Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Neighbourhood Top Five
splendour of the Japanese court. In addition to the stunning buildings and interiors, the
gardens are lovely and make for pleasant strolling
Wander through the hypnotic arcades of
torii
(Shintō shrine gates) at
Fushimi-Inari-
Explore: Central Kyoto
The area we refer to as Central Kyoto in this topic is not so much a distinct neighbour-
hood as it is a vast swath of the city that surrounds the better known sightseeing districts
from the hills that form the northern border of the city proper to the flat suburbs south of
Kyoto Station. As such, it is not an area that one would attempt to explore in one day.
The best way to enjoy Central Kyoto is to choose one or two sights that are relatively
close to each other and focus on them. You can often link sights in Central Kyoto up with
sights in other nearby sightseeing districts, like Downtown Kyoto or the Southern Hi-
gashiyama area.
There are many possible routes that take advantage of the offerings here. For example,
you could start in the southeast region of the area with a visit to Fushimi-Inari-Taisha and
Tōfuku-ji, then head north into the Southern Higashiyama area. Or, you could visit the
sights in the Northern Higashiyama Area, like Ginkaku-ji, and continue north to the lesser
visited sights of Manshū-in and Shisendō.
Likewise, you might pay a visit to the walled-in Zen world of Daitoku-ji, with its won-
ing apparition of Kinkaku-ji - the famed Golden Pavilion.
Needless to say, because of its size, this area lends itself to being explored by bicycle.