two nights in

Kyoto

Kyōto (京都) was the capital of Japan for over a millennium, and carries a reputation as the nation's most beautiful city and its cultural capital - even the national government's Agency for Cultural Affairs moved there in 2023. However, visitors may be surprised by how much work they will have to do to see Kyoto's beautiful side. Wikivoyage

Population 1,463,723 (Wikidata)

Live guide From your hotel

Before you go

Emergency numbers in Japan

Visas and entry What your passport needs for Japan

Getting there

Remembered in this browser only, with the last few you used.

Still gathering the markets around Kyoto. I'll let you know here when it's all in — or open the live guide.

Best-documented sights

All of them in the guide

Within a kilometre of the centre, ordered by how well documented each is — not by a "best" anyone decided. Each opens on the map in the guide. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited there.

Through the year

  1. Aoi Matsuri

    May

    (葵祭, May 15) Beginning at Kyoto Imperial palace, a large procession dressed in Heian Period garbs walks to Shimogamo Shrine and finishes at Kamigamo Shrine

  2. Gion Matsuri

    July

    The Gion Festival (祇園祭, Gion Matsuri) is one of the largest and most famous festivals in Japan, taking place annually during the month of July in Kyoto.

    Official site Wikipedia

  3. Daimonji Gozan Okuribi

    August

    (大文字五山送り火, August 16) The hillside in Northwestern Kyoto is lit aflame in this festival honoring one's ancestors. Candle lanterns are floated out in Hirosawa Pond

  4. Jidai Matsuri

    October

    (時代祭, October 22) People dressed in traditional garbs parade to Heian Shrine

Annual events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage (Kyoto); descriptions from Wikipedia where it has one, photos from Wikimedia Commons. Dates move year to year — check before you plan around one.

Eating nearby

All 48 places to eat

Somewhere to run

Getting around

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Places © OpenStreetMap contributors, as of 9 October 2026. Description from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA). Events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage, population from Wikidata.