Kyoto

Travel Guide

Heian Shrine showing a temple or place of worship, religious aspects and heritage architecture
Heian Shrine showing a temple or place of worship, religious aspects and heritage architecture
Kyōto featuring landscape views, a garden and forest scenes
Otsu showing flowers
Sannenzaka Ninenzaka showing a sunset, a city and a house

Kyoto Travel Guide Video

Where to stay in Kyoto

Nijo Castle showing a park and a pond

Central Kyoto

4.5/5(1,806 area reviews)

Central Kyoto is highly notable for its popular shops, and you might want to visit top sights like Nishijin Textile Center and Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. See more of Kyoto by jumping on the metro at Imadegawa Station or Kuramaguchi Station.

Central Kyoto
Gion which includes cycling, street scenes and night scenes

Gion

5/5(208 area reviews)

Unique features of Gion include the monuments and shopping. Make a stop by Yasaka Shrine or Hanamikoji Street while you're exploring the area.

Gion
Kyoto Tower featuring a city, a high rise building and night scenes

Shimogyo Ward

4.5/5(96 area reviews)

Discover bustling Shijō Street's shopping district and explore attractions like Kyoto Tower and Kyoto Railway Museum. Easily navigate the area from Kyoto Station, a major transport hub.

Shimogyo Ward
Panoramic view of buildings containing Ninomaru reception rooms at Nijo Castle in Kyoto, Japan. Stitched from 2 images using Canon PhotoStitch 3.1.

Downtown Kyoto

If you're spending time in Downtown Kyoto, check out sights like Nishiki Market or Kyoto International Manga Museum and hop on the metro to see more the city at Karasuma Oike Station or Marutamachi Station.

Downtown Kyoto
Shoren-in Temple which includes a temple or place of worship and signage

Higashiyama Ward

4.5/5(29 area reviews)

Traditional-style buildings and protected status define this part of Kyoto, with entertainment in Gion near Yasaka Shrine. Must-see attractions include Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto National Museum, and Namikawa Cloisonne Museum.

Higashiyama Ward
The Gion Matsuri Festival is Japans most famous festival. Musicians sit in huge floats that are pushed/dragged around town in Kyoto while the musicians play their flutes. There are two types of floats in The Gion Matsuri Parade, Yama and Hoko. There are 23 Yama and 10 Hoko. The Hoko floats can be up to 25 meters tall and weigh up to 12 tons. The main procession of the floats are held on the 17th of July, which is when this photo was taken. #Festival

Karasuma

Visitors to Karasuma love its popular shops, and you can check out Nishiki Market and Shijo Kyo Machiya. If you want to see more in the area, you can get around town on the metro at Karasuma Oike Station.

Karasuma
Onyado Nono Kyotoshichijo Natural Hot Springs

Onyado Nono Kyotoshichijo Natural Hot Springs

3 out of 5
491 Zaimokucho Kyoto Kyoto
The price is AED 334 per night from Feb 11 to Feb 12
AED 334
AED 370 total
11 Feb - 12 Feb
Stay at this hotel in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a sauna. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (3,833 reviews)
Spectacular hotel. Loved the tatami mats every where you walk.

Reviewed on 19 January 2026

Onyado Nono Kyotoshichijo Natural Hot Springs
Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto

Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto

4 out of 5
4-450-1 Gojobashi-Higashi Kyoto Kyoto
The price is AED 326 per night from Feb 5 to Feb 6
AED 326
AED 359 total
5 Feb - 6 Feb
Stay at this hotel in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our reviews. ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (1,589 reviews)
Was so nice would stay again

Reviewed on 15 January 2026

Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto
Kyoto Umekoji Kadensho

Kyoto Umekoji Kadensho

4 out of 5
Sujakuuchihatacho 41-10, Shimogyo Ward Kyoto Kyoto
The price is AED 437 per night from Feb 3 to Feb 4
AED 437
AED 481 total
3 Feb - 4 Feb
Stay at this hotel in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, hot springs on site, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (219 reviews)
Onsen

Reviewed on 29 December 2025

Kyoto Umekoji Kadensho
See all 3,155 properties in Kyoto
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
MONday Apart Premium KYOTO Station

MONday Apart Premium KYOTO Station

4 out of 5
1 Shichijoodori Higashihorikawa Nishiiru Kyoto Kyoto
Stay at this aparthotel in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and in-room washers/dryers. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (541 reviews)
Loved this hotel and the staff was wonderful

Reviewed on 11 January 2026

MONday Apart Premium KYOTO Station
nol kyoto sanjo

nol kyoto sanjo

3.5 out of 5
700, Osakazaimokucho, Nakagyoku Kyoto Kyoto
Stay at this aparthotel in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (317 reviews)
Truly one of the best stays my husband and I had! It was such a relaxing experience with the amenities and was spacious for what we both had (two carry-ons). I would highly recommend and would definitely come back again to stay!

Reviewed on 12 January 2026

nol kyoto sanjo
KOKO HOTEL Residence Kyoto Nijo Castle

KOKO HOTEL Residence Kyoto Nijo Castle

4 out of 5
724 Shimomatsuya,Kamanza-dori Oike-agaru Kyoto Kyoto
Stay at this aparthotel in Kyoto. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Nijō Castle and Shijo Street are located ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (207 reviews)
Room was nice and spacious. Great amenities, staff were very helpful.

Reviewed on 11 January 2026

KOKO HOTEL Residence Kyoto Nijo Castle
See all properties in Kyoto
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Nishiki Market featuring markets and street scenes as well as a large group of people

Nishiki Market

You can find the perfect gifts to bring home with a trip to Nishiki Market, a favorite shopping spot in Kyoto.

Nishiki Market
Kiyomizu Temple which includes a temple or place of worship and religious aspects

Kiyomizu Temple

Kiyomizu Temple is just one of the places to see in Kyoto, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Amble within picturesque gardens or visit the temples in this culturally rich area.

Kiyomizu Temple
Fushimi Inari Shrine featuring interior views and a temple or place of worship as well as a small group of people

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Shrine is just one of the places to see in Kyoto, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Amble within picturesque gardens or visit the temples in this culturally rich area.

Fushimi Inari Shrine
Nijo Castle featuring heritage architecture, landscape views and a pond

Nijō Castle

You can find out about the history of Kyoto with a trip to Nijō Castle. Check out the temples and top-notch restaurants in this culturally rich area.

Nijō Castle
Stairs up to mountain and maple tree in Japan. Stairs in Park at Kinkaku-ji Zen Buddhist Temple in Kyoto, Japan.

Kinkaku-ji Temple

Find out about the history of Kyoto when you take a trip to Kinkaku-ji Temple. Amble within picturesque gardens or visit the temples in this culturally rich area.

Kinkaku-ji Temple
Kyoto Tower

Kyoto Tower

Find out about the history of Kyoto when you spend time at Kyoto Tower. Make time for the temples and local tours in this culturally rich area.

Kyoto Tower

Reviews of Kyoto

4.8
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
1580
5 - Excellent 78%
4 - Good
398
4 - Good 20%
3 - Okay
31
3 - Okay 2%
2 - Disappointing
4
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
2
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Jennie

Love Kyoto!! Definitely recommend fir first time Japan travelers.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

very easy to get around and visit all the sites in the area, trains and buses run regularly throughout the day, so you never have very long to wait for one to come along

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Quiet at the time of visit. A beautiful place.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

I would love to live here.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

The city itself is great unfortunately didn't have enough time to explore the entire city. There are a TON of temples and shrines to visit in Kyoto, kind of off putting when most of the good ones are "Pay to enter," when others in the country are not

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Kyoto was a lovely place to visit. There is so much to see here. The traditional neighborhoods and bamboo homes are scenic. The city is safe and pleasant.

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