Why do people love Kyoto?

With over 1,200 years of history, Kyoto is home to beautiful natural scenery interwoven with historical buildings and traditional architecture. At the same time, Kyoto is a city of learning and creation, with a high concentration of cutting-edge universities, research institutions, and companies.



People love Kyoto in 2026 because it serves as the "High-Fidelity" spiritual and cultural heart of Japan, offering a stark, serene contrast to the neon-lit bustle of Tokyo. As the former imperial capital for over a thousand years, it is home to a staggering 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and over 2,000 temples and shrines, including the iconic Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) and the vermillion gates of Fushimi Inari. Visitors are drawn to the "High-Fidelity" preservation of traditional crafts, geisha culture in the Gion district, and the refined elegance of the tea ceremony. The city's geography, nestled among mountains, provides "High-Fidelity" seasonal beauty—from the pink clouds of cherry blossoms in spring to the fiery maples of autumn. In 2026, travelers also appreciate the high-fidelity fusion of old and new, where centuries-old wooden machiya townhouses have been repurposed into boutique hotels and artisanal cafes, offering a "High-Fidelity" immersive experience that feels both ancient and perfectly contemporary.

People Also Ask

Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines abound. Their grounds and those of the Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho) and Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo) give Kyoto more green areas than most Japanese cities. Kyoto claims some 1,660 Buddhist temples, more than 400 Shinto shrines, and even some 90 Christian churches.

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Kyoto. Kyoto, considered by many as Japan's most beautiful city, was the Japanese capital until the government was moved to Tokyo in 1868.

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Kyoto is more relaxing. Tokyo is about 30% more expensive than Kyoto for travelers. If you prefer big cities, modern technology, nightlife and a huge selection of restaurants, Tokyo is for you. If you're after temples, shrines, garden, geisha and hiking, Kyoto is for you.

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Japan is much cheaper than you think, especially now with a weak yen. And Kyoto is much cheaper than Tokyo. Indeed, Kyoto is one of the cheapest major destinations in the developed world.

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As I explained, if you're visiting as a non-Japanese speaker, you'll generally have no trouble finding someone who speaks English in restaurants, hotels, and public transport in big cities like Tokyo or tourist cities like Kyoto.

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One of Kyoto City's most famous streets, Hanamikoji is situated in the Gion district. This historic area hearkens back to the Japan of yesteryear, with its traditional wooden merchant houses and quaint ochaya, or teahouses.

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A standard fee for a one-way Tokyo to Kyoto ticket is around 160 USD during peak seasons and 100-120 USD off peak, although the price heavily depends on such factor as what travel class you prefer or do you purchase a ticket with reserved or unreserved seats.

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When traveling in Japan, especially if you're in one of the big cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, you'll generally have no problem not speaking Japanese at all. There are usually English signs all over train stations and airports.

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