Don’t tell your friends you visited Kyoto without experiencing these 5 must see elements! Kyoto is Japan’s cultural beating heart and scenic treasure house. From the whistling trees of verdant forests to the warm hues of vermillion temples, we’ll cover all the must see’s in Kyoto.

Whether you are visiting Japan in cherry blossom season or not, I’ll show the incredible sights you must see in Kyoto and things you shouldn’t miss in your 1 week itinerary of Japan.

Must See in Kyoto : 5 Amazing things to do!

With the gentle breeze, branches of cherry blossoms kiss your cheek. You close your eyes to savor the moment but the sound of tiptoeing wooden sandals distract you. Wearing a bright Kimono, the girl is unaware of her innocent interruption as she walks past you. She closes her paper umbrella and disappears in a home made of bamboo.  

Welcome to Kyoto ! Here time stands still and every moment feels magical. Come revel in the unforgettable experiences of Kyoto!

1. Fushimi Inari Taisha : A Must see in Kyoto

Kyoto is sprinkled with thousands of shrines and temples, each more beautiful than other. Fushimi Inari is a must see temple in Kyoto because of it’s unique symbolism.  

This temple’s most famous spot is the Senbori Tori or the thousand Tori gates. The tightly packed vermilion Tori gates are an Instagram craze making this shrine one of the most photogenic spots in Kyoto.

Go early to beat the crowds. Then spend your afternoon in the leafy shade of Kyoto’s lesser known temples and zen gardens. You can also go to Arashiyama or Sagano Bamboo forests.

How to reach Fushimi Inari ?

The JR Inari train station is exactly opposite this temple and has connectivity to most places in Kyoto including Arashiyama. You can also take a taxi to and from this place. A 15 minute metered taxi ride will cost approximately 3000 JPY.

Fushimi Inari shrine is dedicated to Goddess Inari of fertility, rice, tea and sake is one of the top sights in Kyoto. If you are traveling to Japan with kids, then the little ones will be delighted to spot many statues of foxes dotting the forested area around the main shrine.

Foxes are believed to be messengers of the Inari spirit and you’ll see many statues of them holding everything from keys to rice grains in the their mouths.

2. Kyoto’s famous Cherry Blossoms :

If you plan your trip to Japan during last 2 weeks of March or first 2 weeks of April, then you can witness the country being enveloped in gentle pink petals. Sakura or cherry blossom season in Japan is extremely popular and people from world over come to see this blanket of pink. In Kyoto, walk along the Philosopher’s path and Gion to see the best cherry blossoms in Japan.

3. Ninnenzaka Street :

This is our favorite place in Kyoto which we visited several times. Lined with quaint old tea houses and traditional restaurants, Ninnenzaka is not just pretty but practical too!

The romance of narrow lanes and sight of wooden tiled homes brought back our memories of Bukchon neighborhood from our trip to Seoul. Eat some of the most delicious and authentic Japanese food on this street. Which brings us to the next point.

4. Kyoto’s Culinary Must see – Kamanza Shimizu Tea House

Mama approved and stamped with Three Tickets’ seal of authenticity lies the cute teahouse of Kamanza. Guaranteed to leave you licking your chopsticks and searching for any last crumbs in your bowl.

This traditional tea house is where your search for authentic ‘must try’ Japanese food ends. Try the Tempura here, its not just the best in Kyoto or Japan – but in the world!

When we think of deep fried food, we think heavy, dense and greasy. A perfect Japanese tempura is the exact opposite. It is impeccably airy, light, transparent and crisp. I’ve looked a long time for a flawless tempura to finally find it here! This is a must do in Kyoto.

5.  Gion district : Unmissable part of Kyoto

Beautiful paths lined with maple and cherry trees and meandering quaint alleys selling Japanese desserts sum up Gion. Old world romance blooms here and charisma is plenty. Gion is the essence of Kyoto and an absolute must see!

But what makes Gion district an absolute must see in Kyoto, is it’s rich Geisha heritage. Some of the most beautiful Geisha teahouses can be seen along the Shirakawa canal in Kyoto. As the sun goes down, so do the wicker blinds.

Don’t miss a Geiko or Maiko (apprentice Geisha) performance when in Gion district. It is a must see traditional experience in Japan. Unfortunately, Geisha is perhaps the most misunderstood woman in the world. Maybe because her clients are mostly wealthy men of Tokyo and Kyoto.

A Geisha (or Geiko in Japanese) is a trained professional entertainer whose talent lies in making her guests comfortable with easy going conversations, playing the Samisen, dancing and drinking games where she keeps the glasses filled with Sake.

Where to see a Geisha Performance in Kyoto? :

An evening with Geisha can be very expensive and set you back by a “USD $1000 ! (That’s a very conservative figure and does not include dinner price!) So we decided to stay at Hyatt Regency Kyoto, where every evening there is a 15 minute Maiko performance inclusive of your room price. It felt like better value for money.

We went to Kyoto looking for Japan’s Soul and ended up losing our hearts in her magical streets. Maybe it got lost in the Maiko’s fluttering fan or in the trickling drops of warm Sake. Perhaps I left it in the adorable old man’s taxi or did I drop it in the quietly flowing canals under cherry trees…. When you do go to Kyoto, could you look for it ? Seems like Kyoto stole my heart forever.