Tourist Attractions in Kyoto Japan

Tourist Attractions in Kyoto Japan
Top 10 tourist attractions in Japan
Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan and one of the best places to go in Japan to get a glimpse of 15th century Japan and learn about Japanese culture and history.

Most of the tourist attractions in Kyoto Japan are well preserved cultural sights such as temples, shrines, imperial palaces, imperial villas, Japanese gardens and teahouses, which are simple stunning!


If you’re not planning to base your vacation in Kyoto, you’ll certainly not want to miss a visit to Japan’s most historical city and spending a few days there.


There are literary hundreds of places and sights scattered throughout Kyoto, so if you’re only visiting on a day trip you'll want to know where to go first. Below it’s a nice itinerary of the main sights in Kyoto, hope you find it useful:

Kinkakuji Temple

Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion is probably the most popular of all of the tourist attractions in Kyoto Japan.

The Kinkakuji Temple is one of the most beautiful temples in Kyoto and the top half of the temple is made of pure gold. You can’t actually enter the temple but are free to walk the gardens and take plenty of pictures of the beautiful temple with its reflection on the lake.

Ryoanji Temple

Ryoanji Temple is another of the top places to visit in Kyoto and it’s only 6 minutes away from Kinkakuji Temple. At Ryoanji Temple, you can see the famed rock zen garden and the peaceful and relaxing scenery.

Katsura Imperial Villa

Katsura Imperial Villa is located about 5 miles south of Ryoanji Temple, around 20 minutes drive. The Katsura Imperial villa is another of the top tourist attractions in Kyoto Japan because you get inside access of the villa and the stunning garden.

Toji Temple

From Katsura Imperial Villa, Toji Temple is just 10 minutes drive and it's also worth passing by. This temple is the least touristy of temples in Kyoto, which is ideal since you can enjoy a nice stroll without the crowds, and admire the beautiful pagoda.

If you’re visiting Toji during the weekend, you’ll be able to also catch a crafts market where you can buy genuine Japanese ceramics and glassware.

Kiyomizudera

Kiyomizudera, also known as the Blue Water temple, is located 12 minutes drive east from Toji Temple and it’s another of the tourist attractions in Kyoto Japan that you wouldn’t want to miss.

Kiyomizudera Temple is located on large grounds featuring beautiful gardens, a waterfall and many shrines so you could easily spend a whole morning there.

Ginkakuji Temple & Hall

Ginkakuji Temple, also known as the Temple of the Silver Pavilion, is located in the heart of Kyoto, eleven minutes drive north of Kiyomizudera.

Ginkakuji is one of the most impressive temples in Kyoto, more so because of the amazing extensive collection of Golden Buddhas, which surpasses over 900 statues.

Kyoto Manga Library

If you’re a Manga enthusiast, the Kyoto Manga Library is located just a short walk from Ginkakuji Temple. The library has a large collection of Japanese Manga comics and examples of Manga drawings.

Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle is another of the top tourist attractions in Kyoto Japan, and also an extensive attraction since the castle is located on large grounds.

You can tour the inside of Nijo Castle exploring all the rooms and marvel at the beautifully decorated ceilings and screens, as well as wandering around the beautiful gardens.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Kyoto Imperial Palace is also located in the heart of Kyoto, around 5 minutes drive from Nijo Castle. You can take a guided tour of the Imperial Palace grounds, though the actual palace is off-limits, you can still get an awe-inspiring feeling.

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