A thousand years of Japanese capital, and it shows: temples, gardens, wooden machiya streets and geisha districts, ringed by hills that turn the whole city in autumn.
Free things to do
Free
Fushimi Inari at dawn
6am, and the gates are yours for an hour.
Free
Nishiki market grazing
Kyoto's kitchen: tofu doughnuts to tako tamago.
Free
Gion at dusk
Hanamikoji lane: look, don't photograph the geiko.
Where to stay
from $59
Kyoto Hana Hostel
Dorm bed · per night
from $68
Ryokan Hostel Gion
Dorm bed · per night
from $163
Gion Ryokan Q-beh
Private room · per night · Located in the heart of Gion which is the most important sightseeing area in Kyoto.
from $156
Backpackers Hostel K's House Kyoto
Private room · per night
Trips that take it in
Asia · 11 days · loop · 3 nights in Kyoto
The Golden Route
Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → Tokyo
$812
plus flights · Jan 2027 dates