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.
1 km · about 5 min drive
AsiaJapanKyoto
Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan · Asia
About Kyoto
Kyoto works well as a base: 15 minutes from Arashiyama, 4km from Philosopher's Path.
Kyoto is in Japan, with about 1.5 million people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Arashiyama, about 7 km away.
Kyoto Prefecture (京都府, Kyōto-fu; Japanese pronunciation: [k̟ʲjó̞ò̞.tò, k̟ʲjò̞ó̞.tó̞.ɸɯ̈̀, k̟ʲjó̞ó̞.tó̞.ɸɯ̈̀]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. It has a population of 2.58 million and has a geographic area of 4,612 square kilometres (1,781 sq mi). It borders Fukui Prefecture to theRead more
northeast, Shiga Prefecture to the east, Mie Prefecture to the southeast, Nara Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture to the south, and Hyōgo Prefecture to the west.
Kyoto, the capital and largest city, hosts 57% of the prefecture's total population. Other major cities includes Kameoka, Maizuru, and Uji. The prefecture is located on the Sea of Japan's coast and extends to the southeast towards the Kii Peninsula, covering territory of the former provinces of Tamba, Tango, and Yamashiro. It is centered on the historic capital of Kyoto, and is one of two prefectures in Japan (with Osaka) using the designation fu rather than the standard ken. Kyoto has made Kyoto Prefecture one of the most popular tourism destinations in Japan, and 21% of the prefecture's land area is designated as Natural Parks. The prefecture forms part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area, which is the second most populated region in Japan after the Greater Tokyo area and one of the world's most productive regions by GDP.
Where to Stay in Kyoto
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kyoto?
Within an hour or so of Kyoto: Nijō Castle (1 km), Inoda Coffee Honten (2 km), Kissa Soirée (2 km), Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) (3 km).
Are there any good drives near Kyoto?
The nearest famous roads are Philosopher's Path, Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail and Uradome Coast.
Where is Kyoto?
Kyoto is in Kyoto, Japan, about 7 km from Arashiyama.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,463,723
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Kyoto
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 35.0211, 135.7538
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 Kyoto
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
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.
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
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.
4 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.
4 km · about 5 min drive
Driving roads near Kyoto
- Right herePhilosopher's PathA peaceful stone-paved canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees, connecting major temples in Kyoto's eastern hills.
- 75 kmMount YoshinoJapan's most famous cherry blossom viewing spot with over 30,000 trees covering an entire mountainside in waves of pink each spring.
- 80 kmAmanohashidateA 3.6-kilometer pine-covered sandbar spanning Miyazu Bay, considered one of Japan's three most scenic views.
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