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Yasaka
This colourful and spacious shrine is considered the guardian shrine of the Gion entertainment district. Its a bustling, colourful place that is well worth a visit while exploring Southern Higashiyama; it can easily be paired with Maruyama-kōen, the park just up the hill. The prese
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Hells
Beppus most hyped attraction is the jigoku meguri (hell circuit), where waters bubble forth from underground with unusual results. Unlike Unzen, where the geothermal wonders are unadorned, the circuits eight stops have become mini amusement parks, each with a theme and some loaded
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Sengan
In 1658, the 19th Shimazu lord laid out this hilly, rambling bayside property of groves, gardens, hillside trails and one of Japans most impressive pieces of borrowed scenery: the fuming peak of Sakurajima. It was a place of pleasure and a strategically important lookout for ships
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Kōryū
Kōryū-ji, one of the oldest temples in Japan, was founded in 622 to honour Prince Shōtoku, who was an enthusiastic promoter of Buddhism. It’s notable mostly for its collection of Buddhist statuary and so a visit with a knowledgeable guide is a good way to learn about the different
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Universal Studios Japan
Modeled after sister parks in the USA, USJ bursts with Hollywood movie-related rides, shows, shops and restaurants. Top billing goes to the new, ¥45 billion (!) Wizarding World of Harry Potter , a painstakingly recreated Hogsmeade Village (shop for magic wands, Gryffindor capes and
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Godaisan
Several kilometres east of the town centre is the mountain of Godaisan, where there are excellent views over the city from a lookout point (展望台). A short walk away at the top of the hill is Chikurin-ji (竹林寺), Temple 31. Descending the steps by the temples Treasure House brings you
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Myōshin
Myōshin-ji is a separate world within Kyoto, a walled-off complex of temples and subtemples that invites lazy strolling. The subtemple of Taizō-in here contains one of the city’s more interesting gardens. Myōshin-ji dates from 1342 and belongs to the Rinzai school. There are 47 sub
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Sentō Gosho Palace
The Sentō Gosho is the second imperial property located within the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park (the other one is the Kyoto Gosho, which is located about 100m northwest). The structures within this walled compound are not particularly grand, but the magnificent gardens, laid out in 1
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Akiyoshi
Within the Akiyoshi-dai Quasi-National Park, the rolling Akiyoshi-dai tablelands are dotted with curious rock spires, beneath which are hundreds of limestone caverns. One of these is Akiyoshi-dō, the largest limestone cave in Japan. It is size that makes the cave impressive. It ext
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Glover Garden
Some former homes of the citys Meiji-period European residents have been reassembled in this hillside garden. Glover Garden is named after Thomas Glover (1838–1911), the Scottish merchant who built Japans first railway, helped establish the shipbuilding industry and whose arms-impo
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Togetsu
This bridge is the dominant landmark in Arashiyama and is just a few minutes on foot from either the Keifuku line or Hankyū line Arashiyama stations. The original crossing, constructed in 1606, was about 100m upriver from the present bridge. On 13 April jūsan-mairi, an important ri
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Jingo
This mountaintop temple is one of our favourites in all of Kyoto. It sits at the top of a long flight of stairs that stretch from the Kiyotaki-gawa to the temple’s main gate. The Kondō (Gold Hall) is the most impressive of the temple’s structures, located roughly in the middle of t
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Sumiya Pleasure House
Sumiya Pleasure House is the last remaining ageya (pleasure house) in the old Shimabara pleasure quarter. Built in 1641, this stately two-storey, 20-room structure allows a rare glimpse into Edo-era nirvana. With its delicate latticework exterior, Sumiya has a huge open kitchen and
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Dainichibō & Chūren
Off Rte 112, halfway between Yudono-san and Tsuruoka in the village of Ōami, these two seemingly ordinary country temples house the mummies of priests who have become living Buddhas. The ascetic practice of self-mummification, outlawed since the 19th century, involved coming as clo
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Ryōan
You’ve probably seen a picture of the rock garden here – it’s one of the symbols of Kyoto and one of Japan’s better-known sights. Ryōan-ji belongs to the Rinzai school and was founded in 1450. The garden, an oblong of sand with an austere collection of 15 carefully placed rocks, ap
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Kitano Tenman
The most atmospheric Shintō shrine in Northwest Kyoto, Kitano Tenman-gū is also the site of Tenjin-San Market, one of Kyoto’s most popular flea markets. It’s a pleasant spot for a lazy stroll and the shrine buildings themselves are beautiful. The present buildings were built in 160
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Kasa
About 5km northeast of the town is the 112m dormant volcano Kasa-yama. The top has gorgeous views of the Sea of Japan, and a tiny 30m-deep crater. There is also a walking track around the coast. From late February to late March a beautiful grove of camellias blooms here.The pond at
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Tokyo Sky Tree
Tokyo Sky Tree opened in May 2012 as the world’s tallest ‘free-standing tower’ at 634m. Its silvery exterior of steel mesh morphs from a triangle at the base to a circle at 300m. There are two observation decks, at 350m and 450m. You can see more stuff during daylight hours – at pe
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Heian
One of Kyoto’s more popular sights, this shrine was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto. The shrine buildings are colourful replicas, reduced to a two-thirds scale, of the Imperial Court Palace of the Heian period (794–1185). About 500m in f
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Nagasaki Station Area
The Nagasaki Station area includes a number of key sights that are all within easy reach of the train station. Its a busy nexus of shops, skyscrapers, streets and alleyways not far from the harbor. Of most interest are the 26 Martyrs Memorial, with info and relics from a crackdown
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