Kyoto is the best city in Japan for gardens. You could spend months going from one garden to the next. Here’s a collection of Kyoto’s finest gardens to gladden the heart of the most ardent garden lover.
In this itinerary, we won’t give you specific times or transport details from one place to the next. Rather, we divide the gardens by area, so you can easily build your own itinerary to suit your pace and other interests.
Northern Higashiyama
- Ginkaku-ji: This spacious stroll garden is a stunner, but you’ll need to show up early on a Monday morning to beat the crowds.
- Honen-in: You can enter this lovely stroll garden for free. This may be my favorite escape in all of Kyoto.
Southeast Kyoto
- Tofuku-ji: The Hojo Garden here is a brilliant karesansui (Zen) garden and it’s almost never crowded.
Arashiyama
- Okochi-Sanso Villa: This is the most wonderful stroll garden in the city.
- Gio-ji: Overlooked by almost all tourists, this tiny pocket moss garden is not to be missed.
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Northwest Kyoto
- Ryoan-ji: This is the classic karesansui (“Zen rock garden”) It’s almost always crowded, so try to go on a Monday morning.
- Taizo-in: Many garden lovers rate this ornate garden at Myoshin-ji Temple as one of the best in the city.
- Daitoku-ji: This Zen temple complex is a world of beautiful subtemples, each with its own beautiful garden. Koto-in is the most famous here, but try to see as many as you can.
Central Kyoto
- Kyoto Botanical Gardens: Few tourists visit these expansive and excellent gardens and that’s their loss. If you love gardens, you’ll love the Kyoto Botanical Gardens.
Western Kyoto
- Koke-dera (Saiho-ji or “Moss Temple”): If you really love moss, you’ll probably want to go through the troublesome application procedure to visit this temple. However, keep in mind that there are plenty of other gardens in town with nice moss and no application procedure (see Gio-ji above, for instance).
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com – usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Kansai International Airport (for Osaka and Kyoto) or Tokyo's Narita Airport. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth itfor you
- A prepaid Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world