Outdoors · Kyoto · Japan
6 best outdoor things to do in Kyoto
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: osakaosaka, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji, Philosopher's Path and Ginkaku-ji and Kyoto Imperial Palace and Gyoen. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 9–13 hours across 5 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 9–13 hours
- Areas
- Arashiyama, Northern Higashiyama and Kamigyo
Outdoors in Kyoto
Nature · Arashiyama
1.Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji
Walk the bamboo grove soon after sunrise, then visit Tenryu-ji's garden when it opens.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Kids
Street · Northern Higashiyama
2.Philosopher's Path and Ginkaku-ji
Walk north to south, from Ginkaku-ji to Nanzen-ji, and detour to the moss-covered gate of Honen-in.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- History
Palace · Kamigyo
3.Kyoto Imperial Palace and Gyoen
Bring a picnic and look for the early-flowering weeping cherry trees near the Konoe residence site in late March.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
- Kids
Religious site · Higashiyama
4.Tofuku-ji
Outside peak foliage season in November it is calm, and the Hojo gardens are worth a visit at any time of year.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Waterfront · Downtown Kawaramachi
5.Kamo River and Pontocho
Cross the stepping stones at Demachiyanagi, where the Kamo and Takano rivers meet, for a local favourite spot.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Food
- Outdoors
Park · Arashiyama
6.Iwatayama Monkey Park
Wear good shoes for the climb and do not stare directly at the monkeys or show food outside the hut.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Views
- Nature
- Active
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Arashiyama | Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji and Iwatayama Monkey Park | Half a day + 1–1.5 hours |
| Northern Higashiyama | Philosopher's Path and Ginkaku-ji | 2–3 hours |
| Kamigyo | Kyoto Imperial Palace and Gyoen | 1–1.5 hours |
| Higashiyama | Tofuku-ji | 1 hour |
| Downtown Kawaramachi | Kamo River and Pontocho | 1–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 3 free, 3 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Arashiyama): Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Arashiyama and Northern Higashiyama): Iwatayama Monkey Park → Philosopher's Path and Ginkaku-ji, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Kamigyo, Higashiyama and Downtown Kawaramachi): Kyoto Imperial Palace and Gyoen → Tofuku-ji → Kamo River and Pontocho, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- October: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 8 rainy days, busy crowds. Dry, sunny and comfortable — excellent walking weather before the foliage crowds of November.
- November: highs of 17°C (63°F), about 7 rainy days, very busy crowds. Autumn foliage usually peaks from mid to late November, turning Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do and Arashiyama red; expect peak crowds and prices.
- May: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 10 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm and green, with long days; Golden Week at the start of the month is very busy, then crowds ease.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Downtown Kawaramachi — Covered arcades, Nishiki Market and the Kamo River bars of Pontocho
- Arashiyama — Riverside hills, bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji and onsen ryokan
More of Kyoto
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Kyoto?
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji. A short path between towering bamboo stalks leads from the north gate of Tenryu-ji, a UNESCO-listed Zen temple whose 14th-century pond garden borrows the hills behind it as scenery.
+Which of these are free in Kyoto?
Philosopher's Path and Ginkaku-ji, Kyoto Imperial Palace and Gyoen and Kamo River and Pontocho.