Kyoto – Historic Capital of Japan

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years. The city was spared from widespread destruction during World War 2 and so a lot of the pre-war cultural heritage is still intact. This includes an abundance of temples, shrines, palaces and gardens. In fact, there are so many temples and shrines to see in Kyoto that I barely scratched the surface, but I will list what I managed to see below. There is a lot of beautiful history to explore in Kyoto, and the city is also home to the Nintendo headquarters.

Kyoto was the second city I visited in Japan after visiting Osaka which is located nearby. With its close proximity to Osaka and the ease of travelling by high speed train between these two cities, they are worth combining into one trip when visiting Japan.

Hokanji Temple (Yasaka Pagoda)

The Higashiyama District of Kyoto is home to many temples, shrines and narrow streets filled with food stalls and souvenir streets. One of the main tourist sites in this area is the Hokanji Temple, of which the Yasaka Pagoda is the only remaining building. This 5-storey pagoda is one of the iconic symbols of Kyoto, and you’ll definitely recognise it from photos of the city. There are many great view points of the pagoda from the various old narrow streets around Higashiyama District, so you can’t miss it while exploring this amazing area of Kyoto.

Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka

Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka are two ancient stone-paved pedestrian streets that lead to the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple. Both streets are filled with traditional buildings and shops selling souvenirs and food. These streets and the surrounding area will make you feel like you are walking through ancient Japan, especially when real Geisha’s pop out of narrow alleys to the side.

Kiyomizu-Dera Temple

Kiyomizu-Dera Temple is a Buddhist temple located at the end of Sannenzaka street. This ancient temple is built in the foothills of Mount Otawa, with the main hall built above the Otawa waterfall. Impressively, the large wooden main hall does not have a single nail in its entire structure.

To reach the main hall of Kiyomizu-Dera, you’ll first pass through the red Niomon Gate then a series of red pagodas and prayer halls. You’ll then reach the main hall and the Stage of Kiyomizu. This wooden veranda sits atop tall pillars and offers great views over the city.

After visiting the main hall, you can walk around the grounds of the temple. I recommend heading over to the Koyasunoto Pagoda for views looking back towards the main hall, then heading down to the Otawa waterfall. The waterfall is split into three streams, and it’s possible to drink from them. Each stream is believed to have a different effect – one brings success, one brings love, and the other brings longevity. You are only supposed to drink from one as it’s considered greedy to drink from all of them and this is believed to bring bad luck.

Yasaka Shrine

The Yasaka Shrine in Maruyama Park is a Shinto shrine dating back to the 7^th century. Entering from the west side, you’ll pass through the red Yasaka Jinja Nishiromon Gate. Inside you’ll find the red main hall and the black stage, as well as various smaller shrines. If you exit from the south side you’ll go through another large red gate, followed by a big stone torii gate.

I didn’t have a lot of time to explore while I was at the Yasaka Shrine, just stopping in as I walked between the Gion and Higashiyama Districts. However, if you have more time it may be worth going further into Maruyama Park where you can find more temples and shrines.

Ryozen Kannon Temple

The Ryozen Kannon Temple serves as a Buddhist temple and memorial to those who died in the Pacific Theatre during World War 2. The temple acts as a memorial not just to Japanese who died during the war, but also allied soldiers and prisoners of war. There is also a monument to the Unknown Soldier. The main feature of this temple is the 24-metre-tall statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, also known as Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. This statue sits atop the temple overlooking the reflecting pool.

Kenninji Temple

In the Gion district of Kyoto you’ll find the Kenninji Zen Buddhist Temple. This temple is said to be the oldest Zen temple in the city. Inside the temple you can walk around the halls and visit the tilled stone gardens. For me, the best part of the temple was inside the Dharma hall, where on the ceiling you can see a painting of twin dragons.

As you head towards the Kenninji Temple through the Gion district, be careful of where you point your camera. While the narrow lanes with old buildings are very photogenic, a lot of these areas are residential and photography is banned. In recent years, tourists have been inappropriately taking photos of Geishas or touching them without permission. This has led the local government to introduce hefty fines for breaking the rules in this area.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

The Fushimi Inari Taisha Shinto Shrine is one of the most famous shrines in all of Japan. Located in southern Kyoto on the slopes of Mount Inari, this shrine is famous for its thousands of red torii gates which line the paths to the top of the mountain which stands at 233 metres. Taking one of these paths to the top and back down again takes around 2 hours. On the way you’ll be able to walk through many of the red torii gates, and at roughly halfway up there’s a clearing in the trees where you can get a view across Kyoto.

This shrine is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god (Kami) of rice. Foxes are believed to be Inari’s messengers, so along with the thousands of red torii gates you’ll also find lots of fox statues around the shrines and paths leading up the mountain.

This is one of the must visit spots while in Kyoto. Just hope you go at a quiet time to get a great shot of the red torii gates lined up!

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is another famous site in Kyoto. This forest is located on the west side of Kyoto and is easily reached by a short train ride.

The main part is the path through the sprawling bamboo forest, which gradually takes you uphill. The forest is home to some of the tallest bamboo I’ve ever seen, and standing amongst it feels different to a normal forest.

Near the beginning of the path through the bamboo there is a railway line crossing. Here you can get close to trains whizzing past, or get a cool shot looking down the line.

Heading through the bamboo forest to the top will bring you to a park. Continue following the path upwards and you’ll reach the Arashiyama Park Observation Deck where you’ll get a nice view over the Katsura River.

Besides the forest, there are other points of interest located nearby. There’s the Tenryu-Ji Buddhist Temple, Okochi Sanso Garden, Kimono Forest, and the Togetsukyo Bridge which is worth crossing. The surrounding area is very tourist-orientated, with many souvenir shops and places to buy local food and drinks. You can easily spend a full day exploring Arashiyama and the surrounding area.

Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle was built in 1603, and its palace buildings are some of the best preserved from this period of Japan’s history. The castle is comprised of two defensive walls, with palace buildings and gardens located within. The entrance to the castle is on the east side, where you’ll pass through the Karamon Gate with its golden detail.

Beyond the gate is the Ninomaru Palace. You can walk through the buildings here which once served as the shogun’s residence and office when he visited the city. The buildings are connected by nightingale floors which squeak when you walk over them. This is intentional and served as a security measure against intruders.

Located within the inner wall is the Honmaru Palace. This was unfortunately closed for renovation when I visited in 2023, but as of the beginning of 2025 I believe it has reopened to the public. Part of the inner wall is the base of a former keep. You can head up the steps here for a better view over the castle. It’s also worth exploring the gardens around the castle. Depending on the time of year you’ll be able to see cherry and plum blossoms.

Kyoto Imperial palace

Kyoto served as the capital of Japan for over 1000 years until the Meiji Restoration. The imperial family stayed in Kyoto Imperial Palace until the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1868. Now the old imperial palace of Kyoto is open to the public, though visitors aren’t allowed to enter any of the buildings.

The palace is located within Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, and the entrance to the palace is located on the west side of the long palace walls. Once inside you’ll be able to follow the marked path around the outside of the palace buildings and through the gardens.

The main palace building is large and impressive, but it’s a shame visitors are not allowed inside for a look. Still, the Kyoto Imperial Palace is worth a visit on a trip to the city.

Toji Temple

Another Buddhist temple in Kyoto that’s worth a visit but perhaps doesn’t get as much attention as the other tourist sites in the city is Toji Temple. This temple is located southwest of Kyoto train station.

The most iconic part of the temple is the five-storey pagoda which stands at 57 metres tall. It is the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan and can be seen from various points throughout the city.

Shijo-Dori

Shijo-Dori Street runs east to west through the centre of Kyoto. Here you will find an abundance of shops and restaurants. At the east end by Kyoto-Kawaramachi Metro Station you’ll find shopping malls. On the north side of the street there are lots of narrower streets packed with smaller shops, restaurants, and the historic Nishiki Market. At the west end by Karasuma Metro Station you’ll find Kyoto’s Pokemon Centre.

This street is a great place to head in the evening to sample some of Kyoto’s delicious food or for a spot of shopping.