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.
2 km · about 5 min drive
AsiaJapanKyoto
Kamigyō-ku
Kyoto, Japan · Asia
About Kamigyō-ku
Kamigyō-ku works well as a base: 15 minutes from Arashiyama, 4km from Philosopher's Path.
Kamigyō-ku is in Kyoto, Japan, with about 83,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Arashiyama, about 7 km away.
Kamigyō-ku (上京区; かみぎょうく) is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The ward was a district of residences for the royalty, aristocrats, and upper classes in the old capital of JapanーHeian-kyō. Located in the center of the present-day city of Kyoto, Japan, it previously occupied theRead more
northern region of the ancient capital of Kyoto. The Kamo River flows on the eastern border of the ward.
The ward is home to the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Kitano Tenmangu Shinto shrine, the Seimei shrine, nishijin-ori textiles, and the headquarters of the Omotesenke and Urasenke schools of Japanese tea ceremony.
As of 2020, Kamigyō-ku had a population of 83,832 people.
The Masugata Shōtengai Shopping District is the setting of the 2013 anime series, Tamako Market, produced by Kyoto Animation.
Where to Stay in Kamigyō-ku
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Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Kamigyō-ku.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kamigyō-ku?
Within an hour or so of Kamigyō-ku: Nijō Castle (2 km), Inoda Coffee Honten (2 km), Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) (3 km), Gion District (3 km).
Are there any good drives near Kamigyō-ku?
The nearest famous roads are Philosopher's Path, Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail and Uradome Coast.
Where is Kamigyō-ku?
Kamigyō-ku is in Kyoto, Japan, about 7 km from Arashiyama.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 83,000
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Kyoto
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 35.0295, 135.7567
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 Kamigyō-ku
8 notable places within an hour's 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.
2 km · about 5 min drive
cathedral
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
A Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.
3 km · about 5 min drive
landmark
Gion District
Kyoto's most famous geisha district with preserved wooden machiya townhouses, traditional teahouses, and cobblestone streets.
3 km · about 5 min drive
cafe
Kissa Soirée
A 1948 Kyoto tearoom lit entirely in blue, its walls hung with paintings by Seiho Takehisa. Famous for jelly punch, a glass of coloured gelatin cubes that glows under the blue light.
3 km · about 5 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.
4 km · about 5 min drive
landmark
Kiyomizu-dera
A historic Buddhist temple perched on a hillside with a massive wooden stage offering sweeping views over Kyoto.
5 km · about 10 min drive
restaurant
Honke Daiichi Asahi
A Kyoto ramen shop by the station serving soy-based pork-bone broth with stacked chashu and heaps of leek since 1947. Queues form outside from breakfast onwards, alongside its long-time rival next door.
5 km · about 10 min drive
Driving roads near Kamigyō-ku
- Right herePhilosopher's PathA peaceful stone-paved canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees, connecting major temples in Kyoto's eastern hills.
- 76 kmMount YoshinoJapan's most famous cherry blossom viewing spot with over 30,000 trees covering an entire mountainside in waves of pink each spring.
- 79 kmAmanohashidateA 3.6-kilometer pine-covered sandbar spanning Miyazu Bay, considered one of Japan's three most scenic views.
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