Northwest Kyoto
Japan’s most famous “Zen” garden consists of 15 carefully placed rocks that float mesmerizingly on sea of gravel – an example of carefully calculated randomness. Opening hours: 8am-5pm March-November 8.30am-4:30pm December-February
One of the sprawling temples compound in Northwest Kyoto, Ninna-ji Temple is a rarely visited temple that makes for long contemplative strolls. Opening hours: 9am-5pm, last entry 4:30pm March-November 9am-4.30pm, last entry 4pm December-February
Myoshin-ji Temple is a walled-in world of Zen temples that easily merits a half-day or even full day of leisurely exploring. Opening hours: Main temple buildings: 9.10-11.40am (every 20min) 12:30pm (only once) 1pm-3:40pm (every 20min) Closed irregularly
One of Kyoto’s most beautiful shrines which is popular with students praying for success on exams. It’s also home to one of Kyoto’s best flea markets. Opening hours: 5am-6pm April-October 5.30am-5.30pm November-March
Kinkaku-ji, the famed “Golden Pavilion,” is Kyoto’s most iconic sight. Opening hours: 9am-5pm
The Northwest Kyoto Area is a bit of a hike from downtown or the station, but it contains several of Kyoto’s most important sights like Kinkaku-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion), Ryoan-ji Temple (with its famous rock garden) and Myoshin-ji Temple.
The Northwest Kyoto Area encompasses a large swath of the city north of Imadegawa-dori and west of Senbon-dori, bounded on the west by the mountains that rise in the north and west of the city. Buses, taxis or bicycles are the best way to explore this area.