipedia (Japanese) · Enjoying Kyogashi, the Traditional Sweets of Kyoto – Kyoto City Official Travel Guide · Yatsuhashi – Wikipedia
3 places
Museums
For a rainy day, or a deeper look at the place.
Kyoto Station
Kyoto Railway Museum
Any time of year
Kyoto Station
Kyoto Aquarium
Any time of year
- 京博On our list
Higashiyama
Kyoto National Museum
Any time of year
From the journal
Kyoto on Shibuya246
Photos and stories from our visits since 2009, newest first.
Xmas Lights in Botanical Gardens
I went to take a look at some of the Christmas lights in the Botanical Gardens
Kitano Tenmangu
Kitano Tenmangu is well known as a shrine dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, a scholar and politician who was exiled unfairly by his political rivals many years ago. He is associated with Tenjin, the god of literature or calligraphy and many students come to wish for good fortune in their upcoming exams. Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka which i visited previously is built over the grave of Sugawara Michizane.
Jidai Matsuri
The Jidai Matsuri event is taking place again right now in Kyoto. The weather seems to have dipped a bit and is providing some rain today. Not too bad but…
Amanohashidate in the rain
Amanohashidate is known as one of the 3 great scenery spots in Japan. It is a sandbar stretching about 3 kilometres covered pine trees.