Kyoto Station, Kyoto · Things to do
Things to Do Near Kyoto Station: 12 Places by Walking Distance, with Hours and Prices
12 things to do · checked October 20, 2026
12 things to do near Kyoto Station, nearest first
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 20, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Kyoto Station Building: Great Stairs, Skyway and rooftop square京都駅ビル（大階段・空中径路・大空広場）
Station building with stairs, sky corridor and rooftop · Kyoto Station
The station building has a 171-step Great Stairs (35 m high), a 185 m Skyway corridor on the 10th floor at a height of 45 m, and a rooftop square at 59.8 m. The Great Stairs carry LED illumination in the evening. The rooftop square closes for station works from 27 November 2026.
The rooftop square closes from 27 November 2026 for station works.
- Access
- Part of JR Kyoto Station. The Skyway is on the 10th floor; the Great Stairs rise from the 4th-floor Muromachi Koji plaza to the rooftop.
- Hours
- Skyway 10:00–22:00 (STAR BRIDGE lights 17:00–22:00); Great Stairs 6:00–23:00 (illumination from 15:00 in October–November, to 22:00); rooftop square 6:00–23:00
- Closed on
- Rooftop square closed from 27 November 2026 to around winter 2031 (planned) for station works; the notice does not say whether the Great Stairs or the Skyway are affected
2Kyoto Tower京都タワー（Nidec 京都タワー）
Observation deck · Kyoto Station
The tallest building in Kyoto, in front of the station's Karasuma Central Gate. The observation deck is 100 m up and looks over the city in 360 degrees.
- Access
- About 2 minutes on foot from the JR Kyoto Station Karasuma Central Gate, across the bus terminal.
- Hours
- 10:00–21:00 (last admission 20:30); may change without notice
- Price
- Adults ¥1,000; high school ¥800; elementary and junior high ¥700; ages 3–5 ¥300; under 3 free
3Higashi Hongan-ji東本願寺（真宗本廟）
Buddhist temple · Karasuma-Shichijo
The head temple of the Shinshu Otani branch. The Goei-do Gate is 27 m high, designated an Important Cultural Property in 2019, and the temple describes it as the tallest two-storey wooden gate in Japan.
- Access
- 7 minutes on foot from JR Kyoto Station; 5 minutes from Gojo Station (subway); 1 minute from the Karasuma-Shichijo city bus stop.
- Hours
- Gates open 5:50–17:30 (March–October); 6:20–16:30 (November–February)
- Price
- Free during opening hours
4Shosei-en Garden渉成園
Stroll garden · Higashi Hongan-ji
A garden belonging to Higashi Hongan-ji, designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty in 1936 and known for its thirteen views. Normally only the garden outdoors is open, not the buildings.
- Access
- 10 minutes on foot from JR Kyoto Station; 7 minutes from Gojo Station (subway); 5 minutes from the Karasuma-Shichijo city bus stop.
- Hours
- March–October 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); November–February 9:00–16:00 (last entry 15:30)
- Closed on
- Open every day
- Price
- Garden maintenance donation: adults ¥700 or more; junior high and high school ¥300 or more; elementary and under free
5Nishi Hongan-ji西本願寺（本願寺）
Buddhist temple, World Heritage · Horikawa-Hanayacho
The head temple of Jodo Shinshu Hongan-ji, a World Heritage site. The Goei-do (rebuilt 1636) and the Amida-do (rebuilt 1760) are National Treasures. A free guided walk of the grounds, about 30 minutes, runs four times a day.
- Access
- City bus 9, 28 or 75 from Kyoto Station to Nishi-Hongan-ji-mae; or Keihan bus 311 or 312 from the Hachijo Exit to Nishi-Hongan-ji.
- Hours
- Gates open 5:30 and close 17:00 on the official schedule for 20 October 2026; the hours change with the season. Guided walks at 10:00, 11:30, 13:45 and 15:30
6To-ji東寺（教王護国寺）
Buddhist temple, World Heritage · Minami-ku
A temple with a five-storey pagoda about 55 m high, which the temple calls the tallest wooden tower in Japan from the Edo period or earlier. The Miedo and Jikido halls are free; the Kondo and Kodo are paid. Autumn special openings run to 13 December, and the Kobo-ichi market is held on the 21st of each month.
Pagoda ground floor and night opening 31 October–13 December; market on the 21st of each month.
- Access
- 15 minutes on foot (1.1 km) from the JR Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit; 10 minutes on foot (0.6 km) from Toji Station (Kintetsu).
- Hours
- Gate 5:00–17:00. Kondo and Kodo 8:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Night opening 31 October–13 December, 18:00–21:30 (last entry 21:00)
- Closed on
- Open every day during the autumn special period
- Price
- Kondo and Kodo: adults ¥800, high school ¥400, junior high and under ¥300. With the pagoda's ground floor open (31 October–13 December): adults ¥1,200, high school ¥700, junior high and under ¥500. Night opening: adults and high school ¥1,000, junior high and under ¥500
7Kyoto Railway Museum京都鉄道博物館
Railway museum · Umekoji
A railway museum in the Umekoji area west of the station, with a roundhouse of steam locomotives that is an Important Cultural Property. A steam train runs a 1 km round trip of about 10 minutes for an extra fee. Hours and fees are on the museum's own site.
- Access
- About 20 minutes on foot from the station's central exit; or city bus 86 or 88 to Umekoji-koen / Kyoto Railway Museum-mae; 2 minutes on foot from JR Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station.
8Kyoto Aquarium京都水族館
Aquarium · Umekoji Park
Kyoto's first full-scale aquarium, opened in 2012 inside Umekoji Park. Opening hours change by date and are shown on the official calendar; entry and ticket sales end one hour before closing.
- Access
- About 15 minutes on foot from the station's central exit; 7 minutes on foot from JR Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station (Sagano Line).
- Hours
- Varies by date (official calendar); admission ends 1 hour before closing
- Closed on
- None; open all year
- Price
- Adults ¥2,600; high school ¥2,000; junior high and elementary ¥1,400; age 3 and over ¥900
9Umekoji Park梅小路公園
City park with Japanese garden · Umekoji
A city park open since 1995, about 15 minutes' walk west of the station. It has a lawn, the Suzaku-no-Niwa pond garden and the Inochi-no-Mori biotope on the site of a former freight yard, and the aquarium and railway museum stand beside it.
- Access
- Immediately from JR Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station (Sagano Line); about 15 minutes on foot west along Shiokoji-dori from the station's central exit.
10Sanjusangen-do三十三間堂（蓮華王院）
Buddhist temple hall · Higashiyama (Shichijo)
The Rengeo-in main hall, a National Treasure, holding 1,001 Kannon statues. Shoes are not allowed inside the hall.
- Access
- City bus 100, 206 or 208 from Kyoto Station, about 10 minutes, to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae; or 7 minutes on foot from Shichijo Station (Keihan), exit 2.
- Hours
- 1 April–15 November 8:30–17:00; 16 November–31 March 9:00–16:00 (last entry 30 minutes before closing)
- Closed on
- Open all year
- Price
- Adults ¥600; junior high and high school ¥400; elementary ¥300
11Kyoto National Museum京都国立博物館
Art museum · Higashiyama (Shichijo)
A national art museum on Shichijo-dori. Until 29 November 2026 it holds the special exhibition The Tale of Genji: Radiant Culture of the Japanese Imperial Court, and no separate collection galleries are open during it.
The Genji special exhibition runs 6 October–29 November 2026.
- Access
- From bus platform D2 at Kyoto Station, city bus 206 or 208 to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae; or about 7 minutes on foot along Shichijo-dori from Shichijo Station (Keihan).
- Hours
- Genji exhibition: 9:00–17:30 (entry until 17:00); Fridays 9:00–20:00 (entry until 19:30)
- Closed on
- Mondays (when Monday is a national holiday, open that Monday and closed the next day); 28 December–1 January
- Price
- Genji exhibition: adults ¥2,200 (¥2,000 advance or group); university ¥1,200; high school ¥700; junior high and under free
12Tofuku-ji東福寺
Zen temple · Tofukuji
A Rinzai head temple one stop south on the JR Nara Line. The Hojo garden, and the Tsutenkyo bridge with the Kaisando, are paid separately. An autumn period runs 14 November–6 December with its own price and an 8:30 start at the bridge.
Autumn period and prices apply 14 November–6 December.
- Access
- JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station to Tofukuji Station, about 3 minutes, then about 10 minutes on foot.
- Hours
- April–November 13: 9:00–16:00 (last entry 16:00); 14 November–6 December: bridge 8:30–16:00, Hojo garden 9:00–16:00; 7 December–31 March: 9:00–15:30
- Price
- Hojo garden: adults ¥500 (¥600 from 1 November 2026). Tsutenkyo and Kaisando: adults ¥600, ¥1,000 from 14 November to 6 December. Children ¥300 (¥500 at the bridge in the autumn period)
Good to know
Four things are within about 10 minutes on foot of Kyoto Station: the station building itself (Great Stairs and Skyway), Kyoto Tower, Higashi Hongan-ji and Shosei-en. To-ji, Kyoto Aquarium and Umekoji Park are about 15 minutes on foot, the Railway Museum about 20, and Nishi Hongan-ji, Sanjusangen-do and the Kyoto National Museum are a short city-bus ride. Tofuku-ji is one stop on the JR Nara Line.
The closing times differ a lot. Higashi Hongan-ji's gates close at 17:30 until 31 October and at 16:30 from 1 November; Nishi Hongan-ji's gates close at 17:00; the To-ji Kondo and Kodo take their last visitors at 16:30. Kyoto Tower takes its last visitors at 20:30, and the station Skyway stays open until 22:00.
Dates to plan around: the rooftop square of the station building closes on 27 November 2026 for station works. To-ji opens the pagoda's ground floor and holds a night opening from 31 October to 13 December, and its monthly market falls on the 21st. Tofuku-ji's autumn period runs 14 November–6 December, and the Genji exhibition at the Kyoto National Museum ends on 29 November.
In depth
On foot, by bus, or one stop by train
How far each group is from the station, what it costs to get in, and when the last visitor is let in. Adult prices.
| Where | From Kyoto Station | Entry (adult) | Latest start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Station building: Great Stairs, Skyway, rooftop square | Inside the station | No fee is listed on the official plaza guide | Skyway open to 22:00; Great Stairs to 23:00 |
| Kyoto Tower | About 2 min on foot | ¥1,000 | 20:30 |
| Higashi Hongan-ji · Shosei-en | 7 min · 10 min on foot | Free · donation of ¥700 or more | Gates close 17:30 (to 31 Oct), 16:30 (from 1 Nov) · Shosei-en last entry 16:30 (Mar–Oct), 15:30 (Nov–Feb) |
| To-ji | 15 min on foot (1.1 km) from the Hachijo Exit | Kondo and Kodo ¥800 (¥1,200 with the pagoda, 31 Oct–13 Dec) | Kondo and Kodo 16:30; night opening 21:00 (31 Oct–13 Dec) |
| Umekoji area: Railway Museum, Kyoto Aquarium, Umekoji Park | About 15–20 min on foot, or bus 86 or 88 | Aquarium ¥2,600; Railway Museum fee on its own site | Aquarium: one hour before closing (hours vary by date) |
| Nishi Hongan-ji | City bus 9, 28 or 75 to Nishi-Hongan-ji-mae | Entry fee not listed on the official pages checked | Gates close 17:00 (20 Oct 2026 schedule) |
| Sanjusangen-do · Kyoto National Museum | City bus 100, 206 or 208, about 10 min | ¥600 · Genji exhibition ¥2,200 | Sanjusangen-do 16:30 (from 16 Nov, 15:30) · museum 17:00 (Fridays 19:30) |
| Tofuku-ji | JR Nara Line about 3 min, then about 10 min on foot | Hojo garden ¥500 (¥600 from 1 Nov); bridge ¥600 (¥1,000 14 Nov–6 Dec) | 16:00 (15:30 from 7 Dec) |
By kind of trip
A short stop between trains
These three are all within about 7 minutes' walk of the station. Higashi Hongan-ji is free, Kyoto Tower costs ¥1,000, and the station building's official guide lists no admission fee for the Skyway or the Great Stairs.
Kyoto Station Building: Great Stairs, Skyway and rooftop square · Kyoto Tower · Higashi Hongan-ji
After dark
Kyoto Tower takes its last visitors at 20:30, the Skyway is open until 22:00 with lights from 17:00, and the Great Stairs are lit in the evening. To-ji's night opening runs 18:00–21:30 from 31 October to 13 December.
Kyoto Tower · Kyoto Station Building: Great Stairs, Skyway and rooftop square · To-ji
Rain or cold
The aquarium and the Genji exhibition at the Kyoto National Museum are indoors, and the Skyway is a corridor inside the station building.
Kyoto Aquarium · Kyoto National Museum · Kyoto Station Building: Great Stairs, Skyway and rooftop square
With children
The aquarium charges ¥900 from age 3 and ¥1,400 for elementary and junior high. The Railway Museum has a steam train ride for an extra fee, and Umekoji Park is next to both.
Temples and gardens this autumn
To-ji's special period and Tofuku-ji's autumn period both run into December, and each has its own prices. Sanjusangen-do is open all year, from 8:30 to 17:00 until 15 November.
Questions
Which things to do can I walk to from Kyoto Station?
The station building (Great Stairs, Skyway) is inside the station. Kyoto Tower is about 2 minutes on foot from the Karasuma Central Gate, Higashi Hongan-ji 7 minutes and Shosei-en 10 minutes. To-ji is 15 minutes (1.1 km) from the Hachijo Exit, Kyoto Aquarium about 15 minutes and the Railway Museum about 20 minutes.
Is the rooftop of Kyoto Station still open?
Until 26 November 2026, yes: the rooftop square is open 6:00–23:00. From 27 November 2026 to around winter 2031 (planned) it is closed for station works. The station building's notice names only the rooftop square; it does not say whether the Great Stairs or the Skyway are affected, so check its floor guide before you go.
How late can I get into Kyoto Tower and the temples?
Kyoto Tower: last admission 20:30. Higashi Hongan-ji gates close at 17:30 until 31 October and 16:30 from 1 November; Nishi Hongan-ji's gates closed at 17:00 on the 20 October 2026 schedule. The To-ji Kondo and Kodo take their last visitors at 16:30, with a night opening 18:00–21:30 from 31 October to 13 December.
How do I get to Sanjusangen-do and the Kyoto National Museum?
City bus 100, 206 or 208 from Kyoto Station to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae, about 10 minutes; the museum's own page gives bus platform D2 for buses 206 and 208. Or take the Keihan line to Shichijo Station and walk about 7 minutes east along Shichijo-dori.
What does To-ji cost in autumn 2026?
The Kondo and Kodo are ¥800 for adults until 30 October. From 31 October to 13 December the pagoda's ground floor is also open and adults pay ¥1,200. The night opening from 31 October to 13 December is ¥1,000 for adults and high school students and ¥500 for junior high and under. The Miedo and Jikido halls are free. The English page on the temple's site still shows older fees; the Japanese page carries the March 2025 revision.