Home Places to Go Kyoto by Area

Kyoto by Area

Arashiyama

Mountain view of Senkō-ji temple in autumn.

A sprawling area in western Kyoto centered around the Katsura River and surrounding mountains, Arashiyama is a popular tourist destination with gorgeous temples and natural beauty.

The center of Kyoto is laid out in an easy-to-navigate grid-like pattern, with some locations such as the Imperial Palace and Nijō Castle taking up whole blocks, sprawling out with gardens, ancient halls, and fortifications centuries old.

Downtown

Though Kyoto may be most famous for its ancient shrines and temples, make no mistake. This city is also a force to be reckoned with when it comes to shopping and dining!

Kurama & Kibune

These two villages are home to a famous shrine and temple, as well as rich natural beauty, traditional dining, and lovely hiking trails.

Kyoto Station Area

Kyoto Station stands at the center of a vibrant shopping and dining area built up around it and other traditional locations such as the large Tō-ji and Tōfuku-ji temple complexes.

Northeast Kyoto

In the northeastern area of Kyoto, accessible by bus or the Eizan train line, is a wealth of temples and shrines less crowded than those found in the more southern parts of town.

Northern Higashiyama

The Higashiyama area is rich with temples, shrines, gardens, and other sightseeing spots spread along the Higashiyama mountain range that surrounds Kyoto from the east.

Northwest Kyoto

The red brige inside the garden at Kitano Tenmangu

Made up of some of the most visited spots in the city, northwestern Kyoto is home to the famous Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji, as well as the famous Zen rock garden at Ryōan-ji.

Southern Higashiyama

The dragon on the ceiling at Kennin-ji temple

In southern Higashiyama you can easily spend a whole day wandering the traditional streets of Sannenzaka and Ninnenzaka and seeing where the road takes you, or exploring the countless temples and shrines that can be found along the way.

Southern Kyoto

With UNESCO World Heritage temples, the famous ten thousand torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha, and other shrines, temples, and gardens, don’t neglect heading south during your trip to Kyoto!

Southwest Kyoto

The southwestern Rakusai area of Kyoto, still somewhat rural, used to be the favored hunting ground and retreat for court nobility a thousand years ago. Still retaining its natural beauty, this area is home to shrines and temples you can escape to from the more crowded central Kyoto.