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Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)

Kyoto · Japan

Background

World Heritage since
1994
Type of site
Cultural
Imperial capital
794–1868

Kyoto was founded in AD 794 on the model of the capitals of ancient China and remained the imperial capital of Japan until the middle of the 19th century. UNESCO lists it for its wooden religious architecture and the art of the Japanese garden, which has influenced landscape gardening the world over.

The World Heritage listing covers 17 places in Kyoto, Uji and Otsu: 13 Buddhist temples, three Shinto shrines and Nijo Castle, built between the 10th and 19th centuries. The city was spared the firebombing of the Second World War, so it keeps the largest concentration of designated cultural properties in Japan.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 794The imperial family moves the capital to Heian-kyo, today's Kyoto
  2. 10th–19th c.The 17 listed temples, shrines and castle are built
  3. 1868The capital moves to Tokyo with the Meiji Restoration
  4. 1994Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Kiyomizu-dera
    The wooden temple stage over the city in Higashiyama; the GoGo guide gets there by 8am.
  2. 2
    Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji
    The gold-leaf pavilion on its pond and Japan's most famous rock garden, both in the north of the city.
  3. 3
    Nijo Castle
    The shogun's palace with its singing nightingale floors.
  4. 4
    Ginkaku-ji
    The Silver Pavilion at the top of the Philosopher's Path.
  5. 5
    Tenryu-ji
    The Zen garden beside the Arashiyama bamboo grove.
  6. 6
    Byodo-in, Uji
    The Phoenix Hall on the 10-yen coin, 25 minutes by train.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Go Early
Kiyomizu-dera by 8am, before the tour groups; the bamboo grove and Fushimi Inari are best early too.
Use the Buses and Trains
The sights ring the city, so Wikivoyage calls public transport invaluable; plan a route in advance.
Allow Several Days
The 17 sites are spread across three cities; the GoGo guide covers them over a week.
Ask Before Photographing
Don't photograph geiko or maiko in Gion without asking.

Temples East and North

From the GoGo Kyoto guide · Open the Kyoto Guide ›

  1. 08:00
    Kiyomizu-dera's Wooden Stage90 min
    The temple terrace over the city.
  2. 09:45
    Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka Lanes1 hr
    The old stone lanes down to Yasaka Shrine.
  3. 14:00
    Silver Pavilion of Ginkaku-ji1 hr
    The garden of the Silver Pavilion.
  4. 15:15
    Walk the Philosopher's Path1 hr
    The canal path to Nanzen-ji.
  5. 18:00
    Gion at Dusk1 hr
    Lantern-lit Hanamikoji Street.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Apr, Nov. Rainy season May–Oct.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Jul (220 mm), driest Jan (72 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Nara's Great Buddha and the Horyu-ji temples are under an hour away, and Himeji Castle is about an hour by bullet train.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 688 · Wikipedia: Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) · Wikivoyage: Kyoto (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Kyoto guide · UNESCO listing