Kyoto Bucket List: 26 Best Things to Do in Kyoto

What to do in Kyoto for you next trip?

Kyoto is one of  the most popular tourist destinations in the whole world today, which is known as the greatest ancient city in Japan. It’s located in the heart of Kansai Region in Western Japan alongside of Osaka and Nara.

The city served as the capital city of the country for over 1,000 years (from 794 to 1868), and there are over 4,000 historical monuments including temples and shrines preserved until today as well as charming streetscape of the old town. The well-preserved monuments and the old town itself are the biggest attraction in Kyoto, and the city attracts millions of visitors from Japan and overseas in all year around.

In comparison to the modern capital, Tokyo, the ancient capital Kyoto is a must-visit destination for every tourists to Japan to experience the traditional Japanese culture and old town atmosphere.

 If you are going to visit Kyoto for a short period, you should definitely plan your itinerary in advance to travel efficiently and without wasting time. As Kyoto is a big city and there are tons of tourist attractions in the city, you may get confused what to see or where to visit in the city. So in this article, I am sharing my Kyoto Bucket List of with 26 best things to do in Kyoto, especially for the first time. The list includes not only must-visit temples and shrines but also some of hidden gems and recommended tours and activities available today. So let’s check them out!

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-North-

1. Kinkaku-ji Temple

The Zen Buddhist temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple (金閣寺) is one of the most famous landmarks and popular tourist attractions in Japan. The temple was originally built in 1397, and its real name is Rokuonji Temple, however, because of the iconic appearance, it’s known as Kinkaiji (Goden Pavilion).

2. Ryoanji Temple

Ryoanji Temple (龍安寺) is best known for its stunning rock garden, which is designated to UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, as a part of Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. This rock garden is considered to be the finest example of Kare-Sansui (dry landscape), the traditional form of Japanese rock gardens.

3. Kifune Shrine

Kifune Shrine (貴船神社) has is a highly popular photo spot in Kyoto, which is famous for the astonishing scenery of the shrine approach with stairs lined with red lanterns. The shrine is also known for the divine favour for love knots and a popular site for wedding.

-South-

4. Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (伏見稲荷大社) is Kyoto’s most visited shrine and one of the most iconic sights in Japan today. The shrine became famous since its iconic vermilion torii gates made an appearance on the popular movie “Memoirs of a Geisha” in 2005.

-East-

5. Kiyomizudera Temple

Kiyomizudera Temple (清水寺) is one of the most important and oldest historic monuments in Japan, which was built in 780. The temple has a massive wooden terrace surrounded by nature, and it displays a pleasant scenery in each season. Especially in autumn, it attracts many visitors since the night light-up event is held during the peak season of autumn leaves.