5 Popular Must-See Attraction Sites to Visit in Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan is a very beautiful place. I have not found a city quite like it. We only had three days in Kyoto with a 5 month old baby, so we decided to focus our time on visiting some of the more popular attraction sites. Babies tend to slow travel down, so we had less time than you might expect. These five attraction sites not disappoint! Of course, there is something valuable in getting lost walking around the streets of Kyoto. But if time is limited, I would definitely recommend visiting THESE 5 must-see sites in Kyoto.

5 Popular Must-See Attraction Sites to Visit in Kyoto

Philosopher’s Path and Ginkaku-ji Temple

We went to walk the Philosopher’s Path on a rainy day. The weather made it look especially dreamy and surreal. Fog and mist hung over the neighboring water canal. Dew dripped from the leaves of surrounding trees and plants. Benches along the way provided the perfect resting spot and place to reflect. We had the place to ourselves, as few tourists ventured out in the rain.

I recommend starting at Nanzen-ji on the northern part of Higashiyama district and ending at Ginkaku-ji Temple. We loved visiting Ginkaku-ji Temple, as the mini trail meandered up to a beautiful view of the city. We did not pay to go inside the temples, but the surrounding garden was sight enough to see. Along the Philosopher’s Path, you will also find the famous pizza restaurant Monk!

Fushimi Inari Taisha

This temple is farther away from Kyoto proper but it was certainly worth the trek. It is the most unique temple we saw. Thousands of gates line the mountainside. LITERALLY THOUSANDS. Steps wind through the gates, until you reach the very top. This is a pretty steep trek, but we were able to do it carrying a baby and a stroller! Therefore I am sure this is doable for a wide range of activity levels. My recommendation for parents is to only bring a carrier and leave the stroller at home. But if that isn’t practical for the rest of your day’s plans, then you’ll just have to plan hiking with stroller in hand.

Halfway through, you will get a nice view of the city on a clear day. Near the peak is a small restaurant with a view as well. It is a spot to rest and refill with food and drink. It is worth it climbing to at least this spot. It isn’t much longer to the top after this point so if you have the energy go for it. But if you choose to turn around here, there isn’t much more to see.

The best times to view Fushimi Inari Taisha are in the early mornings or late evenings when there are fewer people. Be forewarned that this is a very popular attraction so it tends to get crowded during the day. At least most people don’t try to hike the entire mountain. Many don’t make it past a third of the gates. The hike definitely gets more peaceful towards the top. Keep your eyes peeled for the cats that live around these temples. And definitely avoid any monkeys.

Kiyomizu-Dera

This temple requires a trek up a very steep hill. However, once at the temple, there is a path specifically for disabled people, which is perfect for strollers as well. It goes around the perimeter of the temple but allows you to see all of it. This temple has rituals visitors can partake in, if you wish to experience it all. There is a beautiful view of the city at the top.

The location of this temple is perfect! After viewing the temple, walk down Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka streets. Then make your way to Ichin No Michi. There are many temples and shrines to see in this area. None are as famous as Kiyomizu-Dera, but if you pass by one or stumble across them then it wouldn’t hurt to walk in. We meandered all the way to Kodaiji Tenmangu temple. Please be aware of some of the alleys that are protected as historic sites and photography is not allowed.

Nishiki Market

We enjoyed walking up and down Nishiki Market. If you want to avoid crowds, go right when it opens. There was a throng of people within the first hour. This is definitely a foodie’s spot. There are many foods to try for low cost. And it was really cool to see the wares and market goods. We came hungry and prepared. However, this didn’t take us very long. The crowds eventually prompted us to move on.

Nijo-jo Castle

This vast samurai castle is a UNESCO heritage site. We went here because it was across the street of our hotel and super convenient to visit. Sprawling gardens and expansive buildings are superb. It was cool to see how samurais lived. But do be forewarned that this is a popular spot for tour groups. It will be busy throughout the day!