Nijō Jinya is one of Kyoto's hidden gems. Seldom seen by short-term visitors, it was built as a merchant's home in the mid-1600s and served as an inn for provincial feudal lords visiting the capital. What appears to be an average Edo-period man

The house contains fire-resistant earthen walls and a warren of 24 rooms that were ingeniously designed to protect the daimyō (domain lords) against possible surprise attacks. Here you'll find hidden staircases, secret passageways and an ar

The Kyoto Gosho is surrounded by the spacious Imperial Palace Park, which is planted with a huge variety of flowering trees and open fields. It's perfect for picnics, strolls and just about any sport you can think of. Take some time to visit the pond

The park is most beautiful in the plum- and cherry-blossom seasons (March and April respectively).

Built in 1641, this house is one of the last remaining ageya in Shimabara, Kyoto's original pleasure quarters, and is now designated as a National Cultural Asset. With a delicate lattice-work exterior and an extensive series of 20 rooms (includi

At its peak during the Edo period (1600-1867) the Shimabara area flourished, with over 20 enormous ageya - magnificent banquet halls where artists, writers and statesmen gathered in a 'floating world' ambience of conversation, art and fornication. Geis

The Nanzen-ji Temple is one of Kyoto's most pleasant temples, with expansive grounds and numerous sub-temples. It began as a retirement villa for Emperor Kameyama but was dedicated as a Zen temple on his death in 1291. Civil war in the 15th century des

The temple now operates as headquarters for the Rinzai school of Zen. At its entrance stands the massive San-mon. Steps lead up to the 2nd storey, which has a fine view over the city. Beyond the gate is the Hōjō, a hall with impressive screen

If you're interested in seeing all the weird and wonderful foods required for cooking in Kyoto, wander through Nishiki-kōji, Kyoto's best full-time market. This is a great place to visit on a rainy day or as a break from temple-hopping. The vari

This is a good place to try unagi (eel), that most sublime of Japanese dishes. You can sit downstairs with a nice view of the waterfall or upstairs on the tatami. The kane-yo donburi (eel over rice) set is great value. Look for the barrel

This is Kyoto's most famous beef restaurant. It serves excellent sukiyaki and shabu-shabu in traditional tatami rooms, some overlooking the Kamo-gawa. The meat comes from the restaurant's own farm. Reservations are essential.

Located on one of the most beautiful streets in Gion, this charming little restaurant offers excellent tempura in refined surroundings. Unless you choose a private tatami room, you'll sit at the counter and watch as the chef prepares each piece of temp

Tadg's is our favourite bar in Kyoto. It's a delightfully convivial spot which plays host to a good crowd of expats and Japanese every night of the week. This is an easy spot for solo travellers to enter - you'll soon be drawn into the conversation. So

Gion Corner presents a sort of crash course in Japanese traditional arts. You get a chance to see snippets of the tea ceremony, Kyoto music, flower arrangement, gagaku (court music), kyōgen (ancient comic plays), Kyōmai (

This is the oldest kabuki (traditional Japanese drama) theatre in Japan. The major event of the year is the Kao-mise Festival (1-26 December), which features Japan's finest kabuki actors. Other performances take place on an irregular basi