Kyoto is often referred to as Japan’s most beautiful city, thanks to its countless temples, shrines and traditional gardens. Many people go there to visit its iconic architectural attractions, spot elusive geishas, and of course, to experience the cherry blossoms in spring.
To help you on your way, I outline the essential things you need to know below, and I link out to my more in-depth articles about the city.
About Kyoto & Why To Visit
Kyoto was Japan's capital for over a thousand years. It's one of the few Japanese cities that escaped World War II bombings, which is why you’ll find so many well-preserved temples, shrines and wooden machiya townhouses there, often contrasted against modern, bustling structures.
The city is also home to a staggering 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, which are almost all temples. Some of the best temples in that list are the Kinkaku-ji, Ryoan-ji, and Kiyomizu-dera, which I show and describe here.
From the many reasons to visit Kyoto, I personally love the city for its unique culture, the wide variety of Japanese cuisine, as well as the beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons.
When To Go
The Oi river in Kyoto's Arashiyama district, during autumn
Kyoto's 4 seasons are spring (March to May), summer (June to August), autumn (September to November), and winter (December to February). You can see the average temperature for each month here.
The best seasons to visit are spring and autumn. Spring weather moves from cool to warm, with the cherry blossom trees flowering from the 4th week of March till the 2nd week of May. Most of autumn is comfortably warm, and it has beautiful fall foliage to admire. The popularity of these seasons do make them relatively busy.
Summer is generally not recommended due to its hot, wet, and humid weather, though it is the peak season for festivals. Winter is cold, but if you're lucky you can experience the city under snow cover, which does add to the magic. Both of these seasons have less tourists.
Things To Do
Quick info on things to do
Where To Stay & Getting There
Quick info on where to stay
Quick info on getting there
Kyoto Map
What excites you about Kyoto?
If you've been to or are planning to go to Kyoto, what do you like most about the city? Leave a comment below. For me it's the immersion into traditional Japanese culture. I don't necessarily mean the temples with that, but things such as the beautiful streets in Gion, and the yummy Japanse restaurants abound 🙂