Kyoto
Kyoto is where Japanese people go to see Japan. The capital from 794 to 1868, Kyoto is home to Japan’s best known Buddhist temples as well as many famous Shinto shrines, and streets corners are dotted with jizo statues and paper garlands decorating sacred trees and stones.
Kyoto is quite simply a must-see destination. Known for its Zen gardens, geisha, tea houses, and palaces, Kyoto is very much a vibrant modern city proud of both its past and present, where rowdy karaoke coexists with the subtlety of kaiseki cuisine.
Many of the stock images of Japan are shot in Kyoto – striking and familiar photographs of ornate temples, dramatic pagodas or geisha strolling down old cobbled streets. The famous Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and Kiyomizu temple are both Kyoto sights. Sometimes you will see well-organised uniformed school groups or fanatical photographers – aspects of the culture which can be as entertaining as the sights themselves.
Experiences in Kyoto
Ikebana in Kyoto
Ikebana, meaning "living flowers", is sometimes referred to as kado, or "the way of flowers". Ikebana masters create symbolic works from cut flowers, branches, grasses, and other natural and sometimes synthetic materials. This traditional Japanese style of flower arranging is...
Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market – a long, narrow covered street packed with shops selling local specialties – is sometimes called Kyoto’s kitchen, and it’s easy to see why; barrels of fresh and pickled vegetables spill out into the street, and the air...
Wedding Kimono Photo Session
If you're travelling to Japan on Honeymoon - or even if not! - why not create a wonderful souvenir of your trip with a wedding kimono photo session in Kyoto? You'll both be dressed in traditional wedding attire; for her,...
Kimono Dressing Experience
Have your photograph taken with traditional Japanese costume, Kimono. You will have a professional photo shoot to capture the best image of you dressed in traditional Japanese clothing. There is a range of costumes to choose from for men and...
Iwatayama Monkey Park
Iwatayama Monkey Park is a smallish wildlife park in Arashiyama. It is home to a troop of over 170 wild Japanese macaque monkeys. To get to the park, there's a hike of about 20 minutes or so up the mountain....
Jidai Festival
The Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) is one of Kyoto's three great festivals, along with the Gion and Aoi Festivals. Held every October 22nd, the festival dates back to the Meiji Period, and celebrates Kyoto's inception as Japan's capital...
Aoi Festival
Like the Gion Matsuri, Kyoto's summer festival, the Aoi Matsuri has its roots in ritual and began in the eighth century. Properly known as the Kamo Matsuri, the Aoi Matsuri features an impressive parade in the style of the Heian...
Eigamura
Eigamura, or more properly Toei Uzumasa Eigamura, is a movie studio and theme park in one. This provides an excellent opportunity to take a break from Kyoto’s temples and tea houses, and experience the entertaining side of historical Japan. It...
Geisha, Maiko or Samurai Makeovers
Fun for both foreign tourists and Japanese visitors to Kyoto, dressing up in traditional style for a photo session is a very popular activity. There are several photo studios around the city offering 'maiko henshin'; transformation into a maiko (apprentice...
Japanese Sword Lessons in Kyoto
Samurai are a well-known part of Japanese history. Although they may be long gone, many of their martial arts and skills are still being taught. You can see for yourself the skill it takes to wield a sword with precision....
Culinary Experiences in Kyoto
Learn how to cook your favourite Japanese dishes with an expert or amateur chef! Into Japan Specialist Tours will be happy to arrange a cooking class as part of your trip to Japan. This class could be a simple lesson...
Calligraphy Lesson
Learn the ancient art of Shodo, or calligraphy. Learn how to write Chinese characters - kanji as they are known in Japanese- with a Japanese artist. This calligrapher will help you write the beautiful kanji characters in the traditional way,...
Temple ‘Zen’ Sessions
Experience a taste of Zen with a private meditation session at a Kyoto temple. The Vice-Abbot will offer you introductory sessions on zazen meditation, Buddhist philosophy, and temple tours. Each session generally combines a tour of the ancient temple with...
Taiko Drumming Experience
A private lesson of the exciting art of Taiko drumming. You will learn how to play the Taiko, or Japanese drum. Unlike western drums, Taiko are often played standing up; this is because the Taiko player uses their entire body...
Japanese Sweets “Wagashi” Experience
Learn to make traditional Japanese sweets at several locations around Japan, including Kyoto, Tokyo and Gifu. Visit one of Kyoto’s most famous sweet shops and learn the art of making ‘wagashi’. In Kyoto these are known as Kyogashi, and with...
Arashiyama Dinner Cruise
Enjoy spectacular seasonal views and Japanese traditional cuisine on an elegant boat. River cruising is a wonderful way to discover Kyoto's rich culture and tranquil scenery. The Oi (Katsura) river runs through the middle of Arashiyama, which is most famous...
Pottery Class
Experience traditional Japanese pottery making classes in Tokyo, Kyoto, Bizen and several other locations. What you make is usually up to you but you can try your hand at sake cups, bowls, chopstick rests or whatever takes your fancy. In...
Kurama Fire Festival
Japan's fire festivals are spectacular and Kurama's is no exception. A small town just outside Kyoto, Kurama literally lights up every October 22nd, when giant watch-fires are lit throughout the town at night. The festival starts at dusk, and features...
Maiko Odori
Geisha Dances More than any other place in Japan, Kyoto is known for geisha: both Gion and Pontocho, Japan's best known geisha quarters, lie within the old capital's boundaries, and exclusive tea houses are tucked in amongst the houses and...
Kabuki in Kyoto
If comparisons between east and west can be made, kabuki is Japan's opera. Dramatic storylines featuring sword-fights, ghosts, and love affairs are brought to life by gorgeously clothed performers speaking in hypnotically sing-song voices. Though it is said that kabuki...
Gion Festival
Although Japan's ancient capital, Kyoto, is said to celebrate a festival every day somewhere in the city, the Gion Matsuri is generally believed to be the best, and marks the highlight of the Kyoto festival year. Dating back to the...
Japanese Tea Ceremony
Japanese Tea Ceremony is perhaps the most enigmatic of the traditional arts. Unlike the more familiar daily brew of steeped green tea, or o-cha, tea for the ceremony is made from bright green powdered matcha, and served with the utmost...
Accommodation in Kyoto
ROKU Kyoto
Nestled deep within the foothills of the ancient capital’s north western mountain range, Roku Kyoto offers luxurious escape in Japan’s most historically and culturally revered city. Overlooking awe-inspiring mountainous scenery, the 114 carefully curated rooms and suites bring comfort, serenity...
Art Mon Zen
Art Mon Zen is a small luxury boutique hotel offering fifteen individually designed rooms. These rooms are ornamented at every turn with the beauty and craftsmanship of the sukiya-zukuri style of architecture; the pride of Japan and recognised all over...
Aman Kyoto
A remarkable setting, at one with the city's artistic soul, Aman Kyoto represents the fruition of a beautiful landscape first conceived as the garden of a textile museum. Whimsical stone pathways curve gently along the forest floor, and stone slabs...
Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto
Only a stone’s throw from the iconic Nijo Castle, this hotel is steeped in history. Built on the location of the Mitsui family’s Kyoto home, maintained for over 250 years. The incorporation of the traditional architecture of the original house...
Cross Hotel, Kyoto
Situated between Kawaramachi & Kiyamachi streets, just off Sanjo in the heart of Kyoto's shopping and gourmet districts, Cross Hotel Kyoto has an outstanding location. With many of Kyoto's sights within walking distance and stations of the Keihan Line, Subway...
Park Hyatt, Kyoto
One of Kyoto’s newest luxury hotels, Park Hyatt Kyoto opened towards the end of 2019. Boasting a prime location in Higashiyama, overlooking the city from its hillside perch, the Park Hyatt offers perhaps the best views of any hotel in...
Noku Roxy
The idea of a boutique hotel - small, intimate, upscale accommodation, where guests are made to feel at home - is a growing trend in Europe. In Japan boutique hotels are less common, but Noku Kyoto certainly fills this gap....
Four Seasons Kyoto
Opened in 2016 the Four Seasons Kyoto is situated in the scenic temple district of Eastern Kyoto. Centered around an 800-year old ikeniwa (pond garden), the hotel offers guests a tranquil atmosphere in which to relax. The elegant lobby is...
Hotel Kanra
One of Kyoto’s newest hotels, the Kanra creates an exquisite blend of traditional Japanese design and contemporary boutique sensibility. Kanra is well located to the subway station, making an attractive and convenient place to stay in Kyoto. It's quirky too: there is...
Yoshikawa Ryokan
Located in the heart of Kyoto, Ryokan Yoshikawa is proud to welcome its guests in the most authentically Japanese style. Its squeaky floors and narrow corridors and most of all the traditional tatami mat rooms with views directly into its...
Tawaraya
A Kyoto institution, this historic ryokan, established in the 1700s, has been run by the same family for 11 generations. The building is not large, and neither are the rooms, but despite this – and the rather uninspiring exterior appearance...
Suiran
Opened in Spring 2015, Suiran is a luxury ryokan-style hotel situated in the grounds of Tenryu-ji temple, to the west of Kyoto, and overlooking the beautiful scenery of the Hozugawa River. Two nearby structures, which are more than 100 years...
Ritz Carlton Kyoto
Just 15 minutes from JR Kyoto Station, Ritz Carlton Kyoto is located in the heart of the city alongside the Kamogawa River and is well placed for sightseeing. Designed by Remedios Design Studio, the Ritz Carlton Kyoto is a great...
The Screen
A striking example of modern Japanese design, Kyoto’s Screen Hotel is only a short walk from both the ancient temples of Teramachi-dori (“temple town street”) and the shops and bustling nightlife of the Sanjo and Shijo districts. Each of the...
Hiiragiya Ryokan
A Kyoto institution, this luxurious ryokan first opened its doors in 1818 and has been owned and run by the same family for 6 generations. Famous for its Kyoto-style kaiseki dinners, Hiiragiya has hosted many famous guests and each room...
Aneyakoji Bettei
Aneyakoji Bettei, or Aneyakoji Villa, is a small, private hotel in a quiet neighbourhood of Kyoto. Equipped with traditional wooden-lattice windows and fixtures crafted by local artisans, Aneyakoji Bettei aims to provide its guests with the experience of living in...
Hoshinoya Kyoto
The resort is located in the hills to the west of Kyoto, in Arashiyama, an area favoured as a nature retreat by the people of Kyoto since the time of the first emperors of Japan. All 25 rooms offer a...
Hyatt Regency, Kyoto
The Hyatt Regency opened its stylish doors in 2006. Just minutes from JR Kyoto Station, the Hyatt Regency is located in the heart of the richly cultural Higashiyama area, amidst the famous Chishakuin, Sanjusangendo and Yogenin Temples. With rooms blending...
Hotel Granvia Kyoto
Located in the upper levels of Kyoto's recently rebuilt railway station, the Granvia Hotel Kyoto is the most convenient as well as one of the most luxurious of Kyoto's hotels. The Granvia offers excellent service, impeccably comfortable rooms, and a...
