Attractions in Central Kyōto

Nijō-jō Castle was built in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu who intended it as his official residence in Kyōto. His grandson Iemitsu added some structure from Fushimi-jō Castle in 1623. Its ostentatious Momoyama style was meant...Read more

Founded in 1602 as the "rival" branch of the Nishi Hongan-ji, the Higashi Hongan-ji is not only a temple but also the Mausoleum of Shinran, founder of Jōdō-Shin Buddhism. Bigger than its western counterpart, the Higashi-Hongan-ji...Read more

Tōji is one of the 13 temples in Kyōto on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Its iconic five-tiered pagoda rises to 54.8 metres, making it the tallest wooden tower in Japan. It has withstood well the test of time since it was last built in 1643...Read more

The Nishi-Hongan-ji was built in 1591 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi after the destruction of the former head temple, the Ishiyama Hongan-ji, in Ōsaka. Its imposing architecture is characteristic of the popular Jōdō-shin sect...Read more

The Gosho Imperial Palace was the home of the Emperors of Japan from 794, when Heian-kyō (Kyōto) replaced Nara as capital, to 1868, when to capital was moved to Tōkyō. The Kyōto Imperial Palace is enclosed by an earthen...Read more

TPontochō is one of the traditional entertainment and nightlife district of Kyōto. It is just a, long, narrow, stone-paved alley running between Sanjō-dōri and Shijō-dōri Avenues, along the western bank of the Kamo river...Read more

Opened in 1972, this railway museum houses 19 steam locomotives dating mostly from the mid-20th century. At the center of the museum is a 20-track roundhouse built in 1914, which was designated an Important Cultural Property.

Opened in 2006 as a public-private partnership of Kyoto Seika University and the city of Kyoto, this museum houses a collection of 200,000 comic books, including rare items like Meiji period magazines and postwar rental books. It is divided into three zones: a gallery for exhibitions, a research facility, and a library area for visitors.

Museum dedicated to the history and culture of the city. It features an art gallery displaying both Japanese and Western paintings, as well as arts and crafts by local artisans. There is also a hall showing films about Kyoto.