Kyoto is often referred to as the cultural heart of Japan, and for good reason. Once the imperial capital for over a thousand years, the city blends timeless tradition with quiet elegance, offering a window into Japan’s past while still pulsing with modern life. Here, centuries-old wooden teahouses stand beside tranquil gardens, and the scent of incense drifts from ornate temples and shrines that have survived wars and earthquakes. Visitors come not only for Kyoto’s 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, but also for its living heritage, including seasonal festivals, exquisite kaiseki cuisine, and the artistry of geisha districts like Gion. Whether it’s the cherry blossoms of spring, the crimson maples of autumn, or the hushed snow of winter, Kyoto’s beauty is ever-changing—yet eternally unforgettable.

In 2024, Kyoto welcomed a record 10.88 million international visitors and 16.3 million overnight stays in total, marking one of its busiest years—second only to 2015. There are definitely challenges with overtourism as many sites are unbearably overcrowded. Yet if you time your visit right by going slightly off-season or get up early to arrive first at the most popular sites, you can find ways to avoid the massive crowds and still enjoy this glorious city.

Exploring Kyoto: Get Familiar with Its Six Main Districts

Kyoto is fairly large city yet is easily navigated on foot and using public transportation (taxi, uber, bus or train). Kyoto is divided into six main districts, so to save time, it is best to visit all the sites in one district and do a bit of planning beforehand.

Timing is key – the sun rises early in the summer in Kyoto and many shrines and sites are open 24 hours a day. Get there early to avoid the massive crowds.

Kyoto is divided into 11 wards (ku), but when people talk about the “main districts” for visitors, they usually mean six key districts that group attractions, neighborhoods, and cultural experiences. With three days, we visited the first three districts below (one per day), and did the hike to Southern Kyoto to explore the Fushimi Inari Taisha.  While we did not have enough time to see all the districts, we felt we got a great overview of this amazing city and all it has to offer in three jam-packed days.

1. Gion & Higashiyama

Gion is the famous geisha district with its divine narrow streets and atmospheric charm; Higashiyama is the surrounding historic temple area, including Kiyomizu-dera. The area is jam-packed with shrines and is by far most visitors’ favorite place, including mine.

Highlights: Geisha teahouses, preserved wooden machiya townhouses, Yasaka Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kodaji Temple, narrow lantern-lit lanes like Hanamikoji Street.

Why visit: It’s where you feel like you’ve stepped back to the Edo period, especially at dusk when the streets glow.

We visited both the Yasaka Shrine and the incredible albeit insanely crowded Kiyomizu Temple. I would recommend going to both right when they open in the morning to avoid serious crowds. There are a ton of temples in this area and you could spend an entire day just here wondering around them all.  We especially enjoyed the Chionin Temple and had almost the whole place to ourselves.

Yasaka Shrine

Chionin Temple, Buddhist Temple, Kyoto

Kiyomizu-dera

2. Arashiyama

Arashiyama is a bit of a hike but worth the effort for its glorious scenery. It is home to the stunning Arashiyama bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, and the riverfront. Nishikyo-ku contains quieter temples and rural scenery. Once again when we arrived mid-afternoon the bamboo forest was already quite crowded but by sunset almost everyone had left and we got some beautiful photos.

Tip: Continue hiking up as far as you can go and you will find stunning panoramic views of Kyoto and not a soul!

3. Central Kyoto (Downtown & Nishiki)

Central Kyoto is the bustling, vibrant shopping and dining hub at the heart of Kyoto.  It includes the must-visit Nishiki Market and Pontocho Alley (a serpentine narrow street filled with tiny restaurants and famous for its beef), which lines the Kamogawa River.

Located in the southern central part of Kyoto is Kyoto Station in the Shimogyo Ward. Here you can visit the Toji Temple and Sanjusangen-do Temple (which was not crowded and was one of our favorites with its incredible line of 1,000 Buddha statues).

4. Northern Kyoto

The tranquil, temple area surrounding Northern Kyoto is home to some of Kyoto’s most iconic temples and photogenic gardens including the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Ryoan-ji’s Zen rock garden, Daitoku-ji’s sub-temples.

5. Southern Kyoto

For a blend of spiritual sites and local craftsmanship, visit sacred and historical Southern Kyoto where you will find Fushimi Inari Taisha (with its endless red torii gates), Tofuku-ji’s Zen gardens, and sake breweries in Fushimi district.

Arrive as early as you can at Fushimi Inari Taisha in the morning as the crowds are massive. If you plan on walking up to the top through all the torii gates, you will be rewarded as the crowds start to dramatically thin out the higher you get. It takes about 40 minutes to walk to the top.

Better yet, follow the signs for the top and you will get a delightful panoramic view of entire city below with hardly a soul.

6. Western Kyoto

Want to slow down and visit some of the city’s hidden gems with less crowds? Visit Western Kyoto, where you can stroll through gardens and check out Matsuo Taisha Shrine, Katsura Imperial Villa, and peaceful local shrines. (We did not visit this area).

Where to Stay

The best place to stay in Kyoto is near Gion. We stayed in the lovely, quaint Nakagyo Ward which is filled with small local eateries, boutiques and narrow, quieter streets. We rented a lovely two-bedroom apartment at R&Run Serviced Apartments which was walking distance to Pontocho Street, Gion, Nishiki Market, and most of the most beloved shrines. Nearby  we enjoyed shopping at the Kyoto Yaoich Honkan, a superb upscale market with its own wine store, and plenty of delicious food to go or cook at home.

Where to Eat

Ponocho Street is an incredible narrow street lining the river in Gion that has countless tiny restaurants many offering the famous wagyu beef. There are also tons of tiny mom and pop places all over the city. Nishiki Market has lots of different types of food on a stick for the adventurous souls.

Resources

Our hotel gave us a copy of the 2025 Kyoto Walking Map which is amazing and can also be viewed online. It has maps of all the main tourist areas, along with a helpful map of the metro, whcih we used quite a bit.