Top Things to See
 Temples, ancient castles and palaces, ponderous Zen gardens and engaging museums fill this one-of-a-kind UNESCO World Heritage City. Hundreds of individual attractions make up the fabric of Kyoto, which on the whole is one of the most charming and timeless places left on earth. Perhaps best known for the multitude of ancient temples and shrines scattered around the city, there seems to be a festival or special cultural event happening every week of the year at these vibrant and socially important sites. There’s simply so much to see in Kyoto that you’ll have to make a short list and come back for the rest.
 Hosomi Art Museum
This is one of the best places in Kyoto to examine the deep artistic roots of this city. The exhibits which encompass everything from Shinto and Buddhist art to Heian furniture and tea ceremony objects are top class and well worth a quick visit.
 Kiyomizu Temple
The views from the main hall of this mountainside temple could be the finest in all of Japan. It is constructed on a cliff with a massive veranda supported by 139 equally large wooden pillars. Also on site is a lovely three-tiered pagoda and the Otowa Falls, which are famous for its pure water. If you are single, a stop by the Jishu Shrine will help establish whether you are destined to find true love or not. The god of matchmaking lives here and has been helping the lovelorn for nearly 800 years.
 Koinzan Saiho-ji
The Moss Temple, as this is also known, is a surreal verdant destination. The garden contains more than 120 varieties of moss which creates the effect of a swirling wave of myriad hues of blue and green. The effect is even more dramatic during the rainy season in June and July.
Kyoto National Museum
A multitude of treasures which once belonged to the imperial court and temples of Kyoto are highlighted in the rotating exhibits of this important museum. Kimono clothing, ceramics, sculpture, paintings and metalwork are part of the priceless works of art which fill the rooms of this Baroque-style building.
 Ryoanji Temple
The temple at Ryoanji is nice, but most visitors come to contemplate the famous Zen rock garden on the temple grounds. A clay wall surrounds the garden on three sides, with a wooden deck on the fourth side where you can sit and ponder its mystery. This 15th century Zen rock garden is perhaps the finest example of the style in all of Japan, so don’t miss it.
 Sanjusangendo Hall
Originally built in 1164, this temple houses one of the most surreal sights in Japan. Lining the 120metre long hall are 1,001 life-sized statues of the thousand-handed deity Kannon carved from cypress wood in the 12th century. The effect of statue after statue of Kannon is overwhelming and although you can’t take any photos inside the hall, you’ll be left with a mental picture which will linger a long time.
Top Things to Do
 Be entertained at Gion Corner. If you want to see the full range of traditional Japanese performing arts but don’t have the time to visit a dozen different sites, plan an evening at Gion Corner, which has a shortened package of all the best Kyoto has to offer. Geisha and maiko perform the shows, which include puppets, court music, singing, comic dramas and flower arrangement. It’s a brief but excellent overview of the myriad arts of the geisha.
 Go cormorant fishing. If you are visiting during the summer you may be able to catch sight of these unique fishermen who use trained cormorant birds to do their fishing for them. These men go out in the evening on the Oi River and you can hire a boat to take you out to watch. This popular activity finds dozens of other interested people watching from boats and on the shore.
 Sample the nightlife of Pontocho. This narrow alleyway that runs parallel to the Kamo River was once a major geisha district packed with the most exclusive places in Japan. Today, it’s lined with regular pubs, restaurants and hostess bars, but it’s still a fascinating place to watch Japanese life enjoy itself to the extreme. Neighbouring Kiyamachi Street is another good strip to experience Kyoto’s nightlife.
 Take a bath at Funaoka Onsen. This amazing bath house is the quintessential Japanese spa experience and should not be missed. The expansive grounds boast an outdoor bath, sauna, herbal bath and other forms of watery relaxation. The indoor pools are separated by gender to help you overcome any inhibitions about nudity.
 Visit Gion, a small neighborhood which appears to be stuck in a time warp compared to the rest of modern Japan. The reserved, solemn atmosphere of Kyoto’s most famous geisha district is reason enough to stroll along the narrow streets. Although the numbers of geisha today are much smaller than in the past, there is still a thriving scene of maiko and geisha. Feel free to wander the neighbourhood, but don’t even think about entering one of the geisha houses without an invitation.
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