There’s so much to see in Japan’s ancient capital. Here’s a little taste to get you started — we’ll discover the rest together in person!
Ready to set off for Kyoto?
Awesome! But do you already know what to see once you get there? Probably yes, but we bet there are a few places you might have missed.
That’s where we come in: in this article, we’ll show you the coolest spots in Japan’s ancient capital, the ones you absolutely can’t miss if you want to make the most of it.
Ready?
Catch them all!
Kiyomizudera Temple
Let’s start with Kiyomizudera Temple, a place that feels like a Japanese painting brought to life. When we go see it in person, you’ll climb a whole lot of steps wondering, “Whose idea was this?” — but then the view will take your breath away, and not just because of the climb.
And if you visit in autumn or spring, the colors burst out like a festival of natural fireworks! <3<3<3
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Fushimi Inari Taisha
Next up is Fushimi Inari Taisha, famous for its endless rows of red torii gates. Sadly, no cows — but we’ll manage (ba-dum-tss).
You still haven’t run away after the saddest joke ever? Too bad for you!
Back to Fushimi Inari Taisha: this dreamlike shrine has a whole lot of torii — around 800 gates decorating the entire path that leads to the main building of the complex! Incredible!
But who even came up with the idea of placing so many of them there?
Strange but true: starting in the 17th century, it was mostly major Japanese companies (and sometimes private citizens) that got into the habit of donating torii gates to make a wish come true or to give thanks for a wish that had already been fulfilled.
The Silver and Golden Pavilions
And what, were we supposed to leave out Ginkaku-ji and Kinkaku-ji temples?
Ah yes, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion and the Temple of the Golden Pavilion.
As it happens, the first one doesn’t actually contain even a trace of silver. Apparently, the shogun who commissioned it had planned to cover the building with sheets of this precious metal, but something went wrong and the work was never completed.
No matter — it’s already spectacular just as it is!
Kinkaku-ji, on the other hand, did manage to get covered in shimmering splendor, and today it appears in a beautiful golden cloak reflected in the pond in front of it. A postcard-perfect view that will make your heart melt.
Nijō Castle
As soon as you step into its creaking corridors, you’ll feel like you’ve walked into a Kurosawa film.
Known for its magnificently decorated doors and beautiful halls, the real highlight of the complex is its gardens — a little corner of paradise where every detail is designed to bring peace and tranquility.
The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
This is one place you absolutely cannot miss. It’s exactly what the name makes you imagine: a huge forest thick with gigantic bamboo stalks. And truly gigantic — walking through them makes you feel tiny!
What you can’t really imagine unless you’ve visited it before, though, is the sense of calm and serenity that comes from a lovely walk among all that greenery.
Amazing!
The Gion District
Picture yourself in Kyoto, in a maze of cobbled streets.
Wooden houses line quiet alleys, where the only music is the rustle of kimono brushing the ground. It’s an atmosphere from another era, where time seems to have stopped in the age of the geisha.
And geisha are exactly what we’re talking about: Gion is their undisputed kingdom.
It’s a district rich in history and culture, where you can lose yourself among artisan workshops selling old-world objects, kimono shops, and traditional restaurants where you can taste real Japanese cuisine — the kind so good you’ll want to eat without holding back.
The Higashiyama District
Another district that is, in part, actually the same as the one before. Yes, because Kyoto is just that amazing: it has neighborhoods inside neighborhoods, like Russian dolls — Gion is in fact part of Higashiyama.
But what else is there to see here besides the kingdom of the geisha?
A whole lot more, including two delightful little streets so charming they’ll completely steal your heart: Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka.
They’re located just below Kiyomizudera Temple, which we mentioned earlier, and they are straight out of a fairy tale: typical Japanese wooden houses, with sliding rice-paper doors and lanterns hanging outside, lining a stone-paved path flanked by cherry trees.
Absolutely incredible!
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In conclusion
We’ve described some of Kyoto’s most fascinating sights, but only a handful. There’s so much more to discover in this historic city, a place that will enchant you with its beauty and culture.
And you can experience all these amazing places directly with us at Sto Gran Tour!
Book your spot on the next Japan tour, and we’ll let you experience Kyoto — and many other destinations in the Land of the Rising Sun — in ways you never imagined.
It will be an unforgettable experience!
