5 child-friendly things to do in Kyoto  

Fascinating history and culture, ninja dress ups and feeding baby deer

Want to visit the important cultural sites of Kyoto, but also keep the kids happy and entertained?

A trip to Japan is not complete without visiting Kyoto, and it can be a great child-friendly destination for family travellers.

Kyoto literally means ‘capital city’ in Japanese. The emperors of Japan ruled from Kyoto for eleven centuries from 794 until 1869. The capital was then moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo, meaning ‘eastern capital’ at the start of the Meiji period.

As a result of this rich history, Kyoto and the surrounding municipalities are rich with Japanese culture, Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, castles, museums, and the great vestiges of Kansai architecture, food, and culture. Seventeen well-preserved places are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

The geography of Kyoto is referred to in Japanese as bonchi, or a ‘basin’, surrounded by mountains on three sides. The original city was arranged with traditional Chinese feng shui in mind, with the three mountains each representing dragons watching over the city.

In an effort to preserve the history of the city, town planning prohibits the construction of tall buildings, allowing Kyoto to retain its close community vibe, spectacular views of the mountains, and an ambiance unique to that of its contemporary Japanese cities. 

1. Arishiyama: Okochi Sanso Garden, Tenryu-ji, and the bamboo forest

The Arishiyama area is a great option for those with limited time, as the area has so much to see and do in one location.

In addition to the iconic Tenru-ji zen temple, there is the nearby famous bamboo forest, numerous small Shinto shrines, cafes, restaurants, and the spectacular Okochi Sanso Garden, the former villa of famous Kyoto screen actor Okochi Kanjiro.

The Hozugawa river boat tours are also nearby, as well as the Arashiyama Monkey Park.

Arishiyama is also the departure point for the beautiful Sagano Scenic railway, which runs along the Hozugawa river from Torroko Arashiyama Station to Torroko Kameoka Station.

Travellers have three options to return to Arashiyama. They can purchase a return ticket on the scenic train (through JR), transfer and return along the faster JR Sagano Line, or take the river boat tour back to Arashiyama. 

Okochi Sanso garden hours: 6am-5pm

Admission: 1000 Yen for adults and 500 Yen for children (includes matcha green tea and okashi (Japanese sweets). 

Access: By public transport, take the JR Sagano main line to Saga-Arashiyama Station and then follow the signs for the approximate 15-20 minute walk to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. 

2. Samurai and Ninja Museum

The Samurai and Ninja Museum is located in the Nishiki Ichiba arcade, a short walk from the Keihan and Hankyu subway lines.

The entry ticket includes a guided tour of the small but immaculately appointed museum. There is also the opportunity to participate in a secret ninja mission, and examine the various weapons and implements used by these shadowy characters in feudal Japan.

Kids and adults alike can also try on some Samurai armour and learn how to wield the samurai’s sword, the Katana. Following this, you can take part in a shurikan (ninja star) throwing competition! It’s so much harder than it looks!    

The guided tour is great for history buffs too, as it has Edo-era katanas and armour on display. Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a great background into the type of armour used, and the way to identify the age and provenance of a katana.

There is also a great gift shop, with top-quality kids’ costumes and mementos to purchase. The museum staff were super helpful and enthusiastic – definitely a highlight for kids and parents alike!

Hours: 11:00am-6:00pm daily

Admission: Basic ticket with experience is 3000 Yen, but if you book online it’s 2400 Yen. There are also a number of other packages for enhanced experiences and samurai training! 

Address: Teramachi Utanokoji Building, Second Floor, Higashidaimonjicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto

3. Nijo Castle 

Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo) is one of the 17 UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites in Japan and a must-see in addition to the numerous temples and shrines in the Kyoto area.

The castle was built by the Tokugawa shogunate and completed during the reign of Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1626, serving from then as the Kyoto residence for the Tokugawa shoguns.

While Edo (present-day Tokyo) was the capital city, Kyoto remained the seat of the Japanese Imperial Court. Following the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and the end of the Edo period, the castle was taken over by the Imperial court in 1868. So while it was previously the home of the Shogun, you will now see the imperial chrysanthemum crest throughout the palace and castle grounds. 

Nijo-jo is an imposing structure of two concentric rings of fortifications surrounded by deep moats, the green water contrasting with the dark imposing stone walls.

There are two tickets you can purchase: a basic castle grounds pass, or the more expensive castle and palace pass. We recommend the palace pass. The carpentry and craftsmanship in the former Tokugawa residence is breathtaking, as well as the ornate wall paintings and tatami-floored staterooms.

A curious quirk of the carpentry at the time, the floorboards cheep like little birds as you walk along them, and are nicknamed “nightingale floors”. Following the palace tour you can wander the grounds and take in the beautiful gardens, before climbing to the rooftop of the keep for great views of Kyoto.   

Hours: 8:45am-4:00pm daily

Admission: The castle grounds and palace pass is 1300 Yen for adults, 400 yen for high school students, and 300 Yen for primary school kids.  A basic castle grounds pass is 800 Yen for adults and free for kids.  

Access: The fastest way to reach Nijo-jo is via Nijojo-mae Station, on the subway Tozai line. The station is directly opposite the castle. 

4. Nara Deer Park

Nara is a short and easy hop via rail from Kyoto, taking around 45 minutes.

Nara was the capital of Japan from the years 710-794 before Kyoto became the capital, so it has some amazing temples, shrines and ruins that are a must-see for history buffs.

But the draw card for the kids has to be the deer (shika) that roam freely through the parkland and around the town. The deer are placid and friendly and make a great backdrop to a family stroll through Nara park for ice cream or a bento lunch. 

The Nara Museum is located within the park and has a fascinating collection of Buddhist artifacts that are several centuries old and tell the story of early Japan.

The museum is not great for small children as you need to be absolutely silent at all times. You also can’t take photographs, but it’s definitely worth a visit if Japanese history is of interest to you.     

Be careful at all times around the deer. You can buy shika snacks to feed them, but they can become quite eager to get hold of it, so it’s best to carefully supervise children if you wish to do this.

They are very calm and placid creatures, but they are wild animals so it’s best to be careful. 

Hours: The Nara museum is open from 9:30am to 5:00pm (every day except Mondays) and 9:30am – 8:00pm on Saturdays. 

Admission: 700 Yen for adults, 350 yen for University Students, Children are free.  

Access: The Kintetsu Kyoto line has express trains running from Kyoto Station at regular intervals for around 650 Yen each way. Be sure to take the express train and not a local train, which will stop at each station along the way. 

5. Kinkaku-ji (the golden Buddhist Temple)

There are so many amazing shrines and temples in Kyoto, and if you have the time, each is unique and spectacular in its own way.

However, for travellers with limited time, we recommend picking one or two and taking the opportunity to also visit the surrounding area, which will often have a range of other cool things to do.

We recommend the Kinkaku-ji, an iconic Zen Buddhist Kyoto temple, with its centre-piece golden pavilion surrounded by immaculate zen gardens with waterfalls and lakes. 

This temple is often busy given its popularity, however the system to enter and tour the grounds is super efficient and it’s well worth the trip.

Following the tour, there are a number of great restaurants nearby where you can stop to grab a bite. We chose a traditional tofu and sashimi restaurant which was completely oishii (yummy)!

Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm all year round

Admission: General, 400 yen; Primary and middle school students, 300 yen. 

Address: Kinkaku-ji: 1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8361 Japan

Access:  Unless you have a car, access is via the Kyoto bus network, which is clean and reliable. The number 59 and 102 and 204 buses all stop about 5 minutes walk from the temple. 

Where is Kyoto?

Kyoto is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture, and is located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu. It forms a part of the area that takes in the large cities of Osaka and Kobe.

The city has a population of 1.46 million as of 2020. located in the Kansai region of southern-central Honshu.

Is Kyoto good for kids? 

One hundred percent Kyoto is good for kids! While Kyoto conjures images of quiet temples and shrines, there are also a whole bunch of things to do for kids.

While you do need to show respect in these places, there are lots of things to do for families too and options for children to be loud, run around and be themselves.

The people in Kyoto are extremely friendly, helpful and welcoming. There are a range of kids’ museums, parks and fun activities.  

How to get to Kyoto?

If you are setting off from Tokyo, the Shinkansen is by far and away the most efficient way to do it, taking only two and a half hours.

The Nozomi Shinkansen leaves frequently from Tokyo Station and costs around 13,000 yen for adults and 7,000 yen for children each way for a reserved seat, but this will change depending on season and availability. 

You can also access the shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto using a Japan Rail Pass, however you cannot use the fastest trains Nozomi or Mizuho. Instead you can take the Hikari or Sakura trains which are still bullet trains but are around 15 minutes slower.

If you wish to drive, car rental is easy in Japan, but will require an international driving permit.

Driving there will take about six hours, depending on traffic. It’s also possible to fly, but unless you can get a great deal on air tickets, if you are staying in Tokyo the Shinkansen is a far better option as there is no cumbersome security screening and the trains in Japan are almost always on time to the last minute!    

Getting around Kyoto

Getting around is super easy by foot, bus or rail, and Kyoto is child-friendly with lots to see and do. You could spend a few weeks in Kyoto and still not see everything, but if time is tight we recommend setting aside at least 3-4 days to see some curious things! 

How many days should I spend in Kyoto?

You could stay in Kyoto for months and not get bored! However, if time is tight and you don’t mind being on the move, we recommend at least 3-4 days to take in the key sights.

This will give you enough time to see one or two of the key temples or shrines, sightsee in the city, sample Kansai cuisine, and perhaps visit surrounding areas like Nara. If you have longer in your schedule, you could definitely stay for a few weeks and take your time exploring everything the city has to offer. 

What is Kyoto famous for?

Kyoto is best known for its temples, shrines, and historical sites, seventeen of which are UNESCO World Heritage listed.

It’s also the cultural hub of the Edo period, and for history buffs, there are loads of things to learn about Japan’s history. It’s also famous for its vibrant Kansai culture, including its food, and unique businesses.

Kyoto is known for its tradition of hosting ‘micro-companies’. For example bar, cafe and restaurant owners who operate from the ground floor of their homes as sole-traders offering a bespoke, intimate hospitality experience. This welcoming small community vibe is still very much present, and differs from that of Japan’s larger contemporary cities.