A veranda projecting from a mountainside on 13-meter-high wooden pillars offers a striking view of Kyoto at Kiyomizu-dera: from there, the view stretches west across the city. Together with historic residences, museums, torii paths and a market with a wide variety of goods, Kyoto offers several starting points for a cultural trip. Architecture, art, religious symbolism and food each add their own distinctive touches.

History in Buildings and Collections

Kyoto was founded in 794, modeled on the ancient Chinese capital. The city was a cultural center and remained the imperial capital until the mid-19th century. Nijo-jo Castle is a specific historical point of reference: from 1603 to 1868, it served as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns. In the castle’s palace, the main room contains painted screens created by artists of the Kano school. Here, the history of a residence and a particular painting tradition come together.

The Museum of Kyoto also connects the city’s history with a striking building. It is housed in a red-brick building that once served as the Kyoto branch of the Bank of Japan. The building is considered an Important Cultural Property and is representative of late-19th-century Western architecture. The museum has permanent exhibitions on Kyoto’s history, as well as on fine art, crafts and film.

The Kyoto National Museum has a different focus: it concentrates on premodern Japanese works and holds more than 12,000 objects from the fields of fine art, crafts and archaeology. Its collection also includes the world’s largest collection of artifacts from the Heian period (794–1185). Visitors interested primarily in the city’s history and several art forms will find a fitting thematic approach at the Museum of Kyoto; the National Museum focuses more strongly on premodern Japanese works and the Heian period.

Temples: Architecture, Views and Religious Symbolism

The veranda defines the image of Kiyomizu-dera. It projects from the mountainside on 13-meter-high wooden pillars, offering a good view west across Kyoto. Tin cups, used to scoop water from the waterfalls, are also part of the visitor tradition. The three streams are traditionally associated with health, longevity and academic success. The tradition and the view offer two different perspectives on the site: a religious practice and a view across the city.

The Jishu-jinja Shrine is also located on the grounds of Kiyomizu-dera. A practice associated with the shrine is for people who wish for a romantic relationship: they walk with their eyes closed between two prominent stones. This describes a religious tradition, not a promised result.

At Fushimi Inari Taisha, other symbols take center stage. Behind the shrine, a seemingly endless path with more than 5,000 bright orange torii gates winds through the hills. Dozens of fox statues stand on the grounds. The fox is considered a messenger of Inari, the god of grain; the keys often depicted in the foxes’ mouths are understood as keys to grain storehouses. Fushimi Inari Taisha is considered a central site for around 40,000 Inari shrines throughout Japan.

Gardens and Seasonal Colors

The 14th-century Zen garden is the main attraction of Tenryu-ji Temple. Its design uses the nearby hills of Arashiyama as a borrowed landscape. This directs attention not only to the garden itself, but also to the way the surrounding hills are incorporated into its design. In autumn, the temple’s maple trees put on an impressive display of fall colors. Those interested in garden design will find a different perspective here from that offered by temples where verandas, torii and religious symbols take center stage.

A Culinary View of Kyoto

The 400-meter-long Nishiki Food Market stretches between Teramachi and Takakura. Fish, meat, dried goods, side dishes, yuba and Kyoto vegetables are sold there. The selection combines everyday goods with regionally named products, offering a distinctive way to experience Kyoto beyond its temples and collections. Individual stalls and offerings may change, so it is best to think of the market as a place with a diverse, ever-changing range of goods.

The places discussed here have clearly different focuses: at Kiyomizu-dera, architecture, views and water traditions come together; Fushimi Inari Taisha is defined by its torii and fox symbolism; Tenryu-ji draws attention to gardens and landscape. Along with the museums and Nishiki Food Market, these places offer a range of themes to guide your exploration of Kyoto.

Discover more destinations: Maizuru, Wazuka, Miyazu, Fukuchiyama, Kyōtango, Yawata, Soraku District, Kasagi.

For the main travel overview: Kyoto Prefecture.