- Kyoto was exempted from atomic bombing during World War II due to its immense cultural value, a decision made largely through the advocacy of U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson.
- The city operates a strict building height ordinance to protect the visual integrity of its mountain backdrop and traditional skyline.
- Kyoto's street layout is based on a rigid grid pattern established in 794 AD, mirroring the ancient Chinese capital of Chang'an.
- It is home to the Gion Matsuri, a month-long festival that has been held annually since the year 869.
About Kyoto
Kyoto served as Japan's imperial capital for over a millennium, preserving a vast concentration of UNESCO World Heritage sites within its urban grid. The city architecture is defined by traditional wooden machiya houses juxtaposed against massive structures like the gilded Kinkaku-ji and the wooden stage of Kiyomizu-dera. Visitors traverse landscapes ranging from the expansive Senbon Torii gates to the serene stalks of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. It remains the cultural heart of the nation, where the preservation of historical sites like Nijō Castle provides a direct link to the Shogunate era.
Highlights of Kyoto
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Temples
The main hall's wooden veranda offers a panoramic view over the city without the use of a single nail in its construction.
Temples
The top two stories are completely covered in pure gold leaf, reflecting brilliantly against the surrounding pond.
Historical places
Visitors can walk across nightingale floors designed to chirp when stepped on as an early warning system against intruders.
Temples
This shrine serves as the epicenter of the Gion district and features a massive stage illuminated by hundreds of lanterns at night.
Places of interest
The path through these towering stalks offers a unique auditory experience as the wind rustles through the bamboo.
Temples
Thousands of vermillion torii gates create a dense, tunnel-like path winding up the wooded hillside.
Temples
The hall contains 1,001 life-sized statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, carved from Japanese cypress.
Temples
The five-story pagoda remains the tallest wooden structure in Japan, standing as an architectural feat from the Heian period.
Top things to do in Kyoto
The 1,728 highest-rated places in Kyoto, ranked by travellers.
1
Temples
Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple founded in 778, famous for its massive wooden stage that extends over the hillside wi...
2
Temples
Kinkaku-ji, officially known as Rokuon-ji, is a Zen Buddhist temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completel...
3
Historical places
Nijō Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a prominent example of Momoyama architecture in Kyoto. The complex consi...
4
Temples
Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kyoto’s Gion district, founded in 656 and historically known as Gion-sha. It serves...
5
Places of interest
The Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto serves as an interactive center focused on the history of Japan's warrior classes. It h...
6
Temples
To-ji Temple, founded in 796, features the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan, reaching a height of approximately 55 meters....
7
Museums
The Kyoto Railway Museum is one of Japan's largest railway museums, housing a collection of 53 retired trains ranging fr...
8
Places of interest
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a path cut through a dense grove of towering moso bamboo in western Kyoto. The walking trail...
9
Temples
Sanjūsangendō is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto world-renowned for its main hall housing 1,001 life-sized statues of Kannon,...
10
Temples
Ginkaku-ji, officially known as Jisho-ji, is a Zen temple in Kyoto built by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa in 1482 as a retir...
11
Temples
Senbon Torii consists of two dense parallel rows of vermilion gates forming a tunnel along the path behind the main shri...
12
Places of interest
Sannenzaka is a protected historic stone-paved pedestrian slope connecting the Ninenzaka area to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. T...
13
Temples
Tenryu-ji is the head temple of the Tenryu-ji branch of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, situated in the Arashiyama di...
14
Temples
Shimogamo Shrine, formally known as Kamo-mioya-jinja, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan and a designated UNES...
15
Temples
Kitano Tenmangu is the head shrine for approximately 12,000 Tenmangu shrines across Japan dedicated to Sugawara no Michi...
16
Temples
Heian-jingū Shrine was constructed in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of Kyoto's founding as the capital of...
17
Zoos
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is a mountain sanctuary home to over 120 wild Japanese macaques. Visitors hike a 20-min...
18
Places of interest
Nidec Kyoto Tower is the city's tallest structure, reaching 131 meters and featuring an observation deck at the 100-mete...
19
Temples
Nanzen-ji is the headquarters of the Rinzai school's Nanzen-ji branch and one of the most significant Zen temples in Jap...
20
Temples
Higashi Hongan-ji is the head temple of the Otani branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and features the Goeido, one of the la...
21
Temples
Tōfuku-ji is a major Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1236, serving as the head temple of the Tōfuku-ji school of the Rinz...
22
Temples
Ryōan-ji is a Zen temple in Kyoto, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site and renowned for its karesansui (dry rock...
23
Zoos
Kyoto Aquarium is a land-locked inland aquarium located within Umekoji Park that exclusively uses artificial seawater fo...
24
Places of interest
Ninenzaka is a protected historic district in Kyoto characterized by its preserved machiya-style wooden townhouses and s...
25
Temples
Eikandō, formally known as Zenrin-ji, serves as the head temple of the Seizan branch of Jōdo-shū Buddhism. It is uniquel...
26
Temples
Kenninji is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, founded in 1202 by the monk Eisai, who is credited with introducing Zen Budd...
27
Parks
Kyoto Gyoen National Garden is a 65-hectare urban park encompassing the Kyoto Imperial Palace and former aristocratic re...
28
Temples
Kōdaiji was established in 1606 by Nene, the widow of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to pray for his soul. The site is famous for i...
29
Temples
Chion-in Temple serves as the headquarters of the Jodo-shu sect of Japanese Buddhism, founded in 1234 by Honen. The site...
30
Parks
Umekōji Park is a large 13.7-hectare municipal park situated in central Kyoto that serves as a multi-purpose green space...
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Kyoto on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Kyoto
Late March to early April for cherry blossoms or November for the vibrant autumn foliage.
3-4 days to properly experience the major temple complexes and historic districts without rushing.
The city is serviced by a comprehensive bus network, two subway lines, and several private rail lines, though many central districts are highly walkable.
Stay near Kyoto Station for maximum transit convenience, or choose the Gion or Higashiyama districts for atmospheric access to traditional architecture.
Kyoto is generally a mid-to-high budget destination, with prices fluctuating significantly during peak travel seasons.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 1,728 curated attractions in and around Kyoto, ranked by traveller ratings.
Kiyomizu-dera is the highest-rated place to visit in Kyoto right now.
The largest category is temples, with 876 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Toshima, Osaka, Ōta, Tokyo.
Explore more of Japan
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
