Daisen-in Zen Garden

A small sub-temple of Daitoku-ji in Kyoto, Daisen-in shelters a dry rock garden whose composition reads like a life journey according to Zen philosophy.

Pontocho Street in Kyoto

Historic pedestrian alley in Kyoto, Pontocho brings together traditional wooden houses, geiko theater and restaurants along the Kamo River.

Temple Nanzen

Nanzen Temple

At the foot of the Higashiyama hills, Nanzen-ji ranks among Kyoto's five great Zen temples. The Sanmon gate, dry garden, and red aqueduct stand as its architectural masterpieces.

Mount Hiei

Northeast of Kyoto, Mount Hiei is home to Enryaku-ji, the birthplace of Tendai Buddhism and a UNESCO World Heritage site, nestled among forests, ancient trails and panoramic views of Lake Biwa.

Mount Kurama, Kyoto

North of Kyoto, Mount Kurama brings together an ancient temple, a Shinto shrine, forest hiking trails leading to Kibune, and a sulfurous hot spring.

Kiyomizu Temple

Nestled against the Higashiyama hills, Kiyomizu-dera overlooks Kyoto from its wooden terrace built without nails. History, sites to see and visiting advice.

The Golden Pavilion Kinkaku-ji

A Zen temple covered in gold leaf in north-west Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji combines unique architecture, strolling gardens and a turbulent history.

Kibune

Kibune

Just 30 minutes north of Kyoto, Kibune lines its traditional inns along a mountain river, centered around the Kifune-jinja shrine and its kawadoko platforms.

The Higashiyama District

Nestled against the eastern hills of Kyoto, Higashiyama brings together cobbled lanes, wooden machiya houses, and major temples including Kiyomizu-dera, Ginkaku-ji, and Nanzen-ji.

The Gion District

Kyoto's most historic district, renowned for its geiko and maiko, Gion preserves cobbled streets, ochaya teahouses, temples and one of Japan's oldest festivals.

The Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji Temple)

A Zen temple in Kyoto's Higashiyama district, Ginkaku-ji embodies the wabi-sabi aesthetic through its wooden pavilion and landscaped gardens.

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Shinto shrine founded in 711 southeast of Kyoto, famous for its thousands of vermillion torii gates climbing to Mount Inari at 233 meters altitude.

The Sanctuary of Fushimi Inari

Nicknamed the sanctuary of ten thousand torii, Fushimi Inari-taisha lines its vermillion gates along the forested slope southeast of Kyoto.

Eigamura Theme Park

West of Kyoto, the Tôei Uzumasa Eigamura park blends an active filming studio with a life-size recreation of the Edo period across 5.3 hectares.

Mount Arashiyama

West of Kyoto, Mount Arashiyama brings together a bamboo grove, Zen temple Tenryu-ji, wild macaques, a scenic train and hot springs.