Guidebook for Kyōto-shi
Food Scene
Hiro - A great yakiniku (BBQ beef) restaurant on Kiyamachi Street. Very tasty yet reasonably priced, plus in good weather one can sit on the balcony overlooking the Kamo River. Great place!
57 locals recommend
Kyoto Yakiniku (BBQ) HIRO Kiyamachi
527 KamiōsakachōHiro - A great yakiniku (BBQ beef) restaurant on Kiyamachi Street. Very tasty yet reasonably priced, plus in good weather one can sit on the balcony overlooking the Kamo River. Great place!
Chiran. Kyoto's best Korean restaurant, a bit out of the way but well worth the trip for its peesu (chicken-rice soup), corn pancakes, and more!
6 locals recommend
Chiran
54-3 Murasakino ShimotsukiyamachōChiran. Kyoto's best Korean restaurant, a bit out of the way but well worth the trip for its peesu (chicken-rice soup), corn pancakes, and more!
Adjacent to Kyoto's vast arboretum, In the Green has great food and atmosphere.
7 locals recommend
IN THE GREEN
Shimogamo Hangichō Sakyo WardAdjacent to Kyoto's vast arboretum, In the Green has great food and atmosphere.
Great stop on your way down the hill from Kiyomizu-dera. Enjoy a coffee and cake set - and their French Toast is out of this world!
21 locals recommend
INODA COFFEE
3-chōme-334 KiyomizuGreat stop on your way down the hill from Kiyomizu-dera. Enjoy a coffee and cake set - and their French Toast is out of this world!
If you're looking for Japanese cuisine, this is one of the best all-around places, and the prices are very reasonable.
Kushikura
Hiiragichō Nakagyo WardIf you're looking for Japanese cuisine, this is one of the best all-around places, and the prices are very reasonable.
Walking around the city all day? First stop, Kyoto's best onigiri (rice ball) shop. Take-out only. Forget the bland 7-11 onigiri - these are incredible, cheap, and keep all day.
9 locals recommend
まんぷくおにぎり米都 北白川本店
31-3 Shishigatani NishiteranomaechōWalking around the city all day? First stop, Kyoto's best onigiri (rice ball) shop. Take-out only. Forget the bland 7-11 onigiri - these are incredible, cheap, and keep all day.
Luciano
8-5 YoshidaushinomiyachōLuciano: Fantastic Italian cuisine, best in Kyoto!
Others are more famous, but our vote for the tastiest ramen shop is Teure. Order shoyu (soy sauce) or shio (salt) ramen with homemade gyoza and beer!
Teure
33 Tanaka HigashitakaharachōOthers are more famous, but our vote for the tastiest ramen shop is Teure. Order shoyu (soy sauce) or shio (salt) ramen with homemade gyoza and beer!
Great, inexpensive French restaurant for lunch. Enjoy an amazing lunch for just 1,000 yen!
Ma Cantine
103-3 Tanaka MonzenchōGreat, inexpensive French restaurant for lunch. Enjoy an amazing lunch for just 1,000 yen!
Sightseeing
Great place for a stroll, minutes away by foot or by bicycle!
93 locals recommend
The Philosopher's Path (Tetsugaku no michi)
Jōdoji Ishibashichō Sakyo WardGreat place for a stroll, minutes away by foot or by bicycle!
The Silver Pavilion, at the north end of the Philosopher's Path, with plenty of quaint shops along the way!
607 locals recommend
Higashiyama Jisho-ji
GinkakujichōThe Silver Pavilion, at the north end of the Philosopher's Path, with plenty of quaint shops along the way!
Be sure to walk through the Yoshida neighborhood on your way there - another great walk!
544 locals recommend
Heian Shrine
Okazaki Nishitennocho Sakyo WardBe sure to walk through the Yoshida neighborhood on your way there - another great walk!
Shinsho Gokurakuji (Shinnyodo) Temple
82 Jōdoji ShinnyochōOnly blocks away, a great temple!
For hikers, this is a great, modest walk - Kyoto junior high schoolers make the trek every year!
29 locals recommend
Daimonjiyama
For hikers, this is a great, modest walk - Kyoto junior high schoolers make the trek every year!
If you only have one day in Kyoto, this Temple (and the quaint streets leading up to it) is a must-see! (We also recommend a stop at nearby Inoda Coffee for a coffee and cake set!)
1521 locals recommend
Kiyomizu-dera
If you only have one day in Kyoto, this Temple (and the quaint streets leading up to it) is a must-see! (We also recommend a stop at nearby Inoda Coffee for a coffee and cake set!)
Not found in most travel guides, you'll nonetheless want to check out Daimaru Dept. Store's basement level, a dizzying labyrinth of Japanese food and dessert stands. Inoda Coffee (1F) is great, too!
223 locals recommend
Daimaru Kyoto
立売西町-79 下京区Not found in most travel guides, you'll nonetheless want to check out Daimaru Dept. Store's basement level, a dizzying labyrinth of Japanese food and dessert stands. Inoda Coffee (1F) is great, too!
A long, fascinating walk by no means limited to fish-mongers. There's a great Japanese knives shop, a tofu donut stand and more! Be sure to incorporate a visit to Daimaru and Teramachi Street, too!
912 locals recommend
Nishiki Market Shopping District
Nishidaimonjichō Nakagyo WardA long, fascinating walk by no means limited to fish-mongers. There's a great Japanese knives shop, a tofu donut stand and more! Be sure to incorporate a visit to Daimaru and Teramachi Street, too!
A must-see, particularly during plum blossom season (March)!
493 locals recommend
Kitano-temmangū Shrine
Bakurocho Kamigyo WardA must-see, particularly during plum blossom season (March)!
Entertainment & Activities
For guests with children, this is worth a 3-4 hour visit. One of Japan's oldest zoos, it has undergone an extensive renovation and looks great!
70 locals recommend
Kyoto Municipal Zoo
Okazaki Hoshojicho Sakyo WardFor guests with children, this is worth a 3-4 hour visit. One of Japan's oldest zoos, it has undergone an extensive renovation and looks great!
This is a less-well-known attraction foreign visitors inevitably love. Kids will love it, too, plus there's an incredible view of the city and a playground afterwards. Be prepared for a 15-minute hike
56 locals recommend
嵐山モンキーパークいわたやま
Arashiyama Nakaoshitachō-61 Nishikyo WardThis is a less-well-known attraction foreign visitors inevitably love. Kids will love it, too, plus there's an incredible view of the city and a playground afterwards. Be prepared for a 15-minute hike
Toei's studio theme park has lots of great things to see: an anime museum, Japanese-style haunted house, superhero museum, and an Edo-period backlot where you can pose with samurai and geisha!
448 locals recommend
Toei Kyoto Studio Park
10 Uzumasa HigashihachiokachōToei's studio theme park has lots of great things to see: an anime museum, Japanese-style haunted house, superhero museum, and an Edo-period backlot where you can pose with samurai and geisha!
A great place to visit on a rainy day. New and really spectacular, plus there's a great train museum nearby.
738 locals recommend
Kyoto Aquarium
35-1 KankijichōA great place to visit on a rainy day. New and really spectacular, plus there's a great train museum nearby.
Drinks & Nightlife
As friend Marc describes it, "an amazing bar and apparently the center of Kyoto's subculture scene." Must be seen to be believed!
7 locals recommend
MURAYA
As friend Marc describes it, "an amazing bar and apparently the center of Kyoto's subculture scene." Must be seen to be believed!
Everything Else
三条パクチー
Sanjo Pakuchi. Great Thai food - cheap and delicious!
Shopping
Classic Japanese Department Store with an outstanding steamed dumpling restaurant, Din Tai Fung, tucked away in a corner of its 3F. A great place for lunch!
17 locals recommend
LOEWE Takashimaya Kyoto Store
52 ShinchōClassic Japanese Department Store with an outstanding steamed dumpling restaurant, Din Tai Fung, tucked away in a corner of its 3F. A great place for lunch!