Rakuchu Map

Rakuchu is the central area of Kyoto City.Public transportation is excellent, making it easy to get anywhere.

There are various famous tourist attractions such as the Kyoto Imperial Palace and the World Heritage Shimogamo Shrine to Nishiki Market, the kitchen of Kyoto.

The area surrounding Kawaramachi Dori, Karasuma Dori, Shijo Dori and Oike Dori is the central downtown area of Kyoto City where you can enjoy shopping and dining. Walking is recommended.

Kyoto Station, the gateway to Kyoto, is a hub of transportation facilities including trains (JR/Kyoto Municipal Subway/Kintetsu), buses, and cabs, providing access to all tourist attractions in Kyoto City.

JR to Arashiyama, Tofukuji Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine.Kyoto Municipal Subway is convenient to Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle, HeianJingu Shrine, and Nanzenji Temple.

The three World Heritage sites in the Rakuchu area are Nijo Castle,Shimogamo Shrine, and Nishi Honganji Temple.Nishi Honganji Temple "Higurashimon" is a must-see.

If it is indoors, it will not get wet in the rain.The Kyoto Station Building is home to more than 100 restaurants, department stores, the "Eki" KYOTO art museum, and the Kyoto Theater, so you can spend an entire day there.

Kyoto Tower, the tallest structure in Kyoto, offers a 360-degree view of the city.The Kyoto International Manga Museum has a wall of manga (about 50,000 manga in a 200-meter area) that can be read freely.

Umekoji Kyoto Nishi Station, the nearest station to Kyoto Railway Museum and Kyoto Aquarium, is a 2-minute JR train ride from Kyoto Station.

At the Kyoto Railway Museum, you can ride on a steam locomotive. At the Kyoto Aquarium, you can see a large tank and dolphin performances.

At the Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gyoen), you can see "Sakon-no-Sakura", "Mikuruma-ganeshi no Sakura", "Konoe-no-itozakura", and others.

Hirano Shrine has long been known as one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto.Nijo Castle is home to some 360 cherry trees of 45 varieties.

At Momiji-en in Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, you can see magnificent autumn leaves along the Kamiya River.The vermilion Uguisubashi bridge over the Kamiya River and the 400 year old Momiji tree are particularly impressive.

The Aoi Matsuri (Kamo Matsuri), one of the three major festivals in Kyoto, is held in May jointly at Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine.

On May 15, the procession leaves the Kyoto Imperial Palace at 10:30 a.m. for Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine.