Kyoto Center
The centre of Kyoto refers to the area to the north of the central railway station. Very well served by public transport, it is the contemporary and commercial heart of the city.
Shimogyō-ku, the station district: Kyoto Station JR. This is the district immediately north of the station, in the center of Kyoto. The interest of this district is twofold. The station is close, as is the historic heart, the two subway stations of Shijō and the north-south axes Karasuma-dōri and Horikawa-dōri, both of which run parallel to each other and allow you to cross Kyoto from one end to the other.
Nakagyō-ku. Located north of Shimogyō-ku, this borough is the heart of historic Kyoto. Crossed by Oike-dōri from east to west and by Horikawa-dōri from north to south, this district is one of the nerve centres of the city. In this sense, it responds to the primary desire to make the castle the nucleus from which the districts and arrondissements will radiate.
Higashiyama north and south
Higashiyama is a nice cultural center to visit during a getaway in the ancient Japanese capital. Many museums and temples are located there. The place is ideal for walkers, urban bicyclists, pottery and other handicraft shops.
Gion. Who hasn't heard of Gion? Gion, a geisha district, still has the old town's old-fashioned charm with its wooden buildings and its craftsmen still bent on their little trade. Located on the east bank of the Kamo-gawa River, a pleasure district, part of which is considered a protected site, Gion remains the palace of the geishas and their apprentices, the maiko. It is not uncommon, while strolling through the small streets of Gion in the late afternoon, to see the silhouette of a maiko, wearing a kimono, gliding through an alleyway under her umbrella, wearing rice powder.
The north of Higashiyama is at the foot of the mountains, in an area where it is easy to walk. The heart of the visit revolves around the Ginkaku-ji, the philosophers' path along a canal and the Nanzen-ji, for a beautiful walk that can easily take up a whole day.
North of Kyoto (Kinkaku-ji and Kita-yama)
The north of Kyoto retains a very rural appearance, with a small bucolic train line running between Kitano Hakubaicho and Arashiyama.
Kita-ku. Less touristy than Higashiyama is, it's a mainly residential area. However, it is home to two temples that are not to be missed during a stay in the city: the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) and the Zen garden of Ryōan-ji
Kamigyō-ku is a very spread out borough. It houses in particular the castle of Nijō, but it was also the site of the first imperial palace, burnt down in 1227. To the north-east, the immense Kitano Tenmangu sanctuary hosts one of the largest flea markets in the city.
Arashiyama and around Kyoto
Arashiyama. Around Togetsu Bridge, bucolic landscapes pass by along the Ozu River or in the bamboo grove. With its shopping street and meditative temples, Arashiyama is a destination of choice for tourists seeking greenery and discovery. If the term Arashiyama is popularly used to designate the whole area, the northern part, which is more rural and dotted with cherry trees, is called Sagano
Around Kyoto. The south of Kyoto has now an industrial vocation. It is only a few minutes away from the station that there are big repair sheds for industrial products but also distilleries and sake breweries. Nevertheless, some sites are very pleasant to visit. It is the case of the indispensable Fushimi-Inari shrine, with its numerous torii all along the mountain, but also, for tea lovers, of the small town of Uji, heart of the green tea production of the region.
