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First Time in Kyoto: 12 Must-See Places You Can’t Miss
If Tokyo is Japan’s energy, Kyoto is its soul.
This is the city of temples hidden in forests, quiet streets where time feels slower, and traditions still woven into everyday life.
If it’s your first time in Kyoto, you don’t need to see everything. You need to see the right places.
Here are 12 must-see spots that give you a true first-time Kyoto experience without rushing or burnout.
Walk through thousands of red torii gates climbing into the forested hills.
Go early morning or late afternoon for fewer people and softer light.
2. Kinkaku-ji
The Golden Pavilion reflecting on the pond is one of Kyoto’s most iconic sights.
Short visit, strong impact. Best in clear weather.
Go early. Always. The Golden Pavilion reflecting on the pond is one of Kyoto’s most iconic sights.
Short visit, strong impact. Best in clear weather.
A classic for a reason. Pair the bamboo forest with:
Tenryu-ji
Togetsukyo Bridge
Optional Monkey Park for views
A wooden temple built on pillars overlooking the city.
Especially beautiful in spring and autumn
5. Gion
Kyoto’s most famous historic district.
Walk Hanamikoji Street in the evening. Be discreet. No chasing geisha.
6. Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka
Traditional sloped streets connecting temples, cafés, and small shops.
One of the most atmospheric walks in Kyoto.
7. Tofuku-ji
One of Kyoto’s best autumn foliage spots.
Underrated outside fall, spectacular in November.
8. Ryoan-ji
A minimalist rock garden designed for contemplation.
Quiet, slow, and deeply Kyoto.
A calm canal-side walk linking small temples and residential areas.
Perfect in cherry blossom season, pleasant year-round.
10. Byodo-in
Located in Uji, featured on the ¥10 coin.
Combine with matcha tastings and river walks.
12. Uji
The heart of Japanese green tea culture.
Slow, local, and perfect for a half-day trip.
Planning Tip (First-Timers)
Kyoto works best when you:
Group areas by zone
Start early
Leave empty space
Don’t chase every “must-see”
All of these places are already organized by area and season in my interactive maps, so you don’t lose time planning routes.
Plan Your Japan Trip More Easily
If you're going to Jpaan you're probably facing :
Too much information
How to organize
Don’t know where to go
Train system feels confusing
Afraid of missing places
Planning a trip to Japan usually breaks at the same point: you save a lot of places, but don’t know how to turn them into a realistic route. Cities are large, distances are not intuitive, and it’s hard to know what actually fits in one day.
This guide was created to solve that. It helps you understand how places connect, how many days make sense per area, and how to build an itinerary that flows.
With the interactive map, you can explore curated spots across Japan, follow ready-made itineraries and day trips, mix my routes with your own, and adapt everything to your pac
I created my Japan Travel Guide to help you organize your trip in a clear, realistic way.
Details on what you'll have
Best of both world : touristy & off the beaten path places
+ 1000 things to do, filterable by category & tags
Lifetime access to my itinerary and all future updates.
10 to 30 days curated itineraries, fully customizable
Kanto (Tokyo & surroundings) Day by Day customizable Itinerary (10 to 15 days)
Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara...) Day by day Itinerary customizable (13 to 15 days)
Tokyo Guide by Neighborhood (23 special ward)
15+ additional day trips detailed for exploring nearby destinations from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto.
Interactive map with all key spots marked & filterable by category & tags
Benefit from in-depth practical advice (navigation, accomodation, restaurants, cultural experiences)
PDF & Excel sheets (with less updates than online version)
What it looks like on the app :
If you prefer something fully tailored, I also offer a 100% custom travel planning service.
I design a day-by-day itinerary based on your dates, interests, budget, travel pace, and priorities. You simply follow the plan and enjoy your trip.
And if you like flexible, editable itineraries, you can also find my ready-made itineraries on Holicay.
They’re ideal if you want a solid base you can customize with your travel companions.
Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
Hi, I’m Marie, the creator behind @tabimawari.
I lived in Kyoto, learned Japanese, and keep returning to explore Japan beyond the obvious.
Planning a trip to Japan usually breaks at the same point: you save a lot of places, but don’t know how to turn them into a realistic route. Cities are large, distances are not intuitive, and it’s hard to know what actually fits in one day.
This guide was created to solve that. It helps you understand how places connect, how many days make sense per area, and how to build an itinerary that flows.
With the interactive map, you can explore curated spots across Japan, follow ready-made itineraries and day trips, mix my routes with your own, and adapt everything to your pace.
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Marie creator behind @Tabimawari
Hi, I’m Marie.
French islander from Reunion island, Japan lover, and travel planner behind Tabimawari.
I spent a year living in Kyoto, learning Japanese and falling in love with the culture. Since then, I’ve kept going back, exploring every corner from Tokyo to the tiniest hidden towns.
I created these guides after spending months planning, testing, and fine-tuning every detail so you don’t have to. Inside, you’ll find:
✅ Interactive maps
✅ Step-by-step directions
✅ Local spots + travel tips
✅ Offline use
Each guide is made with care, based on real-life travel, not generic blog advice.
This is what I wish I had on my first trip to Japan and now it’s yours.
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