A beautiful yet overcrowded city filled with historic temples, shrines, and excellent food. To beat the crowds, visit top sites as soon as they open.

Kyoto Recommendations:

Arashiyama - scenic area with monkeys, a bamboo forest, and riverside views
Fushimi Inari Shrine - iconic shrine with a path of red torii gates up the mountainside
Kinkaku-ji - the Golden Pavilion, a stunning temple with gardens and a reflecting pond
Kiyomizu-dera - Buddhist temple with panoramic views from its large veranda
Nishiki Market - 400-year-old market filled with Japanese food stalls
Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple - unique temple with over 1,200 carved stone statues
Ryōan-ji - 15th-century Zen temple with a famous rock garden and yudofu restaurant

Kyoto Restaurant Recommendations:

Tokuwo - one of my favorite restaurants in Japan and reservations can be made online and are required
Kikkoya - my other favorite restaurant in Kyoto. They are famous for their tofu dishes and they offer a menu in English. I would recommend making a reservation

Day or Side Trips:

Kifune-jinja Shrine - charming Shinto shrine along a lantern-lit path in the mountain
Miho Museum - architecturally stunning museum by I.M. Pei with ancient art exhibits
Mount Hiei - notable peak with temples, hiking, and funicular routes
Nakamura Tokichi Honten - traditional tea house in Japan’s green tea capital. Expect long wait times
Nara Park - historic park with temples, art, and free-roaming deer
Nintendo Museum - new museum dedicated to Nintendo, open since October 2024 and requires a reservation

Final Advice

If I could only choose one place to visit in Kyoto, I would go to the Fushimi Inari Shrine as early as possible and definitely before 9 AM when the school and tour buses arrive. Last time I was there, we arrived around 6:30 AM and it felt like we had the whole mountain to ourselves

Kyoto in a Nutshell

Tokyo’s Best Skyline Views

Japan Connectivity Guide