A thousand years as imperial capital, temples on every hillside and wooden lanes where voices drop. Discover Kyoto early in the morning, on foot or by bike, one area per half-day.
ounded in 794 as Heian-kyō, Kyoto was Japan’s capital until 1868. Its grid plan was modelled on Chang’an, the ancient Chinese capital. The city kept its temples, shrines, teahouses and crafts handed down through generations.
The secret to enjoying it: set out early, before the groups, and accept that you won’t see everything. A morning in Higashiyama, an afternoon in Arashiyama, dinner in the lanes of Pontochō. Kyoto rewards those who slow down.
Find your bearings
For a first stay: restaurants, Nishiki Market, Pontochō and Gion on foot, with subway and buses nearby. The best base for getting around.
For train trips (Nara, Osaka, the airport) and late arrivals. Practical but less charming: you will need a bus or subway to reach the temples.
To stay in a ryokan at the foot of the temples and enjoy the lanes before the crowds arrive. Quiet at night; restaurants close early.
For a quiet night near the bamboo grove and the river. Out of the way: a base for a second visit rather than a first trip.
A first visit
A starting point to adapt to the weather, your energy and opening hours.
Reach Kiyomizu-dera at opening time, then walk down Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. Lunch, then Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park. End the day in Gion with dinner in Pontochō by the Kamo River.
Very early at Fushimi Inari: climb past the first gates and the crowds thin out. Back via Nishiki Market. Afternoon in Arashiyama: bamboo grove, Tenryū-ji Temple and Togetsukyō Bridge. Keep the Golden Pavilion for another day.
