Around Kyoto Imperial Palace

Top Things to do

• Kyoto Imperial Palace

  4.0

  2419 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kamigyou-ku Kyoutogyoen

  The Kyoto Imperial Palace is located in the northern side of the Kyoto Imperial Gardens. The palace is surrounded by a roofed mud wall and channel of clear running water 250 meters long east to west and 450 meters long north to south. The current palace was rebuilt in 1855 and includes such facilities as six gates scattered around all four sides, the old palace’s state chamber where successive generations of emperors were enthroned, and a hall of state built in the Imperial residence style located in the center of the compound where the Imperial throne is placed. The small old palace, built in the traditional shoin-zukuri style, is located on the north side of the compound, and from here visitors can view an elegant garden with a large pond. Once, viewing the Kyoto Imperial Palace required an application to be made beforehand, but today no such reservation is required and the palace may be viewed freely by anyone year round (note that a bagger inspection will be performed prior to allowing visitors entry).

• Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

  4.5

  30 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kamigyou-ku Bakurochou

  Popularly known as “Kitano no Tenjin-san,” this Shinto shrine is located in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. The shrine was founded in 947. It is also the head shrine of all 12 thousand Tenmangu and Tenjin shrines throughout the country dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the god of scholarship. The shrine is frequented by students and test-takers not only during entrance exam season in winter but throughout the year. The main shrine, erected in 1607, is a National Treasure and a magnificent example of Momoyama architecture. Famed for its Japanese apricot blossoms, a gorgeous open air tea ceremony is performed by Kamishichiken geisha at the shrine during the Plum Blossom Festival on February 25. The shrine also bustles with numerous street stalls and people during the Tenjin Market, opened every month on the 25th.

• Sento Imperial Palace

  4.0

  163 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kamigyou-ku Kyoutogyoen

  This is an old imperial palace when Emperor Go-Mizu-no-O abdicated and retired in the early 17th century. Destroyed by fire in 1854, now only the garden and tearoom remain. The spring cherry blossom and autumn changing leaves are of course wonderful, as are the blooming wisteria of early summer. The Yatsuhashi (zigzag bridge) connecting the south pond to the central island is covered in wisteria trellis, and the sight of it catching the wind is just beautiful. Though same day booking is possible, one should book in advance to be guaranteed entry.

• Nishijin Textile Center

  3.5

  175 Reviews

  Kyoto prefecture Kyoto city Kamigyo-ku Horikawa dori Imadegawa south entrance west side

  This meeting hall in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture introduces the charm of Japanese clothing, especially Nishijin silk fabrics, and displays related items. The third floor has a show stage on which they hold the extravagant Kimono Show each hour. With the workshops allowing one to watch artisans up close and the reservation handmaking experience activities, there are facilities for one to watch, sow and experience while learning and having fun. There are also Japanese trinkets on sale including clothing sundries and mufflers made of pure Japan-produced silk.

• Shokoku-ji Temple

  4.0

  141 Reviews

  Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Kamigyo-ku Imadegawa communication Karasuma HigashiIri

  The head temple of the Rinzai Shokoku-ji school of Buddhism and located in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, it was founded by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. A Zen temple connected to the Ashikaga shogunate clan and the Fushimi-no-miya and Katsura-no-miya imperial family branches, it is considered the second of the five most important temples in Kyoto. The temple was in charge of managing Zen temples on the mountain and played a central role in the administration of Zen Buddhism, but has experienced repeated destruction and rebuilding due to fires and lightening. The Nakiryu (Crying Dragon) painted by Kano Mitsunobu on the ceiling of the Hatto, lecture hall (an Important Cultural Property) was donated by Toyotomi Hideyori (1593–1615).

• Shokoku-ji Temple Jotenkaku Museum

  4.5

  67 Reviews

  Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Kamigyo-ku Imadegawa-ku Karasuma Dongyu

  This art museum is on the grounds of Shokoku-ji Temple in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. It opened in 1984 as part of the celebrations of Shokoku-ji Temple's 600-year anniversary. It collects and displays writings, paintings, and works of art from a variety of temples including Shokoku-ji Temple, Rokuon-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion), Jisho-ji Temple (the Silver Pavilion), and other sub-temples. Here you can see five National Treasures of Japan, 145 Important Cultural Properties of Japan, and a great number of Cultural Properties of Japan. Their permanent displays include famous painted sliding doors from Rokuon-ji Temple by Ito Jakuchu, ''Budo Shokinzu'' (Grapes and Small Bird) and ''Tsukiyo Bashozu'' (Japanese banana on a moonlight night).

• Demachi Futaba

  4.5

  34 Reviews

  Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto-shi, Kamigyo-ku Ichimachi-dori Imadegawa Kamiru Aerosecho 236

  Located along Kawara-machi Street, this Japanese confectioner was founded in 1899. Their famous “nadai mamemochi” features red bean jam and red peas wrapped in freshly-made mochi. It has been around since the founding, and is a standard Kyoto souvenir, popular enough to see people lining up to get some.

• Seimei-jinja Shrine

  Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto-shi, Kamigyo-ku Horikawa Tsushin Ichijo Le Rui Mihacho 806

  This is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Abe no Seimei, a diviner active in the mid Heian period, built in 1007 by Emperor Ichijo in order to appease the diviner’s spirit. The shrine helps ward off evil and danger, and many visitors come to escape misfortune. The shrine has a distinct Onmyodo mystical atmosphere, from the pentagrams depicted on the tori gate, paper lanterns and votive pictures to the diviner stone statues.

• Shiramine Shrine

  4.0

  55 Reviews

  Kyoto Kyoutoshi Kamigyou-ku Asukaichou 261

  A Shinto shrine located in Kyoto’s Kamigyo Ward dedicated to Emperor Sutoku and Emperor Junnin. The shrine was founded by Emperor Meiji in 1868, the first year of the Meiji period, to solidify the foundations of the Meiji Restoration. The land was once the site of the residence of the Asuka clan, originators of a traditional sport called kemari as well as waka poetry. Accordingly, the temple also dedicated to Seidai Myojin, god of ball games, sports, and public performance, and the shrine is visited by many interested in and involved in soccer and other sports. During the shrine’s Seidai Myojin Matsuri (Tanabata Festival), performances of a dance called the Komachi Odori and games of kemari are offered to the gods, an event which remains widely familiar to locals as an essential part of summer.