"This inland aquarium is located in Umekoji Park, about a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station. It consists of 10 areas, including the area of giant salamanders that inhabit the Kamo River, a huge tank filled with artificial seawater that recreates the Kyoto Sea, dolphins, penguins, etc. In July 2020, ""Jellyfish Wonders"" opened, exhibiting 5,000 jellyfish of about 30 species, the largest number in western Japan."

In the town of Ine-cho on the eastern tip of the Tango Peninsula, a boat garage is called a “Funaya.” These homes that lie in between the road and the sea have a unique construction where the first floor is where the residents prepare for fishing and store their tools, while the second floor is used as a living room and bedroom, etc. The sight of the some 230 funaya lying in a row is unusual even in Japan, and the area has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

A Buddhist temple located in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture that was founded in 1052 when Fujiwara no Michinaga, the father of Fujiwara no Yorimichi, turned a villa he had inherited into a temple. Due to the pessimism of the time which believed the world was coming to an end, Pure Land Buddhism grew in popularity, and the temple’s hall was designed to recreate the Western Paradise, a key aspect of the faith. The luxurious hall enshrines a seated figure of Amitabha created by the Buddhist sculptor Jocho. Most of the original temple excluding the main hall, Kannon hall, and bell tower were destroyed by fire. In the Byodoin Museum Hoshokan, however, visitors can view a Chinese Phoenix depicted on the ceiling and temple bell (National Treasures) as well as 26 of the 52 floating bodhisattva figures suspended from the ceiling of the main hall.

This fortification was built in 1603 to lodge Tokugawa Ieyasu when he travelled to the capital after his victory at the Battle of Sekigahara. Later, the site was significantly renovated by the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, resulting in its present form. In addition to the entire grounds being a nationally designated Historic Site, the site is dotted with numerous historically valuable structures and beautiful sights, including the Ninomaru Palace, the outer citadel palace (a National Treasure), Honmaru Palace, the inner citadel palace (an Important Cultural Property), and Ninomaru Garden, the outer citadel palace garden (a Special Place of Scenic Beauty).

A shopping arcade filled with shops extending from Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine one block north of Shijo Street to Karasuma-dori Avenue. Some 400 years have passed since the area was granted the title of fish wholesaler by the Edo shogunate government in 1615, and the arcade is also known as the “Kitchen of Kyoto.” Roughly 390 meters long, a variety of restaurants, cafes, and knickknack shops, and grocery stores line the arcade selling seasonal fresh fish and Kyoto vegetables, Kyoto pickles, tsukudani foods preserved in soy sauce, dried goods, tofu, cookware, and tableware.

Popularly known as “Kitano no Tenjin-san,” this Shinto shrine is located in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. The shrine was founded in 947. It is also the head shrine of all 12 thousand Tenmangu and Tenjin shrines throughout the country dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the god of scholarship. The shrine is frequented by students and test-takers not only during entrance exam season in winter but throughout the year. The main shrine, erected in 1607, is a National Treasure and a magnificent example of Momoyama architecture. Famed for its Japanese apricot blossoms, a gorgeous open air tea ceremony is performed by Kamishichiken geisha at the shrine during the Plum Blossom Festival on February 25. The shrine also bustles with numerous street stalls and people during the Tenjin Market, opened every month on the 25th.

A Shinto shrine located in Sakyo Ward in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture which was erected in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the foundation of the ancient capital of Heian-Kyo. The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei. The main shrine building is a 5/8th scale replica of the Heian-Kyo government reception hall used during the time of Emperor Kammu. The shrine’s solemn vermillion lacquered buildings roofed with green glazed tiles and the white gravel covering the grounds are a spectacle to behold. The surrounding Japanese garden is strolling garden built around a central pond which is divided into four separate sections filled with splendid flowering plants and trees appropriate to the four seasons. The shrine is also famous for its weeping cherry trees in spring.

A mountain retreat modeled after the Kinkaku-ji Temple (Gold Pavillion Temple) built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, grandfather of the eighth Muromachi shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, in 1482. After Yoshimasa’s death, the villa was turned into a Rinzai Shokoku-ji school Zen Buddhist temple and, based on Yoshimasa’s posthumous name, the temple was named the Jishoji Temple. The Kannon Hall, commonly known as the Ginkaku (Silver Pavillion), is simple and elegant in its design; the Togu-do hall is the oldest extant example of ancient Japanese shoin-zukuri architecture and is designated a National Treasure.

This shrine in Kita Ward, Kyoto City, enshrines the patron god of the Kamo clan. It is said the shrine was founded in 678 when the god Kamowakeikazuchi no Okami descended to the foot of Mt. Kamosan during the reign of Emperor Jimmu. The god is said to protect against misfortune, grant good fortune, victory in battle, and protect the power industry. The main hall and temporary shrine are both National Treasures and were last rebuilt in 1863 while the 34 worship halls rebuilt in 1628 are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. On May 15th they hold the Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto's three largest festivals, and many people come to watch the procession which is put on in Heian-period costumes.

One of the top sightseeing spots of Miyama-cho, this park is filled with old-fashioned thatched roof buildings and homes rarely found today, providing a glimpse into Japan’s past. The northern village was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government in 1993. The oldest home here was built in 1796 and 38 of the 50 structures are thatch roofed. Most of the structures are private homes, but there is also a cultural interaction facility and museum dedicated to folk customs. There are also thatched roof guesthouses where visitors can stay.

This shopping mall is about five minutes on foot from JR Kyoto Station in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. It features about 140 shops and puts on 1,000 Events a Year, mainly on weekends. These include live shows, exhibitions, workshops, and more. There is a free shuttle bus from Kyoto Station on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

A Rinzai Buddhist temple in Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto City. Some 50 thousand bell crickets are bred on the temple grounds annually, and due to their songs, audible not just in autumn but throughout the year, the temple has come to be known as the Suzumushi-dera (Bell Cricket Temple). In addition to a figure of Dainichi-nyorai (Voirocana), the main object of worship, the temple also enshrines a statue of Jizobosatsu (Kshitigarbha), and the temple attracts Kshitigarbha worshipers from around the nation as well as persons seeking aid with university entry, attaining better fortune, and finding a suitable partner. The temple is famous for its “Happy Kshitigarbha,” the only one in Japan to be depicted wearing straw sandals and said to grant a single wish, as well as its Suzumushi-seppo (Bell Cricket Sermons) given by priests, and the temple actively welcomes worshipers.

This is an amusement park at the summit of Mt. Monju, Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture with a viewing platform from which one can see Amanohashidate. Along with attractions including go karts, merry go rounds and a Ferris wheel, the view from the viewing platform restaurant is stunning. There are seven “fork peepholes” that allow one to look between the forks of Amanohashidate, and the Hiryukan through which one can see what looks like a dragon ascending to heaven. There are monorail and lift services to and from the foot of the mountain.

Construction of this large temple was begun in 1236 by the regent Kujo Michiie, who wanted to enshrine Kyoto’s largest monastery. The construction ultimately took 19 years to complete. The temple’s spacious grounds are home to such highlights as Japan’s oldest main temple gate (a designated National Treasure), and a toilet constructed in the Zen style as well as a temple nave decorated with a painting of a dragon on its ceiling (both Important Cultural Properties). Four gardens are distributed to the east, west, north, and south sides of the grounds, and each offers charming but different scenery. The northern garden in particular, with its checkerboard of moss and stones, is a must-see.

Located in Miyazu Bay on the Sea of Japan on the north side of Kyoto, Amanohashidate is considered one of the three most beautiful views in Japan together with the islands of Matsushima and Itsukushima. A 3.6 kilometer long sandbar 20 to 170 meters wide separating Miyazu Bay from the inland Sea named Asokai north to south, Amanohashidate is covered with some 8,000 pine trees. Due to its seeming appearance as a bridge to the heavens, it came to be called Amanohashidate (“Bridge to Heaven.”). Many people come to see the uncanny shape of this popular sight, which was formed naturally over thousands of years.

A Shinto shrine located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City popularly known as Yasui no Konpira-san. Fujiwara no Kamatari established the shrine during the reign of Emperor Tenchi. He planted purple wisterias and named it Fuji-dera (the Temple of Wisteria) in prayer for the prosperity of his clan and the perpetuation of his descendants. The shrine is principally dedicated to Emperor Sutoku, who excised all desire from himself and became a monk in the Konpiragu in the former Sanuki Province; accordingly, the temple has attracted faithful seeking to excise all bad attachments and make good ones since ancient times. It is believed that spouses and couples who have a good relationship and come here will not see their relationships ended but rather find them growing deeper.

A Buddhist temple whose origin dates back to 770 when Gantei (Jiàn zhēng) shonin, the leading disciple of the Chinese priest Ganjin (Jiàn zhēn) wajyo, enshrined a statue of Bishamonten (Vaisravana: the guardian god of Buddhism) here. Thereafter, in 796, Chief of Temple Construction Fujiwara no Isendo had an additional temple building constructed here enshrining a figure of Senju Kannon (Thousand-armed Buddhist Goddess of Mercy). The temple is known for its legends regarding a tengu (long-nosed goblin) and Ushiwakamaru (young Minamoto no Yoshitsune), and there are sites along the mountain trail leading to the inner sanctuary from behind the main temple building connected to him. The “path of 99 bends,” which famed author and court lady Sei Shonagon described as being “short yet long” in her Pillow Book, extends for approximately one kilometer between the main temple gate and the main temple building, but visitors may also ride a cable car up to the temple’s two tier pagoda. A renowned “power spot,” this popular site is visited by great numbers of people each year.

This event venue was constructed in commemoration of the 1,200th anniversary of the ancient capital of Heian-Kyo and first opened its doors in 1996. The event hall is used for a variety of events such as those promoting traditional industries. The hall’s exhibition and meeting spaces are used for trade fairs and other functions. The venue also hosts the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts and the Japan Design Museum, two permanent exhibitions which present the style and the traditional industries of Kyoto. A café/restaurant adjoins the museum, as well as the museum’s shop, which sells traditional crafts. Higashiyama Station is the closest station to the venue.

A movie theme park located in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City which makes portions of the Toei Kyoto film studio open to the public. The park offers a variety of events and attractions, including the chance to see how television programs and movies are filmed on a recreated open set, historical dram sword fight and acting shows, a haunted house, and classes on theatrical sword fighting. The park also hosts restaurants and cafes. People of all ages can enjoy an entire day of fun at Toei Kyoto Studio Park. The park’s variety of opportunities to try out movie and TV related costumes are particularly popular, from simple costumes like those worn in historical dramas that can be put on in 15-20 minutes to photography sessions taken by professional photographers.

The head temple of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. The temple was founded by the priest Mukan Fumon as the Zenrin-ji-dono, the imperial villa of Emperor Kameyama in 1291. The temple’s standing is high; it is considered above the five most important Rinzai temples in both Kyoto and Kamakura. Its triple gate is considered one of the three most impressive temple gates in Kyoto and is also famous as the setting of a scene in the kabuki play Sanmon gosan no kiri, in which the character of Ichikawa Goemon utters the well-known line, “How beautiful, how beautiful!” The temple houses numerous Important Cultural Properties, such as famed painter Kano Tan’yu’s screen paining The Tiger of Mizunomi. The grounds contain an abbot’s residence which is a National Treasure and was moved here from the former imperial palace of Fushimi Castle. The temple’s garden is a dry landscape garden representative of the early Edo period style.

This park is known by the nickname Taiyogaoka (Hill of Sunshine). It is a popular park among people bringing their families as it equipped with a pool, tennis court, baseball field, play and adventure forests, as well as a connect forest with play equipment making use of the natural environment.

This Buddhist temple is the only remaining structure built during the days of the ancient capital of Heian-kyo (the former name of the city of Kyoto) and officially named Kyo-o gokoku-ji Temple. The temple was registered as a World Heritage site in 1994. The temple’s numerous National Treasures are worthy of note, such as its Kondo Hall (Main Hall), Daishido Hall (Miei House), and five tier pagoda, which is 55 meters (187 feet) tall and is the tallest wooden structure in Japan. Some of the temple’s many other historic and cultural assets include the southern gate and lecture hall, both registered as Important Cultural Properties.

Founded by the priest Kuya in 951, this is temple 17 of the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage (33 temples in the Kinki area containing a statue of Avalokitesvara). The temple possesses a large number of wooden sculptures that represent the Kamakura period including the standing image of Juichimenkannon (eleven-faced Kannon), the temple’s gohonzon or principal object of worship which is designated as a National Treasure, and a standing image of Kuya (an Important Cultural Property). In recent years its Kaien Suimei omikuji fortune slips have been popular as slips of good fortune are more often drawn than not.

This Buddhist temple’s origin dates back to the Enryaku period (782–806), when the priest Saicho opened a temple in the To-do on Mt. Hiei; the temple moved to its current location in 1871. The temple grounds are filled with historic buildings, including the Ojo Gokuraku-in Hall and reception halls for Imperial and regular guests. The Amida Hall on the south side of the grounds houses a figure of Amitabha flanked by two attendants, a National Treasure. There are numerous other highlights, including the beautiful moss-covered Shuheki-en and Yusei-en gardens. Seasonal flowers and natural beauty can be enjoyed on the temple’s grounds year round, as well, including cherry blossoms in the spring and fall foliage in autumn.