Best Things to do in Kyoto with Kids

Last Updated: October 3, 2022

Often considered the cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto is an essential stop off for any families on a tour of Japan. There are an abundant of temples and shrines to explore and it still has a feel of traditional Japan, despite becoming a very popular tourist spot.

Kids will also love what’s on offer in Kyoto with an array of various activities for them to enjoy. We’ve come up with our favourites from our time there. So read on for our best things to do in Kyoto with kids.

Gaze in Wonder at Kinkaku-ji

Kinkaku-ji is a Zen Buddhist Temple and definitely one of the most stunning temples we’ve seen, not just in Japan, but the world.

It’s golden exterior reflecting off the crystal clear lake with the surrounding gardens looks like an oil painting. And even the kids were in awe of the magnificent visual effect it created.

It can get very busy and so it’s best to see it in the morning before the hoards arrive. You can reach it directly from Kyoto train station by taking bus number 101 or 205. If you’re coming from somewhere else in Kyoto then you can get the metro to either Kita-Oji or Kitanohakubaicho (depending on which side of Kyoto and line you are taking) then get the 101 or 205 again from nearby.

You can pay cash on public transport, but the best way is to get a prepaid top up card. The one usually sold in Kyoto is Icoca, but other ones will work just as well if you already have one, such as the Pasmo or Suica you get in Tokyo. Then it’s just a case of swiping through/on/off the transport you use.

Go Monster Hunting on Yokai Street

Yokai (Monster) Street is actually part of Ichijo Dori Street and just looks like a normal street on first observation. But take a closer look at you will spot some unusual monster statues in all shapes and sizes glaring at you from houses and shops.

Legend has it that many monsters, which were birthed from discarded objects from residents, one day decided to take over the street and haunt the residents there.

There are variations of this story and the monsters are often used to encourage children to do chores based on versions of the tale. Which is why you see some of the monsters made from household tools such as brooms.

It’s a quirky little activity that’s enjoyable for the whole family. Wondering down the street and seeing how many of the homemade monster statues you can spot outside the many small local shops that reside there.

Ichijo Dori Street is quite long and only part of the street has the monsters on. A reasonable marker is the Daishogun Hachi Jinja Shrine for a good spot to start monster hunting in either direction. Once the monsters run out you can just walk back the other way and see if you can find more!

It’s a good activity to do after you’ve been to Kinkaku-ji as you can hop back on the 101 or 205 bus (heading south) and get off at Kitano Temmangu mae (for 101) or Kitano Hakubaicho (for 205) and you won’t be far away. Alternatively it’s walkable from Kitanohakubaicho metro station.

Walk through the Flame Walkway at Fushimi Inari-taisha

The Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine is made famous by the ‘flame walkway‘ made up of hundreds of orange coloured Torii gates that lead along a pathway up Mount Inari, which rises to 233 metres high. With pairs of the guardian fox’s or Komainu guarding various entrances

Again this is another attraction that can get very busy, so get here early. As it’s open 24 hours a day, it’s great to get there at dawn if possible.

This doesn’t just help the crowds, but also the earlier you are the cooler it will be and as the walk can be quite tiring and steep at times it will make the walk much more pleasant if the temperature is lower.

The loop up and down again takes around two hours. It’s very easy to reach as it is right next to Inari metro station so no excuses for not getting there early!

Stroll under the bamboo of Arishiyama

Arishiyama is a district of Kyoto with the main reason visiting being the bamboo grove. You can stroll through this for as long as you like and admire the towering bamboo that seems to never end as it creates a tunnelled walkway high above your head.

Aside from the bamboo grove there are many other sites in this area of Kyoto with Tenryu-ji Temple being one of the other main attractions. You can also take a stroll across Togetsu Bridge over the Katruro River and then reach the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama. Entrance is around 550 yen if you want to enter and see some monkeys up close and personal.

The best way to get to Arishiyama is to take the metro to Saga-Arashiyama station. It is also at the end of the tram line so you can take this also if preferred.

Absorb Gion (and maybe spot some Geisha)

The area of Gion is worth a visit for many reasons. With it’s traditional winding streets and lots of shrines and temples to explore.

It’s also known for it’s great sweet shops with where you can try yatsuhashi, a traditional sweet made from cinnamon and rice flour.

A lot of people head to Gion in the hope to see Geisha. The Geisha tradition goes back to 1730 and was originally dominated by males. Nowadays it is females who have preserved this ancient Japanese tradition. Geisha are a type of performance artist who entertain at parties known as ozashiki. They carry out performances in singing and dancing and also general conversation and hosting. They’re unique appearance is characterized by their long kimonos and white makeup.

As ozashiki are very exclusive your best bet for seeing Geisha will just be as they are out and about probably on their way to work. We weren’t actually looking for them in particular, but did come across some as we were exploring the neighbourhood.

The two best stations to enter Gion are either Kyoto-Kawaramachi or Gion-Shijō. It’s another poplar area for tourists, so can get busy, but it’s well worth a visit to amble through this traditional area of Kyoto.