It’s no wonder Kyoto attracts so many tourists from all over the world. The city is rich in history, unique cuisine, and countless temples and shrines scattered all over the city. Often, visitors research the best places to visit before they arrive in the city but are often left wondering what about when it comes to photography. Many places in Kyoto are indeed great for sightseeing but not so great for photos. So, let’s dive into the top spots in Kyoto, and I will give you my opinion. After so many years of experience in Kyoto, photographing many visitors and residents, I will review the top places now with the following ranking system….
Ranking Key:
A +/- Highly recommended / Must Visit
B +/- Recommended / Visit if time permits
C +/- Average recommendation / Visit if nearby and time permits
D +/- Cannot recommend
X - Will not accept bookings
LOCATION 1 - KINKAKUJI (THE GOLDEN PAVILION)
It is probably the most famous temple in Kyoto, but if you plan on going there primarily for photos, it can be challenging because of the crowds that always seem to be there. It is rare to see this place mostly empty, regardless of the time of day you go.
For personal photography (on your own): B+
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): D+
LOCATION 2 - ARASHIYAMA BAMBOO FOREST
Let me start by stating that the amazing photos you see online do not accurately represent what you will see if you visit Arashiyama. The bamboo groves are not that green; they are never empty, and the paved groves area is not big (you can stroll through the entire forest in less than 5 minutes). Unfortunately, the lighting is almost always terrible, and it is mostly full of people with tripods that will annoyingly get in your way. To sum it all up, it is not worth a visit, especially since it is so far out of the city center. Finally, please note that this is the only place in Kyoto where I do not accept bookings at.
For personal photography (on your own): C-
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): X
LOCATION 3 - TENRYUJI TEMPLE
Located at the end of Arashiyama’s Bamboo Grove, near the base of the gorgeous mountains surrounding it, this temple is vast and has a lot to offer in terms of backdrops. Well worth the visit, and during the spring season, beautiful flowers scatter the temple grounds that are so lovely to incorporate into your shots. One downside is that the location is a bit far from the city center to come here solely for this temple.
For personal photography (on your own): B+
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): B+
LOCATION 4 - HOGONIN TEMPLE
Located near Tenryuji Temple, this place is known for its beautiful pristine gardens and stone statues. I recommend this temple the most in the fall season as the colors are pretty spectacular from the Japanese maple trees. This temple should be visited along with Tenryuji Temple as the two temples offer quite different backdrops.
For personal photography (on your own): B
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): B
LOCATION 5 - FUSHIMI INARI TAISHA
No visit to Kyoto is complete without visiting this place! Although it is mostly crowded, the grounds are so extensive that it is relatively easy to get beautiful shots with a bit of patience. While Fushimi Inari is open 24/7, keep in mind that lighting is an issue even during the day if the sun is not out when shooting under the famed Tori gates. Generally speaking, it has been my experience that the further you hike through the mountain, the fewer people there are, so try to avoid the entrance of the Tori gates, as it is almost always jam-packed with people.
For personal photography (on your own): A-
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): A-
LOCATION 6 - KIYOMIZUDERA
If you leave the camera behind and enjoy the place with only your eyes, this is one of those places where you will be better off. There are far too many ugly barriers close to the beautiful structures that will ruin shots, far too many people, and far too little light inside the temple to take beautiful and clean images. Yes, there are just a couple of spots on the main lookout deck to get some photos but not worth the effort and time needed to battle the crowds to get there. As you go down through the temple, there are some benches to the right but again not particularly worthy of a setting for lovely photos, and it gets commercialized around that area with several stands for beer, snacks, etc. The large tour groups with a person at the front with a flag and megaphone broadcasting away make this not an ideal location for professional photography.
For personal photography (on your own): C+
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): D-
LOCATION 7 - STREETS OF HIGASHIYAMA (AREA BETWEEN NINENZAKA/SANNENZAKA AND MARUYAMA PARK)
One of my top favorite places to recommend to all my clients. Not only is this area free, but with nearly every step you take, a new photo opportunity is waiting! One popular thing to do is rent a kimono or yukata for a few hours and stroll the area. Great photos abound! Excellent for couples, individuals, and engagement photo sessions! I really cannot stress how great this area is! There are, however, two downsides that I have experienced throughout the years. First, it can be pretty crowded, so the earlier or later in the day that you visit, the better. Second, some beautiful alleyways are scattered in the general area, with signs claiming photography is not allowed. Some people ignore these signs and carry on shooting. I will not advise on handling this issue and will leave it to your discretion on what may be appropriate for you at that particular time.
For personal photography (on your own): A+
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): A+
LOCATION 8 - NIJO CASTLE
My absolute favorite place in Kyoto! You cannot go wrong with Nijo castle for any occasion. The grounds are vast, with so much variety in backdrops for photos. In any season, this castle has it all! It is designated as one of Kyoto’s top viewing spots during Cherry Blossom season. Even during the peak seasons, the castle is so large that getting photos with no one else in the frame is not too hard if you exercise a little patience and know where to go within the castle. Do not leave Kyoto without packing your camera and allocating 2 hours for Nijo castle.
For personal photography (on your own): A+
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): A+
LOCATION 9 - KODAIJI TEMPLE
Located conveniently in Higashiyama, the grounds of this temple no doubt have some beautiful areas in it but, largely speaking, unspectacular. This is not a temple I ever recommend as a primary shooting location, but it can be great in certain spots. Overall a bit disappointing, especially considering the entrance fee is higher than the standard in Kyoto. If you have time and have exhausted Higashiyama, a visit here might be worth it to get a few more shots.
For personal photography (on your own): C
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): C-
LOCATION 10 - GINKAKUJI (THE SILVER PAVILION)
Setting photography aside for a moment, this temple is truly amazing in every aspect, and the colors are unforgettable, especially in the fall season! However, when considering photography, this temple is a challenge. The pathways and areas that one is allowed to navigate through are extremely limited. The grounds are pristine and undeniably beautiful, but you will need to pack a good wide-angle lens for this place because the area in which you can move around is very tight.
For personal photography (on your own): B+
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): D-
LOCATION 11 - RYOANJI
The temple grounds offer more photography than the actual temple itself, but only by a little. The famous zen rock garden in the temple is peaceful and beautiful but not exactly photo-worthy. It will likely be challenging to get good shots of the zen rock garden with the number of people who go there. Especially when a bus full of school kids come and visit (often), finding a spot on the long wooden edge to sit down will be extremely difficult.
For personal photography (on your own): B-
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): C
LOCATION 12 - GION
This district is impressive for photography and sightseeing. Gion is just one of those must-see and experience places in Kyoto. Of course, nearly everyone knows by now that around sunset, the Maiko and Geisha head out into the streets on their way to their appointments to entertain. This is when many tourists can take candid shots of them. However, aside from the Maiko and Geisha, this district does offer great backdrops to get stunning photos from the early morning hours right into the sunset. Around sunset, the crowds will be at their peak, so if you can manage to get up before dawn and head out, you can get beautiful shots without too many people in the way.
For personal photography (on your own): A
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): A
LOCATION 13 - KIFUNE SHRINE
Located far away from the center of Kyoto, Kifune is quite honestly not worth visiting. Unless you are going there to experience lunch above the flowing river beneath, I would avoid this place entirely. There is a reason that nearly every photo of Kifune is the same. That is because there isn’t much to photograph. I have visited Kifune twice, once in the summer and the other in the winter, to scout the location for possible photo shoots, and each time I left disappointed. It is not worth the time it takes to get there or the time you need to find a good spot to photograph at.
For personal photography (on your own): D-
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): D-
LOCATION 14 - HEIAN SHRINE / OKAZAKI PARK
The unique characteristics of this shrine are nothing short of impressive. While it is common to have Shinto shrines in orange, the off-turquoise green roof throughout the shrine is beautiful to my eyes. There is so much common space in the center around the structures that getting nice shots at your own pace is leisurely. There is a beautiful garden as well and some historical structures that are impressive and photo-worthy. Okazaki Park has a cherry blossom-lined walkway leading up to Heian Shrine that will impress even the most seasoned photographers. Heian Shrine also has an abundance of cherry blossom trees. You are also unlikely to be disturbed by crowds unless there is a festival or particular event that doesn’t occur that often. I really can’t think of anything negative about this fantastic location!
For personal photography (on your own): A+
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): B+
LOCATION 15 - SHIMOGAMO SHRINE
Commonly known as one of the oldest shrines in Japan, Shimogamo is a charming and quiet shrine that is generally uncrowded. The grounds are enormous, primarily covered in vegetation, not kept up so well, and not particularly photo-worthy. However, the main structure of the shrine is beautiful and provides a lovely backdrop for photo shoots ranging from couples photography to wedding and engagement photography. The main appeal of Shimogamo is how open and empty it usually is, especially early in the morning; most likely, no one else will be around, and you can have the entire place to yourself.
For personal photography (on your own): B-
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): C
LOCATION 16 - KENNIN-JI
One of my favorites in the city and not only because of its central and easy-to-find location but also because of the access it provides to the interior of the temple halls. In addition, there is artwork on display that is unexpected and beautiful and provides a profound historical aspect that is genuinely very “Kyoto.” It is effortless to spend hours here exploring every corner of the grounds. This temple is a must-see, especially for first-time visitors to Kyoto.
For personal photography (on your own): A
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): B+
LOCATION 17 - KYOTO IMPERIAL PALACE
Widely regarded as one of Japan's most important cultural assets, the Imperial Palace is nothing short of spectacular. It is large and has imposing structures that are only possible to walk by, adorning the sheer magnificent scale of the complex yet simple layout of the grounds. One downside is that the hours and days of operation could be more consistent with frequent closing without any prior warning. Therefore it can be challenging to plan a visit, but once inside, it truly is breathtaking. Keep in mind that the size of the grounds is enormous, be prepared for a good amount of walking, and set aside at least two hours for photography time when planning a visit.
For personal photography (on your own): A+
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): A-
LOCATION 18 - HONEN-IN
Tucked away at the base of the mountain of Higashiyama ward, a few minutes' walk away from Ginkakuji (The Silver Pavilion), this Buddhist Temple is free to enter and has an unforgettable calm atmosphere. After countless visits here, I have noticed that it has had a notable impact on all my clients. Every one of my clients loved the visit and the photo shoot there. One downside is that the grounds are small, and therefore, photography is limited because of that. But again, there is no entrance fee, and if you visit Ginkakuji, a visit here is a must, given how close it is.
For personal photography (on your own): A
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): B+
LOCATION 19 - KYOTO BOTANICAL GARDENS
This location's peak in the year is in the Spring when most flowers are out in full bloom. However, the summer season is also worth visiting because the greenery is lush and beautiful. There are ample opportunities to capture spectacular photos here. One of my favorite locations within the garden grounds is the fountains and the classic look of the benches. One downside is that it has been my experience over countless visits that many random construction and upkeep projects hinder some areas that otherwise would be pretty beautiful for photography.
For personal photography (on your own): B+
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): C+
LOCATION 20 - NANZENJI TEMPLE / SUIROKAKU BRIDGES (KYOTO AQUEDUCT)
Without a doubt, this is one of my default combo recommendations in Kyoto! The grounds are extensive, the gardens are immaculate, and it is hard to find another place in Kyoto that offers many different backdrops for photos. Coming here will warrant visiting Kiun-in Temple and Hojo Garden, near Nanzenji and the Kyoto Aqueduct. Every season a visit to this area is worth it, but the autumn season is most beautiful with the Japanese maple tree-lined pathways. I could write for hours on this location alone, but I will end it with this: don’t leave Kyoto without visiting here!
For personal photography (on your own): A+
For professional photo shoots (bookings with me): A+