Kyoto

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.