After the bustling capital of Tokyo, it’s time to head to the cultural hub of Japan; Kyoto. This city is legendary across the world. The top things to do in Kyoto include its walking through shrines and temples, visiting tea houses, bamboo groves and gardens, as well as even seeing the locations which inspired Pokêmon Gold and Silver.
When I arrived in 2025, I remember thinking that Kyoto is far bigger than I thought. If you are a first-time visitor to this enchanting city, here is your guide to unveiling it. I’ll take you through all of the main things to see, as well as my handy top tips for first-time visitors.
Top Things to Do in Kyoto for First-Time Visitors | Your Quick Guide
Getting Around Kyoto
Kyoto is an older city than Tokyo. It is nowhere near as built-up, with strict limits imposed on building height and width to maintain its historic identity. This does mean that public transport is not what you’d expect of a major city.
There is a Metro which covers the length of the city, but this is very limited. In fact, whilst there are some smaller lines, it mostly consists of one giant on which runs straight from one end to the other. Buses do run frequently though and you can get to all of the major sites through them.
However, there is a little bit of an issue. Kyoto is vast and all of the main attractions are dotted along different ends of the city’s limits. To make things worse, this means that all of the tourists are concentrated in these few small areas. Unlike Tokyo – where tourists are lost in the vastness – expect massive crowds at any place you go, unless you go first thing in the morning. This means that you have to be tactical when it comes to getting around and planning is needed to make the most of it.
As with all my blog posts, I’d recommend downloading the Suica card onto your phone, as well as making sure you have an eSIM to navigate. Check out my review on SimLocal to get a discount code on any purchase.
Where to Stay in Kyoto
As most of the sights of Kyoto are sparsely distributed, I’d recommend staying in the Old Town. You’ll firstly be in a quieter neighbourhood (in fact, some hotels and hostels here can be very residential rather than touristy) and you’ll be near all of the main public transport routes.
For our first hotel, we stayed at the Marufukuro. This was, without doubt, one of the best decisions we made. It is a luxury hotel in the heart of the Old Town and once was the HQ, and primary home, of the founder of Nintendo; Fusajiro Yamauchi. The hotel even has a private collection of Nintendo memorabilia open only to guest. I think that the best part though was the experience of the hotel – check out my Marufukuro hotel review for more information. You won’t regret staying here I can promise you; it is one of my favourite hotels ever.
After Marufukuro, we also stayed at Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi. Compared to the Marufukuro, it was rather basic. However, for a more affordable hotel we really liked this. A highlight for us was the traditional tatami flooring in the room, along with the shoji screens on the window. It also was within walking distance of Metro and bus stations, as well as the Nishiki Market.
Shrines and Temple Trips
These are the shrines and temples which you would do as solo trips usually, or by combining a few of them. Most of these are on the outskirts of the city and you’ll therefore need to plan how you’ll see them. It is made even more complicated when you consider that these are some of the most popular destinations in all of Kyoto.
All of these though are impressive in their own way and are well worth seeing whilst you are in Kyoto.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Without a doubt, the most famous shrine in Kyoto is Fushimi Inari Taisha. You have almost certainly seen it before; it is a shrine lined with thousands of vibrant red torii gates. The pathway takes up up the mountain and a complete trail takes anywhere from 2-3 hours.
Now, I have to say that this shrine gets busy. So much so, that if you arrive anytime after 09:00am, I promise you that you won’t find it to be a relaxing experience and you won’t get a picture with nobody else in it. For this one, I’d suggest getting here as early as possible. We actually arrived at 07:30 and it was already quite busy. As you walk up the path, you’ll also notice that the crowds dissipate. Be aware though, this is relatively far away from the Old Town.
If you decide not to walk all the way to the top, then not to worry. You’ll eventually reach a fork in the road which will take you right back down to the start of the path.
Top Tip: Climbing can be hungry work! If you don’t do the full walk and turn down at the fork, you’ll walk past the restaurant called Vermillion. This looks over the river and serves some really nice food. However, there is – like all good establishments in Japan – a waiting list and a queue. If you can, try to get here first to put your name on the list. That way, when it opens at 08:30, you’ll be top of the list.
The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji)
Kinkaku-ji is one of the most iconic spots in Japan, let alone Kyoto. It is without doubt best known for its decadent gold leaf which coats the temple, aptly earning it the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whilst the pavilion is obviously very impressive and the main reason you come here, I also really liked the gardens here. The pond surrounding the pavilion in particular is beautiful and you’ll usually see herons and egrets in the shallow waters.
As you follow the path around, you’ll see the pavilion from different perspectives, eventually climbing up to get a full view of the building and surrounding gardens. The full path will take you around half-an-hour to complete, including stopping for photographs.
Similarly to Fushimi Inari Taisha, the Golden Pavilion is not in the most ideal location for tourists. In fact, from the centre of the city, it will take you over 40 minutes by bus. Another similarity is the popularity of the shrine with tourists. Again, this is best enjoyed early or late in the day. During the middle of the day, there are loads of tours which operate here, which can mean that photography (and enjoyment, for that matter) is challenging.
Tip: The Golden Pavilion is not really near anything in particular. I’d suggest doing this one at the start of one of your days, before maybe heading back into Kyoto to explore the centre.
Daigo-ji Temple
Daigo-ji is a must-see if you’re in Kyoto during cherry blossom or the autumnal season. Once again, it is rather out of the way, but you could combine it with Fushimi Inari – they’re not too far apart. The temple dates back to the 9th Century, and is famous in Japan for housing many national treasures.
Unlike the two above, I wouldn’t actually say that Daigo-ji gets too busy. Of course, tours do operate here and crowds can build up, but I don’t think they hinder the experience as much as Fushimi Inari or the Golden Pavilion. Either way, Daigo-ji is definitely one of the top things to do in Kyoto.
Ninna-ji Temple
Ninna-ji can be found near to the Golden Pavilion – in fact, it is only a 5 minute taxi away. It is a far more humble shrine though and doesn’t attract anywhere near as many tourists as its golden neighbour.
Similarly to the other shrines on this list, Nina-ji is famous for its extensive grounds. In particular, the cherry blossoms that bloom here are spectacular, especially at the end of the cherry blossom season due to the late blooming omura cherry trees.
What is quite interesting about Ninna-ji is that it has royal connections. In fact, for centuries (and the history dates back to the 9th Century), the head priest here as been a member of the Imperial Family. For that reason, and for the style of the architecture, it is also know as the Omura Imperial Palace.
Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
We discovered Higashi Hongan-ji Temple almost by accident. On the way down to Kyoto Station one day, we noticed a colossal building on the side of the road. It was incredible and, despite it being relatively late, there were virtually no tourists despite it being one of the most impressive buildings we’d seen.
This was of course Higashi Hongan-ji, one of the most underrated destinations in Kyoto. The main hall is gigantic. In fact, it is one of the largest wooden structures in the world. Unlike the rest of this list, don’t expect there to be any tourists here aside from those who either know Kyoto well or stumbled across it by accident.
Walking around this temple was actually one of the highlights of Japan for me. I can’t tell you just how amazing it is and I would recommend a visit to anyone. Definitely one of the top things to do in Kyoto.
Tip: Unlike the other shrines in this section, Higashi Hongan-ji is very conveniently placed. You could combine this on your way to the station to begin a shorter day trip – see below for more information.
Centre of Kyoto
Gion District and Nearby
There are a few things I want to include in this sub-section as Gion is actually quite interesting. As a disclaimer though, it is also probably the busiest place in the city. If you leave it too late, the place will be absolutely rammed with tourists. This makes it quite inconvenient, but also quite scary. Legend has it that if you stumble on these streets you’ll meet your end in the next 3 years. With all the pushing and shoving, it is difficult not to accidentally tempt fate!
Traditional Tea Houses
When you think of Kyoto, you think of Geishas. These are professionally-skilled entertainers and you’ll see them walking around Gion and nearby areas. You might also see Maiko, apprentice Geisha who are usually in more vibrant colours. Traditional tea houses usually have Geishas who perform tea ceremonies, and tourists can book these (for a fee) to experience this. This is a fantastic way to learn about Japanese culture and history, though expect to pay a fair amount for a fully-trained Geisha.
Shopping in Gion
Gion also happens to have some of the best shops for souvenirs in Kyoto. The main areas of this are Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, which many people consider classic Gion. Sure, a lot of these are very touristy and may not exactly be what you are after. However, if you can get off of the main routes and down the small side-alleys you’ll find many more traditional shops selling everything from clothes to pottery. Trust me – these are much nicer than something which you pick up from the airport on the way back!
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
As you wander the streets of Gion, you’ll likely end up at Kiyomizu-dera, arguably the most famous temple in the city. Why is it famous? Because it has that quintessential Kyoto view, combined with rich, vivid red from the torii gates and nearby temples. The entire temple sits on a hillside and is definitely best enjoyed at golden hour. We arrived here as the sun was falling low and the light was magical.
There were some issues with arriving at this time, again mostly stemming from the large amount of tourists who also had the same idea. Another alternative is to arrive here at 06:00am, when the temple opens. You’ll get different tones of light, but the view will still be stunning and it will be empty. Nothing quite takes the zen away like hoards of tourists and school trips.
River Walks
When we arrived at the Marufukuro, the first thing we did was to head to Gion, but along the river. The walkways along the Kamo River are really good in Kyoto. Whilst there are a fair amount of cyclists to navigate, it is a surprisingly peaceful activity. On warmer days, I think that the benches here are the ideal spot for a picnic or to enjoy a delicious ice latte.
Tip: Black Cat Coffee is hands-down one of the best in the city. Give them a go.
If you want something a bit more intimate, consider the Philosopher’s Walk. This is located further eastward and out of the centre of Kyoto, but follows a smaller stream. During cherry blossom season, this particular stretch of the city can become very crowded; it is one of the prettiest places with the spring colours.
Shopping in Kyoto Centre
If you want a shopping experience which is similar to Ginza or Shinjuku, then the centre of Kyoto could be the answer. Most of the shops are found on the main road; Shijo-dori. You’ll find plenty of high-end designer shops here which sell everything from clothing to jewellery. I would say that this road does get particularly busy, and many popular shops actually require you to queue before entering. An example is the Onitsuka store, which has a massive queue going out of the shop (if you want these, wait until you get to Shinjuku – there won’t be any queue).
As you walk down the road, you’ll also be able to spot different restaurants and supermarkets to grab some food. There is also the Kyoto Pokémon Center here, which actually is one of the better ones. Once again, you don’t need to queue.
Tip: We went to Katsuruki, which is a katsu restaurant by the Pokémon Center. It sold really delicious food and I’d highly recommend them. The restaurant itself is quite basic.
Nishiki Market
On the topic of food, no trip to Kyoto would be complete without a visit to Nishiki Market. I’m torn about this one. On one hand, I think that there was some really tasty food which we ate here. On the other, it was just way too busy. In fact, we couldn’t really get from one side to the other easily and the queues were just obscene in some places.
Our first visit was later on in the evening and when we returned mid-afternoon the next day it was quieter. For me, the best food here was without-doubt the tempura and wagyu and I’d recommend sticking to this. The Takoyaki (fried octopus balls) were overhyped slightly and I can’t say that we massively enjoyed them.
Overall, I’d say that the Nishiki Market needs to be seen and sampled, but it is becoming a bit of a tourist trap.
Arashiyama Area
The area of Arashiyama is, without doubt, one of the most mystical places in Kyoto. If you’re looking for the top things to do in Kyoto, this has to be at the top of the list. It is famous for shrines and bamboo groves and is the quintessential flavour of the city.
To get here, you’ll either need to take a bus / taxi, or take the Keifuku Randem Tram Line in to Arashiyama station. We really enjoyed taking this option. It felt like we were experiencing historic Kyoto and it enabled us to get acquainted with the older, lesser-seen neighbourhoods of the city. It cost us ¥250 and it is payable at the end of the journey. You can pay with either cash or Suica.
Bamboo Forest
When you think of Kyoto, you think of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. You’ll hear people say to avoid this due to the tourist numbers and to visit some of the quieter bamboo groves. In all honesty; ignore them. This one is the best and if you time it right you can dodge the tourists which arrive here later in the day. I felt that this was the best bamboo grove because of how dense the trees were. It felt really magical and nothing quite gets that beautiful green tone like bamboo leaves. Without a doubt, a walk here is one of the top things to do in Kyoto.
Tip: When you arrive at Arashiyama, head straight to the Bamboo Forest. As I’ve said above you’ll want this to be quiet and largely empty of tourists. If it gets busy it will be really challenging to take any good photos.
Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
Arashiyama is so much more than bamboo. In fact, I think that the temples make it all the more magical. The first one you’ll want to visit is the Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple. This particular one is famous for the 8,000 small statues which are dotted across the grounds. What I loved about these are that they are dedicated to lonely souls; those who died without kin. I found this particular temple to be very moving and hauntingly beautiful.
Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple
The next temple is Otagi Nenbutsuji. If you’ve ever seen moss-covered statues of people before when looking up Kyoto, odds are it is from this place. This particular temple is quite far away from Arashiyama station, and will take you a good 30-40 minutes to walk to it. Once you get to its hidden hilly location though, it is easily one of the most unique places to see in Japan.
The famous statues look ancient and appear to represent mythical beings or deities to the uninitiated. However, these actually date back to the 1950s and were carved by… Tourists! That’s right, they were the brainchild of a priest called Kocho Nishimura, who allowed visitors to carve these statues to raise money for the temple. If you explore and look past the moss, you’ll see how modern they actually are. One holds a tennis racket, whereas others have masks, a portable walkman and even a glass of sake!
Giōji Temple
If the Bamboo Forest was too busy, consider heading to the Gioji Temple. This moss-covered temple is surrounded by a gorgeous (and far less-touristy) bamboo grove. The grounds also have seasonal trees which change colours throughout the year, meaning that you get a slightly different vibe depending on when you visit. This particular temple isn’t as busy as the others listed here. It is far more intimate, quiet and peaceful.
Tenryu-ji
The largest – and possibly busiest – temple in Arashiyama is Tenryu-ji. This one has a large wooden pavilion which you are able to walk into and explore. It has a rich history inside, but the star attraction here has to be the garden. The grounds here are immaculate and are just what you’d expect from a Japanese zen garden. Raked gravel, moss, a large pond with carp… This is the quintessential Japanese shrine and one which must be seen by any visitor.
Day Trips from Kyoto
I’m not going to write too much here as I have covered it in this larger blog post. However, taking a day trip from Kyoto is easily one of the top things to do. In fact, you have so many unique places just on your door step. These include:
- Nara – The ancient capital of Japan and home to the famous bowing deer.
- Hiroshima – Discover the tragic history of this bustling, modern city, famous for the disaster which took place in 1945.
- Osaka – If you stayed in Kyoto, head over to Osaka, the foodie capital of Japan.
General Guidance and FAQs
When is the Best Time to Visit Kyoto?
In all honesty, I don’t think that there is a wrong time to go to Kyoto. One thing I would say though is that over-tourism is the city’s biggest issue. When we were here in October there were plenty of crowds and queues, which ruined the experience somewhat. I can only imagine how crazy it would be in the Spring. If you desperately want to see the cherry blossom, then of course April is the best month. However, if you aren’t too fussed and want to experience the zen of the city, avoid spring and late autumn.
Is Kyoto Better than Osaka as a Base?
In short, yes. Osaka is much cheaper to stay in, but you can cover the city in 24 hours. Kyoto has a lot of places (as you will have realised by now) that require early mornings. The last thing you want to be doing is catching the train from Osaka to Arashiyama; you’ll be waking up in the early hours.
What Cultural Activities Should I Do in Kyoto?
There are loads of different culturally significant activities to do in Kyoto. Firstly, you have the tea ceremonies which I’ve spoken about. You also have lots of places (especially in Gion) which will run craft workshops to teach you traditional works of the country. You can also rent a kimono – I’m not quite sure how I feel about this one. I’ve heard mixed things about how the locals view it…
Final Thoughts | Top Things to do in Kyoto for First-Timers
There are so many things to do in Kyoto that it was really difficult to narrow it down to the top ones! Kyoto is a city which is truly magical. Whilst it is very touristy and can feel overwhelming in some places, it is the highlight for many tourists who embark on a Japanese adventure.
I hope that you found this post on the top things to do in Kyoto for first-timers helpful. As always, if you have any questions, let me know. I always love hearing from you.
