Top Things to Do in Kyoto for First-Time Visitors | Your Ultimate Guide

After experiencing the bustling neon capital of Tokyo, it’s time to head to the absolute cultural hub of Japan: Kyoto. This city is legendary across the world for a reason. The top things to do in Kyoto include walking through ancient shrines and temples, visiting traditional tea houses, getting lost in bamboo groves, and wandering immaculate Zen gardens.

If you are a first-time visitor to this enchanting city, here is your ultimate guide to unveiling it. I’ll take you through all of the main things to see, as well as my handy top tips for first-time visitors to Japan.

Getting Around & Where to Stay in Kyoto

Kyoto is a significantly older city than Tokyo, meaning it is nowhere near as built-up. The city imposes strict limits on building height and width to beautifully maintain its historic identity. However, this does mean that public transport is not what you’d expect of a major, sprawling Japanese city.

There is a Metro which covers the length of the city, but it is rather limited. Buses run frequently and you can get to all of the major sites through them, but Kyoto is vast and the main attractions are dotted along different ends of the city’s limits. Unlike Tokyo, expect massive crowds at any major site unless you go first thing in the morning. Tip: I highly recommend downloading the Suica card onto your phone for easy transport payments!

Where to Stay

Because the sights are so sparsely distributed, I highly recommend staying in the Old Town. You’ll be in a quieter, residential neighbourhood while remaining near all of the main public transport routes.

Luxury: We stayed at the Marufukuro, a luxury hotel in the heart of the Old Town that was once the HQ and primary home of the founder of Nintendo!
Affordable: We also stayed at the Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi. It is rather basic but very affordable, featuring traditional tatami flooring and shoji screens.

Top Shrines and Temples to Visit

Kyoto is globally famous for its stunning, historic temples. Most of these are on the outskirts of the city, so you’ll need to plan how you’ll see them!

Fushimi Inari Taisha: Without a doubt, the most famous shrine in Kyoto. It is a massive shrine lined with thousands of vibrant red torii gates that take you up the mountain. A complete trail takes anywhere from 2-3 hours. Tip: Get here as early as possible (before 8:00 AM) to beat the massive crowds.
The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji): A UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for the decadent gold leaf which coats the temple. The pond surrounding the pavilion is beautiful, and you’ll usually see herons and egrets in the shallow waters.
Daigo-ji Temple: A must-see if you’re in Kyoto during the cherry blossom or the autumnal season. Dating back to the 9th Century, it is famous for housing many national treasures.
Ninna-ji Temple: Located near the Golden Pavilion, this is a much quieter, more humble shrine. It is famous for its late-blooming Omura cherry trees and deep royal connections to the Imperial Family.
Higashi Hongan-ji Temple: One of the most underrated destinations in Kyoto! The main hall is gigantic, serving as one of the largest wooden structures in the world.

The Centre of Kyoto: Gion and Beyond

The Gion District is quintessential Kyoto, but be warned: it is also the busiest place in the city.

Traditional Tea Houses: Gion is famous for Geishas and Maikos (apprentices). Traditional tea houses usually have Geishas who perform tea ceremonies, which tourists can book for a fee to learn about Japanese culture and history.
Shopping: Gion has some of the best shops for souvenirs in Kyoto, specifically around Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka. Try to get off the main routes and down the small side alleys to find traditional shops selling clothes and pottery.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple: Located just outside Gion, this temple sits on a hillside and offers a stunning, quintessential Kyoto view. Tip: Arrive here when the temple opens at 6:00 AM to avoid the massive crowds.
Nishiki Market: No trip to Kyoto would be complete without a visit to Nishiki Market. The food here is incredible (specifically the tempura and wagyu), but it is becoming a massive tourist trap with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

The Magic of the Arashiyama Area

The area of Arashiyama is, without doubt, one of the most mystical places in Kyoto. It is famous for ancient shrines and massive bamboo groves.

To get here, take the Keifuku Randen Tram Line into Arashiyama station for a highly scenic ride.

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest: When you think of Kyoto, you think of this dense, magical forest. Head here immediately upon arriving in Arashiyama to beat the crowds and get the best photos.
Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple: Famous for the 8,000 small statues dotted across the grounds dedicated to lonely souls who died without kin.
Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple: This hidden, hilly temple features hundreds of moss-covered statues carved in the 1950s by actual tourists! Look closely and you’ll see statues holding tennis rackets or wearing glasses.
Tenryu-ji: The largest temple in Arashiyama features a massive wooden pavilion and an immaculate, quintessential Japanese Zen garden with raked gravel and a koi pond.

Also Read : The Best Time to Visit Himachal Pradesh