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.
Top Activities In 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 and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
