Why Kyoto
For a thousand years Kyoto was Japan’s imperial capital, and it still holds the country’s densest concentration of temples, shrines and traditional wooden townhouses. It’s the place to slow down — for tea, gardens and lantern-lit evenings in Gion.
01 Best time to visit
Late March to April for cherry blossom and October to November for autumn colour are the peak windows — and the busiest. Summer is hot and humid; winter is crisp and quiet.
Temples open early — arrive at Fushimi Inari or Arashiyama by 8am to beat the crowds and get the atmospheric, near-empty photos.
02 Weather & climate
81°
71°
87°
67°
☔ 39% 
88°
72°
☔ 20% 
81°
72°
77°
68°
☔ 33%
67°
64°
Kyoto sits in a basin that traps heat, so summers are hot and very humid and winters cold and crisp. Spring blossom and autumn colour bring the mildest, most beautiful — and busiest — weather of the year.
| Season | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | 48°F 9°C | 34°F 1°C |
| Spring | 66°F 19°C | 46°F 8°C |
| Summer | 91°F 33°C | 73°F 23°C |
| Autumn | 70°F 21°C | 52°F 11°C |
03 Top 10 things to do in Kyoto
04 Plan your Kyoto trip by theme
Short on time, travelling with kids, counting the pennies or dodging the rain? These curated guides pull together the right things to do for how you travel.
05 How long to stay in Kyoto
One day only? Start at Fushimi Inari’s torii gates at dawn, then Kiyomizu-dera and the Higashiyama lanes, and spend the evening in Gion hoping to glimpse a geiko on her way to work.
06 Where to stay
07 Food & drink
Kyoto is the home of kaiseki — seasonal, multi-course dining — plus delicate tofu cuisine, matcha sweets and the covered stalls of Nishiki Market. Reserve high-end kaiseki well ahead; for a casual meal, seek out a tofu or udon specialist.
08 Day trips
09 Getting into Kyoto from the airport
Kyoto has no airport of its own — most travellers arrive via Osaka Kansai (KIX), which has direct US flights, or by shinkansen from Tokyo.
| From the airport | Time | Cost (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Haruka express trainKIX → Kyoto Station, direct | ~75 min | ~$24 |
| Airport limousine busKIX → Kyoto Station | ~90 min | ~$19 |
| Shinkansen (from Tokyo)Bullet train, reserved seat | ~2h15 | ~$90 |
Skip the airport taxi — a cab from Kansai can top $170. The Haruka train is far faster and cheaper.
10 Entry & visa for US citizens
- Passport
- Valid for the duration of your stay.
- Visa
- No visa for tourism — visa-free entry up to 90 days for US citizens.
- Cost
- Free.
- Good to know
- Proof of onward or return travel may be requested on arrival.
Last checked 2026-09-08. Entry rules change — always confirm with the official government source before you book.
11 Getting around Kyoto
Fly into Osaka Kansai (KIX) — about 75 minutes by train — or arrive by shinkansen from Tokyo in ~2h15. In the city, buses and two subway lines cover most sights; an IC card makes hopping on easy.