Kyoto was a whirl of wonderful gardens, temples and shrines. We visited so many beautiful places, I list some favourites and explain more at the end.
Roanji
Tofuku-ji
Imperial Palace
Nishiki Market
Tofuku-ji
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Shugakuin
Imperial Palace
Near Kiyomizu Dera
Near Entsuji
Roanji
Kiyomizu Dera
Tofuku-ji
Recommended
We were only in Kyoto for a few short days so mainly concentrated on cultural sites. This is a list of places that we visited that we really enjoyed.
Entsuji
A garden known for its use of borrowed landscape, it uses the mountain behind as part of the garden design.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Walk through the thousands of red torii gates that wind their way up the hill. The full walk takes a couple of hours, we only went part of the way.
Kinkakuji
Well you couldn’t very well go to Kyoto without visiting the golden pavillion. Even thought it can be quite crowded it still is breathtaking. This is one of the builings that I remember quite clearly from when I was in Kyoto aged about 10.
Kiyomizu Dera
This was so crowded when we visited but the building is interesting and you get a great view of Kyoto.
Kyoto Station
There are several floors of great restaurants on the top floors, there is everything from a quick ramen to a formal traditional meal. In the evenings lots of people came to sit on the steps at the top of the station to look at the Christmas decorations and have a matcha ice.
Matsuba
Apparently the place to go for Nishin Soba. It is next to the Minamiza Kabuki Theater. If you don’t like the smell of fish don’t go there though as it is VERY fishy inside ;)
Nishiki Market
Foodie heaven. The famous long covered street of food shops.
Pontocho
A geisha district, atmospheric, especially after dark.
Ryōan-ji
Famous for its rock garden. There was some construction work happening at the time we visited to mend the roof but you were still able to see the garden.
Shugakuin Imperial Villa
A large garden of different levels that incorporates in the surroundings. You need to book tickets in advance and you are guided around.
Tofuku-ji
Some huge beautiful buildings, the gate is a national treasure. Interesting gardens including some more modern ones.
