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Japan · November

Kyoto

Maple-red temples, quiet gardens and a thousand years of craft.
November is momiji season. In 2026 the leaves are forecast to peak late — around 24 November in Arashiyama — so the second half of the month is the time to come. Expect crowds at famous spots and plan early starts.
Currency
Japanese yen (JPY)
Language
Japanese
Airport
Kansai (KIX), ~75 min by Haruka express
Getting around
Trains, buses, walking; ICOCA card
Contents
01
4 places

Neighbourhoods

Kyoto rewards walking. Pick one area per half-day.
01
Higashiyama
Neighbourhood · East
Stone-paved slopes, wooden machiya and temples from Kiyomizu-dera up to Ginkaku-ji.
02
Gion
Neighbourhood · Centre-east
The historic geiko district along Hanami-koji and the Shirakawa canal.
03
Arashiyama
Neighbourhood · West
Bamboo grove, Togetsukyo bridge and forested hills that turn red and gold.
04
Downtown & Nishiki
Neighbourhood · Centre
Covered shopping streets, department stores and the long, narrow food market.
02
4 places

See

The classic sights, timed for autumn colour.
01
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Shrine · Fushimi
Thousands of vermilion torii gates climbing the mountain. Open around the clock.
02
Kiyomizu-dera
Temple · Higashiyama
The wooden stage juts out over a valley of maples — one of the great autumn views.
03
Tōfuku-ji
Temple · South-east
Its Tsūten-kyō bridge looks over a sea of maples. Famous, and very busy at peak.
04
Eikan-dō
Temple · Higashiyama
Known as the temple of autumn leaves, with evening illuminations in season.
03
4 places

Eat

Tofu, noodles, tea and kaiseki — Kyoto’s food is quiet and precise.
01
Nishiki Market
Market · Downtown
Five blocks of pickles, tofu, sweets and grilled skewers.
02
Honke Owariya
Soba · Downtown
A soba maker with roots going back to 1465. Try the stacked hourai soba.
03
Omen
Udon · Near Ginkaku-ji
Thick udon served with seasonal vegetables to add yourself — a good lunch after the Philosopher’s Path.
04
Ippodo Tea
Tea house · Teramachi
Tea merchant since 1717, with a café to taste matcha and sencha properly.
04
3 places

Architecture & Design

From temple carpentry to bold modern buildings.
01
Kyoto Station
Architecture · Shimogyo
Hiroshi Hara’s vast 1997 station, with a stepped atrium and a free sky walkway on top.
02
Garden of Fine Art
Architecture · Kitayama
Tadao Ando’s open-air museum of concrete walls, water and ceramic-tile reproductions of masterpieces.
03
Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art
Museum · Okazaki
A 1933 museum given a sensitive contemporary renovation, with a glass-lined entrance below the plaza.
05
2 places

Day Trips

Short train rides away.
01
Nara
Day trip · ~45 min by train
Free-roaming deer and Tōdai-ji’s giant bronze Buddha in one of the world’s largest wooden halls.
02
Uji
Day trip · ~25 min by train
Home of Japanese green tea and the Phoenix Hall of Byōdō-in, pictured on the 10-yen coin.
06
Notes

Practical

Small things that make the trip easier.
01
Use trains and walk where you can — city buses get very crowded in autumn.
02
Many temples open again after dark for autumn illuminations; check dates locally.
03
Carry cash: smaller temples and shops may not take cards.
04
Keep your voice down and don’t eat while walking in historic streets.
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