7 best hikes in Kyoto for scenic views and cultural encounters
Kyoto attracts visitors with its rich history as Japan’s former capital, but nature lovers come here for the hiking trails – both well-known and hidden – that wind through Kyoto Prefecture and offer a completely different experience of this historic part of Japan.
Once you are done exploring the city’s sights, forested paths can lead you through the stunning mountain areas that surround Kyoto on three sides, providing the perfect excuse for a relaxing day trip away from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Best hike for a picnic
Distance: 11 km (7 miles) one way • Time: 4–6 hours • Difficulty: Easy to moderate
This exceptionally pleasant hike combines atmospheric temples, a charming river, and a moody waterfall, making it an enchanting day trip from Kyoto. To reach the trail, take a bus toward Takao and get off at Yamashirotakao, then walk down to the river by following the stairs marked with a sign that says 'Hiking Course'.
Before you set out on the hike itself, it is worth visiting the Saimyō-ji and Jingo-ji temples. These rural, mountainside sanctuaries have beautiful grounds to explore and are far less crowded than the famous temples in the city center.
When you are ready, follow the trail along the banks of the Kiyotaki River. It is a pleasant route that winds beside emerald-green streams through a valley surrounded by forested mountains. About halfway along, you will come across an area with wide gravel banks and picnic tables, making it an ideal picnic spot.
Once you are refueled, you can take a detour to the Kuya-no-Taki waterfall. Hidden deep within the forest, this is a particularly atmospheric part of the hike, leading you past abandoned shrine buildings and through a torii (ceremonial gate) to reach a trickling, moss-covered cascade.
Best hike for breathtaking photos
Distance: 5 km (3 miles) round trip • Time: 3 hours • Difficulty: Easy to moderate
One of Kyoto’s most iconic shrines, the ancient Fushimi Inari Taisha, is located at the southern end of the city. It is the most revered of the thousands of shrines in Japan dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are considered Inari’s messengers, which explains the many fox statues scattered throughout the shrine grounds.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is famous for the 10,000 vermilion torii gates that wind around the 233-meter-high Mt. Inari. Most tourists walk along the first section to take Instagram photos before heading back to the souvenir shops, but the best way to get the full Fushimi Inari experience is to hike all the way around the summit and enjoy the unique atmosphere.
Best hike for panoramic views
Distance: 1.5 km (0.9 miles) round trip • Time: 1 hour • Difficulty: Moderate
The Daimonji hike is short and sweet and takes you to one of the best viewpoints over Kyoto. The hike begins and ends at the elegant “Silver Pavilion,” Ginkaku-ji, in northern Higashiyama and involves a steep 220-meter ascent from the temple’s main gate to a hilltop viewpoint with panoramic views over the city.
