Kyoto may be the best touristy area in Japan, not only for overseas travelers but also Japanese. Kyoto was the capital of Japan before Tokyo became the capital.

There are many traditional temples and shrines in Kyoto.  

Kiyomizudera Temple: UNESCO world heritage site. It is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. 

Arashiyama is a touristy district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. This place is particularly popular during the cherry blossom and fall color seasons.

The Togetsukyo Bridge is Arashiyama's well known, central landmark. Many small shops, restaurants and other attractions are found nearby, including Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama's famous bamboo groves and pleasure boats that are available for rent on the river.

Yasaka-jinja shrine is also known as Gion Shrine. It is located between the popular Gion District and Higashiyama District, and is often visited by tourists walking between the two districts.

Yasaka Shrine is well known for its summer festival, the Gion Matsuri, which is celebrated every July. 

Fushimi-Inari Taisha is famous for its thousands of vermilion “tori” gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds.This “tori” gates called Senbon Torii ("thousands of torii gates").