Discover Kyoto: Temples, Museums and History

Kyoto was founded in 794, modelled on the ancient Chinese capital. The city was a cultural centre and remained the imperial capital until the mid-19th century. Its history can be experienced in very different places: in a former bank building, the former residence of the Tokugawa shoguns, temples and gardens, and a food market. This variety offers several specific ways to explore Kyoto as a travel destination.

Museums, a Shogun Residence and Temples

The Museum of Kyoto is housed in a red-brick building that once served as the Kyoto branch of the Bank of Japan. The building is considered an important cultural property and is representative of late-19th-century Western architecture. The museum has permanent exhibitions on Kyoto’s history, as well as fine art, crafts and film. The Kyoto National Museum has a different focus: it specialises in pre-modern Japanese works and holds more than 12,000 objects in fine art, crafts and archaeology. Its collection also contains more Heian-period (794–1185) artefacts than any other collection in the world. This allows you to choose between exploring the city’s history and taking a comprehensive look at pre-modern Japanese art and culture.

Nijo-jo Castle was the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns from 1603 to 1868. The palace’s main chamber contains painted screens created by artists of the Kano school. At Kiyomizu-dera, the architecture takes a different form: the veranda projects from the mountainside on 13-metre-high wooden pillars, offering a good view west across Kyoto. Visitors scoop water from the waterfalls using tin cups. Traditionally, the three streams are associated with health, longevity and success in one’s studies.

The Jishu-jinja Shrine is also on the grounds of Kiyomizu-dera. A ritual is associated with the shrine: people wishing for a romantic relationship walk between two distinctive stones with their eyes closed. The three streams and the two stones thus represent different religious traditions and practices within the same temple grounds.

Torii, Fox Symbols and Garden Landscapes

Behind Fushimi Inari Taisha, a seemingly endless path lined with more than 5,000 vivid orange torii gates winds through the hills. Dozens of fox statues stand on the grounds. The fox is regarded as a messenger of Inari, the god of grain; the keys often depicted in the foxes’ mouths are understood to be keys to grain stores. Fushimi Inari Taisha is considered a central site for around 40,000 Inari shrines across Japan. Here, a striking landscape and religious symbolism come together.

Tenryu-ji Temple offers a different way of shaping the landscape: its main attraction is a 14th-century Zen garden. The garden uses the nearby Arashiyama hills as a borrowed landscape. In autumn, the maple trees put on a striking display of fall colours. Garden design and seasonal change shape the experience here, while at Fushimi Inari, torii gates and fox symbols take centre stage.

Market Culture and Planning Your Trip

The 400-metre-long Nishiki Food Market lies between Teramachi and Takakura. Vendors sell fish, meat, dried goods, side dishes, yuba and Kyoto vegetables; the selection at individual stalls may vary. The market complements the historical and religious themes with a practical look at food and regional produce.

If you are considering Kyoto as a travel destination and are looking for a hotel, you can choose where to stay based on your interests: the museums represent city history and art; Nijo-jo and Kiyomizu-dera offer architecture and traditions; Tenryu-ji showcases garden design; and Fushimi Inari features torii gates and religious imagery. Nishiki, in turn, offers a distinct perspective through food. This can help you decide which aspects of Kyoto matter most for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kyōtango, Miyazu, Soraku District, Ayabe, Uji, Fukuchiyama, Kameoka, Nantan.

For the main travel overview: Kyoto Prefecture.