Kyoto 10 days

The modern gateway to Kyoto, featuring a striking architectural design. It serves as a major hub for Shinkansen (bullet trains) and local transit.

• Purchase an ICOCA card for easy local travel.

Kyoto's most famous geisha district, known for its traditional wooden machiya houses, teahouses, and exclusive restaurants. Stroll through its atmospheric streets and perhaps catch a glimpse of a geiko or maiko.

• Visit Hanamikoji Street for the best chance to see geiko and maiko.
• Be respectful and refrain from intrusive photography.

A narrow, atmospheric alley running parallel to the Kamo River, lined with traditional restaurants and bars. Many offer riverside dining during warmer months.

• Reservations are highly recommended, especially for restaurants with river views.

A stunning Zen Buddhist temple whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. It is set amidst a beautiful garden and reflects magnificently in the surrounding pond.

• Arrive early to avoid the largest crowds.

Famous for its enigmatic Zen rock garden, which consists of 15 rocks arranged on white gravel. The garden's meaning is open to interpretation and invites contemplation.

• Sit and observe the garden for a while to appreciate its serenity.

A beautiful temple complex with a five-story pagoda and a palace. It's particularly famous for its late-blooming cherry trees in spring and its late-blooming omuro cherry trees.

• Explore the Goten (Former Imperial Palace) within the temple grounds.

A large public park surrounding the former Imperial Palace. While the palace itself requires advance booking for tours, the park offers a peaceful green space for a stroll.

• Check for any special events or illuminations in the park.

An iconic and enchanting path through towering bamboo stalks, creating a serene and otherworldly atmosphere. It's one of Kyoto's most photographed natural sights.

• Visit very early in the morning to experience its tranquility before the crowds arrive.
• Consider renting a bike for a more extensive exploration of the Arashiyama area.

A major Zen temple in Arashiyama, renowned for its beautiful landscape garden designed by Muso Soseki. The garden offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

• The garden is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-see.

A picturesque bridge spanning the Katsura River in Arashiyama, offering beautiful views of the forested mountains. It's a central landmark of the area.

A charming, well-preserved street in Arashiyama that retains the atmosphere of old Japan, with traditional houses and shops. It's less crowded than the main tourist paths.

• Look for small artisan shops selling local crafts.

Famous for its thousands of vibrant red torii gates that wind up a mountainside. It's dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.

• Wear comfortable shoes as you'll be doing a lot of walking and climbing.
• The higher you climb, the fewer people you'll encounter.

A historic area known for its many sake breweries. The district's canals and traditional buildings offer a glimpse into Kyoto's sake-making heritage.

• Visit the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum for insights into sake production.
• Enjoy a sake tasting at one of the local breweries.

A large Zen temple complex renowned for its stunning autumn foliage and its picturesque Tsutenkyo Bridge, which offers panoramic views.

• The bridge area can get crowded during peak seasons.

A pleasant stone path that follows a canal lined with hundreds of cherry trees. It's named after a famous Japanese philosopher who is said to have meditated while walking this route.

• Best experienced during cherry blossom season (early April) or autumn.
• Numerous small cafes and shops are located along the path.

A Zen temple whose grounds feature a unique dry sand garden and a moss garden. Despite its name, it was never covered in silver.

• The sand garden, designed to represent moonlight, is a highlight.

A significant Zen Buddhist temple complex featuring impressive temple buildings, a large Sanmon gate, and a striking brick aqueduct running through its grounds.

• Climb to the top of the Sanmon gate for panoramic views of Kyoto.

A prominent art museum showcasing both traditional Japanese art and contemporary exhibitions. Its architecture blends modern and traditional elements.

• Check the museum's website for current exhibitions.

Kyoto's 'kitchen,' a narrow, five-block long shopping street lined with over one hundred shops and restaurants selling fresh seafood, produce, pickles, sweets, and kitchenware. It's a vibrant culinary destination.

• Sample various local delicacies from the food stalls.
• Look for unique Kyoto ingredients and souvenirs.

A covered shopping arcade running parallel to Nishiki Market, offering a wide variety of goods from traditional crafts and antiques to modern fashion and souvenirs.

Located in the Fushimi Sake District, this museum showcases the history and process of sake brewing. It includes a tasting room.

• Combine with a visit to the Fushimi Inari Shrine if you haven't already.

A lively street known for its restaurants, bars, and nightlife, particularly along the Takase River. It offers a more modern and vibrant evening atmosphere.

• Many restaurants offer outdoor seating by the river in warmer months.

A city south of Kyoto, renowned as the birthplace of Japanese tea culture. It's famous for its high-quality matcha and sencha.

• Visit tea shops for tastings and to purchase high-quality tea.
• Enjoy matcha-flavored sweets and ice cream.

A UNESCO World Heritage site featuring the stunning Phoenix Hall (Hoo-do), depicted on the Japanese 10 yen coin. It's a prime example of Heian period architecture.

• The Phoenix Hall interior requires a separate, timed entry ticket.

One of Japan's oldest bridges, offering scenic views of the Uji River and the surrounding landscape. It has historical and literary significance.

Focuses on pre-modern Japanese and Asian art, with a significant collection of Buddhist sculptures, ceramics, and calligraphy. The architecture itself is impressive.

• Check for special exhibitions, as they often feature unique collections.

The former residence of the Japanese Imperial family until 1947. The palace grounds are extensive, featuring traditional architecture and serene gardens.

• Free guided tours are available and recommended for understanding the history and architecture. Book in advance online via the Imperial Household Agency website.

A former residence of the Tokugawa shogunate, famous for its 'nightingale floors' designed to chirp when walked upon, and its ornate architecture and beautiful gardens.

• The Ninomaru Palace is the highlight, with its impressive paintings and security features.

A paradise for manga enthusiasts, housing a vast collection of manga from Japan and around the world. Visitors can read manga on 'walls of manga'.

• Great for a rainy day or a break from traditional sightseeing.

A historic Buddhist temple famous for its wooden stage that juts out from the main hall, offering panoramic views of the city and surrounding cherry and maple trees. The main hall was rebuilt in 1633.

• The Otowa Waterfall, where visitors drink for health, longevity, and success, is a popular spot.

A beautifully preserved historic district with narrow cobblestone streets, traditional wooden buildings, shops, and cafes. It leads up to Kiyomizu-dera.

• Explore Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka slopes for picturesque scenery and shopping.

A beautiful Zen Buddhist temple founded in memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi by his wife. It features exquisite gardens, including a rock garden and a bamboo grove.

• The temple is particularly beautiful when illuminated during special evening events.

A cultural performance venue offering a condensed showcase of traditional Japanese arts, including tea ceremony, ikebana, koto music, kyogen theater, and maiko dance.

• A good option for experiencing multiple traditional arts in one evening.

A large public park famous for its freely roaming wild sika deer, considered messengers of the gods. It also contains several temples and shrines.

• Purchase 'shika senbei' (deer crackers) to feed the deer, but be mindful of their behavior.
• The deer are generally tame but can be assertive.

A UNESCO World Heritage site housing a colossal bronze statue of Buddha (Daibutsu). The Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) is one of the world's largest wooden buildings.

• Look for the pillar with a hole at its base; children who can squeeze through are said to receive enlightenment.

A Shinto shrine famous for its thousands of bronze and stone lanterns that line the paths and hang from the buildings. It's dedicated to the god of wind and storms.

• The lantern-lined paths leading to the shrine are very atmospheric.

Return to Kyoto Station for your onward journey. The station offers various dining and shopping options.