What Else Is There to Do in Kyoto?

Yes, some of Kyoto’s most famous sights are unmissable: Fushimi-Inari Taisha, Kinkaku-ji Temple (the “Golden Pavilion”), Nishiki Market, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest etc. However, spots like these will usually be filled with tourists. Often, there are great spots and activities available right next door. Here, regular Kyoto visitor Mike Herrin introduces some of his favorite spots that he calls “one stop away sights.”

View of people walking along the pathway between the buildings and the Kamo-gawa River in Kyoto on a sunny day

Kamo-gawa River and Gion © Mike Herrin

Brightly-coloured fall foliage form a backdrop to the unique wavy paths through Kyoto’s Umekoji-koen Park

Umekoji-koen Park © Mike Herrin

Stroll Around Umekoji-koen Park

This is a large and beautiful park perfect for walking, picnics, observing and relaxing. The Kyoto Aquarium and the Kyoto Railway Museum are located on separate sides of the park. You can walk to the park from the Kyoto Station area (about 30 minutes) or from Kyoto Station take the JR Sagano line and get off at the first stop: Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station. Join the elderly men on the benches at the south edge of the park and watch the many trains go by. This park may not be on the typical list of places to visit in Kyoto, but if you have a few hours, it’s well worth the time.

The snub nose of a vintage locomotion engine car in the Kyoto Railway Museum in Japan

Kyoto Railway Museum © Mike Herrin

Visit the Kyoto Railway Museum

The Kyoto Railway Museum is fantastic. Trains are such a major part of Japanese life and culture that it absolutely makes sense to have a museum about them. It’s a large museum and houses over 50 retired trains including versions of the shinkansens (bullet trains). There is much information on the history of trains in Japan. The museum is in Umekoji-koen Park (see above). It’s closed on Wednesdays and closes at 5:30pm. So, get there early to be able to spend a few hours. It’s highly recommended!

View from an upper floor beneath the large structural roof of various floors of Kyoto Station

Kyoto Station © kanonn / CC BY-ND 2.0

Explore Kyoto Station

You likely arrived in Kyoto via Kyoto Station. It’s a huge complex and much more than a train station. The central atrium is amazing: a beautiful building housing many restaurants, department stores, specialty shops and more. Of course, all of that is in addition to the many train lines for connecting you to anywhere in the Kyoto area and the rest of Japan. Take a ride up and down the escalators to get a glimpse of what Kyoto Station has to offer. There are so many great restaurants located in Kyoto Station. For example, take the escalator up to the 10th floor, go left and enter Kyoto Ramen Koji, which houses a collection of many ramen restaurants all in one place.

Yodobashi Camera Store

Check Out Yodobashi Camera Store

Yes, you will find photography and video equipment at Yodobashi Camera but it’s much more than a camera store. The building houses stores selling clothing, sporting goods, appliances, stationary, books, and toys, as well as a travel shop, coffee shops, and more. The 6th floor is dedicated to restaurants, including Japanese, Western and Chinese. Finally, the basement level houses an excellent grocery store.

View of the spire of the Kyoto Tower on top of the Kyoto Tower Hotel with surrounding buildings and hills in the distance

Kyoto Tower © Sho Sasaki / CC BY-SA 2.0

Ascend to the Kyoto Tower Observatory

While some snobs dismiss Kyoto Tower as an aesthetic nightmare, a trip to the Observation Deck is a good way to get your overall bearings on Kyoto. It opens at 9am and closes at 9:30pm It is right across the street from Kyoto Station. There are many restaurants in the Kyoto Tower building as well.

Traditional wooden Japanese buildings line the left bank of the Takase-gawa Canal in Kyoto, Japan

Takase-gawa Canal © Mike Herrin

Walk Along the Takase-gawa River

The Takese-gawa is called a river in Japanese but it’s really a canal made for transporting goods between Kyoto’s center and the Fushimi area in the south. It was used for over 300 years from 1611 to 1929. It basically parallels the Kamo-gawa River which is just a few meters to the east of the Takase-gawa. Walk along Kiyamachi-dori which borders the Takase-gawa between Sanjo-dori and past Gojo-dori for an enjoyable outing.

Exterior daytime view of the entrance to a Japanese 7-11 convenience store

7-11 convenience store in Japan © Yuya Tamai / CC BY 2.0

Marvel at the Konbini Stores

Japanese convenience stores (“konbini” in Japanese) are wonders of the world and deserve to be considered destinations in their own right. Spend time shopping at 7-11, Lawson, Family Mart, Mini-Stop and Daily Yamazaki. They can all be found in Kyoto, and each have their own unique specialties. For example, compare the tamago sando (egg salad sandwich) offerings and see if you agree with the late Anthony Bourdain when he said this: “At Lawson’s, you can dig into their unnaturally fluffy, insanely delicious, incongruously addictive egg salad sandwiches. I love them. Layer after layer after layer of awesome.”

Aerial view of an express bullet train in Kyoto Station with a handful of passengers walking along the platform

Express train in Kyoto Station © Sergiy Galyonkin / CC BY-SA 2.0

Ride the Trains and Subways for the Adventure (even the Shinkansen)

Try riding the trains and subways just to experience them, without placing too much emphasis on the destination. It’s a good way to experience Japanese culture and view scenery at the same time. For example, ride the Osaka Loop Line all the way around. If you haven’t yet experienced the shinkansen, perhaps take a quick trip from Kyoto Station to Nagoya on the JR Tokaido Shinkansen. Have lunch in Nagoya before returning to Kyoto. Yes, you can go from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka on the shinkansen, but that isn’t far enough to really experience shinkansen travel.

View from the path of Nagoya’s Oasis 21 Spaceship Aqua public sculpture

Nagoya’s Oasis 21 “Spaceship Aqua” © Jun Kitayama

Visit the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

This museum is in Nagoya. The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology showcases the history and cultural importance of one of the World’s most important companies, from its beginnings as a textile machinery manufacturer to its modern-day industrial superpower status. It is a 20-to-30-minute walk from Nagoya Station and the first stop on the Me-guru Nagoya Sightseeing Bus route. Well worth the visit and a half-day trip from Kyoto.

View from the ground looking up at the clouds reflected in the glass of Kyoto’s Abeno Harukas tower on a bright day

Abeno Harukas © Florentyna Leow

Take the Elevator to Osaka’s Abeno Harukas Observatory

For some incredible 360-degree views of Osaka and as far away as Kyoto and Kobe, visit the Abeno Harukas Observatiory. It is quite easy to get to as the building stands on top of the Kintetsu Osaka Abenobashi Station and is conveniently located across from JR Tennoji Station. The Osaka Loop Line and the Haruka Airport Express will take you there.

Visit The Tale of the Genji Museum in Uji

The Tale of the Genji is often considered the world’s first novel, written by Murasaki Shikibu in or around 1010. Part of the story is centered in Uji, which is a pleasant 30-minute train ride from Kyoto Station. The Tale of the Genji Museum, which is just a short walk from Uji Station, is filled with models, images and information about the book. The town of Uji famous for green tea and matcha is definitely worth a visit.

Visit the Kyoto Museum for World Peace

This is another great museum and likely not on any list of the top 10 places to visit while in Kyoto, however, you should go. It is located in the northeastern side of Kyoto and the #50 bus from Kyoto Station goes there. It is the last stop. The museum is part of the Ritsumeikan University and is dedicated to ensuring all visitors understand the terrible cost of the wars fought in the 20th century, with emphasis on the events during World War Two, in Japan and Kyoto specifically. There are exhibits about day-to-day life during the war, air raids, Hiroshima and Nagasaki and so much more. There are excellent artifacts and information. Do get an audio guide.

Kyoto International Manga Museum © Tatyana Temirbulatova / CC BY 2.0

Kyoto International Manga Museum

The Kyoto International Manga Museum houses a collection of 300,000 manga comic books organized in various ways. There is information on the history and evolution of manga as well. It is designed for browsing and there will likely be many Manga lovers browsing, reading and just hanging out. A unique experience. After all, how many Manga Museums are there? It is very close to the Karasuma-Oike Subway Station.

Shosei-en Garden © bethom33 / CC BY-SA 2.0

Shosei-en Garden

This is a beautiful garden with a long history just a short walk from Kyoto Station. The garden includes tea houses, pavilions, ponds, numerous historical objects, bridges and serene walking paths. There is a direct historical connection between the Shosei-en Garden and the large Higashi-Honganji Temple a few blocks to the west. It’s a great place for walking and photography, and it’s not visited by many tourists.

Passengers stand on top of the multi-decked paddlewheel cruise ship during a ride on Kyoto’s Lake Biwa

Lake Biwa and the Michigan Boat Cruise

Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan. It’s a huge expanse of water and feels like an inland sea. It’s located about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station by train. There are railway lines that run around the lake, allowing for leisurely strolls as you hop between stations. With well-equipped bike rental facilities, cycling along the lakeside is also highly recommended. Enjoy a cruise on the Michigan cruise ship. The Michigan, a retro-style paddlewheel boat, departs from Otsu Port and offers several different routes. This is a great half-day trip from Kyoto.

View of people walking along the pathway between the buildings and the Kamo-gawa River in Kyoto in late afternoon, with a view of the rapids and bridge ahead

Enjoy The Kamo-gawa River

Kamo-gawa means “Duck River” and it runs right through Kyoto. It can be accessed at many places in Kyoto. Stroll the path along the riverbank to see the city and observe the locals enjoying life. It’s a great place to cycle as well.

Outside the Kyoto Botanical garden, on the riverbank, runs the Nakaragi no Michi, a path under cherry trees on the high embankment of the Kamo River, Japan

Walk the Nakaragi Path

Nakaragi Path is a pedestrian alley overlooked or covered by the flowers of weeping cherry trees, along the Kamogawa-gawa River, between Kitaoji Bridge and Kitayama Bridge, in the north of Kyoto. Walk or cycle the Nagaragi Path and beyond to enjoy a pleasant day along the Kamogawa river. This is a relaxing way to spend several hours in northern Kyoto.

Where Are These Places Located?

See these places on our Kyoto Google map:

Open the Kyoto map
You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

About the Author: Michael Herrin has been traveling to Japan since the late 1990s. His oldest son lives in Kyoto with his wife who is from Kyoto, and they are raising a multicultural daughter. Michael spends several months each year in Japan and uses Kyoto as his home base. This provides Michael the opportunity and time to explore Kyoto in some depth and travel to other areas in Japan as well.

More Information

Things to Do in Kyoto

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

Kyoto District Map

Click a Kyoto District for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation