Kyoto Travel Guides

Reference WW40001

Kyoto Travel Guides

Kyoto, Japan's most historically important town, is the country's sightseeing capital, packed with numerous Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, imperial palaces, gardens and traditional wooden homes, all well preserved and presenting a charming picture of traditional Japanese culture. Sightseeing highlights include the Geisha neighbourhood of Gion, the stunning Kiyomizu-Dera, the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Kyoto Imperial Palace and the temple of Sanjusangen-do. There are also a number of worthwhile attractions just outside of the city, including the Golden Pavilion and its beautiful gardens.

Autumn in Kyoto

The abundant natural scenery of Kyoto changes its expression with each of the four seasons. Especially beautiful are the cherry blossoms in spring and the coloured leaves in autumn. At these times both the town and the surrounding hills take on vibrant new expressions of colour and beauty. As autumn deepens, the leaves of the trees start to turn yellow and gold, dyeing the landscape in brilliant colours. The colour of the leaves matches the elegant beauty of the historic temples and the autumn leaves decorate the road to the temple, as the whole valley is decorated in beautiful shades of crimson and gold.

Some of the best places to view this beautifully exquisite arrangement of colours include: Kongoin Temple, Rurikei Valley, Tofuku-ji Temple and Ankokuji Temple.

Festivals and Events in Kyoto

There are a large number of festivals and events across Kyoto Prefecture all year round. Starting with the three largest and most famous festivals the Aoi Matsuri Festival, Gion Matsuri Festival and the Jidai Matsuri Festival, all festivals in Kyoto are all rich in local character. Attending a festival is a great way to experience the richness of the nature, culture and traditions of Kyoto.