Fushimi Inari Taisha 伏見稲荷大社
Walk through the red torii gates. Turn back from the lower paths for a short visit or continue uphill if you have time.
- Important Cultural Property
Kyoto Travel Guide
Spend a day around Kyoto’s hillside shrines and temple lanes. Pick a few districts and allow time to explore them on foot.
Before you go
When to go and how long to stay
Allow three or four days. Give eastern Kyoto and Arashiyama separate days and visit the most popular temples early.
Entry documents
Check Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs short-stay visa rules for your passport. Visit Japan Web can be used to prepare arrival and customs information. Save the accommodation address, including its Japanese spelling.
Getting to the city
From Kansai Airport (KIX), JR’s Haruka reaches Kyoto Station. Check the terminal first; the railway station is by the Terminal 1 complex.
The Tokaido Shinkansen stops at Kyoto Station. From Osaka, JR, Hankyu and Keihan arrive in different parts of Kyoto; choose by the neighborhood you’re visiting first.
Getting around
Use rail for Fushimi Inari or Arashiyama when it fits your route, and mix walking with buses in Higashiyama. Allow extra time for busy city buses and check the last departure for late trips.
Payments and mobile data
Keep yen for small shops, temple admission and cash-only machines. A compatible IC card is convenient for most urban trains and buses, while some limited express and intercity services require a separate ticket. Save offline maps and station names before arrival.
Where to stay
Kyoto Station works well for day trips and luggage. Karasuma or Kawaramachi suits city dining, while Gion or Higashiyama suits early walks.
Things to do in Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺
Visit the hillside temple and leave time to explore its sloping approach streets.
- National Treasure
- UNESCO World Heritage
What to eat in Kyoto
Yudofu 湯豆腐
Tofu gently warmed in kombu broth and served with dipping sauce. Look for it on a set menu at a tofu restaurant.
Photo: ZhengZhou · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗A day in Kyoto
Visit Fushimi Inari in the morning, try a tofu lunch, then walk through the lanes below Kiyomizu-dera.