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Kyoto: where to eat, what to see

More than 500 days in Japan, filtered down to Kyoto: from temples to kaiseki, 143 addresses in 19 categories, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

A leaf-covered path in Kyoto in autumn
Kyoto in autumn
Lantern-lit Pontocho alley in the rain
Pontocho, Kyoto
Turtle-shaped stepping stones on the Kamo River
Kamo River, Kyoto

Neighbourhoods

Central

  • Kawaramachi and Pontocho 43Narrow lanes by the river: izakaya, gyoza, bars. Where evenings happen.
  • Nishiki and Teramachi 36Nishiki Market, knife shops, covered arcades, coffee.
  • Karasuma and Shijo 14Yakiniku, sake and izakaya; the business district after dark.
  • Kyoto Station 10Ramen and gyukatsu; the last stop before your train.

East

  • Gion and Higashiyama 14Kaiseki houses, Yasaka, okonomiyaki.
  • Kiyomizu 4The temple, stone lanes, a rooftop bar.
  • Okazaki 4Heian Shrine and kaiseki on the way to Nanzen-ji.
  • Ichijoji and Ginkakuji 4Ramen and soba in the northeast.

West and around

  • Arashiyama 8Bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji, unagi. Go early.
  • Kinkakuji and Saiin 6The Golden Pavilion, neighbourhood diners, local ramen.
  • Fushimi and Uji 3Fushimi Inari and Uji’s matcha.
  • Takao 1Kozan-ji; out of town, in the hills.

Where to eat, what to see

Things to see 14Kaiseki and Kyoto cooking 12Sushi 2Ramen and tsukemen 15Tempura and tendon 2Yakitori and chicken 7Yakiniku, sukiyaki and meat 12Tonkatsu and gyukatsu 2Unagi 2Soba and udon 3Okonomiyaki 5Gyoza and Chinese 8Izakaya 10Yōshoku, pizza and more 8Coffee, tea and matcha 8Sweets and pastry 7Bars 9Shopping 13Hotels 4

Things to see14
  • Fushimi Inari TaishaThousands of red torii; go earlyFushimi
  • Kiyomizu-deraHilltop temple with the wooden stageKiyomizu
  • Ninenzaka and SannenzakaStone lanes up to KiyomizuKiyomizuKiyomizu (2)
  • Yasaka ShrineGion’s shrineGion
  • Sanjusangendo1,001 Kannon statuesKyoto Station
  • Heian ShrineThe giant red torii in OkazakiOkazaki
  • KinkakujiThe Golden PavilionKinkakuji
  • Tenryu-jiZen temple and garden in ArashiyamaArashiyama
  • Arashiyama Bamboo GroveEarly morning, before the crowdsArashiyama
  • Kameyama ParkRiver views at the end of the bamboo groveArashiyama
  • Iwatayama Monkey ParkA climb up the hill in ArashiyamaArashiyama
  • KozanjiIn Takao, northwest of the cityTakao
  • Nishiki MarketKyoto’s kitchenNishiki
  • UjiHome of matchaUji
Kaiseki and Kyoto cooking12
Sushi2
Chef Chisaki Iba at the door of Sushi Chisaki in Kyoto
Sushi Chisaki, Kyoto
Ramen and tsukemen15

Tsukemen

Ramen

Creamy ramen with egg and chashu at Jun
Jun, Kyoto
Tempura and tendon2
Yakitori and chicken7
Yakiniku, sukiyaki and meat12

Yakiniku

Sukiyaki and meat

The chef with a platter of wagyu at Nikunotakumi Miyoshi
Nikunotakumi Miyoshi, Gion
Tonkatsu and gyukatsu2
Unagi2
Soba and udon3
Okonomiyaki5
Gyoza and Chinese8
Plates of gyoza on the table at Motoi Gyoza
Motoi Gyoza, Kyoto
Izakaya10
The cook with a tray of gyoza at Kimiya
Kimiya, Kyoto
Yōshoku, pizza and more8
Coffee, tea and matcha8
Sweets and pastry7
Bars9
Shopping13

Knives

Kitchen, ceramics and home

Fabric and drinks

Hotels4
Autumn mushrooms at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto

The full Kyoto list on Google Maps →

More of the Japan guide

Listen before you go

Nilay and I gave Japan two episodes of our podcast Yemekte Bile Yemek Konuşuyoruz (in Turkish).

Cover of Yemekte Bile Yemek Konuşuyoruz, episode 17Episode 17 · Japan, part 1What Turks Love ThereRecorded in Tokyo. From sushi to Japan’s relationship with bread, the place of rice at the table, izakaya culture, tempura and curry.Listen (in Turkish) → Cover of Yemekte Bile Yemek Konuşuyoruz, episode 19Episode 19 · Japan, part 2The Food CultureWhy are more Turks traveling to Japan? Sushi legends from Jiro to Harutaka, the Japanese you need on a menu, jazz bars and junk food.Listen (in Turkish) →

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