Kon’nichiwa!
Below I have created an interactive map of important things to know about in Kyoto. You can view this in google maps. This includes famous tourist attractions and popular sights. I’ve included the most popular things to do in Kyoto, as well as uniquely Japan experience to have in Kyoto. I tried to keep it from becoming an endless list of things to do… although it does still feel like a lot! The most important things you should know about are the PINK pins.
Now first I want to explain what’s on the map, and hopefully that will give you a better idea of how to plan your time in Kyoto!
There are partner websites included in this post. I may earn a commission.
JAPAN TRAVEL > KYOTO MAP | TOKYO MAP | CENTRAL JAPAN MAP
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So, here’s what’s on the map!
If you want to go straight to the map, here you go: Kyoto tourist map
Super famous Kyoto attractions
On my map below, the most famous Kyoto attractions are marked with a pink star pin.
Fushimi Inari Taisha torii tunnel
Inari Station
Iconic red torii shrine gate tunnels you’ve seen in pictures, known for having 1,000 red torii gates. Free.
Get to know it better: Fushimi Inari hidden hiking tour
Arashiyama bamboo forest
Saga-Arashiyama Station
The iconic bamboo forest of Kyoto you’ve seen in pictures. You can spend a day in Arashiyama, including going to the monkey park and temples. Free.
Get to know it better: Arashiyama bamboo, matcha, monkeys, and temple tour
Get to know Kyoto’s most famous sights better in one tour: Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama tour
Kinkakuji golden temple
Kinkakuji-michi bus stop
Iconic golden temple of Kyoto you’ve seen in pictures. Entry fee: 500 yen (US $3)
Kiyomizudera Temple
Kiyomizu-Gojo Station. Kiyomizudera-michi bus stop
Historic hillside temple with panoramic city views. Often done as part of a walk from Gion (Yasaka Shrine) to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, where you can detour through the classic Kyoto streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, as well as Hokanji Temple. Entry fee: 500 yen ($3)
Gion
Gion-Shijo Station
Famous district in Kyoto. Hanami-koji Street is the most famous traditional street in Gion. Lined with traditional wooden machiya houses, tea houses, and restaurants, it’s the classic Kyoto “geisha district” that you see in pictures. Often paired with a stroll along Shirakawa Canal. You can also start your walk from Gion to Kiyomizudera Temple nearby at Yasaka Shrine, passing through/by Ninenzaka street, Sannenzaka street, Hokanji Temple.
Get to know it better: Gion geisha district walking tour
Nearby train stations: Note that I list train stations or bus stops that are near each attraction, but this is just one that’s nearby. Depending on where you’re coming from, there might be a better train station or bus stop to arrive at. But this is just to give you an idea for your preliminary research. Use google maps public transit directions to make navigating Kyoto by train easy! Using the google maps app on your phone gives you lots of details, including future train timings. For Americans with t-mobile: You get free international data on standard t-mobile plans and I can confirm it works very well in Japan. (Confirm your own plan includes this.)
Uber in Kyoto: You can also use the uber app to get around in Kyoto. Instead of an “uber driver,” the app serves to get you connected to a taxi driver.
Popular Kyoto tourist attractions
On my map below, famous Kyoto attractions are marked with a pink pin.
Ninenzaka / Sannenzaka streets
Gion Shijo Station
Classic Kyoto streets. You can make it a walk from Gion to these iconic streets, and then onwards to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
Ryoanji Temple
Ryoanji-mae bus stop
Famous for rock garden. Often done along side visit to the golden temple. Entry fee: 600 yen (US$4)
Nijo Castle
Nijojo-mae Station. Nijo-jo Castle bus stop
Historic palace with classic Japanese gardens and architecture. The general admission includes walking around the grounds, and you can buy separate tickets to go inside palace buildings. There’s one palace that requires reservations in advance. There’s a cafe where you can drink traditional Japanese matcha.
More: Tickets
Get to know it better: Nijo Castle samurai inside story
Ginkakuji Temple
Demachiyanagi Station. Ginkakuji-michi bus stop
Nice temple grounds to walk around with moss garden and sand garden. Start walking the Philoposher’s Path nearby, or do the Daimonjiyama hike to get sweeping city views that starts nearby. Entry fee: 500 yen ($3)
More things to do in Kyoto
On my map below, more things to do are marked with a magenta pin.
Nishiki Market
Shijo Station
Kyoto’s famous market.
Get to know it better: Nishiki Market brunch walking tour
Pontocho Alley
Gion-Shijo Station
Narrow alley with small food spots and restaurants along the river.
Get to know it better: Gion and Pontocho food tour
Philosopher’s Path
Demachiyanagi Station. Ginkakuji-michi bus stop
Scenic canal-side walk, and you can go temple-hopping by stopping by small temples along the way. In simple terms, your Philosopher’s Path walk can be a walk from Ginkakuji Temple to Nanzenji Temple.
Nanzenji Temple
Keage Station
Spacious temple grounds that makes for a nice walk around. Walking around the area is free. There are fee areas like small gardens. You can make this a part of your Philosopher’s Path walk from Ginkakuji Temple to Nanzenji Temple.
Heian Jingu Shrine
Higashiyama Station
Big red torii gate on the road leading up to the shrine (“Heian-Jingu Shrine Grand Torii” on google maps), and you can also take a nice walk around the gardens for a fee. Garden entry fee: 600 yen ($4)
Kifune Shrine
Kibuneguichi Station
A little outside the city, this is a scenic riverside spot that has stairs lined with iconic red lantern posts. Go straight to Kifune Shrine, or get to Kifune Shrine by doing the Kurama to Kibune hike for a peaceful walk through a forest trail. You can also combine it with a trip to Ohara afterwards for a Kurama Kibune Ohara day.
Ohara
Ohara bus stop
Also outside of the city, see rural Japan and visit small temples like Sanzen-in Temple and Jokko-in Temple. You can combine this with Kurama and Kibune.
Kodaiji Temple
Gion-Shijo Station
Nice gardens to walk around with small bamboo forest area.
Saihoji moss temple
Kami-Katsura Station. Kokedera Suzumushidera bus stop
Quiet moss garden that requires reservations.
Kenniji Temple
Gion-Shijo Station
Serene Japanese garden to walk around. There’s also a sand garden.
Daimonji-yama hike
Demachiyanagi Station. Ginkakuji-michi bus stop
Hike to get sweeping city views!
Kyoto Tower
Kyoto Station
Observation deck. Fee: 900 yen ($6)
Kyoto Station underground food spots
Kyoto Station
Just outside the central exit of Kyoto Station, to the left you will see stairs going down. You’ll find lots of good spots.
For a visual on taking the shinkansen from Kyoto Station, see my post about Kyoto to Okayama by shinkansen!
Kyoto day trips
On my map below, the Kyoto day trips are marked with a deep red pin.
Nara
45 minutes to Nara Station
One of the most popular day trips from Kyoto. Nara is a former capital of Japan which means it has historic places to visit, including a Great Buddha. And then there’s the deer.
Tour from Kyoto: Day trip to Nara
Himeji
50 minutes to Himeji Station by shinkansen bulle train, and 1 hour 40 minutes by (cheaper) regular train
Visit Himeji Castle that’s said to be one of the top castles in Japan, as well as the Japanese garden nearby where you can get matcha.
On your own: Himeji and Hiroshima in one day
Uji
30 minutes to Uji Station
Known for all things matcha.
Hiroshima
1 hour 40 minutes to Hiroshima by shinkansen bullet train
Hiroshima peace memorial park is the must-visit. It’s better as an overnight trip, but it’s possible as a day trip if it’s a priority for you.
On your own: Day trip to Hiroshima from Kyoto
Miyajima
2.5 hours to Miyajima island by shinaksen bullet train (to Hiroshima) and ferry
The iconic floating torii shrine gate. Better done alongside an overnight trip in Hiroshima, but if Miyajima is a priority for you, it can be done as a day trip from Kyoto.
On your own: Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day
Main train station
On my map below, the main train station is marked with a black pin.
Kyoto Station
The gateway to Kyoto. This is also where the shinkansen bullet train station is. 2 hours 15 minutes to/from Tokyo by shinkansen.
More: Tokyo map
Airport
On my map below, the airports are marked with a black airplane pin.
Kansai Airport (KIX) international flights
Kansai airport is the closest international airport to Kyoto. There’s a 1.5 hour direct train from KIX to Kyoto Station (JR Haruka). You can show up and buy tickets at the ticket machine, or there’s a JR office next to the ticket machines to buy tickets in person (and exchange your JR pass voucher). There is also a 1.5 hour direct limousine bus, which has luggage storage under the bus.
Airport transfer: Private Kansai transfer
Itami Airport (ITM) domestic flights
Osaka Itami airport is for domestic flights. There is a 1 hour direct limousine bus from Itami airport to Kyoto Station that has luggage storage under the bus. You can just show up and buy tickets at the ticket machine.
Airport transfer: Private Itami transfer
Hotels: Where to stay in Kyoto
On my map below, the hotels are marked with a magenta bed pin.
Hotels near Kyoto Station
Staying near Kyoto Station won’t be in the main sightseeing areas or traditional parts of Kyoto, but it can be a convenient place to stay. You’ll have easy access to trains, buses, and shinkansen for day trips or travel to other cities. The area also has plenty of restaurants (underground food spots!) and convenience stores too.
Located minutes walking from the Hachijoguchi exit of Kyoto Station, Hotel Elcient Kyoto Hachijoguchi is a simple clean, modern, and comfortable place to stay.
Located minutes walking from the central exit of Kyoto Station, staying in the Matsumoto Ryokan will give you cozy traditional Japanese home vibes.
Heart of traditional Kyoto in Higashiyama
When you stay at Hotel Yuraku Kyoyasaka, you’ll be minutes away by foot from several temples, and you can easily walk around Gion, Higashiyama, and streets with the traditional Kyoto vibe.
Kyoto for solo travelers and couples
For a simple room, the Prince Smart Inn Kyoto Sanjo provides basic comforts while being in a good location, although not directly in the middle of everything. It’s a 10-15 minute walk to Gion, Nishiki Market, and Pontocho Alley, where you have many foot options. It’s a few minutes walk to the nearest train station (Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station) to connect to the rest of the city.
Kyoto for families and groups
In general, Mimaru hotels are known to be good when traveling as a group or family with kids because their apartment-style rooms give more space and convenience than a standard hotel.
The Mimaru Kyoto Station is minutes walking from the train station for convenience to do day trips. There’s also lots of food options at the Kyoto Station underground dining area. Look for the pokemon room in the room types!
To be closer to the main sightseeing areas, Mimaru Kyoto Shinmachi Sanjo is in a good location, although not directly in the middle of everything. It’s a 5 minute walk from Karasume Oike Station, which connects directly to Kyoto Station in 6 minutes, and directly to Gion (Sanjo Keihan Station) in 3 minutes.
The higher-end offering of Mimaru hotels is the Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo. It’s a 5 minute walk to the nearest train station (Shijo Station) that connects directly to Kyoto Station in 4 minutes. It’s a 15-20 minute walk to Nishiki Market, Pontocho Alley, and Gion, all of which have many food options.
Mentioned above but in case you missed it. You can use the uber app in Kyoto. Instead of an “uber driver,” you will be getting a taxi.
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Kyoto tourist map
👇 Explore the interactive map below of Kyoto! Zoom in to get started and click on the icons for details!
If you are having problems viewing or using the map, you can view it directly on google maps.
JAPAN TRAVEL > KYOTO MAP | TOKYO MAP | CENTRAL JAPAN MAP
>> NEW GOLDEN ROUTE JAPAN MAP