You may be at a loss as to where to go in Kyoto because the city holds tons of tourist attractions. This article may help you out. Here are five wonderful places to visit in Kyoto.

(1) Arashiyama and Sagano district

The north-west of Kyoto city especially gathers many tourists with its diverse beautiful scenery. The district called Arashiyama and the adjacent Sagano district are highly recommended for tourists because of the concentration of good restaurants, temples/shrines and the magnificent views the region offers.



This is a beautiful picture of Togetsukyo bridege, under which flows the Katsuragawa river, serving as a symbol of Arashiyama district. Walking along the street which connects the bridge and the Saga-Arashiyama station, you can find a lot of souvenir shops, restaurants, museums and some temples and shrines. The picture below is the famous bamboo forest located nearby. By strolling amid the bamboo groves, you feel as if you were entering into another world, refreshed by cool air and a gentle sunlight.

(2) Fushimi Inari Shrine (with thousands of torii gates)

You will be definitely overwhelmed by uncountable numbers of red gates called torii which Fushimi Inari Shrine has. Located in the southern part of Kyoto city, the shrine worships Inari, which is religiously believed as a patron of business. The reason why there are so many torii gates is that business people have been donating them (the number is still growing). The shrine sits on a mountain whose summit is reachable through trails covered by endless series of torii gates. You are allowed to enter even at night though its main buildings are closed.



Information
Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Taisha)
Address: 68 Yabunouchi-cho, FukakusaFushimi-ku, Kyoto

(3) Kyoto Imperial Palace

The place where former emperors lived. Kyoto Imperial Palace or Kyoto Gosho used to be a residence of the imperial family until the very beginning of Meiji era when Japan began industrialized. What is special about Kyoto Imperial Palace is that it has come to be publicly open recently. The palace used to be open only two times of the year, but you now have a chance to feel the ambiance of ancient Japanese imperial dynasties and compare that of temples and shrines through the entire year.



Information
Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho)
Address: 3 Kyoto-Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto

(4) Nishiki Market

Trying local food composes one of the most important parts of traveling. Nishiki Market is where you are likely to encounter your favorite local food. Like many other markets, Nishiki Market is always full of people, including local residents and tourists who are also looking for fresh and delicious foods. The path going straight through the market is so narrow that it might take time to walk from one end to the other, but it lets you look around closely to find something that attracts you.



Information
Nishiki Market (NIshiki Ichiba)
Address: Shijo Agaru, Tominokoji-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City

(5) Gion district

Last but not least, Gion represents the culture of Kyoto. Gion is a district of traditional arts and entertainments with many bars, restaurants and most importantly geisha who serve guests at these places. The high-society ambiance takes over the district at night when lanterns gleam along each side of paths and willow trees swing in the breeze. Though this may sound too gorgeous and pricey, you can still have lunch at an inexpensive price. Some high-class restaurants serve lunch at a reasonable price, which enables you to feel the essence of Kyoto cultures even if you are traveling cheap.



I showed you five places worth visiting in Kyoto. Kyoto is a big city, so they are just a tip of iceberg. It would be nice if you can explore the city based on the recommendations above.