Kyoto travel guide
Best Things to Do in Kyoto
The number one thing to do in Kyoto is Fushimi Inari Taisha — the tunnels of 10,000 vermilion gates are free, open 24 hours, and crowd-free before 7am. Walk past the first gate junction and you will have the mountain almost to yourself.
What to do in Kyoto
Kyoto’s rule of thumb: temples at dawn, gardens at midday, Gion at dusk. The famous sights are genuinely worth it — you just have to beat the tour buses to them.
The best things to do in Kyoto
-
Fushimi Inari Taisha · Shrine
10,000 vermilion torii gates tunnelling up a sacred mountain
Area: Fushimi · Time needed: 2–3 hours (full loop) · Cost: Free
-
Kiyomizu-dera · Temple
Wooden stage suspended over a hillside of maples and cherry trees
Area: Higashiyama · Time needed: 1.5 hours · Cost: ¥500
-
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove · Nature
Towering bamboo corridor — magical at sunrise, packed by 10am
Area: Arashiyama · Time needed: 1 hour (plus Tenryu-ji) · Cost: Free
-
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) · Temple
Gold-leaf pavilion mirrored in a still pond — Kyoto’s postcard
Area: Kita · Time needed: 1 hour · Cost: ¥500
-
Gion evening walk · Historic district
Lantern-lit machiya lanes with geiko heading to appointments at dusk
Area: Gion · Time needed: 1–2 hours · Cost: Free
-
Nishiki Market · Market
400-year-old food street — “Kyoto’s kitchen” in five blocks
Area: Downtown · Time needed: 1–1.5 hours · Cost: Free (snacks ¥200–800)
Also in kansai
best things to do in Kyoto — FAQs
What is the number one thing to do in Kyoto?
The number one thing to do in Kyoto is Fushimi Inari Taisha — the tunnels of 10,000 vermilion gates are free, open 24 hours, and crowd-free before 7am. Walk past the first gate junction and you will have the mountain almost to yourself.
Is Kyoto or Tokyo better for a first Japan trip?
Both — Tokyo for modern energy and food, Kyoto for temples and tradition. Most first trips split 3–4 days Tokyo and 2–3 days Kyoto, connected by a 2-hour-15-minute shinkansen. If forced to choose one, Kyoto is the more uniquely Japanese experience.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.