5 Wonderful Kyoto Free Activities to Look Out For
Kyoto free activities? You must be wondering if I am joking about this statement. Kyoto is often seen as an expensive city to visit with the sheer number of renowned attractions & high-end accommodations; but did you know there are free activities to ease your budget?
As a matter of fact, some of these activities involve exploring some of the major sites in the ancient capital. With that in mind, here are the top wonderful Kyoto free activities not to be missed!
Here is the Google Map location for each point of interests:
Table of Contents
Kyoto Free Activity 1 - Hike up Fushimi Inari Taisha
The name Fushimi Inari Taisha is certainly no stranger among both locals and the international tourist community; being one of Japan’s famed and scenic shrines. The shrine is exceptionally known for its display of 10,000 vermillion torii (鳥居) gates, lining up along the mountain paths like an arcade. The sheer display of Torii gates alone does make you feel like you are travelling towards the spiritual world.
And the best part of this shrine? Its free entrance to the shrine ground and the torii gates path. The shrine is open 24/7 throughout the year; allowing plenty of flexibility to explore the shrine and making it a top Kyoto free experience to look out for. One can opt to visit in various times; early morning to escape the crowd; join the crowd in the afternoon or experience the quaint side of the shrine during the evening.
- Get There: Board the Nara line train (奈良線) from Kyoto Station (京都駅) to Inari Station (稲荷駅) for about 5 minutes.
Kyoto Free Activity 2 - Take a Stroll along the Philosopher's Path
The next Kyoto free activity on our list is the serene and captivating Philosopher’s Path (Tetsugaku-no-Michi/哲学の道). The 2km long path is named after the philosopher Nishida Kitaro (西田幾多郎) who used to meditate while crossing this path daily to Kyoto University. Along the path is a canal that once supplied water to the city from the nearby Lake Biwa.
Visitors can easily explore the path freely and enjoy the scenic canal views while exploring the various cafes and have a relaxing cup of coffee. Apart from the major temples such as Ginkakuji (銀閣寺), the Silver Pavilion & Nanzenji (南禅寺), known for its aqueduct; there are also smaller and charming temples and shrines to explore along the path.
Best times to visit the path is during early April for the blooming of the cherry blossoms and late November for the peak of the autumn colours.
- Get There: From Kyoto Station (京都駅), take the Kyoto City bus for 30 minutes and drop at Ginkakuji-michi (銀閣寺道) bus stand. Then walk for 10 minutes and you will reach the path.
Kyoto Free Activity 3 - Visit Yasaka Shrine at Night
If you are living at the centre of Kyoto, this is one Kyoto free activity not to be missed. Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社) is not only famous, but also located strategically in between the renowned Gion (祇園) & Higashiyama (東山). And it is also the host venue for one of Japan’s most famous festivals, the Gion Matsuri (祇園祭) that occurs during July.
And good news for the night owls; the shrine is one of the few attractions that open 24/7 in Kyoto. While the shrine is bustling with visitors during the day, it is during the night where the shrine is at its most beautiful. The sight of the lanterns lighting up the shrine grounds creates an overall otherworldly scenery. For a more fulfilling experience, be sure to take a stroll at the nearby old streets of Kyoto to experience the beauty of the ancient capital on a quiet night.
- Get There: From Kyoto Station (京都駅), take the Kyoto City bus for 15 minutes and drop at Gion (祇園) bus stand.
Kyoto Free Activity 4 - Explore the Kyoto Imperial Palace
The former residence of the Imperial family in Japan also happens to be a Kyoto free attraction to look out for. The Imperial Palace was the official residence of the Imperial family for over a thousand years before the capital was eventually moved to Tokyo (東京). Beyond the palace walls lies the ceremonial halls, residences and gardens where the Emperors of Japan once resided and conducted royal ceremonies.
The Imperial Palace is open all year round for visitors and no reservation is required; allowing visitors to explore the vast complex of the palace. Additionally, there are also guided tours around the complex where visitors can also join for free to learn more about the history of the complex (see Kyoto Imperial Palace’s official website for more info).
- Get There: Board the subway from Kyoto Station (京都駅) on the Karasuma line (烏丸線) and disembark at Marutamachi Station (丸太町駅). Then walk for 12 minutes to the palace entrance.
Kyoto Free Activity 5 - Relax in the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden
Looking for a serene place to get away from the bustling crowd in Kyoto city? Then, look no further for this Kyoto free attraction which is the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden (京都御苑). Despite its location in the city centre, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden is surprisingly a peaceful spot that is rich in fauna. Locals often come here to have a picnic, jogging and just chill and relax under the fine weather.
It is also located right next to the Kyoto Imperial Palace; making it a prime candidate to visit as well if you are planning to visit the palace. And if you looking for a cherry blossom spot, look no further as the garden offers some of the best cherry blossom views during late March & early April. The west side of the garden in particular features weeping cherry trees (shidare-zakura/枝垂桜) that blooms spectacularly in spring and is recognisable by its gracefully arching branches.
- Get There: Board the subway from Kyoto Station (京都駅) on the Karasuma line (烏丸線) and disembark at Marutamachi Station (丸太町駅). Then walk for 10 minutes and you will see the garden’s entrance.
Special BONUS 1 - Kyoto Free Activities for the Festival Lovers
One of the best Kyoto free experiences not to be missed are none other than the festivals. During summer in the month of July, Kyoto will be hosting the Gion Matsuri (祇園祭), one of the most grandest festivals in Japan. The main highlight of this festival is the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) or the parade of magnificent floats across the streets of Kyoto.
These floats are often decorated elaborately and they represent a unique theme. In fact, some of these floats will be on display for tourists to enter and have a look. Along the streets, there will be plenty of lively stall vendors selling a variety of food and drinks.
- Get There: As the festival occurs mainly between the Shijo-Karasuma (四条烏丸) area, one can simply board the subway from Kyoto Station (京都駅) on the Karasuma line (烏丸線) and disembark at Shijo Station (四条駅).
And then in mid-August, there is the Gozan Okuribi (五山送り火) festival; a festival that serves to give the departed a good send off. The festival itself is the peak of the Obon festival (お盆) which is believed to be the period when the dead pays a visit to the living world. During the ceremony, large bonfires in the shape of Kanjis (漢字)/Chinese character words will be lit up at the surrounding mountains of Kyoto; serving to guide the dead back to the afterlife.
- Get There: As the ceremony occurs at several mountains in different dates, there are numerous viewing spots for the lighting as well. Check out Discover Kyoto’s article here for more info on the viewing spots.
Special BONUS 2 - Kyoto Free Activity for Museum Lovers
If you are a museum and crafts lover, don’t miss out on this Kyoto free activity. The Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design (京都伝統産業ミュージアム) offers an insightful display for overall 74 craft categories that have been passed down for generations. Be sure to feast your eyes on the intricate crafts such as the lacquerware, ceramics, kimonos, masks, Buddhist altars and many more.
For a more insightful experience, check out the video display for each crafts; highlighting the sheer effort and attention to details required to create each craft. Also, there will be performances and demonstrations done by the craftsmen themselves everyday except on Mondays and Thursdays. This will be a great opportunity to catch their display of skills live and getting an enriching experience on the mastery of their crafts.
- Get There: Take the Kyoto City Bus from Kyoto Station (京都駅) and disembark at Higashiyama Nijo/Okazaki Koenguchi (東山二条.岡崎公園口) bus stand. Then, walk for 5 minutes to the museum.
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