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Kyoto was one of the places I really enjoyed during my Japan trip.

I only had one day in Kyoto, so obviously I couldn’t see everything. I came from Osaka and tried to make the most of that one day, jumping between some of Kyoto’s most famous places and one experience that ended up becoming one of my favourite memories from my entire Japan trip.

And that’s something I want to say before we start.

Not every famous place is going to blow you away.

Some places will be exactly what you expected. Some might be better. And some might leave you thinking, “Okay… that’s it?” 😂

So here are some of the best things to do in Kyoto, based on what I experienced, along with a few places I didn’t personally get to visit but would consider adding if I had more time.

1. Walk Through the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

I’m going to start with one of Kyoto’s most famous attractions.

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is beautiful. Walking between those incredibly tall bamboo trees is definitely something different, especially if you’ve never experienced anything like it before.

But here’s my honest opinion.

I think it is a little overrated.

Don’t get me wrong — I enjoyed visiting it. But the actual bamboo section you walk through is relatively small, and if you’re someone who already spends a lot of time hiking and walking through forests, you might find yourself thinking:

“Is this really it?” 😂

If you’ve never seen a bamboo forest like this before, though, I can completely understand why it would feel amazing.

So I’d say visit it, take your photos, enjoy the atmosphere — but don’t build your entire Kyoto trip around it.

And if you can visit early in the morning, you’ll have a much better chance of enjoying it without huge crowds.

2. Walk Through the Thousands of Torii Gates at Fushimi Inari

Now this one?

Definitely visit.

Fushimi Inari Taisha is famous for its seemingly endless rows of bright orange torii gates running up Mount Inari. The shrine complex dates back to the 8th century, and the trail extends much farther than the small section most people see in photographs.

When I visited, I noticed something interesting.

A lot of people walked through the first section, took their photos and then turned around.

And honestly, I understand why.

But the trail continues.

I walked roughly 80% of the way up before deciding to turn back because I could see a huge rainstorm coming towards us and I still had several places planned for the day.

The further you walk, the fewer people you generally encounter.

And that means better chances of getting those photographs without hundreds of people standing behind you.

So if you have the time, don’t just stop at the first few gates. Keep walking.

Take your time, carry water and enjoy the trail.

There are vending machines along the route, but I’d still recommend carrying your own water, especially during summer. And remember that this isn’t just a photo spot — it’s an active religious site, so be respectful while you’re there.

If you’re coming from Kyoto Station, the JR Nara Line provides direct access to Inari Station, which is right by the shrine.

3. Visit Kinkaku-ji — The Golden Pavilion

After exploring Fushimi Inari, I continued with the rest of my Kyoto day and eventually visited Kinkaku-ji, better known as the Golden Pavilion.

This was another place I genuinely enjoyed.

The golden pavilion sitting beside the pond makes for a great view, and the surrounding gardens give you some time to walk around rather than simply arrive, take one photo and leave.

When I visited, there were enough people around, but it wasn’t so crowded that I couldn’t enjoy the place.

I’d give yourself some time here rather than treating it as a five-minute photo stop.

And yes, you’re probably going to take a lot of photos. 😂

4. Experience Ukai Fishing on the Uji River

Now this is the one I really want to talk about.

This was one of the highlights of my entire Japan trip.

And honestly, it was one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Kyoto.

I travelled to the Uji River to watch Ukai — traditional cormorant fishing.

If you’re visiting Kyoto during summer, I genuinely think you should consider adding this to your itinerary.

Uji’s Ukai takes place during the summer, generally from July through September, with evening viewing boats following the cormorant fishermen on the river.

The basic idea is incredible.

Fishermen use trained cormorants to catch fish, working together with the birds in a traditional fishing technique that has been practiced in Japan for centuries.

And no, I had never seen anything like this before.

And then I got lost on the way there… 😂

Of course, I had to make things difficult for myself.

I boarded the correct bus… going in the wrong direction.

The bus was crowded, so I found a place at the back where I could sit down.

Only later did I realise:

“Wait… we’re going the wrong way.”

And naturally, because apparently the universe wanted to make this story better, my internet had also run out. 😂

So I ended up staying on the bus until the last stop and then, with the help of some locals, figured out how to get back towards Uji.

Eventually, I made it.

And I’m very glad I did.

Watching the cormorant fishing

The show was incredible.

The river was dark, the fishing boat moved along the water, the fire illuminated the scene and the cormorants were doing something I’d never witnessed before.

What surprised me most was how quiet and small the experience felt compared with some of Kyoto’s famous tourist attractions.

There were only a few people around when I visited, and everyone seemed completely fascinated by what was happening.

I just sat there watching the whole thing in awe.

Ukai isn’t unique to one single location, and the wider tradition has connections to both Japan and China. Researchers don’t completely agree on whether the practice spread from one country or developed independently in both. Ministry of Transport and Tourism

But you don’t really need to know all of that to appreciate what you’re watching.

For me, this was exactly what travelling should be about.

Not just visiting places because they look good on Instagram, but experiencing something you may never have seen before.

If you’re visiting Kyoto in summer, I’d seriously consider adding Uji and Ukai to your plans.

Just check the current operating dates and weather conditions before you go, because the event is seasonal and can be cancelled in bad weather or high water. Uji City Tourism Association

5. Walk Through Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka

I didn’t manage to visit every part of Kyoto during my one-day trip, but if you have more time, Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka should be on your list.

These traditional streets around Higashiyama are exactly the kind of place where you can simply walk around without needing a complicated plan.

You’ll find traditional buildings, small shops, cafés and plenty of opportunities for photographs.

And unlike a single attraction, this is somewhere you can actually slow down and explore.

I’d combine this with Kiyomizu-dera because they’re in the same general area.

6. Visit Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera is another Kyoto classic.

The temple is one of the city’s most famous landmarks, and the surrounding Higashiyama streets make the whole experience more than just visiting one temple.

If you’re already exploring Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, it makes sense to include Kiyomizu-dera in the same part of your day rather than travelling across the city again.

And remember — Kyoto has a lot of temples.

You don’t need to visit every single one. 😂

Pick the ones that genuinely interest you.

7. Visit Kyoto Imperial Palace

Another place I didn’t manage to visit during my one-day trip was the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

But if you have more time, I’d add it to the list.

The palace was the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family until the capital moved to Tokyo in 1869, and it sits within the large Kyoto Gyoen area.

One nice thing about the main Kyoto Imperial Palace is that advance registration isn’t generally required, although visitors should check current opening days and rules before going.

I’d consider this more if you’re interested in Japanese history and architecture rather than simply looking for another Instagram photo.

8. Explore Gion in the Evening

If you’re looking for a completely different side of Kyoto, spend some time around Gion.

This historic area is known for its traditional streets, restaurants, tea houses and old wooden buildings.

The best part isn’t necessarily having a checklist.

Just walk.

Explore the smaller streets, look at the architecture and enjoy the atmosphere.

And please remember that this is a real neighborhood, not a theme park. Be respectful, keep your distance from people and follow photography restrictions.

9. Try Some Kyoto Food

You can’t come to Kyoto and spend the entire day sightseeing without eating. That’s illegal according to the Hooman travel rule. 😂

Try some local Kyoto food while you’re here.

Look for:

• Matcha desserts
• Yudofu
• Kyoto-style tofu
• Soba
• Udon
• Kaiseki cuisine
• Wagashi
• Local sweets

And don’t feel like every meal has to be at a famous restaurant.

Sometimes walking into a small place because it looks interesting is half the fun.

10. Leave Time to Just Wander

This might actually be one of the best things to do in Kyoto.

Not visiting a specific attraction.

Just walking.

Kyoto has enough famous places that it’s easy to turn your entire day into:

Train → temple → photo → train → temple → photo → repeat.

Don’t do that.

Leave some time to walk through a random neighborhood, stop for coffee, explore a small shop or sit somewhere and watch the city.

That’s when Kyoto starts feeling less like a list of tourist attractions and more like an actual place.

What I’d Prioritize If You Only Have One Day

If you’re doing what I did and only have one day in Kyoto, you need to be realistic.

You can’t see everything.

I’d build the day around a few experiences rather than trying to collect every famous landmark.

For example:

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest → Fushimi Inari → Kinkaku-ji → Uji Ukai

But check the opening times and seasonal schedule before trying to copy that exact order.

And if you’re visiting during summer, remember that Kyoto can get very hot and humid. Starting early and taking breaks is genuinely worth it.

If you have 2–3 days, that’s when I’d start adding Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, Kyoto Imperial Palace and some of Kyoto’s other neighborhoods.

My Honest Take on Kyoto

If I had to pick the experiences that stood out most to me personally:

⭐ Fushimi Inari

Definitely worth it.

Don’t just photograph the first few torii gates. Walk further if you have time.

⭐ Uji River Ukai

One of my highlights of Japan.

Especially if you’re visiting during summer.

👍 Kinkaku-ji

Beautiful and worth visiting.

🤔 Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Worth seeing, but I personally found it a little overhyped.

And that’s okay.

Not every famous attraction has to be your favourite.

Final Thoughts

Kyoto was one of the places I really enjoyed in Japan, even though I only had one day there.

But my biggest takeaway was that the most memorable experience wasn’t necessarily the most famous one.

The Bamboo Forest was beautiful.

The thousands of torii gates were incredible.

The Golden Pavilion was a great visit.

But sitting beside the Uji River and watching traditional cormorant fishing?

That was the moment I kept thinking about afterwards.

I think that’s what travel should be about.

Go see the famous places, absolutely. Take the photos. But also look for something you can’t experience everywhere else.

Because sometimes the thing you didn’t even know existed before your trip ends up becoming the thing you remember the most. 🇯🇵❤️

Planning your Kyoto trip?

Want to plan the practical side of your Kyoto trip before deciding what to do? Check out my Kyoto Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go for tips on where to stay, getting around, the best time to visit and how many days you need.

If Kyoto is part of a bigger Japan trip, you can also check out my Japan Travel Guide, Japan Transportation Guide, and Japan Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors to help put everything together.