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see + do
Kyoto see + do
Organizing your touring time in and around Kyoto is a challenge, simply because there's so much to do. As with shopping, it's best to organize your sightseeing around specific areas such as Higashiyama and Arashiyama and cover most of it on foot; see our Fact Sheet for the lay of the land.
Though Kyoto has its share of museums, you might pass them up in favor of the city's real artistic treasures: its temples, shrines, and gardens. Most open daily at around 8:30 or 9 a.m. and close at 4 or 5 p.m., but check at your hotel before you head out. You'll be required to remove your footwear at most temples, so wear slip-on shoes and sturdy socks. (Slippers are usually provided, but in smaller Japanese sizes.) Everyone wants to see Ryoan-ji, the Zen temple with Japan's most famous sand-and-rock garden, which also makes it Japan's most crowded sand-and-rock garden (www.ryoanji.jp; Japanese only). The stunning Kinkaku-ji, or Golden Temple, also attracts the hordes (www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/e_kinkakuji), as does Kiyomizudera, perched on a hillside with stunning views of the city (www.kiyomizudera.or.jp; Japanese only). If you do visit, avoid the tour buses by going early in the morning or just before closing time. And don't miss some of the lesser-known but equally impressive alternatives listed below.
A vast, walled-in Zen temple complex dating to the 16th century. There are about two dozen sub-temples here, and eight of them—and their gardens—are...more
The Silver Temple is almost as popular as its golden cousin, but many aficionados consider it far superior. Breathtakingly modern though half a millennium old,...more
Built in the 17th century for an imperial prince, Katsura Rikyu is widely thought to be one of the best examples of how Japanese residential design masterfully...more
After World War II, most Japanese didn't have baths in their homes, and the neighborhood bathhouse, or sento, served not only as a hygienic necessity but as a...more
Converted into a Zen temple in 1339, Saiho-ji Temple, in the southwestern outskirts of Kyoto, is justly renowned for its large and lush moss garden, which...more
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