Best Things to Do in Kyoto

More about visiting Kyoto

Kyoto, the imperial capital of Japan for over a thousand years, is the cultural and spiritual heart of the country. It is a city where ancient traditions survive alongside modernity, boasting thousands of classical Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and stunning gardens.

One of the most iconic sights is the Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its mesmerizing path of thousands of vibrant vermilion torii gates winding up the sacred mountain. Equally breathtaking is Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), a stunning Zen temple completely covered in gold leaf that reflects perfectly in its surrounding pond.

In the western outskirts lies Arashiyama, renowned for its towering, otherworldly Bamboo Grove and the scenic Togetsukyo Bridge. It is an area that is particularly spectacular during the cherry blossom season in spring and the fiery red leaf viewing in autumn.

As evening falls, wander through the historic streets of Gion. Lined with preserved wooden *machiya* houses, exclusive tea houses, and traditional restaurants, it is the best place in Japan to catch a fleeting glimpse of an elegant geisha or maiko rushing to her appointments.