Kyoto served as Japan's capital for over a thousand years, and its layered history remains visible in landmarks like Kinkakuji, the gilded Golden Pavilion originally built as a shogun's retirement villa before its conversion to a Buddhist temple. Nearby, Nijo Castle preserves the seventeenth-century residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, first shogun of the Edo period, its grounds and painted interiors offering a glimpse into feudal-era power. Beyond the city, the vermilion torii gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine climb a wooded hillside, drawing visitors on a walk through one of the country's most photographed sites.
Further afield, the ancient capital of Nara holds Todaiji Temple, founded in the eighth century and long a center of Buddhist scholarship. As Kyoto sits inland, travelers typically arrive via the port city of Osaka or Kobe, making the journey by train or coach before exploring on foot through temple grounds and historic districts.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Kyoto.
Walk the Fushimi Inari Torii Tunnel
Climb partway up the wooded hillside through thousands of vermilion gates for a quieter, more atmospheric view than the base offers; arrive early to beat crowds and allow at least an hour.
Wander Gion's Geisha District
Stroll the lantern-lit lanes and preserved wooden teahouses of Kyoto's historic entertainment quarter, where geiko and maiko still hurry to evening engagements.
Greet the Deer at Nara Park
Freely roaming, bowing deer share the grounds surrounding Todaiji Temple, making the short walk between sites as memorable as the temple itself.
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