Top Attractions in Kyoto

Discover Kyoto's most popular destinations with detailed guides, reviews, and insider tips from fellow travelers

122+ attractions·Verified reviews·Real photos
Fushimi Inari Taisha, Osaka - YouTube.com/@DreySantesson
1 / 5

Fushimi Inari-taisha

4.6
(81k reviews)
A mesmerizing mountainside shrine famous for its thousands of vibrant vermillion torii gates winding up a sacred path.
Kiyomizu-dera, Osaka - a red pagoda in the middle of a forest
1 / 5

Kiyomizu-dera

4.5
(62k reviews)
Iconic Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa, famed for its wooden veranda offering spectacular city views and a sacred waterfa...
Kinkaku-ji, Osaka - Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, literally "Temple of the Golden Pavilion"), officially named Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺, literally "Deer Garden Temple"), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It is one of the most popular buildings in Kyoto, attracting many visitors annually. It is designated as a National Special Historic Site, a National Special Landscape and is one of 17 locations making up the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which are World Heritage Sites.
1 / 5

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

4.5
(62k reviews)
Kyoto's iconic Golden Pavilion, a Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf, set amidst serene gardens and a tranquil pon...
Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion), Kyoto - a house surrounded by trees
1 / 5

Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)

4.5
(16k reviews)
A 15th-century Zen temple renowned for its understated beauty, tranquil gardens, and iconic sand mound.
Nijo Castle, Kyoto - View of Karamon (Chinese Gate) and Ninomaru Goten (Secondary Citadel Palace), Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan (2024). Photo by Danny With Love.
1 / 5

Nijo Castle

4.4
(39k reviews)
Explore Nijo Castle, a UNESCO site showcasing samurai power with its 'nightingale floors' and exquisite gardens.
Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kyoto - Japanese Garden at Kyoto Imperial Palace
1 / 5

Kyoto Imperial Palace

4.6
(736 reviews)
Explore the historic grounds of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, a serene oasis showcasing traditional Japanese architecture a...
Kyoto Tower, Kyoto - Kyoto tower stands tall over the cityscape.
1 / 5

Kyoto Tower

4.2
(16k reviews)
A modern landmark offering panoramic city views from its 100m observation deck, conveniently located across from Kyoto S...
Kyoto Station Building, Kyoto - a city street filled with traffic next to tall buildings
1 / 5

Kyoto Station Building

4.1
(19k reviews)
A futuristic architectural marvel, Kyoto Station is a city within a city, offering stunning views, diverse dining, and e...
Heian Shrine, Kyoto - a view of a building from inside a building
1 / 5

Heian Shrine

4.4
(15k reviews)
A grand Shinto shrine and expansive gardens, built in 1895 to commemorate Kyoto's 1,100th anniversary as the imperial ca...
Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto - a japanese shrine lit up at night in the rain
1 / 5

Yasaka Shrine

4.4
(30k reviews)
A historic Shinto shrine in Kyoto's Gion district, famous for its vibrant lanterns and as the spiritual heart of the Gio...
Nanzen-ji, Kyoto - a black and white photo of a bridge over a river
1 / 5

Nanzen-ji

4.5
(11k reviews)
A sprawling Zen temple complex in Kyoto, famed for its unique brick aqueduct and serene gardens, offering a peaceful esc...
Eikan-do (Zenrin-ji), Kyoto - Traditional japanese buildings with tiled roofs.
1 / 5

Eikan-do (Zenrin-ji)

4.6
(9k reviews)
Eikan-do Zenrin-ji Temple: Kyoto's autumn jewel, famed for vibrant maple leaves and the unique 'Mikaeri Amida' statue.
Chion-in, Kyoto - A tall building with stairs leading up to it
1 / 5

Chion-in

4.5
(7k reviews)
Expansive 17th-century Jodo Shu Buddhist headquarters with Japan's largest wooden gate and serene gardens.
Sanjusangendo, Kyoto - a row of benches sitting under a red roof
1 / 5

Sanjusangendo

4.6
(15k reviews)
Home to 1,001 unique Kannon statues, this temple offers a breathtaking and serene cultural experience unlike any other i...
Tofuku-ji, Kyoto - Tōfuku-ji, Kyoto, Japan, in summer with green foliage before it turns red in the upcoming autumn.
1 / 5

Tofuku-ji

4.5
(10k reviews)
A historic Zen temple in Kyoto, renowned for its breathtaking autumn foliage and tranquil Zen gardens.
Ryoan-ji, Kyoto - a japanese shrine with red pillars
1 / 5

Ryoan-ji

4.5
(10k reviews)
Kyoto's iconic Zen rock garden, a masterpiece of minimalist art and a UNESCO World Heritage site, offering profound tran...
Ninna-ji, Kyoto - brown wooden house
1 / 5

Ninna-ji

4.4
(7k reviews)
A UNESCO World Heritage Buddhist temple founded in 886, known for its imperial connections, serene gardens, and unique O...
Tenryu-ji, Kyoto - Tenryu-Ji
1 / 5

Tenryu-ji

4.4
(15k reviews)
A UNESCO World Heritage Zen temple in Arashiyama, Kyoto, renowned for its breathtaking Sogenchi Garden and serene atmosp...
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto - a path leading through a bamboo forest in japan
1 / 5

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

4.3
(17k reviews)
A breathtaking forest of towering bamboo stalks, offering a serene escape when visited at the right time.
Togetsukyo Bridge, Kyoto - a boat on the water
1 / 5

Togetsukyo Bridge

4.4
(4k reviews)
Iconic wooden bridge in Arashiyama, Kyoto, offering breathtaking mountain and river views, especially stunning during sp...