The 20 landmarks that represent Kyoto the best!

Shijo Ohashi Bridge is on top of the Kamo River. This bridge connects the area around Yasaka Shrine with that of the busy shopping district of Kawaramachi, and for this reason a lot of people cross the bridge every day. Remember to also take a look at the Minami-za kabuki theater, and the old restaurants and buildings of the area.

Seeing a rock garden that mimics the flow of water with small pebbles is something everyone has to see when they come to Kyoto. The rock garden of Ryoan-ji Temple is maybe the most famous one, but many other temples have rock gardens too.

Shugakuin Imperial Villa is at the foot of Mt. Hiei. This is one of the defining landmarks of Kyoto, and the huge villa contains three big gardens.

At Daigo-ji Temple you can find a building named Benten-do where one of the Seven Gods of Fortune, Benzaiten, is enshrined. This place is exquisite during the autumn foliage season when the red leaves surround the vermillion building of Benten-do Temple, and it makes for rather Kyoto-like elegant scenery.

The Kyoto State Guest House is used when important guests arrive in Kyoto from abroad. The building is quintessentially Japanese, there is a Japanese garden and the rooms are also Japanese-style. The place is open to the public, and you can either wander the grounds freely or take a guided tour.

The Thousands of torii gates of the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine can easily be said to be a landmark of Kyoto. If it’s your first time to Kyoto, you have to go see the lines of the countless torii gates and take a picture of them.

The Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in Temple is what Uji is famous for. The symmetric vermillion building almost looks like it was a phoenix taking to flight, which is why it is called the Phoenix Hall.

The Suirokaku Aqueduct at Nanzen-ji Temple was built during the Meiji period to bring water to Kyoto from Lake Biwa. Even though the retro-looking aqueduct is not that old, it looks nice together with the temple and has become a popular tourist destination in itself.

This villa was built in the Edo period. The villa is made of the gardens and drawing rooms and other buildings, but the Katsura Imperial Villa is even in Japan well known for the beauty of its garden.

The torii gate of Heian Shrine is the biggest one in Kyoto. This awe-dropping torii gate that is 25 meters tall is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Many temples have a tahoto-style pagoda. This is one of the styles of Buddhist pagodas, and inside most of them you can find a statue of Dainichi Nyorai.

When Kyoto was the capital of Japan, the emperor lived at the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Besides the stately gates and central buildings, the area around the Imperial Palace is surrounded by a park and the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden.

Hanamikoji is a traditional street in Kyoto, and once you walk in, you are taken back in time. The stone paved street is lined by Japanese restaurants, and sometimes you can even get to see a maiko walk by.

The red lantern path leading up to the Kifune Shrine is an especially famous sight. At Kifune Shrine they sometimes hold night illumination events when the red lanterns are lit at night making the path feel even more mysterious.

Kyoto Station is the entrance to Kyoto. Kyoto is famous for everything traditional but Kyoto Station is in contrast with this very modern.

The Togetsu-kyo Bridge in the popular sightseeing area of Arashiyama is one of the most famous sights there. Most people cross this bridge when they go to Arashiyama. The bridge is surrounded by the grand beauty of nature, and from the bridge you can enjoy a view of the river and the mountains surrounding it.

The Renaissance style buildings of the Former Main Building of the Kyoto Prefectural Office are an eye-catching sight, and in spring the way the big weeping cherry in the inner garden blooms surrounded by the buildings of the prefectural office is an aesthetically pleasing sight. Because of the western look of the building, it is often used for weddings too.

Nijo Castle was built in the beginning of the Edo period on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The castle has a spectacular karamon gate and beautiful decorations, all fit for a shogun.

The lofty Kyoto Tower is one of the landmarks that best represents Kyoto. The tower is right next to Kyoto Station, and from its observation platform you can see all of Kyoto.

If you ask me what is would have to be in the most Kyoto-like scene, I would have to say a Five-storied Pagoda. Like you can probably guess from its name, these pagodas have five roofs. The Five-storied Pagoda of To-ji Temple and the one called Yasaka Pagoda are especially famous, and if you get to see them together with the cherry blossoms or autumn leaves they also look spectacular; even more Kyoto-like than before.