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Top 24 Things to do in Kyoto, Japan
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Top things to do in Kyoto
#1Kyoto Full-Day Tour
Spend a full day discovering the best sights Kyoto has to offer, including grand castles and sacred temples. These spectacular attractions make your time in ...
recommend84% of travellers recommend
Free cancellation Free cancellation
#2Private Japanese Small Katana Forging Experience
Forge your very own Japanese kogatana (small blade) with an artisan swordsmith. Learn about the traditional blade-forging process, which uses the same materi...
recommend98% of travellers recommend
Free cancellation Free cancellation
#3Small-Group Nishiki Market Food Tour in Kyoto
Dive into the vibrant and historic Nishiki Market in the heart of Kyoto for a tasty tour of street food favourites and classic Japanese dishes. With a food-f...
recommend100% of travellers recommend
Free cancellation Free cancellation
#4Nara Afternoon Tour
Embark on an afternoon trip from Kyoto to the neighbouring city of Nara, where you explore a temple that contains Japan's largest Buddha. Tame deer greet you...
recommend86% of travellers recommend
Free cancellation Free cancellation
#5Full-Day Kyoto Excursion from Tokyo
Board the fastest train in Japan for quick transport from Tokyo to Kyoto. Kyoto is renowned for its 3 famous temples – Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-de...
recommend54% of travellers recommend
Free cancellation Free cancellation
#6Small-Group Kyoto Cycling Tour
Climb on a bike and set off to discover the cultural and historical heart of Kyoto. Cycle down historic streets and by scenic waterways as you discover the c...
recommend88% of travellers recommend
Free cancellation Free cancellation
#7Kyoto & Nara 1-Day Tour
Explore the must-see sights of history-rich Kyoto, including the spectacular Nijo Castle, eminent Kinkaku-ji and grand Kyoto Imperial Palace. In the afternoo...
recommend100% of travellers recommend
Free cancellation Free cancellation
#8Guided Tea Ceremony Experience in Kyoto
Discover the fine art of Japanese tea preparation during a guided ceremony in the heart of Kyoto. A tea master welcomes you into their machiya, or traditiona...
recommend100% of travellers recommend
Free cancellation Free cancellation
#9Kyoto - City of Culture Small Group Afternoon Tour
Reflect on the culturally rich history of Kyoto – Japan's capital for more than 1,000 years – on this relaxed, guided stroll through the city. Gaze at the re...
recommend100% of travellers recommend
Free cancellation Free cancellation
#10Sightseeing Day with Kimono Hire Package
Immerse yourself in the cultures and traditions of Japan with the hire of an authentic kimono. Choose from more than 500 kimonos and obi belts to mix and mat...
recommend90% of travellers recommend
Free cancellation Free cancellation
Top things to do by category
Things To Do In Kyoto
You're excited to point your compass in a new direction. Always up for an enlightening experience and unique ways to get inspired, you're prepared to check out a new destination from top to bottom. Up next: Kyoto! It's not hard to fill your time, because Expedia can connect you with loads of things to do. Find and book your activities now, and all that's left to do is count the days until your holiday and start daydreaming.
- Get your favourite day trip on Expedia at a great price, and you will still have money for a top hotel or upscale dinner while you are in town. The activities in Kyoto aren't only perfect for you, but they won't break the bank. We have 100 things to do here, and you can make them yours beginning at just £14.
- Kyoto is popular among sightseers suchlike yourself. In fact, many travellers have been visiting to get a taste of local history and culture and participate in the best activities, and a good percentage of them can't wait to return. The most popular activities can grab the attention of even seasoned explorers, and that includes savvy visitors like you. Our collection includes a wide range of culturally themed excursions and opportunities for excitement. From one-of-a kind ways to explore the best this area has to provide like a Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji & Kiyomizu-dera Temple Tour to epicurean adventures like Scholar-Led Nishiki Market Walking Tour, there are plenty of selections at your disposal when you search through the inventory of activities here at Expedia.
Our activities are the best way to organise your trip. You'll need an expert itinerary to make the most of a trip to Kyoto, particularly when you want to include lots of exciting activities. And it's clear that you're someone who likes to get out and about遥ou're ready to get out and have an adventure. You look forward to covering the most essential activities around, and an afternoon walking through charming neighbourhoods is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. Book professional city tours on Expedia, and you'll learn all about the city's history along the way.
Things to Do in Kyoto
Japan’s capital for over a thousand years, Kyoto is renowned as the country’s most beautiful city. And whilst it in no way matches many of Japan’s larger cities in scale, it more than makes up for it with the wealth of parks, temples and traditional Japanese heritage to be found in an around this ancient city. Which isn’t to say that it’s stuck in the past - far from it - Kyoto has also modernised enthusiastically, yet remained sympathetic to the fascinating traditional architectural and cultural roots that weave through its towering skyline.
Areas & Neighborhoods in Kyoto
Central — Dominated by Nijo Castle, central Kyoto is an absolute must for anyone looking to enjoy a dramatic taste of Japan’s feudal and imperial past. This huge estate, surrounded by stone walls and moats, features a central fortress and keep, a periphery of further defensive outbuildings, and yet further extensive gardens and grounds.
Arashiyama (Western Kyoto) — If you’re looking for a restful lakeside stop decorated by lilting tree-lined hills, then Arashiyama is the place for you. With a selection of small shops, restaurants and more situated close to the renowned Togetsukyo Bridge, you might find this beautiful spot particularly restful during the radiantly colourful cherry-blossom and autumn seasons.
Higashiyama (Eastern Kyoto) — This wonderfully preserved traditional Japanese district is a real treasure. Narrow lanes and wooden buildings house a huge selection of boutique-y shops and restaurants. Furthermore, with the geisha district of Gion and the famous Philosopher's Path nearby you’d be hard-pressed to find a better example of old Japan.
North — Simply littered with shrines and temples dating back over centuries, North Kyoto boasts a number of World Heritage Sites, including Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion. One of Kyoto’s most well-known sites, the upper floors of this spectacular Zen temple are completely covered in gold leaf.
Things to See in Kyoto
With its incredible wealth of World Heritage Sites - 17 in all - alongside four imperial palaces and villas, Kyoto demands real commitment and no small degree of planning if you want to see it all. Thankfully the city is organised perfectly for the many treasure hunters and amateur-archaeologists it welcomes every year, and its brilliantly organised public transport system and walking routes ensure you won’t miss a thing.
Things to Do in Kyoto
As well as its great spread of heritage that can be explored on foot, Kyoto offers quick and easy access to dramatic countryside where you can run through sweeping mountain forests, or take to the water on the boating lake of western Kyoto. Interestingly the city itself is also the home of traditional public baths known as sento, a custom dating back to the 13th century, and which remains a cornerstone of Japanese culture.
You can also book top Kyoto hotels and great Kyoto holidays right here on Expedia.co.uk.
