Best Things to Do
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Popular Best Things to Do in Kyoto - 2024

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Discover the top attractions, sightseeing spots, activities, landmarks, and unforgettable experiences in Kyoto. Plan your perfect itinerary and make the most of your visit to this vibrant destination.
Updated May 2024
  • top_1

    Gion

    󰺂8.6
    4.8/5
    7676 Review
    Free
    "snow festival in Sapporo! i had such a great time there meeting new friends who were also my photographer! i love everything in Hokkaido though the weather is so cold. had a chance to watch live ice sculpturing ! such a memorable experience!"
    Kyoto.Gion
    1.2km from downtown
    Highlights: Situated in the scenic area of Higashiyama, Gion is a traditional entertainment district in Kyoto. Nowadays, it is a well-known attraction in Kyoto, and a must-see place for many tourists wishing to spot a geisha. During the day, the traditional Japanese restaurants and teahouses of this area serve as a place of relaxation, and visitors may often encounter geishas passing by. However, the evening is when this place really comes to life. You can expect to meet geisha and maiko here, or you could head to Gion Corner to watch a traditional art performance.
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  • top_2
    󰺂8.3
    4.7/5
    2424 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 6742 reviews
    "Beautiful landscapes west of Kyoto with a few landmarks to visit such as the Togetsukyo bridge and the bamboo groves and the restaurants and shops selling traditiona Japanesel snacks and motcha sweets. A lovely half day promenade to enjoy the area. Stop by a coffee shop or an outlet to taste traditional milk flavoured and motcha flavoured ice creams! A lot of nice souvenir pictures to take!"
    Kyoto.Arashiyama/Sagano/Takao
    9.2km from downtown
    Highlights: The area along the Kurokawa River, which flows through the western part of Kyoto City, is known as Arashiyama, and is a famous tourist attraction in Kyoto. Arashiyama has be the subject of many poems since ancient times. The cherry blossoms in spring and the red maple in autumn are famous sights. The beautiful scenery of the wild bamboo forest also reveals the unique charm of Kyoto. There are many famous temples and shrines scattered in the scenic area. The Katsuragawa and Togetsukyo Bridges starkly contrast with the mountains that stand behind them.
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  • top_3
    󰺂7.8
    4.5/5
    598 Review
    From5
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 911 reviews
    "Ctrip booking is very convenient. If you confirm the itinerary, it is best to book three days in advance to facilitate the selection of seats. It is a bit difficult for me to change my seat. The customer service understands the seat I want, and immediately helps me change it, praise! It is recommended to choose the double-numbered AD seat to better enjoy the scenery of Baojin Gorge."
    Kyoto.Arashiyama/Sagano/Takao
    8km from downtown
    Highlights: The Sagano Romantic Train is a sightseeing train line in Arashiyama that runs along the Hozukyo gorge. Passengers can enjoy spectacular natural scenery as they make their way through the surrounding forest. The little train takes you on a journey through the beauty of Arashiyama, with blooming cherry trees in spring, a refreshing babbling brook in summer, fluttering red leaves in autumn, and a captivating silvery-white valley in winter.
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  • No.

    4

    󰺂7.8
    4.7/5
    2733 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 11687 reviews
    "Even in the rain🌧☔️, it didn't dampen our excitement at this beautiful temple🎎⛩️ Walking upslope I saw various shops with matcha🍵, mochi 🍡🍢and memories that anybody would like spending time in. The rain brought a different perspective indeed."
    Kyoto.Gion/Kiyomizu Temple
    2.4km from downtown
    Highlights: Kiyomizu-dera Temple is an ancient temple in Kyoto and was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1994. The veranda of the temple suspended over the moutain is a national treasure of Japan. It is surrounded by green trees and is full of cherry blossoms in spring. In autumn, the red maple leaves is another attraction. It is equivalent to Kinkaku-jiand Arashiyama, and is a famous historical site in Kyoto. The pilgrims or visiting tourists who come to worship year round come in non-stop.
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  • No.

    5

    󰺂7.8
    4.7/5
    1928 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 24846 reviews
    "JR Inari Station is out of the station. The clear door is attracted to the comfortable color. The steps are inexhaustible. The countless bird houses are two or three hundred altitudes. It feels far-reaching. It is halfway back. It is not willing to climb to the highest point. The new road returns. If the foot is not enough, stop."
    Kyoto
    5km from downtown
    Highlights: Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto. People come to worship Inari Okami, the god harvest and commercial success. The Torii leading to the main shrine is a famous landscape of this shrine. This long and endless pathway is arranged from the foot of the mountain to the mountain. It is one of the representative landscapes of Kyoto and has appeared in the movie “Memoirs of a Geisha”. Because the fox is regarded as the messenger of the Inari Okami, the fox-faced shaped emas are a major feature here.
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  • No.

    6

    󰺂7.7
    4.6/5
    1617 Review
    From7.62
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 7070 reviews
    "Just chased Netflix "Shufu General", so you must go to Tokugawa's home to see. Ctrip's joint ticket is still cost-effective. Erzhimaru Godai has to take off his shoes to visit. I am impressed and no photos are allowed. The courtyard scenery is good."
    Kyoto.Nijo Castle
    1.8km from downtown
    Highlights: Once the acting residence of the Tokugawa shoguns while in Kyoto, Nijo Castle is also serves as a symbol of the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The castle is surrounded by high walls and a moat, with the inside rooms connected by a corridor installed with the famous "nightingale floors". These floors were designed to make a chirping sound when walked upon so as to prevent intruding assassins at night. The castle opens in the evening during cherry blossom season, attracting flocks of visitors to view the magnificent cherry blossom trees.
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  • No.

    7

    󰺂7.2
    4.7/5
    2087 Review
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 17300 reviews
    "I went Kinkaku-ji from Osaka using public transportation and it was quite a long journey.. it’s worth going if you got enough time to travel. overall in my experience it was wonderful, the nature around the temple was beautiful, I would definitely go again :)"
    Kyoto.Ohara/Kibune/Kurama
    4.7km from downtown
    Highlights: Kinkaku-ji is an ancient Japanese temple in Kyoto. Completed in 1397, it originally served as the villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, but was later transformed into a Zen Buddhist temple. Originally named Rokuon-ji (literally "Deer Garden Temple"), it is also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion owing to the gold foil that the outside of the building is wrapped in. In addition to being a famous tourist attraction, Kinkaku-ji has also been designated as a National Treasure by the Japanese government and is a symbol of Kyoto.
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  • No.

    8

    󰺂6.8
    4.6/5
    548 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 5 reviews
    "Early morning walk in this old neighborhood is nothing can be compared. No matter how many time you spend here, you will be forever be enamored."
    Kyoto.Gion
    2.1km from downtown
    Highlights: Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka, located near Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, make up two of the historically protected blocks here, the other one being Kiyomizuzaka. Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka are two small stone-paved slopes lined with steps, with Sannenzaka a small path linking Kiyomizuzaka with Ninenzaka. The houses here are mostly Machiya-style wooden houses built in the Edo period, with most vendors selling Kiyomizu ware and ancient Kyoto porcelain products. There are also quaint restaurants and souvenir shops to be found.
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  • No.

    9

    󰺂6.5
    4.6/5
    650 Review
    Free
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1644 reviews
    "Remember 2019.11 Kansai Late Autumn Festival~ Yasaka Shrine is not far from the hotel where you live, and you can walk. Sometimes you pass by when you go to other attractions in the morning, and pass by when you return at night. You wear a kimono that day and go to Yasaka Shrine to make a card. The different scenes of the Yasser Shrine during the day and night are appreciated. The scenery is charming and beautiful against the blue sky and white clouds, and the lanterns that light up in the shrine are particularly solemn and quiet under the dusk. Different scenery, completely different feelings. The Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto is relatively large and holds a Gion sacrifice every year. The people who come to Yasaka Shrine to pray for blessings are endless and very popular. Next to the Yasaka Shrine is Yuanshan Park, you can visit together."
    Kyoto.Gion
    1.3km from downtown
    Highlights: Located in the Higashiyama scenic area of Kyoto and commonly called Gion Shrine, Yasaka Shrine is the most important Shinto shrine of the approximately 3,000 sub-shrines throughout Japan. The rather unique mikoshi (divine palanquin) within allows visitors the chance to pray to the God of Beauty. The shrine's ritual activity is known as the Gion Festival (Gion Matsuri), which is one of the three great Shinto festivals of Japan, together with the Kanda Festival (Kanda Matsuri) in Tokyo and the Tenjin Festival (Tenjin Matsuri) in Osaka. Yasaka Shrine is also a popular hanami (cherry blossom viewing) site in spring.
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  • No.

    10

    󰺂6.3
    4.6/5
    496 Review
    From4.59
    taCommentScoreUrlbased on 1226 reviews
    "The Kyoto Tower offers a captivating experience, particularly with its collaboration featuring Hibike Euphonium. The ambiance is heightened by the OST playing in the background, which resonates deeply and enhances the overall atmosphere. Witnessing Kumiko on the big screen generates an exhilarating excitement, adding an extra layer of immersion to the visit. This unique collaboration elevates the tower visit to an unforgettable, musically enchanting experience for fans and visitors alike."
    Kyoto.Kyoto City Centre
    2.8km from downtown
    Highlights: • Offers a lot of entertainment inside. • Enjoy the panoramic view from Kyoto Tower's observatory deck. • Get a new angle on sightseeing famous sights such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Toji Temple and so on.Standing tall in front of Kyoto Station, Kyoto Tower is one of the landmarks of Kyoto, remembered by almost every visitor to the city. The tower itself is designed in the shape of a candle, while the observatory deck provides a great place to look out over the streets of Kyoto and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding shrines, temples, and Higashiyama mountains. In addition to the observatory, a restaurant, hot spring, and hotel can be found inside the tower.△ The elegant white and slim structure of Kyoto Tower was built with the motif of a lighthouse.△ A glance at the night view of Kyoto△ The 100-meter observation deck is the highest in the city of Kyoto and provides picturesque panoramic views of the former capital.
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FAQ

What are some Best Things to Do in Kyoto?
Some Best Things to Do in Kyoto include:Gion, Arashiyama, Arashiyama Sagano Romantic Train, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Fushimi Inari Taisha
What are some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Kyoto?
Some highly-rated Best Things to Do in Kyoto include:Gion:4.8, Arashiyama:4.7, Arashiyama Sagano Romantic Train:4.5, Kiyomizu-dera Temple:4.7, Fushimi Inari Taisha:4.7
At what locations in Kyoto can Best Things to Do in Kyoto be found?
The Best Things to Do in Kyoto are mainly located in:Gion:Kyoto, Arashiyama:Kyoto, Arashiyama Sagano Romantic Train:Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera Temple:Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha:Kyoto
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