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Geishas walking down a Kyoto street

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Things to see in Kyoto

Tourist information: 

Kyoto City Tourist Information
2/F, JR Kyoto Station Building, Shimogyo-ku
Tel: (075) 343 0548.
Website: www.kyoto.travel

Kyoto Tourist Information (Kyoto Prefecture)
9/F, JR Kyoto Station B/D, Shimogyo-ku (in Kyoto Prefectural International Centre)
Tel: (075) 344 3300.
Website: www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en

The main tourist information office for the city of Kyoto is located on the second floor of the Kyoto Station Building, while the tourist information office for the whole of Kyoto Prefecture can be found on the ninth floor of the same building. The Kyoto City Tourist Association runs a visitor information centre (tel: (075) 752 0227; www.kyotokanko.co.jp/en) in front of the Heian-Jingu shrine.

Passes: 

The Kansai Thru Pass (www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng) is a two- or three-day transport pass which will also give you discounts on admission to some temples and tourist spots in Kyoto.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

This magnificent shrine is the most important and impressive of the many tens of thousands of Inari shrines in Japan. It is devoted to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, and it is guarded by statues of foxes, thought to be Inari's messengers. There is a 4km-long (2.5 miles) path up the hill behind the shrine, and it is straddled by no fewer than 10,000 red-painted Torii gates standing very close to each other, making the path at times feel like a corridor.

Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
Unesco: No
Address: Fushimi-ku Fukakusa Yabunouchi-cho, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 641 7331.
Website: http://inari.jp (Japanese only)
Ginkakuji Temple and the Path of Philosophy

Ginkakuji Temple – the ‘Silver Pavilion’ – is not among the most imposing temples in Kyoto, but it is definitely charming and is widely considered a masterpiece of minimalist elegance. The temple and the lovely moss garden surrounding it combine to create an atmosphere that is both calm and gentle, offering a vision of natural harmony. The Path of Philosophy, which leads along the tree-lined Sosui Canal from Ginkakuji Temple to Eikando Temple, offers a pleasant walk in peaceful surroundings, especially during spring.

Opening Times: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: 2 Ginkakuji-cho, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 771 5725 (Japanese only).
Website: www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/e_ginkakuji/index.html
Gion

Gion is Kyoto’s main traditional entertainment and geisha district. Here the past is alive in the arts and entertainments on offer as well on street level where rickshaws and geisha can still be seen. Gion also features Gion Corner, which is a theatre where tourists can experience a variety of traditional Japanese arts, such as Kyoto-style dance, tea ceremony, puppet play, Japanese harp and flower arrangement.

Admission Fees: No.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Gion, Kyoto, Japan
Heian Shrine

A scaled-down replica of the first Imperial Palace in Kyoto, this shrine is still pretty imposing, if perhaps not very inspiring. It was constructed in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the city. The real attraction though is the garden to the rear of the shrine. It is beautifully laid out with a carp-filled lake in the middle, a footpath with several footbridges crossing the lake, and a wide variety of plants and trees along the way.

Opening Times: Shrine: Daily 0600-1730 (1-14 Mar and 1-10 Sep); 0600-1800 (mid-March-Aug); 0600-1700 (Nov-Feb). Garden: Daily 0830-1700 (1-14 Mar and Sep-Oct); 0830-1730 (mid-March-Aug); 0830-1630 (Nov-Feb).
Admission Fees: Yes (garden).
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Nishi Tennocho, Sakyo-ku, Japan
Telephone: (075) 761 0221.
Website: www.heianjingu.or.jp/index_e.html
Kinkakuji Temple

Kinkakuji Temple is also known as the ‘Golden Pavilion’, as the pavilion's exterior is covered in a thick layer of gold leaf. It is located close to Ryoanji Temple in an area to the northwest of Kyoto city centre.

Opening Times: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: 1 Kinkaku-ji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 461 0013 (Japanese only).
Website: www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/e_kinkakuji/index.html
Kiyomizu Temple

One of the Japanese nation's most beloved temples, Kiyomizu Temple is perched, seemingly precariously, on a steep hillside to the east of the city centre. The temple was founded as early as 798, although most of the present buildings date from 1633. It is an impressive site that offers sweeping views of the city, but it can get a bit crowded in the summer season, so it's a good idea to get there early.

Opening Times: Daily 0600-1800.
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: No
Unesco: Yes
Address: Higashiyamaku Kiyomizu, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 551 1234.
Website: www.kiyomizudera.or.jp
Kyoto Imperial Palace

Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho) was the residence of Japan's imperial family until 1868, when Tokyo became the imperial capital. The current palace, located in the spacious Kyoto Imperial Park, is a reconstruction dating from 1855 (because the old palace burned down). Visitors must fill in an application form (and show their passport) at the Imperial Household Agency's office in order to join a guided tour of the palace. There are no restrictions on the use of the surrounding grounds, which are very pleasant.

Admission Fees: No (but only by application).
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Kyoto Gyoen-nai, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 211 1215.
Website: http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html
Nijo Castle

A short walk to the southwest of the Kyoto Imperial Palace takes you to Nijo Castle, which was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo Shogunate. Famous for its Momoyama architecture, ornate interiors, beautiful decorations and floors that squeak like ‘nightingales' when walked upon (thus alerting guards against intruders), this castle is one of Kyoto's several UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: No
Unesco: Yes
Address: 541 Nijojo-cho, Nijo-dori, Horikawa nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 841 0096.
Website: www.city.kyoto.jp/bunshi/nijojo (Japanese only)
Ryoanji Temple

Ryoanji Temple contains a very famous Zen garden designed for contemplation and consisting of raked sand interrupted by 15 rocks.

Opening Times: Daily 0800-1700 (Mar-Nov); daily 0830-1630 (Dec-Feb).
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: Yes
Address: 13 Goryonoshita-cho, Ukyo-ku, Japan
Telephone: (075) 463 2216 (Japanese only).
Website: www.ryoanji.jp
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