scenic viewpoint
Amanohashidate
A 3.6-kilometer pine-covered sandbar spanning Miyazu Bay, considered one of Japan's three most scenic views.
31 km · about 35 min drive
AsiaJapanKyoto
Ayabe
Kyoto, Japan · Asia
About Ayabe
Ayabe sits on the route: 25 minutes from Fukuchiyama, 50km from Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
Ayabe is in Kyoto, Japan, with about 32,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Fukuchiyama, about 12 km away.
Ayabe Station (綾部駅, Ayabe-eki) is an interchange passenger railway station located in the city of Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The station serves limited expresses "Kinosaki", Maizuru" and Hashidate".
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ayabe?
Within an hour or so of Ayabe: Amanohashidate (31 km), Takeda Castle Ruins (38 km), Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (50 km), Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) (52 km).
Are there any good drives near Ayabe?
The nearest famous roads are Philosopher's Path and Uradome Coast.
Where is Ayabe?
Ayabe is in Kyoto, Japan, about 12 km from Fukuchiyama.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 31,846
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Kyoto
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 35.3000, 135.2500
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Japan
Japan Helpline (24h English assistance): 0570-000-911. An International Driving Permit (1949 convention) is required to drive.
Full driving guide for JapanTags
Worth the detour from Ayabe
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
Takeda Castle Ruins
Stone ramparts along a 350 m ridge, often called the Castle in the Sky when autumn morning fog pools in the Maruyama valley beneath. Only the foundations remain, but the walls run the full crest.
38 km · about 45 min drive
natural wonder
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
A mesmerizing pathway through towering bamboo stalks in western Kyoto, creating one of Japan's most photographed natural scenes.
50 km · about 55 min drive
cathedral
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
A Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.
52 km · about 60 min drive
castle
Nijō Castle
A flatland castle in Kyoto built by the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, famous for its nightingale floors and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
55 km · about 65 min drive
cafe
Inoda Coffee Honten
A Kyoto kissaten founded in 1940, serving its Arabian Pearl blend pre-mixed with sugar and milk by default. The wood-panelled original room off Sakaimachi street is a working institution, not a revival.
57 km · about 65 min drive
famous road
Philosopher's Path
A peaceful stone-paved canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees, connecting major temples in Kyoto's eastern hills.
58 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
Gion District
Kyoto's most famous geisha district with preserved wooden machiya townhouses, traditional teahouses, and cobblestone streets.
58 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Ayabe
- 31 kmAmanohashidateA 3.6-kilometer pine-covered sandbar spanning Miyazu Bay, considered one of Japan's three most scenic views.
- 58 kmPhilosopher's PathA peaceful stone-paved canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees, connecting major temples in Kyoto's eastern hills.
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