What to see in Kyoto: our 5 must-sees
Kyoto isn't a city you visit, it's a city you feel. Here are the five spots we wouldn't skip under any circumstance — plus a trick or two for seeing them without the crowds.
If I had to keep only five things from Kyoto, these would be them. It's not an exhaustive list — in our full itinerary we dedicate three whole days to the city — but if you're short on time, these are the ones you absolutely cannot skip.
1. Fushimi Inari, at sunrise. Thousands of red torii gates climbing the mountain. Everyone knows the photo, but very few people make the effort to arrive early (before 8:00 AM), and that's exactly the difference between seeing it properly or seeing it among a crowd.
2. The Arashiyama bamboo forest. One of Japan's most photographed spots, and for very good reason: the light filtering between the stalks creates an atmosphere unlike anything you've seen before.
3. Gion right before nightfall. The geisha district is the Kyoto everyone imagines before arriving: narrow streets, wooden houses, lanterns lighting up one by one.
4. Kiyomizu-dera and the walk down. The temple itself is already worth the visit on its own. But the best part comes after: walking down through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, unhurried.
5. Nishiki Market, genuinely hungry. Kyoto's food market. Go with no plan and try whatever catches your eye at each stall.
This is just the appetizer. The full itinerary has the day-by-day route through Kyoto, plus Nara and Arashiyama in depth.
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