Resort Glamping.com
Nationwide (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Koshinetsu, Kansai, Tokai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa)
Resort Glamping.com
Nationwide (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Koshinetsu, Kansai, Tokai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa)
May 1, 2026
For families traveling to Kyoto with children, the Kyoto Aquarium and Arashiyama are highly recommended. Both adults and children can easily enjoy themselves, and you can fully experience both Kyoto's quintessential sightseeing and nature. For family trips to Kyoto, we also recommend a plan that involves visiting different areas and staying at a glamping facility near Kyoto. This time, we'll introduce some must-see tourist spots in Kyoto.
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This is a classic tourist area where you can best experience the atmosphere of Kyoto, an ancient capital. A popular activity is to change into a kimono and stroll along Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, lined with traditional townhouses.
Located a little outside the city center of Kyoto, this area is home to attractions such as the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Togetsukyo Bridge, and the World Heritage site Tenryu-ji Temple.
This area is a blend of modern urban amenities and historical tourist attractions. It boasts convenient access to Kyoto Station, Nishiki Market, and the Kyoto Aquarium, which is highly recommended for families with children.
This area is home to Fushimi Inari Taisha, famous for its "thousand torii gates," a representative landmark of Kyoto.
At Kifune Shrine in northern Kyoto, you can enjoy unique Kyoto experiences such as summer riverside dining and water fortune-telling. Furthermore, Amanohashidate, located away from Kyoto city, is known as "Tango's Amanohashidate" and is one of the "Three Views of Japan," along with Miyajima in Aki and Matsushima in Mutsu.
| Area | Representative tourist spots | Experience with children |
|---|---|---|
| Rakuto (Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Gion) | Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Hanamikoji Street | Kimono experience, strolling through old town streets |
| Rakusai (Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji Temple) | Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Sagano Scenic Railway, Monkey Park | Interacting with monkeys, riding a trolley train |
| Central Kyoto (Kyoto Station, Nijo Castle) | Kyoto Aquarium, Nishiki Market | Enjoyable regardless of the weather |
| Southern Kyoto (Fushimi and Uji) | Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Uji Matcha | Senbon Torii (Thousand Torii Gates) |
| Northern Kyoto and the Seaside of Kyoto (Kifune and Amanohashidate) | Kifune Shrine, Amanohashidate | Water fortune telling, sandbar cycling |
Although Kyoto is not located on the coast, it boasts the Kyoto Aquarium, a large inland aquarium. It is one of the must-see spots for sightseeing in Kyoto. Inside, aquatic creatures that inhabit the Kamo River are on display, and in the large tanks, visitors can enjoy the feeling of being submerged in the ocean.
Amanohashidate, one of Japan's three most scenic spots, is a sandbar approximately 3.6 km long, covered with about 8,000 pine trees. This unique natural landscape, stretching across Miyazu Bay, is one of Kyoto's most representative tourist attractions. While it may have an image as a tourist destination for adults, it's actually also highly recommended for families traveling with children.
Nishiki Market, with its history spanning over 400 years, is a market where locals buy their daily groceries, and at the same time, it's a tourist spot where you can experience Kyoto's food culture firsthand. More than 100 diverse shops line the approximately 400-meter-long street, and because it's not easily affected by the weather, it's also recommended for sightseeing in Kyoto on rainy days.
Located in the Rakusai area of Kyoto, Arashiyama has long been a popular tourist spot for visitors from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Its blend of natural scenery and Zen culture makes it perfect for couples to stroll around, and also a relaxing place for families with children.
Tenryu-ji Temple, one of Kyoto's representative World Cultural Heritage sites and ranked first among the "Five Great Zen Temples of Kyoto," is a temple you should definitely visit if you come to Kyoto.
Fushimi Inari Taisha, the head shrine of the more than 3 Inari shrines throughout Japan, has long been known as a place of worship where people pray for abundant harvests and business prosperity. Within the shrine grounds, you can see many statues of foxes holding keys, rice stalks, and jewels in their mouths. Foxes are considered messengers of Inari Okami (the great god of Inari).
This shrine is the head shrine of all Yasaka Shrines throughout Japan and has deep ties to the Gion Matsuri, Kyoto's representative summer festival. From the Osaka area, you can take the Keihan Railway and get off at Gion-Shijo Station, then walk to the shrine.
Located in the mountainous area of northern Kyoto, Kifune Shrine is known as a shrine dedicated to the god of water. It is particularly famous for its "water fortune-telling slips." Visitors can enjoy a unique experience where, when they float a seemingly blank fortune slip on the shrine's sacred spring water, characters gradually appear.
Kyoto's Arashiyama is home to the famous Sagano Scenic Railway. The retro red and yellow carriages run along the Hozugawa River, with a one-way trip taking approximately 25 minutes. Passengers can enjoy the changing seasons from the train windows.
Toei Uzumasa Movie Village was once a filming location for period dramas, but it is now a theme park where visitors can experience Japanese history and film culture. In addition to traditional townscapes, there are areas related to Kamen Rider, which is popular with children, and a ninja house with various tricks and mechanisms, allowing visitors to enjoy the feeling of being a ninja in the Edo period.
Unlike typical yukata or kimono rentals, the Maiko experience is a program that allows you to experience the traditional beauty of Kyoto in its entirety, from the costume and makeup to the hairstyle. Kyoto has many specialized studios, and after getting dressed, you can enjoy being photographed by a professional photographer and strolling around the city in your attire.
A major characteristic of Kyoto cuisine is its strong emphasis on seasonality.
Our chefs carefully select seasonal ingredients from Kyoto and combine them with beautiful tableware that reflects the four seasons. Each dish is presented like a small work of art that you can enjoy.
Keihoku-cho, often called the "inner sanctuary" of Kyoto, is an area surrounded by lush forests. "RETOUR Kyoto" is a luxurious villa that can be rented out entirely, allowing you to spend time in nature. In addition to enjoying the bath in your room while admiring the scenery, you can also savor Kyoto specialties such as eel and BBQ using Kyoto vegetables.
Located in Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, known as "Kyoto by the Sea," this glamping facility is situated in the Yuhigaura Onsenkyo hot spring area, which has been selected as one of "Japan's Top 100 Sunset Spots." Only 10 dome tents are set up on a vast 9,000-tsubo (approximately 30,000 square meter) site. With 360-degree views of the open sky, you can enjoy a liberating natural experience. Nearby, there are also day-trip hot spring facilities where you can enjoy gentle, natural hot springs, as well as a specially prepared glamping BBQ.
This glamping facility offers the rare opportunity to enjoy natural "red hot spring" baths in the Kansai area, all in a private bathroom. Upon check-in, guests can enjoy complimentary craft beer, wine, and soft drinks from a beautifully lit food truck. A variety of room types are available to suit different travel styles, including couples, families, and groups.
Dome Kyoto Amanohashidate is located in a quiet area surrounded by abundant nature, making it ideal not only for sightseeing in Kyoto but also for those who want to enjoy the experience of staying in nature itself.
A: It depends on the departure point and destination.
JR Kyoto Line: If you are staying in Osaka/Umeda or Shin-Osaka, taking the JR Special Rapid Service train to Kyoto Station is a convenient option. It takes approximately 30 minutes and is suitable for transfers to destinations around Kyoto Station, Kyoto Aquarium, and Amanohashidate.
Hankyu Railway: If you want to go directly from the Umeda area to Kawaramachi or Arashiyama, the Hankyu Railway is convenient and relatively affordable.
Keihan Railway: From the Shinsaibashi/Namba area, we recommend taking the subway to Yodoyabashi Station and transferring to the Keihan Main Line. This route offers easy access to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine and Gion Shijo, and is ideal for exploring the Rakuto and Rakunan areas, including Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
(detail:https://kyoto.travel/tw/getting-to/）
A: At Toei Uzumasa Movie Village, purchasing tickets online in advance during peak seasons will help reduce waiting times on the day of your visit. For geisha experiences and some Kyoto cuisine experiences, it is recommended to make reservations at least 1-2 weeks in advance. During cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons, it may be safer to make reservations about a month in advance. Many shrines and temples are open to visitors and usually do not require reservations.
A: Amanohashidate is quite a distance from Kyoto city, so you need to plan a schedule that allows for plenty of time, including travel time. While a day trip is possible, if you're traveling with children or prioritizing nature experiences, we recommend a plan that includes an overnight stay near Amanohashidate for a more relaxed sightseeing experience. (Details:https://www.kyoto-kankou.or.jp/info_search/8411）
By combining the eight tourist spots and unique Kyoto experiences introduced here, you can plan a Kyoto trip that the whole family can enjoy. From strolling through the ancient capital in eastern Kyoto while wearing a kimono, to enjoying nature in Arashiyama, to exploring the natural beauty of Amanohashidate, Kyoto by the sea, Kyoto offers a variety of ways to enjoy Kyoto beyond just city sightseeing. Furthermore, by incorporating nature-centered glamping into your trip, you can enjoy Kyoto's forests, the sea, hot springs, and BBQs as part of your accommodation, experiencing a different side of Kyoto's charm than a typical hotel stay.
He is an editor at Resort Glamping.com, a glamping-focused media outlet visited by approximately 100 million people a month. He has written over 150 articles introducing glamping facilities and experience reports, and is involved in a wide range of glamping facility services, from planning and development to operation and customer acquisition consulting.
