When I close my eyes and think of Japan, I’m picturing Kyoto, the most rewarding city in Japan (I’d go so far as to say that Kyoto is the most rewarding single city in all of Asia), and a place all travelers should visit at least once in their lives.
One of Japan’s oldest cities, Emperor Kanmu selected it as the seat of the imperial court in AD 794, and it remained Japan’s capital for more than the next millennium, until Tokyo replaced it in 1869. Serving as the capital for so long has left the city with an incredibly rich legacy, with some 1,600 mysterious Buddhist temples, 400 colorful Shinto shrines, and sublime Zen gardens, with 17 of the city’s monuments, temples, shrines, plus one castle being designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites (collectively designated as the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto). Japan in a nutshell, Kyoto, the cultural and historical heart of the country, is the best place in all Japan to experience.
Kyoto is packed with world-famous sights, but figuring out how to see them all without feeling rushed or totally lost can be a challenge. For the essence of Kyoto’s old-world charm, visit the 360-meter-long, cobblestoned Hanami-koji Street in Gion District, the city’s most famous traditional entertainment and geisha district. Many locals and tourists stroll through the district wearing a rented kimono, a wildly popular and culturally embraced activity. Everything you need is provided, from the silk or synthetic kimono sash (obi) to hair styling and the traditional wooden (geta) or fabric (zori) sandals.
Offering an authentic Kyoto experience, this main thoroughfare is lined with stunning, preserved architecture such as wooden merchant houses (machiya), traditional Japanese restaurants (ryotei), and upscale teahouses (ochaya). It is also renowned for its exclusive nightlife where geiko (Kyoto’s term for geisha) and apprentices (maiko) entertain guests. The centuries-old Yasaka Shrine, sitting at the eastern edge of the district, is the spiritual heart of the area.
A highly photogenic must-see is the Fushimi Inari Taisha, an ancient Shinto shrine famous for its iconic, mesmerizing twin tunnels of closely packed vermillion gates, known as Senbon Torii (thousands of torii gates), which symbolize a path into the sacred realm. Winding 4 kilometers up the sacred, 233-meter-high Mount Inari, these gates are actually donations made by individuals and businesses across Japan. Throughout the grounds, you’ll see countless kitsune (stone statues of foxes), messengers of Inari Okami (the patron of agriculture, business, and general success), many of which carry symbolic items like keys (for granaries) or scrolls in their mouths.
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), a Zen Buddhist temple celebrated as one of the most iconic and frequently visited landmarks in the country, is a magnificent example of blending various architectural styles across three floors. Its top two floors are entirely covered in pure, shimmering gold leaf. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it overlooks a tranquil mirror pond (Kyoko-chi) which reflects the brilliant gold of the pavilion. The pavilion was burnt to the ground in 1950 by a fanatic monk but was painstakingly rebuilt in 1955. As you follow the walking path through the temple’s beautifully manicured gardens, you will pass several weathered miniature Buddhist statues and smaller shrines with small offering bowls or cups sitting in front. A popular, fun, and traditional activity here is tossing coins at the statues and offering bowls, and if you land a coin in the target, it is believed to bring good fortune or grant a wish. You can also toss coins at the Hakujya-no Tsuka (White Snake Mound) near Anmintaku Pond (which is said to never dry up).
The 16-square-kilometer Arashiyama Bamboo Grove was a major highlight. Yes, it’s popular. Here, you walk through a series of tourist-packed wooden pathways that weave through the dense thicket of soaring, emerald-green bamboo stalks, mostly moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) that reach dozens of feet into the sky, creating a canopy- an experience that feels surreal. In fact, the rustling sound of the bamboo stalks swaying in the wind was officially recognized as one of the ‘100 Soundscapes of Japan’ by the Ministry of the Environment.
Next to the bamboo forest are Tenryuji Temple, one of Kyoto’s most important Zen temples, and Nonomiya Shrine. The latter is famous for its rare, unpainted torii made of unpeeled oak, considered to be the oldest and most traditional style of gate in Japan. The shrine is also a popular spot for blessings of love and safe childbirth. Wandering through the peaceful, stunning garden (created by garden designer Muso Soseki) of Tenryuji Temple, with its reflective pond, surrounded by rocks and pine trees, and a backdrop of the forested Arashiyama Mountains, instantly slowed things down in the best way.
It’s a surprisingly rewarding finish that adds a playful edge to the day. Kyoto is the most rewarding destination in all of Japan, and it should be at the top of any Japan travel itinerary.