Best views in Kyoto

95 lookouts and viewpoints in Kyoto.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 95.

SeeAttractionCentral
Kyoto Imperial Palace
京都御所 Kyōto-gosho
The palace is a reconstruction (dating from 1855), though the Emperor doesn't spend much time there, and the guided tour doesn't enter the palace buildings, only peeking at them from the outside, but nevertheless, it provides interesting insight into the lives of the Imperial Court and it's the only Imperial site in Kyoto that offers English guides. Show up an hour before the tour at the Imperial Household Agency building (west of Kyoto Imperial Palace), and they'll let you join if there's space, or make a booking for another day if there isn't. If you don't want to chance it, advance bookings can also be made online through the Imperial Household Agency's official website.
English tours Mon-Fri at 10:00 and 14:00 (by appointment only)Free · Built 1337
SeeRuinsCentral
Nijō Castle
二条城 nijō-jō
Certainly one of the highlights of Kyoto, with fine gardens and splendid centuries-old structures. The castle was built by the Tokugawa shoguns to serve as the shogun's residence in Kyoto. After the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, the castle served as an imperial residence before being converted to a museum and opened to the public. The series of ornately-decorated reception rooms within the Ninomaru Palace complex is particularly impressive, and known for its "nightingale floors" - wooden flooring which makes bird-like squeaking sounds when stepped on so as to give advance warning when someone was approaching. From the empty base of the donjon that once overlooked the innermost section of the fortress (known as the Honmaru), you can get good views over parts of the castle compound and the wider city beyond. The donjon and original Honmaru Palace burnt down in two separate fires; the current Honmaru Palace was originally part of a prince's residence, and moved to its current location in the Meiji Period (late 19th century). The Honmaru Palace was opened to the public for the first time in 18 years on September 1, 2024, but reservations are required, and it will cost an additional ¥1,000. See also Japanese castles.
Daily 08:45-16:00 (Gate closes at 17:00), Ninomaru Palace closed on Tuesdays.¥1,300 for adults; ¥400 for junior and senior high school students, ¥300 for elementary school students, free for children under 6 years · Limited wheelchair access · Heritage listed · Built 1601
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Kyoto Tower
京都タワー Kyōto-tawā
A source of bitterness of locals due to its futuristic feel, which counteracts the historic feel the city is known for, the Kyoto Tower is an overpriced viewing tower where you can observe Kyoto's urban sprawl at its finest. There is also a hotel and banquet hall at the tower.
Daily 09:00-20:30Free to visit lobby & hotel, charge for going to the top: adults: ¥770; students: ¥620; teens: ¥520; children: ¥150
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Mt. Hiei
Mount Hiei (比叡山, Hiei-zan) is a mountain to the northeast of Kyoto, lying on the border between the Kyoto and Shiga Prefectures, Japan. The temple of Enryaku-ji, the first outpost of the Japanese Tendai (Chin. Tiantai) sect of Buddhism, was founded atop Mount Hiei by Saichō in 788 and rapidly grew into a sprawling complex of temples and buildings that were roughly divided into three areas: The Saitō (西塔; "West Pagoda") area near the summit, and technically in Kyoto Prefecture.
848 m high
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Togetsu Bridge
Arashiyama (嵐山, Storm Mountain) is a district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. It also refers to the mountain across the Ōi River, which forms a backdrop to the district. Arashiyama is a nationally designated historic site and place of scenic beauty.
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Nyoigatake Mountain
472 m high
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Mt. Yoshida
105 m high
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Historic Kyoto view
Emperor Kanmu surveyed the area to see where he would build the city from this historic viewpoint.
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Mount Osaka
325 m high
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大岩山
182 m high
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衣笠山
201 m high
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船山
317 m high
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Daimonjiyama
231 m high
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Mt. Daigo
454 m high
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Mt. Daimonji
465 m high
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阿弥陀ヶ峰
196 m high
SeeObservatory
大岩山展望所
35-33 Fukakusa Mukaigaharacho
SeeObservatory
京都大学花山天文台別館
17-1 Kitakazanominecho
SeeObservatory
比叡山展望台
SeeObservatory
鴨川荒神橋水位観測所（テレメーター）
吉田河原町
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Awata-yama
180 m high
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Gensonkumayama
316 m high
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Hikokumayama
313 m high
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Inariyama Mountain
233 m high
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Kogumayama
328 m high
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Kumayama
349 m high
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Magokumayama
314 m high
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Mount Hiei Summit
848 m high
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Mt. Ichijoji
272 m high
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Mt. Kiyomizu
243 m high
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Mt. Mine
537 m high
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Mt. Shakayatsu
291 m high
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Mt. Uryū
301 m high
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Seikanji-yama
202 m high
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Shikayama
294 m high
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Takewakayama / Inoshishiyama
283 m high
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Takusan
516 m high
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Tsukimachiyama
192 m high
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Zenki-san
271 m high
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てん子山
442 m high

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Kyoto (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).