Kyoto Travel Stories

Jan 25, 2024 • 5 min read

From stunning temples to incredible landscapes, here are Kyoto's best experiences that are completely free.

Jan 25, 2024 • 9 min read

Kyoto is a winning combination of atmospheric temples, sublime gardens and traditional teahouses – here's our guide to the city's best things to do.

Jan 19, 2024 • 7 min read

Discover five diverse neighborhoods to check out in Japan’s most historic major city.

Jan 18, 2024 • 8 min read

Forested paths wind through the stunning mountain ranges that surround Kyoto on three sides. Here are seven of our favorite hikes in and around the city.

Dec 17, 2023 • 6 min read

From buses, trains and the subway to discovering the city on foot or two wheels, here’s everything you need to know about getting around Kyoto.

Dec 11, 2023 • 6 min read

From planning your trip to local etiquette, here are the most important things to know before going to Kyoto.

Dec 10, 2023 • 6 min read

Kyoto may be known as an expensive city but that doesn't mean there aren't deals to be found. Plan your perfect budget break with our top tips.

Dec 9, 2023 • 6 min read

Kyoto presents a new face with each changing season. From cherry blossom viewing to the parades of Gion Matsuri, here are the best times to visit Kyoto.

Mar 22, 2022 • 5 min read

Kyoto has a refined culinary tradition that's not to be missed. Here’s our guide to the top spots in Kyoto to try local dishes and drinks.

Dec 20, 2021 • 6 min read

From fascinating displays of traditional local crafts to stunning exhibitions of modern art, here are seven of the best museums in Kyoto.

Nov 26, 2021 • 6 min read

From open grassy spaces to beautifully landscaped strolling gardens, discover 10 of the best parks in Kyoto.

Feb 17, 2021 • 8 min read

No places better represent the gamut of Japanese culture than Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and there's no better way to visit them than via Shinkansen

Mar 12, 2020 • 5 min read

From elegant kaiseki cuisine to imaginative tofu dishes, here’s our foodie guide to the best restaurants in Kyoto.

Mar 4, 2020 • 6 min read

In the past 10 years, Japan has seen a new generation of craft beer breweries spread across the country – and Kyoto has some of the best ji-biru in Nippon.

Jan 6, 2020 • 4 min read

Uji is renowned for producing some of the world's best green tea. We explore tea culture in Uji and what attractions this Japanese city has to offer.

Oct 21, 2019 • 4 min read

From avant-garde cuisine in Shanghai to dining underwater in the Maldives, here are seven of the most expensive restaurants in the world.

Jul 27, 2019 • 4 min read

Looking for a memorable place to celebrate a momentous occasion or just want to splurge on an over-the-top vacation? These presidential suites are lavish…

Jun 21, 2019 • 5 min read

Summer in much of Japan is hot and can be unrelentingly humid, but it’s also the season for top festivals, mass folk dancing, mountain hikes, and enjoying…

Apr 3, 2019 • 5 min read

You could cover a lot of ground on a trip to Japan, or very little, and still get to experience the best of what the country has to offer. Centrally…

Jun 15, 2017 • 7 min read

Manga comics, blazing neon, speeding trains, supersized pedestrian crossings – Japan might not immediately inspire a vision of traditional romance, but…

Mar 24, 2010 • 2 min read

In this extract from the Lonely Planet guide Discover Japan, Taga Kazuo, founder of Kyoto Cycling Tour Project and author, tell you the sights to hit on a…