Fushimi Inari-taisha
Shinto shrine famous for thousands of vermilion torii gates lining trails up Mount Inari. Fox statues, small shrines and city views reward those who climb higher.
Kyoto
Autumn leaves, seasonal cherry blossoms, temples and shrines, and the geisha district of Gion explain the fame of Japan's old imperial capital.
Attractive locations
Kiyomizu-dera
Hillside temple with a broad wooden veranda held up by tall pillars, overlooking the city and, in autumn, colourful trees. Narrow lanes of shops lead up to it.
Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji)
Zen temple whose upper floors are covered in gold leaf, reflected in a pond within a landscaped garden. The pavilion is viewed from across the water and cannot be entered.
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Path through tall bamboo stalks on the western edge of the city, forming a green tunnel with a soft rustling sound. It is close to Tenryu-ji temple and the Togetsukyo bridge.
Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji)
Zen temple at the foot of the Eastern Hills with a modest wooden pavilion, a sand garden and a moss garden. The Philosopher's Path walking trail begins nearby.
Gion
Historic district of wooden teahouses and narrow lanes around Hanamikoji Street, where geiko and apprentice maiko work. Visitors are asked to respect residents' privacy and not to chase or block performers.
Nijo Castle
Edo-period castle of the Tokugawa shoguns, with a palace whose corridors have floors that squeak like birdsong when walked on. Painted sliding doors and moated gardens complete the visit.
Airports
Osaka Itami International Airport ITM
It is about 39 km in a straight line from Kyoto.
Kobe Airport UKB
It is about 65 km in a straight line from Kyoto.
Kansai International Airport KIX
It is about 81 km in a straight line from Kyoto.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan2.3 °C97 mm
- Feb3.2 °C92 mm
- Mar6.3 °C114 mm
- Apr11.5 °C119 mm
- May16.6 °C140 mm
- Jun20.8 °C178 mm
- Jul24.9 °C210 mm
- Aug25.7 °C149 mm
- Sep22.0 °C192 mm
- Oct16.0 °C161 mm
- Nov10.2 °C96 mm
- Dec4.7 °C109 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Nov. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Sep.
Costs
Prices here are about 65% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
nature
Autumn leaves (koyo) in Kyoto
Kyoto's busiest season, second only to cherry blossoms, is when the maples reach peak colour.
festival
Gion Matsuri
Each year this ranks among the biggest events in the country. Hotels fill up while prices go up, so plan early.
nature
Autumn leaves (koyo) in Kyoto
Kyoto's busiest season, second only to cherry blossoms, is when the maples reach peak colour.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 110. Fire and ambulance 119.
local government
Japan Visitor Hotline (Japan National Tourism Organization)
Helps with: Hotline run by Japan's national tourism organization. It gives support in emergencies such as accidents, illness and natural disasters, plus general tourist information, in English, Chinese and Korean, 24 hours a day.
Who qualifies: Visitors to Japan, calling from inside Japan or from overseas.
Phone: +81-50-3816-2787
local government
Police emergency number 110
Helps with: Japan's police emergency number, for reporting a crime or an accident. For less urgent matters, visitors can also go to a neighbourhood police box (koban).
Who qualifies: Anyone in Japan who needs the police urgently.
Phone: 110
local government
Ambulance and fire emergency number 119 (Fire and Disaster Management Agency)
Helps with: Call 119 for an ambulance or a fire. First say whether it is a fire or a medical emergency, then give your location; a nearby building or intersection helps if you lack the address.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Japan; the ambulance service is available to everyone.
Phone: 119
ngo
Japanese Red Cross Society
Helps with: Japan's national Red Cross society. In disasters it sends medical relief teams, sets up aid stations, gives psychological care in evacuation centres and hands out relief supplies such as blankets.
Who qualifies: People in Japan affected by disasters, through its relief work.
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Japan
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Japan it supports migrants through work against human trafficking and help with voluntary return home and reintegration.
Who qualifies: Migrants in Japan, including people affected by human trafficking. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: 03 (3595) 2487
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in Japan (JNTO list)
Helps with: For a lost passport, an emergency or a natural disaster, contact your own country's embassy. This Japan National Tourism Organization page gives addresses and phones, but only for some countries.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each listed country, through their own embassy or consulate.