Temples, geisha & bamboo groves
Kyoto
京都 · A thousand years of temples
Japan's imperial capital for a millennium, Kyoto holds the country's soul — 1,600 temples, moss gardens, geisha districts and tea houses. Slow down and let old Japan reveal itself lane by lane.
Top sightsSights
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Thousands of vermilion torii gates winding up a sacred mountain — go early to beat the crowds.
Kinkaku-ji
The Golden Pavilion, its gold-leaf walls mirrored in a still reflecting pond.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
A soaring green tunnel of bamboo on the city’s western edge.
Gion district
Kyoto’s geisha quarter of wooden machiya houses, teahouses and lantern-lit lanes.
Kiyomizu-dera
A hillside temple on wooden stilts with sweeping views over the city.
What to eatFood
Kaiseki
Exquisite multi-course seasonal cuisine, Kyoto’s refined culinary art.
Yudofu
Simmered tofu, a Buddhist temple specialty best in winter.
Matcha sweets
Uji green tea in everything from parfaits to warabi mochi.
Good to know
- Rent a bicycle — Kyoto is flat and its temples are wonderfully bike-friendly.
- Visit famous shrines at dawn to experience them without the crowds.
- Respect geisha in Gion — do not chase or block them for photos.
Getting there
Just over 2 hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen; the nearest airport is Osaka Kansai (KIX), about 75 minutes away.
Next city
Osaka