Kyoto Japan has so many amazing things to see including the famous Fushimi Inari Taisha Shine, the Bamboo Forest and so many more places!
I travelled around Japan for 2 weeks visiting 5 different Japanese cities and Kyoto was my FAVOURITE.
I want every one of you reading this to have as amazing of an experience visiting Kyoto as I did and I believe if you add these Kyoto Japan activities to your Japan itinerary you will have the most AMAZING time!
This post is all about the best things to do in Kyoto Japan.
Overview of the top things to do in Kyoto Japan:
@never_ending_travel This is your sign to visit Kyoto Japan❤️ #kyoto #kyotojapan #japan #japantravel
♬ Originalton – St☆rgirl
7 Best Things to do in Kyoto Japan
1. Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
I am sure everyone travelling Japan and thinking of visiting Kyoto has seen the iconic photos at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. This shrine is just like all the photos if not BETTER! You walk through hundreds of these red gates as you walk up and down the hill/mountain this shine is on. It is a bit of a walk so be prepared it is steep in some areas but well worth it. The pathway through Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is around 4 km but lots of people do not hike all the way up to the top.
Do you know what makes Fushimi Inari Taisha even better ITS FREE to enter and open 24 hours a day!
2. Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu-dera Temple is a BEAUTIFUL temples in eastern Kyoto Japan. This temple is located on a hill with beautiful views looking over the city of Kyoto. Kiyomizu-dera Temple is part of the Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Depending on your mode of transport to reach this temple you may need to walk a bit up to the temple. There is a train station around a 20-30 minute walk away from Kiyomizu-dera Temple. There are various bus stops a bit closer between 5-10 minutes down the road. Just prepare yourself for a bit of a walk up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple since its a bit steep.
To look around the beautiful outside of the temple is FREE but if you want to enter it costs 500 JPY for adults which is just over 3 USD.
3. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest + Tenryu-ji Gardens
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a MUST add to your Kyoto travel itinerary. This bamboo forest is incredible to walk through seeing tons of tall bamboo plants surrounding you. The Bamboo Forest in Kyoto is just like the photos you see online and is unreal to see in person.
There is two options when visiting Arashiyama Bamboo Forest you visit just the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and its FREE or you start with a walk through
Tenryu-ji Gardens before making your way to the Bamboo Forest. The entrance free to Tenryuji Garden and Ground is 500 yen and an extra 300 yen if you want to enter the main building.
The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Tenryu-ji Gardens are a bit outside the city center so there are various ways to get here. If you are crazy like me and my sister you can rent bikes for the day and bike around 40 km in total to the forest and back (I wouldn’t recommend this options from experience). You can take the train to Saga-Arashiyama Station and walk to Tenryu-ji Gardens or Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. You can take a taxi for around 30 minutes. The last option is you book a tour that visits Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Tenryu-ji Gardens.
If you want to book a tour to the Bamboo Forest in Kyoto I recommend visiting GetYourGuide they have lots of tour options. Click HERE to see all the tours options GetYourGuide offers.
WARNING for before you visit Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Tenryu-ji Gardens this is a very popular tourist attraction so if you want to experience this without a huge crowd of people around you GO EARLY!
4. Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market is a huge Japanese food market full of various stalls selling all kinds of Japanese food. This is a great spot to visit to try some delicious local foods like Tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), Mochi (Japanese desert), Takoyaki (octopus balls), and so much more!
Nishiki Market is located near Shijo Station on Nishikikoji-dori street. This market is usually open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm which give you plenty of time to visit, walk around, and try some amazing food.
If you are a FOOD LOVER like myself you need to add Nishiki Market to your Kyoto Itinerary.
5. Walk around the Gion District
The Gion District is an neighbourhood in Kyoto also known as the Geisha District. A Geisha is a Japanese entertainer/performer who is skilled in various area such as dancing, music, singing, and more. In the Gion district you can often spot Geishas in their colourful outfits called kimonos walking around the streets.
There are various things to see in Gion District like Hanamikji street which is one of the most famous streets in Kyoto. The Gion District is filled with beautiful streets you can walk around for hours.
If you want to learn more about the Gion District and its history there are lots of walking tours that visit this area of Kyoto. Click HERE to see various walking tours options of the Gion District.
6. Kyoto Imperial Palace
The Kyoto Imperial Palace is the former palace of the Emperor of Japan. This Imperial Palace has a unique background as it was burnt down various times by fires and it was constantly rebuilt. The Imperial Palace has large grounds surrounding it which you can spend lots of time walking around before or after you walk around the actual palace. If you rented bikes for a day in Kyoto, like I did my first day in Kyoto, biking around the Imperial Palace grounds is a great way to see more of it in a shorter amount of time (and there is a place to park your bikes before entering the palace).
To enter Kyotos Imperial Palace is FREE. The hours for Kyoto Imperial Palace change depending on various reasons so I recommend double checking online that its open for the day you plan to visit. But the Imperial Palace is usually open 9:00-5:00 (April-August), 9:00-4:30 (September-March), and 9:00-4:00 (October-February).
7. Visit Pontocho Alley
The last spot on the list of the best things to do in Kyoto Japan is walk along Pontocho Alley. Pontocho Alley is a famous walking street in Kyoto known for its restaurants, bars, and nightlife. If you are looking for somewhere to go at night for some fun check out Pontocho Alley.
Pontocho Alley is right next to the Kamo River so it is also I nice street to visit during a walk around Kyoto. When I first arrived in Kyoto I went for a walk along Pontocho Alley, sat along the Kamo River before crossing the river to walk around the Gion District. This walk was a great way to see the city and hit some of the top sights.
That brings us to the end of this list of the top 7 best things to do in Kyoto Japan. Kyoto is such an amazing travel destination you NEED to add to your Japan itinerary. I promise if you add these activities to your Kyoto travel itinerary you will have the most amazing visit to Kyoto. If you have any questions comment here or message me on any of my other social media pages I would LOVE to chat. Hope you have the most amazing trip to Japan and safe travels!
