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Kyoto

Temples, shrines and old wooden streets

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Kyoto Plan a trip around Japan

Best time to visit: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
Currency: JPY
Time zone: UTC+9
Country: Japan

Photo: Nina R, CC BY 2.0

Japan's imperial capital for a thousand years, with around 1,600 temples, 17 UNESCO sites, geisha districts and gardens that change with each season.

Largest cities

Tokyo
Yokohama
Osaka
Nagoya
Sapporo
Kyoto

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Japan
Capital: Tokyo
City population: 1.5M
Population of Japan: 123.8M
Country area: 377,975 km²
Official language: Japanese
Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY) · 1 USD ≈ 158 JPY
Time zone: UTC+9
Calling code: +81
Drives on the: Left
Elevation: 50 m
Plugs: A / B · 100V
Emergency numbers: 110 · 119
Best time to visit: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	9°	10°	14°	20°	25°	28°	32°	34°	29°	23°	17°	12°
Low	1°	2°	4°	9°	14°	19°	23°	24°	20°	13°	7°	3°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$73
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$165
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$445

Plan a trip to Kyoto

Top things to do

Free
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Tunnels of thousands of red torii gates climbing the mountain; go at dawn to avoid the crowds.
- Half day
- Fushimi
- Good for kids
≈ $3
Kiyomizu-dera and the Higashiyama lanes
The wooden temple stage over the hillside, then the old streets of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka down to Yasaka Shrine.
- Half day
- Higashiyama and Gion
≈ $5
Arashiyama bamboo grove and Tenryū-ji
The famous bamboo path, a Zen garden and the Togetsukyō bridge, with the monkey park across the river.
- Half day
- Arashiyama
- Good for kids
≈ $3
Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion
A gold-leaf pavilion reflected in a pond; combine it with the rock garden of Ryōan-ji nearby.
- Half day
- Northern temples
Free
Gion and Pontochō at dusk
Wooden teahouses and lantern-lit alleys; photography is banned on some private lanes and geiko must not be approached.
- Half day
- Higashiyama and Gion
- Good in the evening
≈ $15
Day trip: Nara
The giant Buddha of Tōdai-ji and a park of free-roaming deer, 45 minutes by train.
- Full day
- Nara
- Good for kids
≈ $15
Nishiki Market
A covered market street of pickles, sweets and street snacks; don't eat while walking.
- Half day
- Higashiyama and Gion
- Good for kids
- Indoors

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many nationalities can visit visa-free for short stays; others need a visa, and some can apply for an eVISA online. Visit Japan Web lets you fill in immigration and customs forms before you land.

Official website

From the airport

Fly into Kansai Airport (about 75 minutes by the Haruka express) or take the shinkansen from Tokyo, about 2 hours 15 minutes.

Getting around

Buses reach most temples but are crowded; the subway and JR and private trains are faster. IC cards (ICOCA, Suica) work everywhere.

Local tips

Start the big sights at opening time; by 10 am they are crowded.
Spring blossom and autumn leaves are the busiest seasons: book months ahead.
Kyoto charges an accommodation tax per person per night, paid at the hotel.
Follow local etiquette: no eating while walking, and keep to marked paths in Gion.