Kyoto is known for its many historic landmarks, and Kyoto attractions include famous Buddhist temples, stunning gardens, Shinto shrines, imperial palaces, and traditional wooden houses, called machiya. Kyoto is also one of the most popular places for people to visit during the cherry blossom season, as well as during the fall when the autumn leaves change color. Located on the island of Honshu and to the north of Osaka, Kyoto is also famous for its traditional Japanese dining, called kaiseki, where multi-course meals are meticulously prepared and served to guests, as well as its geiko (known as geisha in Tokyo) and maiko performers who have been honing their craft in this area for centuries. Rich with food, history, and culture, Kyoto attractions appeal to history lovers, food lovers, and travelers who are looking to experience a piece of the old world in a thoroughly modern city.
Kyoto is a remarkable city that is known for beautifully preserving Japanese culture with its art, buildings, food, and people. The city is also known for being quite beautiful and features many lush gardens, forests, and trails into the mountains. Some of the most visited Kyoto attractions are the city's preserved historical areas, such as Gion and the Higashiyama District. Visitors also enjoy exploring the many historic shrines and temples in the city. With lots of specialty stores, including tea houses, artisans, and local craftspeople, there are plenty of great places to shop in Kyoto as well. If Japan's ancient capital is on the top of your travel hit list, but you're not sure where to begin, here's a starter's guide to the top Kyoto attractions! Kyoto easily has enough to keep you entertained for weeks. But if you're on a whirlwind tour or just want to make sure you don't miss anything major, look no further. Once the capital of Japan and considered today's cultural capital, Kyoto has no shortage of temples and shrines, but there are also markets and bamboo forests to explore too.