Kyoto city and Kyoto Prefecture
Kyoto, Japan is two things on a map. Kyoto city has 11 wards and 1,431,713 residents in the preliminary results of the census of 1 October 2025. Kyoto Prefecture is much larger: it counts 26 municipalities, 15 of them cities, 10 towns and 1 village, and it reaches from Uji in the south to the Tango coast with Amanohashidate and Ine on the Sea of Japan side.
Most trips start in the city, around Kyoto Station, Shijo and Kawaramachi, or Gion. The prefecture adds the tea town of Uji, the thatched houses of Miyama in Nantan, the shrines of Kibune and Kurama, and the sandbar of Amanohashidate in Miyazu. Entry fees and fares on this site are in yen as of 2026; tour prices on the cards are in US dollars and change with the date you pick.
Tours in Kyoto: what you can book
The main tour types, with links to the pages that compare them.
The tours on offer fall into a few clear groups. Full-day bus tours leave from Kyoto Station and combine Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera, some with temple tickets included. Early morning tours with a guide travel by public transport and on foot to Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji. In the evening, guided walks through Gion explain the geisha districts, and food tours lead through Gion, Pontocho or Nishiki Market. Tea ceremonies, kimono rental, a ramen class, kintsugi and knife making fill a shorter slot. Day tours by coach go north to Amanohashidate, Ine and Miyama, or south to Nara.
Our picks: Kyoto tours
For a full day of temples, the coach tour with the tickets already paid is the simplest choice. The early guided tour suits you if you want Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama with a guide, and the Nara coach day if you want a second city. The Gion night walk, the tea ceremony and the Nishiki Market tasting fit shorter slots.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kyoto temples in one day by coach
- Tickets for four temples
- Guide and air-conditioned coach
- Wi-Fi on board
A full day by coach to Kiyomizu-dera, Tenryu-ji, Kinkaku-ji and Sanjusangendo with the temple tickets already paid. The buffet lunch comes only if you choose it when booking.
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Six hours of Kyoto with an early start and a guide
- English-speaking guide
- Guided sightseeing route
Six hours with an English-speaking guide through Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji. The Kinkaku-ji ticket and the fares on an IC card are paid on the day.
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Nishiki Market tasting walk
- Seven tastings in the market
- Local guide
- Nishiki Tenmangu entry
Three hours in Nishiki Market with a local guide and seven tastings. Entry to the market and Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine and photos from the tour are covered.
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Tea ceremony in a garden tea house near Kiyomizu-dera
- Two cups of Uji matcha
- Japanese sweets
- A photo
Fifty minutes with matcha from Uji, one bowl made by the host and one by you. Kimono hire is not available there, and children aged seven and under cannot join.
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Nara, Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama by coach
- English and Chinese guide
- Air-conditioned coach
- Parking fees and taxes
Nine to ten hours by coach through Nara, Fushimi Inari Taisha and Arashiyama. Entry fees are not listed among the inclusions, so ask before booking whether any are covered.
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Gion at night with a local guide
- Local guide
- Photo service
A 100-minute evening walk through Gion with stories about geisha culture. It is a walk only, so no performance or geisha meeting is part of it.
Check availability →Kyoto tours and day trips
Bus tours from Kyoto Station, Gion evening walks, food tours, tea ceremonies and day trips to Nara and the Tango coast, with live prices and availability.
Plan by theme
Tours, sights and the places that make Kyoto Prefecture more than one city.
Kyoto tours compared
Bus day tours, early starts, Gion walks, food tours and what each one includes.
Kyoto attractions
Ten classic sights, the World Heritage temples and a plan for three days.
Temples and shrines
To-ji, Yasaka and Shimogamo: hours, entry fees and goshuin stamps.
Geisha culture and Gion
Evening walks, the five districts and the rules for visitors.
Pontocho and Kawaramachi
Riverside terraces in season, Nishiki Market and evenings by the Kamo.
Tea ceremony and crafts
Matcha, a ramen class and craft workshops in Kyoto.
Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle
Free entry to the palace grounds, villas by application, castle fees.
Ginkaku-ji and the Philosopher's Path
The canal walk, Nanzen-ji and Eikan-do in autumn.
Beyond the city: Kyoto Prefecture
Uji in the south, Nantan and the Tango coast in the north, and trips beyond the border.
Uji: Byodo-in and green tea
The Phoenix Hall, tea experiences and the train from Kyoto.
Amanohashidate and Ine
Viewpoints, the boat around Ine Bay and day tours from Kyoto.
Miyama thatched village
39 thatched houses, the winter lantern event and how to get there.
Kibune and Kurama
Kifune Shrine, riverside dining in summer and the hike to Kurama.
Day trips from Kyoto
Nara, Ohara, Mount Hiei, Osaka, Himeji and Hiroshima.
Kyoto onsen
Public baths, Kurama and Yunohana, and the etiquette.
Seasons, museums and practical pages
When to go, where to sleep and how to arrive.
Best time to visit Kyoto
Cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, rainy season and the busiest weeks.
Kyoto festivals
Gion Matsuri, Aoi Matsuri, Jidai Matsuri and the Gozan bonfires.
teamLab Kyoto
The digital art museum near Kyoto Station that opened in October 2025.
Kyoto Railway Museum
Entry fees, the steam train ride and the walk from the station.
Where to stay in Kyoto
Station, downtown, Gion or a ryokan, plus the accommodation tax.
Getting to Kyoto
Shinkansen from Tokyo, Haruka and buses from Kansai Airport.
Kyoto history and facts
Heian-kyo in 794, the imperial residence until 1869 and UNESCO.
Kyoto Prefecture by train: how far is it?
Travel times from Kyoto are station to station and do not include your time on site.
| Destination | From Kyoto | Fare or fee (2026) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uji | About 20 minutes on the JR Nara Line | Keihan Gion-shijo to Uji ¥360; Byodo-in ¥700 | Phoenix Hall interior ¥300 extra, booked on site |
| Kibune and Kurama | Eizan Railway from Demachiyanagi | Eizan day ticket ¥1,200 | Riverside dining in Kibune from May to September |
| Ohara | Kyoto Bus 17, about 60 minutes from Kyoto Station | About ¥630; Sanzen-in ¥700 | Check the current bus timetable |
| Miyama | About 2 hours by JR and Nantan city bus; about 90 minutes by car | Parking ¥500 per car | Thatched village with residents |
| Amanohashidate and Ine | About 2 hours by rail, then about 1 hour by bus to Ine | Ine Bay boat ¥1,200 | Boats can be cancelled in bad weather |
| Nara (Nara Prefecture) | About 50 minutes by Kintetsu | ¥760 base fare | Also part of bus day tours with Fushimi Inari |
| Osaka | About 30 minutes by JR Special Rapid | – | Many day tours offer both start points |
For most first visits, Uji and Nara fit into a relaxed day by train. Miyama and the Tango coast are far enough that a coach day tour from Kyoto or Osaka, or a rental car, saves a lot of changing between trains and buses. The pages for day trips and Amanohashidate go into detail.
Kyoto's best-known sights at a glance
Four sights in the city have their own guides.
Fushimi Inari Taisha in Fushimi ward lies right by JR Inari station, about 5 minutes from Kyoto on the Nara Line. In Higashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera is the start of many walks towards Gion; the temple has no parking of its own, so come by bus or on foot. In the west of the city, the Arashiyama bamboo grove is reached from Saga-Arashiyama on the JR Sagano Line. In the north, Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, is reached by city bus to the Kinkakuji-michi stop.
A few things to know before you go
Fees and rules that changed recently.
Accommodation tax in five tiers
Since 1 March 2026, Kyoto city charges accommodation tax in five tiers, from ¥200 to ¥10,000 per person per night, depending on the room price. It may already be part of the price you booked.
Where to stay →The day pass covers subway and bus
The bus-only day pass is gone. The Subway and Bus 1-Day Pass costs ¥1,100 for adults and ¥550 for children and is valid for the calendar day of first use, not for 24 hours. A single city bus ride in the flat fare zone costs ¥230.
Getting there →Ginkaku-ji costs ¥1,000
Entry to Ginkaku-ji is ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for primary and junior high school students. The Philosopher's Path along the canal is a separate walk of about 2 km.
Ginkaku-ji guide →Haruka discount ticket
The discounted Haruka one-way ticket from Kansai Airport to Kyoto costs ¥2,700 for adults for sales from 1 November 2026, up from ¥2,200. Check that you are eligible before you plan with it.
Airport transfer →Manners in Gion
Do not touch, follow or stop maiko and geiko, and do not photograph or film people without their consent. Respect private lanes and signs. Hanamikoji has car traffic, so keep to the side.
Gion and geisha culture →River terraces by season
The kawayuka terraces along the Kamo River run from 1 May to 15 October. In Kibune the season is May to September. The terraces belong to restaurants and are not public viewing decks.
Pontocho guide →Kyoto: frequently asked questions
Is Kyoto Prefecture the same as Kyoto city?
No. Kyoto city has 11 wards. The prefecture has 26 municipalities and includes Uji, Nantan with Miyama, and Miyazu with Amanohashidate, as well as the separate town of Ine. Accommodation tax and the city bus rules apply to Kyoto city.
Is all of Kyoto a World Heritage Site?
No. The UNESCO site inscribed in 1994 has 17 components in Kyoto, Uji and Otsu, among them To-ji, Shimogamo Shrine, Nishi-Honganji, Nijo Castle, Ginkaku-ji, Byodo-in and Ujigami Shrine. Famous districts and the bamboo grove are not automatically part of it. See Kyoto attractions.
When is Kyoto busiest?
Cherry blossom time at the end of March and in early April, and the autumn leaves from mid-November to early December. Both are among the busiest periods, so book tours and rooms early. The best time page has the monthly climate.
How do I get from Kansai Airport to Kyoto?
The Haruka limited express takes about 80 to 100 minutes. The airport limousine bus to the Hachijo exit of Kyoto Station costs ¥2,800 one way for adults, and traffic can slow it down. Details are on the getting there page.
Do I need a visa for Japan?
Citizens of the EU, the USA and Switzerland are on Japan's visa exemption list for short stays, as of 1 September 2025, normally for up to 90 days. Conditions differ by passport, and the exemption does not allow work. Check your government's advice before you travel.
Is kyoto-prefecture.org the official website of Kyoto?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the City of Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture or any tourism organization, and it has no link to temples, shrines, tour operators or hotels.