Kyoto
Updated October 19, 2026
Also known as: Heian-kyō, Kyōto, Miyako, City of Ten Thousand Shrines
Main Landmarks in Kyoto
History
Kyoto was founded in 794 as Heian-kyo, the capital of peace and tranquillity, when Emperor Kanmu moved the imperial court from Nagaoka-kyo to a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. The city was laid out on a grid modelled on the Chinese capital Chang'an, and it remained the imperial capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years, until 1868. During the Heian period, from 794 to 1185, it was the centre of an elegant court culture, where Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji. Although military rulers later held real power, Kyoto remained the home of the emperor and a centre of Buddhism, art and crafts. The Onin War, from 1467 to 1477, destroyed much of the city. In the late 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi rebuilt Kyoto, and under the Tokugawa shogunate, Nijo Castle was built in 1603. Kyoto flourished as a centre of textiles, ceramics, theatre and the tea ceremony. In 1868 the emperor moved to Tokyo, and Kyoto lost its political role but kept its cultural importance. During the Second World War, Kyoto was largely spared from bombing, partly because of its cultural value. In 1994 seventeen sites became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today about 1.4 million people live in the city.
Culture
Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan, home to about 1,600 Buddhist temples, about 400 Shinto shrines, imperial palaces, Zen gardens and traditional wooden townhouses called machiya. It is the centre of traditional Japanese arts, such as the tea ceremony, with the headquarters of the major tea schools, ikebana flower arranging, Noh theatre and kaiseki cuisine. In the Gion, Pontocho and Kamishichiken districts, geiko, as geisha are called in Kyoto, and maiko, apprentice geisha, still entertain guests in teahouses and perform dances in spring and autumn. Kyoto is famous for crafts, such as Nishijin silk weaving, Kiyomizu pottery and Yuzen dyeing. The city's festivals are among Japan's most important, especially the Gion Matsuri in July, with huge floats, the Aoi Matsuri in May and the Jidai Matsuri in October. Seasons are celebrated in daily life, from cherry blossoms in spring to red maple leaves in autumn. Kyoto cuisine, kyo-ryori, emphasises delicate flavours, seasonal vegetables, tofu and yuba, tofu skin. Residents are known for their refined manners and indirect way of speaking. Recently, the city has introduced measures to manage overtourism, such as restricting access to private lanes in Gion.
Climate
Spring
4–23°C
March to May brings mild 13–23°C days and cherry blossoms, usually from late March to mid-April, along the Philosopher's…
Summer
21–36°C
June to August starts with the rainy season in June and July, then becomes very hot and humid, with 32–36°C days, as Kyo…
Autumn
7–25°C
September can be hot with typhoons, but October and November are pleasant, with 15–25°C days, and the autumn leaves, koy…
Winter
1–10°C
December to February is cold, with 8–10°C days and frosty nights, and occasional snow, which makes temples such as Kinka…
Fun Facts
A capital for more than 1,000 years
Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan from 794 to 1868, more than 1,070 years, making it one of the longest-serving ca…
Ten thousand torii gates
Fushimi Inari Taisha, the head shrine of Inari, the Shinto god of rice, sake and business prosperity, has about 10,000 v…
A golden pavilion covered in gold leaf
Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, was originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu a…
Spared from the atomic bomb
Kyoto was on the shortlist of targets for the atomic bomb in 1945, but the US Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, insisted …
A temple built without nails
The main hall of Kiyomizu-dera, rebuilt in 1633, stands on a wooden stage supported by 139 pillars, built without a sing…
A forest of bamboo
The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, on the western edge of Kyoto, is a path through towering bamboo stalks, some more than 20 m…
Local Cuisine in Kyoto
Practical Travel Information
Transport & Accessibility
International Transport
Kyoto has no airport. The nearest international airports are Kansai International Airport (KIX), about 75 minutes away by the Haruka express train, and Osaka Itami Airport (ITM), mainly for domestic flights, about 55 minutes by limousine bus. Kyoto Station is a major stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen, with bullet trains to Tokyo in about 2 hours 15 minutes, Osaka in about 15 minutes and Hiroshima in about 1 hour 40 minutes. JR, Kintetsu, Hankyu and Keihan railways connect Kyoto with Nara, Osaka and Kobe.
Local Transport
Kyoto has an extensive bus network, two subway lines, the Karasuma and Tozai lines, and JR, Keihan, Hankyu and Randen railways. Buses cost about ¥230 per ride and can be very crowded at popular sites, so use trains and subways where possible. A one-day subway and bus pass costs about ¥1,100. IC cards, such as ICOCA and Suica, are accepted. Kyoto is flat and good for cycling, with rental shops across the city, but park only in designated areas. Walking between temples in Higashiyama is pleasant. Taxis are available and useful for groups.
Safety & Health
Personal Safety
Kyoto is very safe, with very low crime rates. The main risks are crowds at popular sites, traffic on narrow streets, especially for cyclists, and heat exhaustion in summer. Pickpocketing is rare but possible in crowded places, so keep valuables secure. Respect rules in Gion, where some private lanes are closed to tourists and photography is restricted, with fines for violations. Earthquakes can occur, so know your hotel's emergency procedures and download the Safety Tips app. In an emergency, call 110 for police or 119 for ambulance and fire.
Medical Services
Kyoto has excellent hospitals, such as Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto City Hospital and the Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi Hospital, with some English-speaking staff. Medical care is high quality but expensive for visitors, so travel insurance is essential. Kyoto City provides a medical support line for foreign visitors. Pharmacies are common, but some medicines common abroad are restricted in Japan. Drink plenty of water in summer, as Kyoto's heat and humidity can be intense. Tap water is safe to drink.
Budget & Costs
Travel Costs
Kyoto can be expensive, especially in peak seasons. A hostel bed costs about ¥3,000–6,000, a business hotel ¥10,000–20,000, a ryokan ¥20,000–60,000 per person with meals and a luxury hotel from ¥50,000 per night. A ramen bowl costs about ¥800–1,300, a set lunch ¥1,200–2,000 and a kaiseki dinner ¥10,000–40,000. Temple entry costs about ¥300–1,300 each, a bus ride ¥230, a one-day pass about ¥1,100 and a tea ceremony ¥2,000–6,000. A mid-range traveller should budget about ¥18,000–30,000 per day. Prices rise noticeably in the high season.
Budget Tips
Visit free sites, such as Fushimi Inari, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Yasaka Shrine, Heian Shrine grounds and the Philosopher's Path. Buy a one-day subway and bus pass if you plan several rides. Rent a bicycle to save on transport. Eat at ramen shops, konbini and set-lunch restaurants, and enjoy kaiseki at lunch, when it is cheaper. Stay in Osaka, about 15 minutes by Shinkansen or 30 minutes by train, where hotels are cheaper. Visit in winter or early summer for lower prices.
Culture & Traditions
Social Norms
Kyoto residents are known for their refined manners and indirect communication. Be quiet and respectful in temples and shrines, follow signs and do not touch artworks. Remove shoes when entering temple halls, and wear clean socks. Do not eat while walking in many areas, and carry your rubbish. In Gion, do not chase or photograph geisha without permission, and stay out of private lanes. Bow slightly when greeting. Tipping is not customary. In ryokan, follow onsen etiquette and wear the yukata provided, left side over right.
Cultural Activities
Take part in a tea ceremony in a traditional teahouse. Watch a geisha dance performance, such as Miyako Odori in April. Attend the Gion Matsuri in July. Try zazen meditation at a Zen temple, such as Shunko-in. Wear a kimono for a day and walk through Higashiyama. Learn ikebana flower arranging. Visit a sake brewery in Fushimi. Take a cooking class for Kyoto cuisine. Attend the Jidai Matsuri in October. Watch the temple illuminations in spring and autumn. Visit Toei Kyoto Studio Park.
Unique Experiences in Kyoto
Hike through the torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha at sunrise, climbing to the summit of Mount Inari and passing fox statues and small shrines, with views over Kyoto. It is free and open around the clock. Allow two to three hours, wear comfortable shoes and continue beyond the first section to escape the crowds.
Take part in a traditional tea ceremony in a machiya townhouse or a temple teahouse, learning how matcha is prepared and served with seasonal wagashi sweets. Ceremonies cost about ¥2,000–6,000 and last about one hour. Book in advance, and sit on your knees, seiza, or ask for a stool.
Wear a kimono for a day, renting it from a shop near Kiyomizu-dera or Gion, and walk through the historic Higashiyama district, with its stone-paved lanes, such as Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. Rental costs about ¥3,000–8,000, including dressing. Book in advance, and choose a weekday.
Try zazen, Zen meditation, at a temple such as Shunko-in in the Myoshin-ji complex or Kennin-ji, guided by a monk who explains Zen Buddhism. Sessions cost about ¥2,000–3,500 and last about one hour. Book in advance, wear comfortable clothes and remain still and silent during meditation.
Dine by the Kamo River on a kawadoko platform in Pontocho, open from May to September, enjoying Kyoto cuisine with river views on summer evenings. Dinners cost about ¥5,000–15,000. Book in advance, and visit at sunset, when lanterns light the riverbank.
Travel Recommendations for Kyoto
Visit popular sites, such as Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Kinkaku-ji, at opening time o…
Use trains and subways instead of buses, which are often crowded and slow near popular sites. Walk between temples in Hi…
Respect local rules and etiquette, especially in Gion, where some private lanes are closed to tourists and photography o…
Explore lesser-known temples and neighbourhoods, such as Daitoku-ji, Tofuku-ji, Shoren-in, the Ohara area and Kurama, to…
Book accommodation months in advance for cherry blossom season, in late March and April, and the autumn leaves, in Novem…