10 Best Things to do in Kyoto, Japan
There are a ton of fun and interesting things to do in the city of Kyoto!
From immersing yourself in local culture to exploring the famous bamboo forest and taking day trips, there’s never a dull moment. Kyoto is one of our favorite cities in Japan and we love spending time here.
For that reason, we put together our top 10 things to do in Kyoto. These are the city’s must-do activities that you shouldn’t skip. And trust me, as you work your way through them, you’ll definitely fall in love with Kyoto!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Activity
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE thing to do is this evening food tour in Kyoto. It includes stops for snacks, a multi-course Japanese dinner, and dessert! Plus, you’ll visit local places that would be hard to find on your own.
Check out the 1,100+ positive reviews and book your spot here!
Tip: This tour is popular – book in advance and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before.
Things to do in Kyoto
1. Go on a food tour
Kyoto is known for its cuisine and we couldn’t wait to try all of the local specialties, so we booked this top-rated food tour. It was truly the best thing that we did in Kyoto!
One of the reasons we chose this tour is because it explores the Gion and Pontocho neighborhoods, which are two traditional areas of Kyoto, known for wooden houses, narrow streets, and geishas. In fact, Gion is actually known as the “Geisha district” and we even met one at a bar that we visited!
Our friendly guide, Natsu, took us to three different local spots for food. At the first one, we sampled some snacks, and at the second restaurant, we got to eat a full kaiseki dinner! Kaiseki is a traditional, multi-course Japanese dinner. It’s meticulously prepared and beautifully plated, so it’s basically Japanese fine dining. We absolutely loved that we got to experience this in Kyoto, which is where kaiseki originated.
The third stop was a matcha cafe where we had a delicious dessert. And of course, at each stop we got a cup of sake, and we got to try it both warm and cold. We loved each stop and can totally see why this tour has over 1,100 positive reviews!
This tour was an amazing foodie experience and a cool way to explore some of Kyoto’s oldest districts – having a guide really came in handy to navigate the maze of alleyways! The tour costs $159 USD and we think was so worth it for all the food we had.
Book our FAVORITE food tour here and get free cancellation!
2. Sake tasting
When in Kyoto, you just have to go on this sake tasting tour! I honestly didn’t realize how much there was to sake until I booked this tasting experience. Just like with wine or beer, there are different types of sake, each with their own complexities and flavors.
Our tasting took place in – where else? – Fushimi, aka the Sake District in Kyoto. More specifically, it kicked off with a guided tour of the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, where we learned about the rich history of sake. It was so interesting to learn how sake is made, and we tried 3 different types on the way around.
Once we knew our stuff, we were led into a private tasting venue where we tried another 7 different kinds of sake, from rich and dry to sweet and fruity. We also got some snacks to pair with our drinks, and a cheat sheet to help us remember which ones we liked the most. This definitely came in handy throughout the rest of our time in Kyoto.
For $83 USD, this was the most extensive sake tasting we’ve ever done. Our guide, Greg, was so much fun and made us all laugh – it was a blast. You don’t just have to take our word for it though, check out the 650+ reviews from other travelers!
Book this sake tasting here and you can pay later!
3. Day trip to Hiroshima & Miyajima
The nuclear attack on Hiroshima changed the world forever, and visiting this city is a must while you’re in Japan. This tour to Hiroshima is the one we took as it made it easy to visit from Kyoto.
Obviously, visiting Hiroshima was a pretty heavy experience, but the tour also visited Miyajima, which was more light-hearted. This island is famous for the Itsukushima Shrine, which consists of multiple traditional buildings and, most notably, a big red torii gate that looks as though it’s floating above the water. It was so beautiful!
Then, it was onto Hiroshima, where we visited the Peace Memorial Park and saw the haunting atomic bomb dome, which was the only structure left standing when the bomb exploded. Seeing the burnt shadows was pretty powerful, too.
After the Memorial Park, we visited the museum, which was equally moving, especially the victims’ personal artifacts recovered from the scene. The east wing of the museum was dedicated to peace education, so it felt fitting that we finished our museum tour there before heading back to Kyoto.
Visiting Hiroshima is an experience that you really can’t miss while in Japan. If you don’t have time to stay in the city, this tour makes an easy day trip. It costs $370 USD with transport from Kyoto or $145 USD if you arrange your own bullet train tickets.
Book this powerful once-in-a-lifetime experience here
4. See the city on a guided sightseeing tour
Kyoto can feel like a labyrinth, so we found this guided sightseeing tour was the perfect way to get our bearings! We had a great time on this top-rated tour, and saw all of Kyoto’s top attractions in just a day.
In fact, if you’re short on time, I’d say that this tour is an absolute must! Just make sure you book in advance as it’s super popular (check the 5,800+ reviews here!) and often sells out.
This tour made it easy to spend the entire day visiting some of the city’s most important temples, shrines, and the Sagano bamboo forest. We went during the winter, but if you’re going during the humid summer months, I can assure you that zipping around the city on a comfy, air-conditioned bus will be a big relief!
Some of my favorite stops included the stunning Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, which is one of the most important heritage sites in the entire country, and the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine. Our amazing guide, Rina, did an amazing job explaining each attraction to us, so we really did get a crash course in Kyoto’s history and culture.
The tour costs $117 USD, but you can add on lunch for only $7 USD extra which is what we did. We were super impressed by the buffet that had tons of options.
See Kyoto in a day by booking this highly-rated tour here!
Related Read: For even more ways to experience the city, head to our post on the best Kyoto night tours here for unique evening experiences and guided walks through Kyoto’s most beautiful districts.
5. Ramen cooking class
We LOVE ramen and wanted to get some tips to take home with us, so we booked this ramen cooking class and I’m so glad we did!
We got to make ramen noodles and broth from scratch at a local ramen factory, and then we got to eat it all at the end. It was absolutely delicious, and we would definitely do this tour again!
Our teacher, Sakura, was so lovely, and she made the class really fun. We have eaten a lot of ramen on our travels throughout Japan, so we loved getting hands on and finally making it ourselves!
Sakura also taught us how to make a delicious, rich broth to accompany the noodles, and we cooked some meat and vegetables to go on top before we all sat down together to enjoy the meal. But no worries if you’re vegetarian, vegan, or halal; just contact the company after booking and they’ll adjust the ingredients.
Cooking classes can often take 3-4 hours, but this is a shorter experience with 4 different time slots available daily, so it’s easy to fit in, even if you’re only in Kyoto for a short time.
Don’t miss out on this ramen class – book your spot in advance!
6. Eat your way around Nishiki Market
Nishiki Market is known as “the kitchen of Kyoto” and this guided brunch tour is a great way to explore this narow shopping street. For $56 USD, this was also one of the most affordable tours we’ve ever done in Japan!
We met our guide, Naru, at 9:30 am, and he led us to the market. He was so friendly and our group had fun visiting different stalls, learning about all of the local delicacies, and of course trying lots of them.
Some of my favorite snacks included soy milk and cream croquettes, sweet potato chips, and tempura prawns. We also got a sake tasting, and a full sit-down meal at the end of the tour, which consisted of ganmodoki, which are deep fried tofu patties. Honestly, we were stuffed by the end and didn’t need dinner that evening!
We were in a really small group, so no one was left behind, and we were always able to hear what Naru was saying. This was a huge bonus, as this can sometimes be an issue on market tours!
We had a great time and thought that the tour was excellent value for money given that it has stellar reviews, provides tons of foods, and an incredible guide. It usually sells out, so we recommend booking in advance – you get free cancellation anyway, so there’s nothing to lose!
Easily book this fun market tour here!
7. Tea Ceremony
Participating in a traditional tea ceremony is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in Japanese culture, and you can do this tea ceremony in a Zen temple in a quiet part of northern Kyoto.
We were welcomed into the temple and provided with everything we needed for the ceremony, including white socks, folding fans, and all of the tea instruments. We learned a little about the different pieces of equipment, as well as the scrolls and decorations in the temple.
At one time, Japanese tea ceremonies were only practiced by elite monks and warlords. The ritual was a way of bonding hosts and guests, and promoting peace. A full, formal tea ceremony can last for hours, but fortunately this one is a condensed, 45-minute version.
The ceremony itself involved a series of very deliberate and mindful movements, and we learned how to properly prepare matcha tea. Our host guided us through the movements with care, and it was actually really relaxing. We got to drink two bowls of matcha, and enjoyed some seasonal sweets with our drinks.
This is a really special experience, and a fantastic opportunity to deeply connect with Japanese culture. It didn’t feel touristy at all, and it wasn’t too expensive at $33 USD. We’re so glad that we did this, and we would definitely do it again!
Book this unique tea ceremony here to guarantee your spot
8. Gion Geisha District walking tour
Geishas are one of the most intriguing symbols of Japanese culture, and Kyoto is the best place to see them. It’s one of the last strongholds of this traditional art.
We booked this walking geisha tour, which took us around Gion, aka Kyoto’s most famous geisha district. Exploring this area was like stepping back in time to Old Japan, and our guide, Melanie, taught us so much about the history and painstaking artistry behind geisha culture.
It was fascinating to hear about the years of rigorous training that women have to go through to become fully-fledged geishas, or geikos, as they are called in Kyoto once they master the traditional arts.
Melanie also pointed out lots of old-timey tea houses and ryotei restaurants where geishas host and perform, and we actually glimpsed a few geishas on their way to work. It was so cool to explore an area where geisha culture still thrives, and it gave us such a fascinating insight into Japanese history.
This tour was definitely one of the most interesting things we did in Kyoto. You shouldn’t pass up the chance to learn about geisha culture while you’re here, and for $35 USD, we think this tour is so worth doing.
Book your spot on this fascinating Geisha walking tour here!
9. Day trip to Nara
The historic city of Nara is only an hour from Kyoto, and we were super keen to visit – espeically to see the famous deer! So we booked this tour to Nara, and it allowed us to hit all of the highlights in just one day.
We loved visiting the Todaiji Temple, which is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, and one of the most famous temples in Japan. There’s a huge Buddha statue here and, interestingly enough, a wooden pillar that’s the same size as the statue’s nostril. Our guide, Mai, told us that those who can squeeze through the pillar will reach enlightenment in their next life, so of course we had to give it a go!
Visiting the deer in Nara Park was also a real highlight. The deer are used to tourists, so they’re friendly and curious, unlike most wild deer, and they actually bowed to us! We also got to see Kasuga Taisha shrine on the east side of the park, which is one of Japan’s most famous shrines.
Our last stop in Nara was the scenic Byodoin Temple, which is the one on the 10 JPY coin! Then, we stopped in Uji on the way back to Kyoto, which is actually the birthplace of the Japanese tea ceremony. Here, we got hands-on and learned how to make traditional matcha tea from scratch.
This tour costs $130 USD without lunch, but we opted to include lunch because it was only around $5 USD more. It was definitely worth it because we got a traditional teishoku lunch in a local restaurant.
We had an amazing time on this tour, and we fell in love with Nara! The city is especially beautiful during the cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons, but you will definitely need to book this tour in advance during those times of year!
Book our favorite day trip to Nara in advance!
Related Read: Nara is often visited as a day trip, but it’s worth exploring more! Check out our 1 or 2 day Nara itinerary and spend some time in this unique city!
10. Tour Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Arashyiama is a super scenic area on the outskirts of Kyoto, and it’s the perfect place to spend a day away from the hustle and bustle. We booked this walking tour of the area, and we had a fantastic time exploring Arashiyama’s picturesque and quirky highlights, starting with the Kimono Forest!
The Kimono Forest is a super cool art installation that consists of around 600 backlit pillars, which are all covered in colorful kimono fabrics. Then, we headed to Tenryuji Temple, which is one of the most important Zen temples in Kyoto. We particularly loved wandering around the beautiful garden and pond.
The highlight of the day had to be the bamboo forest, though. It was busy, but we loved walking through the majestic, towering bamboo.
From there, we walked up to the Iwatayama Monkey Park. We loved seeing the macaque monkeys roaming free, and we had great views of the city below, so this ended our day on a high note.
At $80 USD, we were happy with the price, since it included transport from central Kyoto and all admission fees. This tour was definitely one of the highlights of our time in Kyoto and it’s well liked by other travelers – check out the HUNDREDS of positive reviews here!
We must warn you, though it books up far in advance especially during spring and fall when you can see cherry blossoms and fall colors. Regardless of when you’re going, it’s worth reserving your spot now!
Book this highly-rated tour of Arashiyama easily here and get FREE cancellation!
Related Read: For even more inspiration, don’t miss our complete itinerary on how to spend three days in Kyoto here, featuring top attractions, local favorites, and insider tips for exploring the city!
Where to Stay in Kyoto, Japan
Looking for the perfect place to stay in Kyoto? We’ve got you covered! There are tons of great hotel options, and Kyoto is very well connected by buses and trains. So if you’re staying downtown or a little outside of the city center, you’ll still be able to get around!
Here are my top three picks:
Luxury – $$$
A trip to Kyoto isn’t complete without a traditional Japanese stay, so Kyoto Ryokan Kinoe is an excellent option! This Ryokan is set in the best area of Kyoto, within walking distance from the Gion geshia district. The rooms have that traditional charm with futon beds, fresh tea, and access to public baths and the charming stone garden.
Prices vary by season but average around $300 USD per night. Check availability and book this stay online here.
Mid-range – $$
Located in the Shimogyo district, Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi is a comfortable stay at a moderate price point. The rooms are spacious and modern, ranging from hollywood twin to double rooms. You can enjoy the onsite restaurant or you’re a quick walk from downtown Kyoto’s top spots.
Rooms start around $120 USD and can get to $250+ USD. Check prices and book this hotel in advance.
Budget – $
Miro Kyoto Nijo Hotel is a fantastic budget option, offering simple yet clean and comfortable rooms. Situated in the Nakagyo area, this hotel is conveniently located next to the JR station and the bus station so you can easily get around Kyoto. They offer twin or double rooms, ranging from about $50 to $150 USD.
Check availability and book this stay on Booking.com.
For more options, check out all of the hotels in Kyoto here!
Related Read: Want more details? Check out our full guide on the best areas and hotels to stay in Kyoto here!
Renting a Car in Japan
Japan’s trains are great, but if you want to explore rural areas, scenic routes, or off-the-beaten path hidden gems, renting a car offers unmatched flexibility. Driving in Japan is generally safe, with well-maintained roads and clear signage, though there are some unique rules and customs to be aware of.
We always book with Discover Cars and can’t recommend them enough. It’s super easy to compare multiple provider prices, check company ratings, filter for the type of vehicle you want, and add affordable full coverage insurance. If you want a full breakdown, check out our Discover Cars review here.
Tips for Renting a Car in Japan
- Drive on the left: In Japan, vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road. The driver’s seat is on the right, and you’ll need to adjust to roundabouts and different road layouts. Take some time to get comfortable before hitting busy roads.
- Know the local rules: You must come to a full stop at “止まれ” (stop) signs, and pedestrians always have the right of way. It’s also mandatory for all passengers to wear seatbelts, even in the back seat. It’s also a good idea to brush up on the Japanese road signs before you go. They are mainly symbol based, and being able to recognize them will make your journey a lot smoother!
- Insurance is essential: We always recommend full coverage rental insurance—especially in Japan, where tight city parking, narrow village streets, and even wildlife on roads (like deer in Hokkaido) can lead to unexpected dings or damage. Discover Cars makes it easy (and affordable) to add this peace of mind when you book.
- Choose the right car: Roads and parking spots in Japan can be tight, especially in cities and older towns, so a small or mid-sized car is usually best. Discover Cars makes it easy to filter by transmission, fuel type (like hybrid), luggage space, and more, so you can find exactly what works for your trip.
- Watch for toll roads: Japan has an extensive network of toll roads (expressways). Tolls can be paid by cash or card, but it’s worth checking if your rental car comes with an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) card for convenience.
What You Need to Rent a Car in Japan
- A valid driver’s license from your home country.
- An International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention. This is a must—it’s the only version Japan recognizes, and you’ll need to get it before arriving.
- A credit card in the driver’s name for the deposit.
- Most companies require you to be at least 18 years old, and some may require you to have held a license for at least one year. Drivers under 25 may face additional fees.
Ready to hit the road? Book your car with Discover Cars here and discover the freedom of exploring the Japan on your own terms!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
I hope our list of the best things to do in Kyoto gave you lots of ideas for your trip! This is one of our favorite cities in Japan and there are so many amazing activities here and day trips nearby too.
Make sure to have a look through all our blogs on Japan whether you’re visiting for the first time or planning a return trip. We share everything we wished we knew before our first trip to Japan including our favorite activities, tours, hotels and more!
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