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Kyoto

Japan's ancient capital home to sacred shrines and Zen gardens

About Kyoto
Kimono-clad woman at Yasaka Pagoda and Sannen Zaka Street in Kyoto (Photo: Guitar photographer / Shutterstock.com)

Top Attractions in Kyoto

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Around Kyoto

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Kyoto Top 10

  1. Iwatayama Monkey Park
    1

    Iwatayama Monkey Park

    Arashiyama
  2. Gion Matsuri
    2

    Gion Matsuri

    Culture
  3. The Phoenix Hall of Byodoin in Uji
    3

    The Phoenix Hall of Byodoin in Uji

    Uji
  4. Guide to Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
    4

    Guide to Kyoto’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

    Article
  5. Firefly Viewing in Uji
    5

    Firefly Viewing in Uji

    Uji
  6. Kiyomizu Temple and Otowa Waterfall
    6

    Kiyomizu Temple and Otowa Waterfall

    Culture
  7. Sou Sou Kyoto: The Flagship Store
    7

    Sou Sou Kyoto: The Flagship Store

    Shopping
  8. The Kimono Forest Of Arashiyama
    8

    The Kimono Forest Of Arashiyama

    Arashiyama
  9. The Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama
    9

    The Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama

    Arashiyama
  10. Autumn in Kyoto
    10

    Autumn in Kyoto

    Planning

Upcoming Kyoto Events

Tanabata and Light-up at Kodai-ji

Tanabata and Light-up at Kodai-ji

Jul 2nd - Jul 3rd

Colorful display of decorated bamboo branches in the carpark of Kodai-ji in Kyoto to celebrate the festival of Tanabata. The handmade..

5 Free
Hydrangea Season at Mimuroto-ji Temple
Activities

Hydrangea Season at Mimuroto-ji Temple

Early Jun - Early Jul

Each year during Japan's rainy season, Kyoto's Mimuroto-ji Temple opens their hydrangea garden, which is filled with around..

1 ¥500
Gion Matsuri
Culture

Gion Matsuri

Jul 1st - Jul 31st

Gion Matsuri is Kyoto’s largest festival which takes place throughout the month of July by the Yasaka Shrine.

3 Free
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Tours and experiences

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Where to eat in Kyoto

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Places to stay in Kyoto

Ine Boathouse Ryokan
Accommodation

Ine Boathouse Ryokan

Bonson Lam

At Ine there are surprises and delights in every season. In winter the mountains are blanketed by snow, and you are rewarded by..

2
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Latest Kyoto Reports

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About Kyoto

Okinawa Nagasaki Fukuoka Saga Kumamoto Kagoshima Miyazaki Oita Ehime Kochi Tokushima Kagawa Yamaguchi Hiroshima Okayama Tottori Shimane Hyogo Kyoto Osaka Wakayama Nara Shiga Mie Fukui Ishikawa Toyama Gifu Aichi Nagano Shizuoka Niigata Yamanashi Kanagawa Tokyo Saitama Gunma Tochigi Chiba Ibaraki Fukushima Miyagi Yamagata Iwate Akita Aomori Hokkaido
Region Kansai
Island Honshu
Capital Kyoto in Video
Population 2,636,092
Area 4,612.20 km²

Japan’s capital from AD 794 to 1868, the list of possible tourist destinations in Kyoto Prefecture (京都府, Kyōto-fu) is endless.

You can attempt to visit all of major sites, including but certainly not limited to: Fushimi Inari Shrine and its brilliant vermillion row of torii gates, its many temples (most notably Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjusangen-do, and Kinkaku-ji), Nijo Castle, and Amanohashidate (one of the Three Views of Japan).

Or you can attempt to “experience” Kyoto and its rich culture: appreciate the traditional architecture and maiko of the Gion district, witness the Gion Festival (held every July), and indulge in the various delicacies Kyoto has to offer, such as Uji matcha green tea, tofu, and various Japanese confectioneries. Kyoto is on the bucket list of many a traveller, and for good reason. 

Around Kyoto

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