Places to visit
- Arashiyama Bamboo Forest; there are also temples and wild Monkees to see, and enough places to eat and drink.
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion); beautiful paviljon covered with gold in a pretty park
- Kiyomizu-dera (Temple of the Pure Water); Buddhist temple from the 17th century with beautifil woodcarvings, where not a single nail is used in the construction; it takes its name from the waterfall within the complex
- Fushimi Inari-taisha (Shrine of the Thousands of Torii Gates). One of most visited sites in Japan.
- Kyoto Imperial Palace; is the former palace of the Emperor of Japan. Since the Meiji Restoration in 1869, the Emperors have resided at the Tokyo Imperial Palace
- Nijo-jo; castle of the shogun, who was more powerful than the emperor.
- Gion neighborhood; Pontocho is a narrow street with eating places in little wooden houses. Also known for the geisha's (but Kanazawa seems more authentic).
- Kamishichiken area; oldest geisha area in town, similar to Gion but with less tourists. And home to the famous Kitano Tenmangu shrine.
- Higashiyama; Nenenzaka (two-year-hill) is a paved pedestrian road with traditional houses and antique shops.
- Sangusangendo; Buddhist temple from 12th century with 1001 statues.
- Uji; about 15 kms southwest of Kyoto, and easily accessed by both the Keihan Line and the JR Line, Uji is famous for the lovely Byodo-in Temple (the temple on the back of the Y10 coin). It’s also famous as a tea growing area.
- Kibune; charming village north of town with an epic mountainous scenery. Within around 1h30 you can walk down to Kurama station.
- Nishiki market
- Kawai Kanjiro's House; little museum