Kyoto city (City area)

Around Kyoto Station

A short walk from the ultramodern Kyoto Station, you come across Higashi (East) Hongwanji Temple and Nishi (West) Hongwanji Temple, and a little further, the beautiful gardens of Shosei-en Garden. All are free to enter and make for an enjoyable half-day stroll.

If you're feeling energetic, continue to the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Preservation Hall where you can take a bumpy ride on one of the locomotives, or just stroll around Umekoji (Plum Blossom Alley) Park.

From here head to To-ji Temple, its five-story pagoda-the tallest in Japan- stands tall among the concrete of southern Kyoto. This temple is a landmark associated with the bustling flea markets held in the grounds on the I st Sunday of each month and the 21st of each month. Here, you hunt through the many stalls offering antiques, ceramics, plants, food and more for that perfect souvenir to take home, which reminds you of your time in the Old Capital.

Not far from the station is the huge Sanjusangen-do Temple. Its long wooden halls house 1,001 statues of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy You have an eerie feeling you are being watched as you follow the route through the smoky, incense-filled halls. Across the road is the Kyoto National Museum filled with beautiful artworks and many important cultural properties and National Treasures.

Recommended Course

Half-Day Course