Weekend Guide · Japan
Weekend in Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan’s ancient imperial capital for over 1,000 years, is home to more than 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines, and 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Walk its historic streets to find maiko geisha, traditional machiya townhouses, and some of the world’s most beautiful zen gardens.
Arrive & Explore Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kyoto’s most visited site — thousands of vibrant vermilion torii gates wind 4 km up Mt
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Kyoto’s most iconic landmark — a Zen Buddhist temple whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf, perfectly reflected in the surrounding Mirror Pond
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
A breathtaking walkway flanked by towering bamboo stalks, creating an ethereal green canopy on Kyoto’s western outskirts
Hidden Gems & Local Flavours
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
A UNESCO-listed temple dramatically built on a wooden stage over Higashiyama’s forested hillside, offering sweeping views over Kyoto
Gion District
Kyoto’s historic geisha quarter, lined with beautifully preserved wooden machiya townhouses and traditional ochaya tea houses
Nijo Castle
Built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns, featuring famous ‘nightingale floors’ designed to squeak as a security alarm
Local Tips
- 1Japan is more affordable than its reputation suggests.
- 2Japan is consistently ranked among the world's safest countries.